Sitting on the bleachers, listening as the judge gets ready to announce the placings. Rain beating on the metal roof. Bear next to me on the bench, on the floor, in my lap, kicking at his sister’s shoes and on the floor again. He’s restless.
He just can’t wait to see how his spaghetti sauce placed at the state fair.
Finally, the judge calls Mouse. Blue in Showmanship with her dog, Faithfull. I check my watch and we have an hour and a half before her next event. So with a quick congratulations, we are off to the 4-H exhibits on the far end of the fairgrounds.
Running through the rain, splashing through puddles, pausing at a small river being created by the speed bumps before sloshing through the ankle deep water, Bear exclaims:
“This is the best day ever!”
I look at Micah tucked into his stroller under his sister’s shirt. With raindrops dripping off his eyelashes, he holds the shirt close and smiles at me without looking up. He has watched his siblings play in the rain through the window, but this is the first time he has really been out in it. He is thoroughly soaked and he is thoroughly enjoying it.
It is only a moment, but it is here. Right now.
I have always lived with one foot in tomorrow, thinking more about what I want to do next than what I am doing in this moment. And I’ve missed so many things.
Two years ago, I was at the state fair, pushing a stroller with a little boy just a little younger than Micah. I was pregnant and I was exhausted from walking through every exhibit. Pushing a stroller and pregnant with Micah. But I don’t remember much else. I don’t remember if that little boy was fussy while he watched Mouse compete in the dog show. I don’t remember if he liked the exhibits in the 4-H building or how much of it he slept through.
I just remember standing in the corner of the livestock barn next to a huge Holstein rummaging through her hay. And that little boy sat up straight in his stroller with his eyes opened wide, clearly impressed by this monster. After lengthy consideration, he finally declared, “Puppy!” and almost every four legged animal from then on was a puppy.
I didn’t know that would be his last fair. His last close up look at a cow. His last fall.
I didn’t know and I missed so much.
So now I take a moment to stand in the rain and just be here. Right now. Because I don’t know how many moments we have left.
I homeschool my children on a small hobby farm in rural Nebraska and write about life more abundantly, from the joy of a baby's smile to the almost unbearable grief of losing a son while seeking beauty instead of ashes, the oil of joy instead of mourning, a garment of praise instead of the spirit of despair (Isaiah 61:3)
Thanks for the reminder of all things precious, Dana. Including puppies (big and small), puppies and beautiful baby eyelashes.
arghh…meant puddles instead of more puppies.
The gift is now. Thank you for this reminder, Dana. May I live here. Always. Savoring now. Gratitude for each gift of another moment. Humbly taking from His Hand, never taking for granted a single gift. May my heart overflow with joy because I learn to walk without expectations. What freedom life will be when I learn this.
He loved his puppies. Horses finally earned their own name, though. He called them, “Whoa whoa puppies.”
“Whoa, whoa, puppies.” That is precious! What an amazing little boy, Dana! I love how the Lord designs each of them with their own unique characteristics that endear them to us.
Thanks for the comment. This silpme introduction of dogs to a small child has actually eliminated dog fears in children. We introduced Tosca and Thyme this Summer to West and Dex. We didn’t even know they were very afraid of dogs. Yet after the introduction, they went home to Vancouver with no fear.
this is such a great reminder……every moment is a blessing
So true! Thinking of the times I wasnt in the moment, wish I could just go back. Thank you for sharing
Thank you, Dana, for reminding me to enjoy each precious time with our children. It IS so easy to look at the future and think about what needs to be done instead of enjoying and rejoicing over the little treasured times of life.
Tiggy is romping around with way better puppies than the ones we have here on Earth. I bet Heavenly puppies don’t poop in your mansion or whine or chew up your shoes… but it makes me wonder… will cows still stink in Heaven?
Whoa whoa puppies makes me smile.
What a precious memory!!!
Thankful for the here and now. Thankful for the past gifts and memories. Thankful for the beautiful promises and hope of eternity.