stop, breathe, enjoy

Sometimes my life gets so overwhelming that I forget to enjoy just how amazing my life is. And I AM thankful for it, but some days have to consciously remind myself of that. Which is sad, but that's just how it is sometimes. One thing about kids... they remind you how simple it is to enjoy life.
Yesterday I suggested a walk to the park. Oliver loves the park... he went running to his room yelling "Shoes! Shoes!". Hannah instead sat deciding which of her stuffed animals would come with us.
On our way to the park they were pointing out snails, worms, flowers, berries, blossoms, airplanes, rocks... pretty much anything that caught their eye. And it made me look around more, and enjoy the sunshine and how beautiful our neighborhood is.
At the park they made a friend. It's amazing watching how simple their socializing is - they just join in to play and before long they are friends... possibly never to be seen again, but that's not important. They live for the moment. They were so adorable that I regretted that I'd walked out of my door without my bag and the camera that I always carry around in it. Running, screaming, calling out to each other. Oliver hurrying to keep up with the "big" kids. Just such simple fun.
And as I sat there watching them I really just took some deep breaths and remembered that I LOVE my life. I love that I get to see my kids laugh and run and play with such freedom in a pretty neighborhood park.
It was the most worthwhile hour in my busy day.