Memories

Now that the girls are gone more than they are home, memories are made differently. When they were younger, we made memories every day. The memories we made were in the routine, everydayness of life. Since I homeschooled them, we ate breakfast, lunch, and supper together. We went to practice together until they could drive. We did most of life together.

I miss those routine memories. I miss those days of having them around me all the time making noise, singing, talking, arguing, running, or playing the piano.

When they come home now, I still like those routine memoires. I still like when they sit at the kitchen table and work on their school work. I like when they grab the remote and find something to watch. I like when they come into the kitchen and ask, “Mom, what is there to eat?” I like having a full refrigerator, because it means they are home.

I am so happy for them and the stage they are currently in. I wouldn’t want it any other way. Growth is part of the way God made this world. No one likes stagnation. So I appreciate the growth in their lives. It thrills my heart to see them accomplishing their dreams. It thrills my soul to see them navigate through difficult situations. It makes eyes swell with tears when they call to tell me about their day or to ask me what I think. It is an honor to me to know my daughters still value my opinion.

Danielle and Delaney came home for spring break at separate times this year. Memories are made in somewhat the same way as when they were always home. They still need their laundry done. The refrigerator is full of their favorite foods. They sit at the kitchen table and work on school work. But now we also are intentional in making memories together. We went shopping together. We went bowling. We went to the beach at Lake Michigan. We went to dress fittings.

You know the illustration about life being like a jar and we manage our time by the rocks and pebbles we put into that jar. The rocks are the things that must be done. The smaller the rocks equates to something of lesser importance until we get to the sand which fills in the cracks.

Making memories with our families is similar to that jar. Sometimes we make big memories like going on a family vacation. Sometimes we make smaller memories by taking a day trip. Sometimes the special sand memories are eating together at home around the kitchen table and sharing how God is working in our lives.

I miss the days when they were young. I miss the days when they were in high school. I realize as the days go by that the more effort I make into continuing to invest in the lives of my daughters as they continue to grow, the more memories we will make. The more memories we make the more solid our relationship will continue to be.

Relationships take time and effort. They take thoughtfulness. They take kindness. They take inconvenience. They take hugging a little longer. They take noticing what another may need and doing what we can to help meet that need.

No matter the stage, enjoy it! It will only last for a season. Make memories in the little things and endeavor to make memories in bigger ways too. You will be glad you did.