Life in an Instant

Life in an Instant: the littlest bits

by Stacy on May 13, 2012

Whew,

this was a week I almost didn’t want to write about — a week I was in such a hurry to put behind me, I wasn’t sure I wanted to remember at all …

but then, there was something more.

Those tiny, little almost seemingly insignificant moments. The ones that end up candy coating your day, filling up your heart and giving you that extra little boost you need to keep on going.

For every obstacle I faced this week, there are at least 10 of those tiny little wonder full moments to take its place … and when I think about it in those terms, all I can think is: “well then life, Bring It ON!” The good and the bad, the ups and the downs, the round and the rounds; I don’t want to miss a beat cause when it comes right down to it — it’s not the speed bumps we’re supposed to be focusing on.

It’s those tiny little bits.

And for those, I’ll keep on keeping on.

Happy Mother’s Day to all you inspiring Momma’s out there!

Even when things seem overwhelming, I hope you can focus on those tiny moments that make life wonderful. I hope you can even capture a few of them on film, and take a quick moment to share them with us here. I so love to see what each of you are up to!

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Life in an Instant: Screen Free Week

by Stacy on May 6, 2012

This week was “Screen Free” week, a week where families are encouraged to turn off screens and turn on life. We spent less time watching TV & more time watching things like this …

I like to think I don’t let my children watch too much TV anyway, but we watch significantly more when my husband is home. Having the television ON is just commonplace to him. When he’s away, we watch less … but truth be told, this week we found so many more moments to squeeze in all the things I “want” to do with the kids but never seem to be able to find the time to do.

We went on Adventure Walks, sang songs and really used our imaginations exploring the Great Outdoors.
We visited the butterfly habitat at our local zoo, not once … but twice in preparation for our very own caterpillars that arrived on Friday. It won’t be long until we have a few butterflies of our own!

We made new friends.

We ate outside, tended to our little garden, played in the hose & spent time just enjoying each other’s company.

We tickled. And had a slumber party and extra, extra story time. We crafted and celebrated Cinco de Mayo and even took a trip to the art museum.

We indulged. Went on a date night, just the four of us. Brewed our own citrus green tea and baked muffins and smores and zucchini/portobello spaghetti.

We had an amazing week. Just what we needed to ease in to life without Daddy for awhile. We had so much fun, I think we’ll do it again next week!

Note: We also watched 2 episodes of Zooboomafu while we stuffed our faces with freshly popped popcorn on Friday night and passed out on the couch bed together. Everything in moderation.

Did your family celebrate Screen Free Week this year?
What are your favorite ways to spend time together?

Join us in the growing Life in an Instant community, a chance to meet new friends and share all those special moments you captured on film this week.

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Also joining my friends over at Simple as that. The photos are always lovely and I enjoy meeting all the new ladies — they take such gorgeous photos. If you linked up here, consider linking there as well.

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on gearing up & winding down

by Stacy on April 29, 2012

Oh April, you old stinker you! Somehow you passed me by and I hardly even noticed — all the good months seem to do that don’t they? This month seemed so much faster than the others that I have to keep reminding myself it’s almost gone.

We were fortunate to have the Mr. around for a few weeks in a row this time. It’s always harder to let him go again, after we’ve had a chance to feel what “normal” feels like for awhile.

The kids have been sensing it, each morning they run into our room like its Christmas, only instead of Santa they are looking for Daddy.

So very sweet and heartbreaking all at the same time.

Relieved each day when I tell them, today is not that day.

I can’t tell you how much I am already dreading Tuesday morning.

Thankfully we have plenty of memories from April to get us through, so much to look back on and smile about — Birthdays and anniversaries, easter egg hunts and movie nights, fly fishing lessons and fresh baked cookies. All those moments that make a life well lived.

Join our growing community
and share your special moments here too!

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:: picnic in the park ::

by Stacy on April 22, 2012

Today was one of those magical, lazy kind of days. The kind of Sunday where it’s OK to eat chocolate for breakfast and munch on cold watermelon while grinning from ear to ear. When bike rides reign supreme and the sun feels like its shining just for you. For a brief moment, I felt like a kid again and then I felt even better, watching the day unfold through the eyes of my own children. It looked a little something like this:

Tell me, how did you celebrate Earth Day?

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Silly, yet serious

by Stacy on April 15, 2012

Silly, yet serious.

That’s the best way to describe this little one right now. One minute she is all smiles and giggles and and the next she’s soulful; deep in contemplation, so quiet and demure.

She’s changing everyday, yet it is me who seems foreign to her. It’s a delicate time for the two of us, I catch her looking at me with those big blue eyes, so uncertain and so speculative. I can feel her beginning to pull away from me now — not quite sure how my role as a mother is going to fit in to her big, new and evolving life.

I knew this time would come for us, but I never dreamed it would start so soon. I feel as if we’re in the middle of some pre scripted dance routine, one I’ve danced a time or two before … yet in much smaller shoes. My first reaction is to hold on tight and never let her go, but I know that is not, nor can not be the answer. Instead, for now, I’ve chosen to show her how much I love her at least as often as I tell her. To listen to what she’s saying and offer her the biggest gift I know how: all my heart and all of my head. I can use these two not to lead her in life, but rather to guide her down this new path she is carving out as her own.

Most of all it seems these days I am hoping. Hoping that some how, some way deep down on the inside, she gets me. Gets me in a way I never really got my Mom, at least not until I was a mother myself. I’m also hoping she might stay my sweet and silly serious little girl for just a little longer …

What special moments did you capture this week?

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