The holidays evoke within me a wide range of emotions; most at the joyful side of the spectrum, with a few at the opposing end.  At times the hussle and bussle seems to overtake the serenity of the season of giving and good cheer.  In order to hang on to the merriment, I remind myself to be present in the moment.  

Today I was afforded a much needed opportunity to practice focusing on NOW and revel in mommyhood.  I drove four (2 girls & 2 boys) fourth graders on a field trip to San Juan Bautista.  What a treat to listen to the conversations of 9 year olds.  Topics ranged from holiday travels, recollections of funny sayings from peers in class, and even nonsensical talk that I couldn’t decipher.  They laughed and worked diligently to garner chuckles from one another and I cherished being privy to a side of my daughter that I don’t get to see in our home environment.  

The fun continued during the two hours at the mission.  I was able to match dinner-time stories of Sammi’s friends with the outgoing personalities that couldn’t be contained.  I reminded myself frequently that in the PRESENT MOMENT I was Sam’s mom and not the principal.  There was one occasion where I couldn’t separate the two and thankfully it was welcomed by a wink of gratitude from the teacher.  

During our free time, I took out our crew of four on a rogue adventure through a muddy field.  We followed animal tracks, found pumpkins, and tested the capacity for water soaked dirt to hold our weight without sinking into an inescapable abyss.  To Sam, our trek into the unknown came as no surprise because she’s used to her mom’s non-traditional tendencies.  The others marveled at this grown up that was willing to color (a.k.a. walk) outside the lines.  

The journey back home was just as delightful!  On the way home I realized that I hadn’t multi-tasked, nor worried (hate to admit it) about what was happening beyond the moment in front of me.  While it’s not always possible to remain in this state of mind, it was one that I very much needed and was thankful for.

In my Thursday Word message at the start of 2014, I shared a poem written by my father.  In closing this year, I offer you this beautiful poem as a reminder to not get too far ahead of ourselves, nor to get stuck holding onto what has passed and is no longer in our control.

Enjoy each other, relish your time together!  Happy Holidays! Bring in the New Year with renewed hope and abounding expectations.  See you in 2015!