Magnificent Mama Moments

Ahhhhhhhh...I love days like today. Days where things come together in ways I could never predict. Serendipitous moments that overflow with joy and make me feel as if contentment is oozing from my pores. Yummy days that I want to savor for a long time but, like every other day, they slip away into the darkness of night bringing the uncertainty of tomorrow.

But for right now I'm basking in the glow from this glorious day, smiling a peaceful smile and sighing the good kind of sigh. Maybe the 2 things that happened today will seem insignificant to you, o reader of my blog...but to me they are what life is all about these days. Allow me to share...

Both things happened at the pool. All summer I have been gently encouraging Annie to take her deep water test, which consists of swimming the length of the pool and treading water for 30 seconds. I knew she could do it - but that's not what's important in this scenario...she had to know it for herself. Once she passes the deep water test she can swim anywhere in the pool on her own and go off of the diving board. I can remember going off of the diving board in my youth...over and over again and every single time screaming "mom, watch me!"...I knew Annie would love it. So when we arrived at the pool tonight at half past six and we were pretty much the only ones there Annie said..."hey this might be a good night for me to take my deep water test"...I can only hope my mouth wasn't hanging open too long!

So off she went down the pool, 25 meters in all. She rocked it out! She even had to contend with the massive vacuum cleaner they were using at the time and it didn't really phase her one bit. She rested for a moment and then hopped in the deep end for her treading water. Piece of cake I'll tell you! I was bursting with pride...I felt like she had just won the gold medal of life! She faced her fear and slaughtered that beast. She went off of the diving board for the rest of the time we were at the pool...we may never see her in the shallow end again!

A while later, Lucy and I were goofing around in the shallow end and that is when the next moment happened. Lucy swam over to me and threw her arms around my neck...for some reason I didn't say "don't hang on me" which is a mantra of mine at the pool. I'm glad I didn't. Lucy leaned around and said to me "the meaning of love". I said "what is the meaning of love baby girl?" She said " you are the meaning of love mama"...my heart melted into a puddle right then and there. I have never heard such words of sweetness in my life.

What she couldn't possibly know is that she is the meaning of love. Lucy and her brother and sister are the meaning of the love that God has given Alex and I. They are the contents of the most beautiful gift ever created...a gift I couldn't have dreamed up in a lifetime spent dreaming.

Some days are like masterpieces and today was one of those.