Moments of Grace

   We all go through our lives trying to capture those perfect moments. Those few minutes when we know we are in the right place, with the right people, doing the right thing.
   Recently, I have been blessed with a huge insight.
   If I am with my children, taking care of them, talking with them, but more like listening to them... I get to choose to be in those moments.
   No more waiting for them, they are there for the taking.
   So one of the best things I've ever done, and I recommend it to one and all, I took my beautiful daughter on a trip to Mexico.

   It was an eye-opening, world-class vacation. We had so much fun, and I got to know my maturing young lady daughter on a whole different level.
   She is amazing.
   She is talented, brave and smart. She is sensitive, but tougher than nails. And best of all, she is resilient. For this I am eternally grateful because I know that that is the key to surviving in this life.
   Every night of our trip at dinner, I would ask her what was her high and what was her low that day. One day, she told me that her low was when we had an argument. When it was my turn to tell my side, I explained that my high was our argument. She looked at me with her teen-aged perplexed face. So I explained to her, that every argument and every conversation were opportunities for me to know her better and that that was a wonderful thing.
   Since our return, I have been blessed to find that we have not relinquished this new-found knowledge of each other and our closeness has continued. I am so blessed.
   So yesterday, I requested a few hours with my dear son, Nick, who is 25 years old.
   To get 3 hours with Nick is one of my favorite things in the world. We went out for a haircut, lunch and shopping. Again, a perfect moment. I found out where he was in his life, what he's been doing and how he's been feeling. I am so blessed.
   Nick is about to graduate from college. This is a HUGE milestone, and I am so proud of him. He has not taken the short route to this accomplishment, and it has never been easy. He has worked very hard and very long to get to this point in his life. And I can't say enough about Nick....

                                                   This is Nick at lunch with his new haircut!

    So lessons learned. The recipe for happy, fulfilling, perfect moments, spend them giving. Having children helps. But even friends, parents, siblings, partners, spouses or animals can make this happen!