Gathering my thoughts || Stop and Smell the Flowers

May 30, 2013



Yesterday was the last day of school for Little Miss A.   One of her classmates, a sweet and beautiful girl, has  a mother who is losing her battle to Cancer.  I think she has a few weeks left to live.  Her dad is so strong and so tender with his little girl.  I couldn't help but tear-up watching them as he filmed her saying "Hi Mommy" so he could later show his wife.  A five year old should not have to lose her mom.  I'm an adult, and I don't know what I would do without my mother.  All day I have been extremely aware of how fortunate I am.  I count on so many blessings.  And being healthy is a very important one.  I hope Little Miss A. has a mommy for a very long, long time.   We really do learn a lot from each other. I pulled some of my latest photos of small moments with big lessons that my daughter and I have shared together in the last few weeks.

Little Miss A. and I stop frequently at the corner markets to smell and admire the flowers.

We also, take time to enjoy watching them grow in our garden.


I could not have said it better myself.


We took the time to save this little bluejay who had fallen from his nest.  We weren't afraid to dig in the dirt to find worms and feed it to give it strength.  We weren't scared to go up in the roof, place him there so he could jump up to one of the tall tree branches so he could be coached by his mother to find his way back to his nest.  We remember we need to help those that are more fragile.


 We appreciate the beauty and artistry of handmade pieces that have been endearingly kept for years for the next generation to enjoy.  And we play and twirl in the backyard after breakfast to enjoy the morning air. Its all about simple moments.


See things through children's eyes for a more magical perspective. A fallen branch can make the best magic wand.


We try and stay in the present and not get too anxious over what we don't have any control over, mainly the past and the future.


We eat our veggies and fruits when we are supposed to so we can splurge when unexpected treats come along.


We remember that sometimes the dark moments may help us grow stronger and make us more interesting. 


And we remember that sometimes all we can do is just stay afloat.


We have so many lessons to learn and so many things to be thankful for.  What are you thankful for today?


[all photos by me ]

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30 comments

  1. lovely post, Albertina. your daughter is precious and LOVE the peonies!

    XO, Stefanie
    Life on the Squares

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  2. thank you for this post! i always worry about minute things and sometimes forget to be thankful for the obvious things ~ so thankful for family and good health!

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  3. Beatuiful post Albertina - what a sad story about your daughter's classmate. I am also thankful for my health, family and friends.

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  4. Beautiful post today Albertina. Loved the photos. What a heartbreaking situation for your your daughter's classmate and her family. In the past couple of years, we've experienced premature loss in our own family and though I could not see it then, on the backside, that kind of loss and the realization that others were experiencing the same really does make you look at the world a little differently, count blessings, live in the moment and not take it all for granted. I saw an auto accident yesterday where a road crew just missed being caught in the crosshairs. It impacted me and we talked about it over dinner last night. Life can really change in an instant and we really must appreciate every moment.

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  5. What sweet pictures–that's really so heartbreaking about that little girl.

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  7. So deep and thoughtful, I absolutely loved it! I love you and little A so much, cheers to the beginning of many memories together!

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  8. Thanks for sharing these special moments with us. It's a great reminder to remember the small things in life. My heart breaks for her classmate.

    I'm thankful for my friends, family and wonderful husband! That's all I need in life to be happy:)


    Laura

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  9. what a beautiful thing you put up there today albertina. thank you. it is time to stop and smell the roses. and that poor 5th grader - my heart goes out to her and her dad and i wish for them an easier journey than what im sure will be ahead :/

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  10. Such adorable pictures, she sure is a cutie!

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  11. What a beautiful and inspiring post Albertina. Though I just can't imagine that little kid's fate :(

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  12. such a beautiful post! so sad about her friend's mom. that is so tough and reminds us all to be thankful for what we have and taken nothing for granted. lovely post albertina!

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  13. You're so right! Count your blessings and I do hope that girl, and all other children, get to keep their mothers for a long time. Caroline

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  14. Wow! Such a beautiful post Albertina! The thought of that little girl about to lose her mother makes me so sad! Also, I found an injured baby bird in our backyard about a year ago and ended up taking him to a bird sanctuary. Such pretty pictures. xo

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  15. oh my, my eyes just welled up with tears...I definitely could not imagine being without my mom. I love these little moments that you cherish with your daughter :) The blue jay rescue totally reminds me of my mom. She would always take in and care for the little creatures that were wounded and bring them back to life :) XO Brynn

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  16. Oh dear, I'm crying. This happened to a very good friend growing up, but his father kept temporarily beating the cancer. He finally passed away 2 years ago. Some how he snuck in an extra 20 years. It was still very sad to watch the goodbye process. If it taught me anything it's to be happy in life no matter what. The little things that we stress over daily are a blessing. xo

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  17. Very touching post and as I put I wrote on my blog today, we appreciate even more happiness when we go through hard things...
    Those sad moments and events should remind us that life is so fragile, that every little moment with the one we love, every flower we smell, every rainbow we see are magical and precious moments, each second is special that we should take time to enjoy as if it was the last.

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  19. Oh god how absolutely heartbreaking!!! :( :( :(

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  20. Thank you for sharing your heart. I am so thankful to have you and your precious family in my life.

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  21. That is just so lovely. Your little girl is gorgeous and so lucky to have a wonderful woman like you as her Mother. I can not imagine what it would be like to go through what her classmate is going through. Thank you for sharing your pictures. XO

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  22. What a beautiful post, Albertina. I love your insight and outlook on life.
    Isn’t That Charming.

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  23. This makes me tear up, its so poignant. My BFF is battling cancer and I wanted to complain about my week to her when her life is at stake. It really makes you pause and be grateful. You are a beautiful person inside and out and thank you so much for sharing this. it's not always about things! have a great weekend,
    xo Nancy
    Powellbrowerhome.com

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  24. Gosh I have a knot in my throat... Such a beautiful post. The older I get, the more I appreciate the little moments and my family. I am thankful for my mom and barely go a day without talking to her. My thoughts are with A's classmate! Have a great weekend!

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  25. Here here Albertina! Very well said. I'll be thinking a lot about Little Miss A and her mom this weekend, hoping for the best.

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  26. I seriously have chills. What a beautiful post, Albertina! Thank you for the lovely reminder. oxox

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  27. I'm so sorry to hear about the mother of your daughter's classmate. I just can't imagine. Thank goodness she has such a wonderful father. I need to be constantly reminded to live in the present. I have good intentions, but it's so easy to be distracted. I loved getting to see you this week.

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  28. This is such a thought-provoking post. It's always jarring to see someone hurting, and it definitely puts all of our own personal issues into perspective. Very well said, Albertina :)

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  29. Such a poignant post lady. Living in the here and now is really the best think we can do. So happy you're sharing/creating so many great memories for Little Miss A to have forever. My best friend died of cancer in 2011 and left two little girls behind. It is/was a devastating blow to know that they won't have those mommy/daughter moments with her and I know more than anything that she agonized over that in her final days. I've definitely learned that the role of a God-mother is as serious as it gets as I try to be there for them to create some mommy-time memories as best as I can. All my thoughts and prayers go out to that mom, her husband and little girl.

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