Preoccupied mind, and being grateful

I'm one of those all-or-nothing type of people. When I was in High School, if ever I was going to be late to class, I would just rather not go at all (which did not improve my attendance record at all). Unfortunately, I'm like that with a lot of things. It comes in handy, once I choose to do something, because then I do it "right". But, sometimes you need to just do some things anyway, and if I feel like I can't give it my "ALL", then it gets put on the back burner---sometimes for too long... And that is the story of my blog.

But I think I'm back. For now at least.

So, as many of you, my mind has been preoccupied with the beautiful Nielson family. I think about Stephanie often throughout my day; thoughts coming and going randomly.

Today was no exception. We had an "opening social" for our Hale kids (I call them kids, but really, I'm sure more than 80% are older then me...). There was music, balloons, good food, etc. I watched as my little boy grooved to the music he heard. One of my "kids" walked up to me and said, "Mom Taylor (it's what they call me around these parts), you seriously are so lucky," it caught me off guard, "you have the most beautiful child, and obviously a wonderful husband. I know you don't know me well, but I have watched you from a far, and I just want you to know how lucky you are..." she said very sincerely, as my eyes wandered from my busy boy shaking his groove thing in the middle of the room, not caring about a soul in the world, to my strikingly handsome husband, entertaining people like he always does, making them laugh across the room.

I was so taken back by this onlookers observation of my family. My son had no shirt on, as usual, and had a trace of some sort of food smeared on his face, belly, and hands. My husband, sweaty and smelly from painting furniture all morning, glanced at me at that moment and winked, unknowing of my current conversation. I'm sure he was wearing mismatched clothes, from his routine of just-grab-the-first-shirt-and-pair-of-shorts-you-see, way of getting dressed in the morning. Yet, she was so right. More than she knew...

I would use the words blessed. I have been so blessed. I love my son. I love my husband. Both so dearly. But, at this moment, it was my son I couldn't take my eyes off. He was alive, and well. And he just so happens to have a mother who simply adores him, watching his every move on the dance floor; giggling to herself about his awkward movements. This was one of those moments, as I watched my dance machine, I thought of Stephanie... and her own four little ones.

I'm sure she would give the world to watch them dance. Today, I was blessed to be healthy and strong. Blessed to be a proud owner of my very own "beautiful" family. Blessed that Heavenly Father let me spend this day with them, doing the mundane, and un-fancy. I wanted to scoop up my little boy and hold him. Just for a few hours, is all...

So, for all my thoughts and hopes that have lingered on Stephanie and Christian, and their triumphant loved ones, they shifted for a moment; the only people on this planet that existed to me for that split second or two, was my own little family that I cherish more than words.

And during this "moment", a new song came on that my son was now swaying to. My heart swelled.

You're a falling star, you're the get away car.
You're the line in the sand when I go too far.
You're the swimming pool, on an August day.
And you're the perfect thing to say.

And you play your card, but it's kinda cute.

Oh, when you smile at me you know exactly what you do.

Baby don't pretend, that you don't know it's true.

'Cause you can see it when I look at you.

And in this crazy life, and through these crazy times

It's you, it's you, you make me sing.

You're every line, you're every word, you're everything.

You're a carousel, you're a wishing well,

And you light me up, when you ring my bell.

You're a mystery, you're from outer space,

You're every minute of my everyday.

And I can't believe, that you're my man,

And I get to kiss you baby just because I can.

Whatever comes our way, oh we'll see it through,

And you know that's what our love can do.

And in this crazy life, and through these crazy times.

It's you, it's you, you make me sing,

You're every line, you're every word, you're everything.