Perfect moments...

For a while (about eight months) I've been working through a bout of depression.  I've struggled off and on with anxiety and depression for most of my adult life.  This last round was more serious and I had a harder time pulling up out of it.  In February I ended up crying in my doctor's office, getting on anti-depressants and seeing a therapist.  

Things are much better now.  I think I have a better handle on my life and I've learned a lot.  One of my favorite lessons to put in to practice is to appreciate the moment I am in--right at that time.  You see those licence plate covers all the time "I'd rather be fishing" "I'd rather be shopping".  On a street near Adell's school (the street where I park most frequently) a car has a licence plate cover that says "I'd rather be here...now..."  I smile every time I see it.  Which is a nice little gift because I am usually late for pick-up or drop-off and feeling like I am going to murder someone.  So, thanks licence plate cover owner.  You've saved many lives.  

Anyway, today I had two perfect moments.  Moments where I was so happy to be in that moment right at that time.  Even though I had several other things that I should/could have been doing I was able to stop and love these moments:

Lorien is working on an art project on perspective.  She has made it into a much bigger project than it needs to be but she is have a great time.  Additionally, she is including Colter and Adell in her project and the three of them are loving life.  She is taking photographs to illustrate perspective.  She is organizing the little kids into a tableau far away from her--then using her hand, foot or face she pretends to be a Giant.  There is one patch of grass in the greenbelt behind our house that hasn't been destroyed by the drought.  All four of us are sitting in the soft grass, in the shade laughing at the pictures Lorien is taking.  The air is hot but not unpleasant.  I am trying to make a grass-reed whistle with my thumbs and a blade of grass.  So far, I've only managed one whistle.  It is a lot harder than it was when I was a kid.  

Anyway, it is all delightful and I am so thankful to be here now.

Colter has been improving his communication skills.  He was labeled "verbally delayed" at his two year check up.  He was a big fan of the point-and-grunt mode of communication.  The point-and-grunt got him every single thing he ever needed.  Over the last month or so he has built up an impressive store of words...many of them are words for construction vehicles.  Some times it is tricky to understand him.  I perfectly understand his word for "Dump Truck" but we've received our fair share of shocked looks when he shouts it in public.  

Today Adell was sitting in my room and Colter ran in with two small baby dolls shouting "Be-be-a-MACK!  Be-be-a-MACK!"  I didn't know what he was talking about?  Adell said, "He wants to play Baby-smack."  Now if you think that game sounds violent--you are right.  The game is played by climbing up on to my bed, throwing a baby doll up into the air and shouting "BABY-SMACK!" Then jumping off the bed to pick up the doll.  

Fun.

Adell and Colter played for a few minutes and then Adell started coughing.  Since this summer when ever she starts to cough hard she can get overwhelmed and start gagging...sometimes the gags become the barfs.  Anyway, Colter (without any prompting from me) ran into the other room and came running back with a rubbermaid bucket.  He gave the bucket to the gagging Adell and said "Spit-up-buh-ket".  He knew what was going on and he knew how to help.  It was adorable.  Adell did not end up barfing but all the appropriate precautions were in place.

This particular moment was so precious because it makes me so grateful I had one more kid.  Adell and Colter have become sweet little friends...siblings really.  They play and fight together just like the big kids do.  This moment was a sweet one.