Cherishing the Fast-Moving Moments

Had I known, I'm not sure I would have agreed to do it.

See the little girl in this photo. We have never cut her hair. It has grown at it's own sweet, slow pace and I've honestly wished it would stay short forever. As silly as it may sound, there is something about her hair being short that makes me feel like she's still a baby.

Tonight, she had an activity to attend, and a few minutes before it was time to leave she looked at me and asked, "Mommy, can you try to put my hair in a ponytail, please?"

I said, "Sure baby!" and I watched as she skipped to the bathroom, eagerly opened the drawer, handed me her brush, and made the short two-step climb to the top of the step stool.

As I was brushing the tiny, fine, short hairs back, I wasn't thinking much more than, "let's see if I can get enough back here to resemble a ponytail."

I wrapped the rubber band four times around a tiny bundle of hair. Feeling victorious I lifted my head and looked in the mirror and I had to fight back tears. It was as if I walked into the bathroom tonight with a toddler and walked out with a big girl. She looked so grown up. She looked like she was eight years old, not four. The hardest part is what followed: I looked at her and she was so happy! She loved how big she looked. It was one of those heartbreaking, bittersweet moments where I was thrilled to see how happy my girl was, while at the same time fighting back tears and praying silently, "Lord, please slow it down...just a little."

I created my life so I could spend as much time with her as possible, and I'm just so insanely aware at how quickly it all goes by. I just want to stay in it, relish it, be as present as possible for as long as possible.

If you are lucky enough to have children, I hope this is the last post you read tonight. I hope you shut down your computer or turn off your phone and you go and BE with them. Study their faces, tell them you love them, hug them as tight as they can stand it, and then thank God that you get the privilege to do so.