together

We've had a lovely weekend. One of my husband's son and family came across country for a visit. Another son and family live here in the city too. A daughter lives in the midwest and was not able to be here so it wasn't "perfect."  We did lot of things together and had some times of sitting and talking in quieter groups. Then last night we had dinner together at a restaurant. We were in a large booth with a fair amount of noise around---but we were together. There was my husband, the dad, his two sons, their children (not all of them but a grand representation), wives. I looked around and felt such pleasure at the warmth, the laughter, the one son rubbing his dad's back, the grand kids joking and teasing grand dad.

It has been a long and sometimes difficult journey. Not all his kids and grand kids could be there. But it was a moment of intimacy and warmth. It's difficult to create those. They just happen and they are a gift. Sometimes when I watch other large families laughing and joking together, I feel a real pang of envy. I feel left out. But last night I was "in" and I treasured it.

Are you able to treasure the moments? Or do you wait for it to be "perfect" and miss the best it can be?
Do you thank God for the moments?

Blessings---Penny