Tomorrow, Today Will Be a Memory

Let me tell you something about myself. I love a good conversation! Pull up a chair, grab a cup of coffee, and let’s visit a while. But there’s one thing you probably ought to know if you come sit in my kitchen while I’m cooking supper. 😂

Apparently, I can either follow a recipe or carry on a conversation, but doing both at the same time? Well, that’s where things get interesting!

See, when somebody’s talking to me, I want to really listen. I want to hear what they’re saying, pay attention, and be part of the conversation. The problem is, somewhere between listening to what they’re telling me and trying to remember whether that recipe called for a teaspoon or a tablespoon, things can go a little sideways. 🤣

I’ve been known to add the wrong ingredient, lose track of what I’ve already measured, or look down at what I’m doing and wonder where in the world I left off.

And there I stand, trying to figure out what just happened to supper!

So if you ever come sit in my kitchen for a good conversation, you’re always welcome. Just know that whatever we’re having for supper might not turn out exactly like the picture in the cookbook! 😂

But you know what? I wouldn’t trade those conversations for a perfectly measured teaspoon of anything.

And I guess that says a little something about how I’ve learned to look at life.

Because no matter how carefully we plan our days, life has a way of happening right in the middle of those plans.

There’s always something that needs doing. Laundry to wash, dishes in the sink, floors to sweep, supper to cook, bills to pay, and a to-do list that somehow seems to grow faster than we can check things off.

But somewhere in the middle of all that everyday busyness, there are people. People we love. People who need us. People who just want to sit and talk for a while.

And sometimes, those ordinary, unplanned moments turn out to be some of the sweetest ones of all.

None of That Lasts Forever

I’ve been a mom for a long time now. We’ve raised five children, and somewhere along the way, I’ve learned a thing or two about life, love, and the importance of enjoying the moments right in front of us.

When our children were little, I remember hearing older parents tell me, “Enjoy these days. They grow up so fast!”

And I listened. I really did. I took those words to heart and tried to soak up as much of those years as I could.

But I don’t think I fully understood just how true those words were until we had grown children of our own.

Because when you’re right in the thick of raising a family, some days feel like they’ll never end!

The mountains of laundry. The sibling arguments. The messy rooms, sticky faces, and little feet tracking dirt across a floor you just cleaned. The hard conversations, the teenage attitudes, and those days when it seems like everybody needs something from you at the exact same time.

And on those days, I’d remind myself, “It’s okay. This won’t last forever.”

Sometimes that reminder helped me get through the difficult moments. Because let’s face it, raising children is a blessing, but that doesn’t mean every day is easy! Some days are exhausting. Some seasons are downright hard. And it’s okay to admit that.

We can love our families with everything we’ve got and still have days when we’re tired, overwhelmed, or wondering if bedtime is ever going to get here. 😂

But even in those busy, challenging years, I tried to remember to enjoy the little things along the way.

I have so many sweet memories of our children coming to me with little pictures they’d colored or drawn just for me.

I can still picture them, each one of them, at different ages and in different moments. I remember where we were, their little faces, and how proud they were to give Momma something they’d made.

One memory that stands out is being in the kitchen cooking when one of my boys came in with a picture he’d colored for me.

I could’ve told him, “Just a minute, honey. Momma’s cooking supper.” And sometimes that’s exactly what we have to do.

But that day, I stopped what I was doing. I got down on his level, thanked him for that beautiful picture, and loved on him for a little while.

And there were so many moments like that with all five of our children.

Nothing extraordinary. Just little hands offering me something they’d made, and a momma taking a moment to appreciate it.

But here I am, all these years later, and I can still picture those moments so clearly.

I don’t have little children running into my kitchen with pictures they’ve colored for me anymore. Those days have come and gone, and goodness, they went by quickly.

But what sweet memories to carry with me.

And isn’t that something? Moments that probably lasted only a minute or two have stayed in my heart for years.

One of those little moments I get to keep in my heart forever. 🩷

And you know what else?

None of that lasts forever. And… none of that lasts forever.

The piles of laundry get smaller. The house gets a little quieter. There aren’t little faces to wash or scraped knees that need one of Momma’s magical kisses.

You don’t hear little voices singing the ABCs while washing their hands at the sink. There aren’t many requests to cuddle just because.

And those moments that once seemed like such an ordinary part of everyday life become some of the sweetest memories tucked away in your heart.

Now, don’t misunderstand me. I’m not sitting around wishing our children were little again every day. I love this season of life, too!

Our children are growing up and building lives of their own, and I genuinely enjoy the relationships we have now. They’re different, of course. They’ve grown and changed, and so have I.

But there’s something pretty wonderful about getting to know your children as adults, sharing conversations, laughing together, and still being someone they call when they need a little advice, encouragement, or just want to talk.

The seasons change, but there is still so much life to enjoy in every one of them.

Sometimes the Best Moments Aren’t Planned

Just the other day, our youngest son turned 19. (Nineteen! I’m still trying to figure out how that happened so quickly!) 😂

He left for work that morning just like any other day, and I went about my usual routine. I had the baby to take care of, work to do for Our Families Attic, and plenty of things on my to-do list.

But then something unexpected happened. He came home! They’d given him the day off for his birthday.

Now, I could have continued with my plans. There was certainly plenty of work waiting for me upstairs. And he would’ve been perfectly content relaxing in his room, watching television or playing video games.

But instead, I decided to rearrange my day a little.

We spent most of the afternoon together. We watched a movie, talked, and just enjoyed being together.

That’s it. Nothing fancy. No big outing or elaborate plans. Just a momma and her son hanging out at home.

And I loved every minute of it.

Eventually, he was ready to go relax in his room, and I went back to my usual routine. The work was still there, just as I’d left it. Imagine that! 😂

But I returned to it with a little bit of a bigger smile on my face and in my heart.

And you know what? That’s the kind of moment I’m talking about.

We didn’t have to do anything extraordinary to make a memory. We simply enjoyed the time we had together.

And this isn’t something that only applies to raising children.

Sometimes it’s an adult child calling because they need advice or a little encouragement. Sometimes it’s a friend who needs someone to listen, or your husband wanting to sit and visit for a while.

I love those conversations. I love knowing that the people I care about feel comfortable coming to me, whether they have something exciting to share, something weighing on their hearts, or just want to talk about their day.

And when I can, I try to give them my attention.

Now, that doesn’t mean I can drop everything every single time somebody needs something. None of us can. Sometimes there are responsibilities that simply can’t wait, and sometimes we need a little time for ourselves, too.

But when I have the opportunity to stop, rearrange my plans, or make a little room in my day for someone I love, I want to take it.

Not because my responsibilities don’t matter. They absolutely do.

But because the people in my life matter, too.

And sometimes the most meaningful part of our day isn’t something we accomplished.

It’s someone we spent it with.

Tomorrow, Today Will Be a Memory

There’s something I’ve come to understand more deeply as I’ve gotten older.

Plan for the future. Treasure the past. But live in the present.

I think it’s important to make plans, set goals, and look ahead. We aren’t promised tomorrow, and goodness knows our plans don’t always turn out the way we expect, but that doesn’t mean we shouldn’t make them.

And the past? Well, that’s part of our story. It’s where our memories live, where we’ve learned lessons, made mistakes, celebrated victories, and experienced things that helped shape who we are today.

But we don’t live there anymore.

We live right here, in the present.

And sometimes, with all the responsibilities and pressures of everyday life, it’s easy to forget that.

There’s work to be done, bills to pay, appointments to keep, people depending on us, and a seemingly endless list of things needing our attention.

Some seasons of life are especially hard. Sometimes we’re simply doing the best we can to get through the day. And if that’s where you are right now, I hope you’ll give yourself a little grace.

You don’t have to love every minute of every day. You don’t have to turn every ordinary moment into something special. And you certainly don’t need another reason to feel guilty about all the things you haven’t accomplished.

Goodness knows we can find enough reasons to feel guilty without adding a few more! 😂

I’m simply encouraging you, and reminding myself, to notice the moments when we can.

Take the unexpected phone call from a friend who needs someone to listen. Enjoy the conversation with your husband while you’re cooking supper, even if you have to double-check that recipe afterward! Spend a little extra time with your children, whether they’re two years old or twenty-two.

And sometimes, just sit quietly and enjoy a moment of peace.

It doesn’t have to be a perfect day to be a day worth appreciating.

Because the truth is, the past is where our memories live. The future is where we make our plans. But the present is where we’re actually living.

And tomorrow, today will be a memory.

One More Thought Before You Go

If there’s one thing I hope you’ll take away from our little visit today, it’s this:

You’re doing okay.

You don’t have to have everything figured out. Your house doesn’t have to be spotless. Your schedule doesn’t have to go exactly as planned. And you don’t have to feel guilty for taking a little time to enjoy the people and moments that matter to you.

Take care of your responsibilities. Be a good steward of what God has blessed you with. Make your plans and do the best you can.

But remember to enjoy the life happening along the way.

And if you get the opportunity to stop what you’re doing and spend a little time with someone you love, I hope you’ll take it when you can. 🩷

As for that laundry waiting to be folded?

Well, I’ve been doing laundry for over forty years (yes, I started young! 😉), and I can assure you of one thing...

It’s not going anywhere! 🤣