Well, I missed getting our weekly blog posted this week!  Between preparing for our daughter’s wedding, celebrating her special day, spending time with family, and now trying to catch up on everything that was put on hold, life has been a little busy around our house. And you know what? I wouldn’t trade it for anything.

For weeks leading up to the wedding, I kept reminding myself of two things: Enjoy the process, and when the day finally arrives, make sure you stop and enjoy the day.

There were decorations, appointments, lists, last-minute details, and all those little things that come with planning a wedding. It is so easy to get caught up in making sure everything is just right that we sometimes forget to enjoy the very moments we’ve been looking forward to.

But one moment from that day will stay with me forever!  Katelyn had a special dance planned for me as the mother of the bride. As Rascal Flatts’ “My Wish” began to play, I had the opportunity to share a dance with my daughter on her wedding day.

But there is a little story behind that song.

When Katelyn was younger, I used to turn that song up loud in our house. I would sing it to her, and we would dance together. I loved the message behind it because it expressed so many of the hopes and dreams I had for her as her mom.  Years later, there we were, dancing to that very same song on her wedding day. Only this time, she had chosen it for me.

The song begins with the words, “I hope the days come easy and the moments pass slow.” And standing there with Katelyn, I couldn’t help but wish that particular moment would pass just a little slower.  The song is filled with wishes for someone you love, that life brings them happiness, that their dreams come true, that they find strength through difficult times, and that they always know how deeply they are loved. This is exactly what I wish for all my children.

As a mom, you spend so many years loving them, praying for them, encouraging them, and hoping that life brings them happiness. And then, before you know it, you’re standing on the dance floor watching your daughter begin a whole new chapter of her life.

I couldn't help but think about those days when we danced around the house together. Back then, I had no idea that one day we would be dancing to that same song at her wedding.  In that moment, none of the lists or last-minute details mattered. I wasn’t thinking about what still needed to be done. I was simply holding my daughter, remembering those moments from years ago, and enjoying a new memory I will treasure for the rest of my life.

And isn’t that what we all need to remember sometimes?

Life gets busy. We rush from one responsibility to the next, trying to keep up with everything that needs our attention. We tell ourselves we’ll slow down when things settle down. But sometimes the very moments we’re rushing through are the ones we’ll wish we could have back.

It might be a wedding, a family dinner, a grandchild’s ballgame, a conversation with a friend, or a quiet evening at home. We don’t always realize how special those moments are until we look back on them.

Ecclesiastes 3:1 reminds us:

“To everything there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven.”

There is a time to work, plan, and catch up. But there is also a time to celebrate, laugh, love, and simply enjoy the blessings God has placed in our lives.  So, if you’re feeling a little behind this week, maybe this is your reminder that it’s okay. Take care of what needs to be done, but don’t forget to enjoy the life happening around you.  Everything will still be there tomorrow. Some of life’s most precious moments won’t.

As for me, I’m still catching up on a few things. But I’m doing it with a full heart, wonderful memories, and a mother-daughter dance that took me right back to those days when we danced around the house together.

Sometimes God’s greatest blessings aren’t found in everything we accomplish, but in the moments, we take the time to enjoy.