Friday, May 19, 2017

Happy Moments in the Little Things

Tybee Island, GA 2017
"Perfect happiness is a beautiful sunset, the giggle of a grandchild, the first snowfall. It's the little things that make happy moments, not the grand events. Joy comes in sips, not gulps." --Sharon Draper

This time last week we experienced two out of the three 'little things' mentioned in the above quote: beautiful sunsets and giggling grandkids. Thankfully there was no snow!  It all came about when our whole clan (parents/grandparents, kids, kids-in-law, grandkids) gathered at Tybee Island Beach off the coast of Savannah, GA. There we enjoyed happy moments in the little things and tucked them away: collecting shells, jumping waves, morning and evening walks, climbing to the top of a lighthouse, exploring an historical city. Not to speak of the bedtime stories and meals shared together. All good stuff. We stored moments up, sipped and savored. Sharing a few of those moments in snapshots...

"People forget years and remember moments." --Ann Beattie

"We can only be said to be alive in those moments when our hearts 
are conscious of our treasures." --Thornton Wilder


"Well, that's what life is--this collection of extraordinarily ordinary moments. We just need to pay attention to them all. Wake up and pay attention to how beautiful it all is." 
--Alexander Payne


 
    "I always did something I was a little not ready to do. I think that's how you grow. When there's that moment of 'Wow, I'm not really sure I can do this,' and you push through those moments, that's when you have a breakthrough." --Marissa Mayer


"Do not the most moving moments of our lives find us without words? " --Marcel Marceau

Part of the reason for this trip and its collection of special moments came about because members of our family--our son and his family--are soon to embark on a move to Spain. There they will be afforded many new opportunities as they engage in work in the mission field, and so they will be blessed with their own very special moments as they establish their lives there. (They were there for a period of time a few years ago. I blogged about that here.) And so this one is for you, Keith, from one of your childhood favorites:

"It's a magical world, Hobbes, ol' buddy...Let's go exploring!"--Calvin from Calvin and Hobbes

What special moments have you tucked away in your heart recently? Ever been to Savannah, or to Tybee Island? Any special celebrations in your family coming up?
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8 comments:

  1. I've never heard of Tybee Island - looks like a lovely place!

    My life has been too busy for much travel these past few years, so most of my special moments happen close to home. One is coming up on Monday when my granddaughter will graduate from kindergarten. Should be memorable!

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    1. Peggy, Tybee is a nice place for sure--lots of history, too, which I like :-) And your granddaughter's 'graduation' from kindergarten sounds like fun. I can imagine how proud she will be, and you, too! Enjoy...

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  2. It looks like it was an amazing, sweet but also bittersweet time. But now you'll have a reason to go to Spain again. I'd love to hear more about your son's mission trip. Maybe you could blog about it sometime.

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    1. Thanks for the suggestion, Cathy--just might do that :-) They will be working through a small church they attended when they lived there before, and so they are going back to a place and to people they love. It will certainly be a different life than the business world they were in before. New life chapters, new opportunities. We're happy for them...

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  3. Looks and sounds like you had a delightful time! It's a lovely way to savor and commemorate the upcoming change. So glad you shared with us. :)

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    1. It was a special time, Karen, and we are so glad we could go :-) Thanks for the kind words...

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  4. These are lovely pictures! I especially love the first one of the grandkids looking out at the water. But I liked them all, as well as your quotes.

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    1. Thanks, Elizabeth, glad you liked them :-) Appreciate you dropping in!

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