Little Moments in Time
The word summer brings to mind images of relaxing on the beach, swimming in the pool, hiking, picnicking and the like. Every summer we have high hopes that we will get to enjoy some lazy days and lolly-gagging, taking life at a slower pace and relaxing.
This is never how summer pans out for us. With our five kids still mostly at home, our jobs, and other obligations in our personal lives, the summer always seems to slip by so quickly, and then fall and a new school year are upon us.
Jen’s Little Moments
Jen: As we head toward the end of July and I see our obligations and responsibilities encroaching, I find myself looking back to the little moments in time that summer held that were relaxing and slower paced. Sometimes those moments are brief passionate kisses in passing. Sometimes they are dates at home around the fire pit at night after dinner. And sometimes they are long enough to be considered a night out. No matter where we find them, the little moments in time are the ones we treasure when life is busy.
One of my favorite little moments this summer has been lunch dates with Nick. Because I work for a school, most of the year we can’t make time in the middle of the day for a lunch date. But during summer, this is a luxury we try to take advantage of at least once a week. Even if it’s just Nick coming home and sitting in the yard with me over lunch, it’s a special time that I treasure.
Nick’s Little Moments
Nick: Waking up with Jen in the morning, we spend a short time together listening to a podcast (this year, using Fr. Mike Schmitz’s Catechism in a Year) over coffee. Then, if it’s not a day where I have to rush into the office, I’m able to hold on to Jen for a few extra minutes before getting out of bed and starting my workday. Those planned minutes and sometimes a few bonus minutes in the morning are a great example of these little moments we can cherish.
In spite of all the busy-ness we have in our lives, summer can open the door to little moments more frequently than the rest of the year for us. I try to take the time to savor these moments with Jen. I try to avoid letting the times we happen upon slip by unacknowledged. I try to engineer these moments as well, plotting some short and spontaneous get-away dates with Jen – nothing fancy, but I make a point of courting her and letting her know that I appreciate the time we have together.
Little Moments as a Couple
Little moments are important when life is busy because they are brief reminders of who you are as a couple. They are moments of grace when you re-group, even if it’s just a passionate kiss. These little moments can help the foundation of your relationship remain strong, even amidst the responsibilities and pressures of obligations. Don’t let the rest of your summer slip by without making those special moments together.
