She Puts Her Arm In Mine

When she woke up this morning,
I found out happily
that she wasn’t scheduled to work.
“Let’s go do something fun”
and we decided on a plan
to go to our favorite fun place
that we go to only once
in awhile.
Things had to be done
before we could go together,
so we set up the exact time.
There is something about
being able to sneak off
for different views to walk
and to talk and eat together.
The whole family got to go -
at least the three of us
that are still left living under one roof.
We enjoyed dinner together,
laughing about the angle at which
she parked our van
just outside the food court.
She’s so fun to tease.
She laughs and gives us
some mouthy fun back.
Having just gotten her license
to drive last week,
she enjoyed driving us today.
And I got to sit in back

and be chauffeured and gaze at
the end-of-summer wildflowers
lining the sides of the roadways
and hear her interact with her Dad.
But how sweet as we walk
along together,
she slips her arm in mine
and we walk along the halls
of this shopping mall
together.
It is a precious thing
to have a daughter who loves
to be with her Mom
and her Mom,
loves to be with her.
These are truly the things
that fill your heart
with joyful memory.

To live in each moment

and enjoy these magical, 

short-lived moments 

with our children.