You Never Know When

Last night after dinner, the kids were running around being silly and entertaining us. Tony and I were sitting on the couch when Ayden ran up to us and said, "let's all take a picture together, with all of us!" He jumped up on the couch between us and shouted for Rylee to join us. This request was totally out of the blue, because it's something he's never asked to do before. Of course we had to honor his request with a family selfie session! He was so happy and joyful that we were taking these pictures together. Looking at these pictures with all four of us makes me feel pretty mushy and happy as well. I sure do love my family!

You can't have a selfie session without making silly faces!

The way he's looking at his Daddy completely melts my heart.

Last night was Tony's last night home before leaving on a guys trip (to Dallas, TX) for the weekend, so it was nice that we were able to have a little quality time before he left this morning. Reflecting back on these photos, I couldn't help but think about how random it was that Ayden had wanted these pictures taken. The thought crossed my mind of what if these were our last pictures together as a family? I know that's a pretty morbid thought, but I couldn't help but think it.

Maybe it was because of a recent conversation between Tony and me. He had been worrying (as he frequently does) about the dire straights of our financial future for our retirement years. He gets particularly upset because he doesn't think I care about it at all, which isn't true. I just happen to think it's unhealthy to stress about it to the degree that he does, where it effects our quality of life right now.   What good does it do for us, or anyone for that matter, to stress and worry about years down the road when we don't even know what tomorrow will bring. I told him he could get hit by a bus (not likely), or he could get in a head on accident any given day driving to or from work (unfortunately, very likely as there are almost daily accidents on that stretch of road, and way too many are fatal), and then all this stress would be for nothing. Seriously, as much as he worries about our financial future, he's going to keel over from a heart attack and it won't even matter.

You never know when your last day is going to be, or the last day of a loved one. We hear all the time how we should "never go to bed angry," "live each day as if it were your last," and "you never know when you might be seeing someone for the last time."

So right now, I'm solo-parenting for a few days. Then the kids will be spending the night at their grandparent's house on Saturday, while I get to enjoy an evening with my favorite Aunt D, and hopefully Sunday we will all be together again safe and sound. I tend to be a glass half full type of gal, so this premonition feeling I'm having is a bit unwelcome. In the meantime, looking at these pictures brings such a big smile to my face, especially thinking about how that moment made Ayden so happy. May they not be our last; but if they are, I will forever treasure these pictures.