did you hear it?

did you hear it?

the big happy sigh at the end of the day yesterday?

the deep, love filled, relaxed exhale of  happiness

occured around 11 pm

and was preceeded by a most wonderful day.

the day would perhaps have looked boring to some

being most of it was spent on the couch.

in fact

i didn't get out of my pj's all day long.

not once.

the big happy sigh was the direct result

of spending the entire day

the

entire day

in the company of my children.

it is true

that saying

you hear

about not really appreciating what you have

until you don't have it.

i didn't really understand that until now.

(even if i thought i might have- i really didn't)

it's only been

during these past few difficult months

of not having what we had taken for granted

or at the very least thought we would always have

that has brought me a little bit closer to understanding

the importance of making every moment count.

for in

 these moments and days

when we are all together and happy and content to just be

in each others presence

i am so aware.

so blessed.

so willing to just sit and let it all happen.

i don't need to force an activity or keep busy

or concern myself with what isn't happening

i am now able to just be.

just be with my kids

relaxed and free from expectations and demands.

so at the end of a quiet and peaceful day

we rolled into bed

  looked at each other

and said

"it has been a very good christmas"