Walking on Wednesday ~ When the Heck did THAT Happen?

'Take time to stop and smell the flowers' they say. 

Yes, that sounds like a good idea, but every time I stop and take a minute, I say to myself "When the heck did THAT happen?!?" Things are moving so fast these days, events that happen often take me by surprise.

For example, my oldest is now in his second week of college! Yes, well into classes and settled in. I know we drove him there, unloaded all his things, said our goodbyes and drove home without him. (all in one day too, 5 1/2 hour drive each way. No wonder it is all a blur.) 

See me hanging on tight....
when did he get so tall???

I look at the pictures and think 'When the heck did my little Cuddle Bear become a man?' It seems like it happened so fast, the last 18 years.....


Then today, I nearly fell over when my youngest walked in the kitchen like this:  

Sir, yes Sir!

He is in JROTC, and uniforms are the dress each Wednesday. But when did he become such a handsome young man? (even if he isn't smiling...it was early after all....)
 
I know life is busy, and it goes on no matter if you pay attention or not. 

Behind the scenes at the photo shoot.

Like when I realized my daughter become a beautiful woman. It hit me seeing her on that photo shoot last weekend, and then her telling me about the upcoming school musical she is so excited for. Add to that her new little best buddy she is babysitting for and suddenly I realize she has become a wonderful young woman. No longer the 'little buttercup' that used to giggle when daddy sung her his version of that song. 

Daddy's Little Buttercup

Then, I flip through the local paper, The Mountain Express, and see this.

Oh, I know I experienced the torture of posing for that little picture of me there for Blue Rage of Asheville's Women in Business Ad - we took over 20 pictures before there was a decent one. 

But when I see it in print, it hits me - I am in the newspaper!! Although it was years in the making, suddenly there I am, a Woman in Business in this great city of Asheville.

Sometimes it it just too much for me. I get overwhelmed with all that has happened, changed, or has to be done. Sometimes I just can't take it.

Daddy and his Buttercup.

Thank goodness I have my hubby to keep me going. He is there making fun of me when I get too sappy, bringing me back to reality. He is the one who calms me when I start freaking out. He is the voice of reason when I am the voice of emotion. We are just a year or so from our 20th anniversary - when the heck did THAT happen???

It seems that when I wasn't looking, so much has changed! But really I am looking, I am noticing and enjoying every minute. If I don't, then I really WILL miss it - it does happen so fast.

So DO stop, smell those flowers, take those pictures, notice the small things. 

Be Batman for a few minutes.....

It is those small things that make the most difference.

Who says back to school shopping isn't fun?

It is the smallest pleasures that gets us through. Through to the next time we take a minute and think ''When the heck did THAT happen?"