Time is Marching On

I have spent a truly amazing day with some of my family here in the Houston area. My mom and I drove here yesterday from Burleson. We have managed to see all of my kids and grand kids and my sister’s twin step sons. We spent the morning playing with kids and then took my mom to one of her favorite restaurants for lunch. Mom and I kept Lindsay and Shelby while their parents took off to get some supplies for this next week. Both of the girls went off to sleep and mom and I sat by the fireplace and watched a little tv. I am reminded of how simple something can be, but still have so much meaning. It was good to see my mom relaxed and at home in my youngest daughter’s house.
We took off this afternoon for downtown Houston to met Jarrod and Tyler at Rice University. They met us outside their dorm and showed us around the campus. What an experience it was for my mom to see something that she has just heard them talk about. I have watched my mom on this trip, making sure that she was physically up to doing everything that we were putting in front of her. She walked all around the campus with us and went up to see both of the boys dorm rooms. She asked a lot of questions and was truly interested in their lives. After we toured the campus Jarrod and Tyler asked us to go out to eat with them. Angie and her family met us in downtown Houston where we ate and visited. My mom is 83 years young and truly amazes me.
As I pulled up my Blog tonight I was once again sharply reminded that my dad is no longer with us and that is why my mom and I are hear in Houston visiting family. I sat for a few minutes pondering how my dad would react to what we have done today and I know that he would be very proud for what Mom has seen and done. My mom has spent the past 3 years taking sole responsibility of my dad. She only left the house to attend church on Sunday morning and also to buy groceries and medicine. I watch her and see that time has not stood still for her while she was doing this. She is not quite as quick on her feet as she was 3 years ago. She also tires a little quicker than she used to. I am trying to get used to Mom in a different way. I find myself waiting on her instead of her waiting on me. I am finding this to be a privilege instead of a burden. I find myself wondering how many more years I will get to have with her, all the time aware that time itself is marching on, waiting for no one.
I do not know what tomorrow holds for any of us. I look at my 5 precious grandchildren and wonder if they will get to know me like my kids know their grandmother. As time marches on, I am making a commitment to fill my life with as much happiness, hope and positive affirmation for my family that is humanly possible to pack into each moment. I am once again reminded that I cannot control time, I can only control what I do with myself during time.