#TMILMT -8/8/16

I love these columns, of sorts, that fellow bloggers come up with to focus different areas of their writing. I’ve been snapping some pretty special pictures this past summer, always with the thought in mind, “I love this moment.”

So, here I present to you my original weekly installment of “The Moment I Loved Most Today,” or #TMILMT.

I have a few I want to share, and will do so in order to get going on it, but the one I’m itching to share right now is this.

Husband’s and my anniversary was 2 days ago, August 8. Girlfriend has forever been interested in our wedding. She loves to talk about it, ask questions, see pictures, and recently G gave her the bracelet she wore at our wedding, which Girlfriend wears around her ankle.

On August 8, I was poked awake at 6:15.

“Mommy,” Girlfriend whispered.

I startled for a moment, adjusted my eyes, and whispered back, “What?”

“Don’t come downstairs.”

“Why?”

“I’m working on something.”

“OK, I won’t.”

Monkey was still fast asleep so I rolled over and drifted off.

“Mommy.” There she was again. I peeked at the clock. It was about 6:45 now.

“What?” I whispered.

“You have to tell me when you come downstairs. You can’t go anywhere in the house without me. I’m in the living room, coloring. I’ll be there for a while. Ok?”

“Ok.” I smiled and went back to sleep.

About an hour later, I put both feet on the floor, marveled that Monkey was still sleeping and headed downstairs.

“Good morning!” I said to Girlfriend.

“Good Morning!” She immediately stopped what she was doing to run over for a hug. “Daddy, it’s time!” she called. “He’s going to be surprised, too. I told him the same thing, DO NOT walk around the house without me.”

“What’s going on? Happy Anniversary, Hun.” He leaned over to kiss me.

“Funny you should mention that,” Girlfriend said. “Ta-da!”

On the kitchen counter, she had written a beautiful card, a card she’d chosen from my box of photographed note cards, and framed a picture she loves of her father and I. This frame is one she uses for special pictures. She rotates them out. For now, it’s of me and her dad. It was taken 4 years ago, in July of 2012. She was 4 at the time.

“Happy Aniversury” it read.

“Wooooooooooooow!” I exclaimed. “You are so kind and so thoughtful!  Thank you so much!!  This made my day!”

We gave Girlfriend big hugs and kisses.

That evening, Husband arrived home from work with two bouquets of roses, because, he said, I am doubly loved.

Happy 14 years to us! I love that there’s a (clean) diaper on the table that Monkey dug out of the diaper bag, along with a bag of produce picked for me by my friend from her garden, and our Monkey there in the background, getting ready to climb on the table. Girlfriend is our photographer.