Today is the last day of February.

A short month with a lot of viruses infecting our house. I’m tired of winter, tired of coughing, tired of feeling old and deaf,

tired of watching the sun get dim so early in the evening.

But tonight, as I watched my family picked places on the couch for them to snuggle.

My oldest and youngest curled up together, then my boys on another couch,

Then my little princess on me.

The children begged for stories, trusting that the words I would say were the ones on the page,

giving little kisses on the cheek, saying I love you and thanks for reading to me.

I spend so much of my life rushing and waiting for some other moment, for spring, for summer, for fall,

That’s it’s nice to stop,

Remember what it’s like to just feel that warmth and love, to see the wonder and truth in the eyes of a child,

And live completely in the present.