Yesterday Elizabeth’s brother, Michael, her Dad and and Uncle CJ headed out for the day to go to the Cleveland Brown’s training camp.  They were really excited to go and Elizabeth was really excited because that meant a “Girls Day”  meaning she and I would be together the whole day and could pick what we wanted to do with our time. ((Emily is away at a conference)

So as we said goodbye to the boys she turned to me and said “Now it is just us”

Originally Elizabeth and I had plans to go to the pool, the out to dinner.  The day had that little bit of a fall feel to it with it cool breezes that would make you want to keep your head under the water where it is warm if you were in the pool as well  as a  few more clouds then we had hoped for so we changed our plans. We decided to go for a long walk around our town,  walk to the coffee shop to get a coffee and walk home.

The sum total of our walk was 5.85 miles.

It was probably one of the nicest afternoons I have spent with Elizabeth this summer. The sun was bright.  The breeze was there and my buddy was right next to me.  Sometimes we would talk and other times we would both have our music on. And every so often she would reach for my hand or I would reach over to hug her.

It was peaceful simply BEing with her.

During the early years of her life there was always so much to teach her or to work on that even in our down times, I would be wondering what “work” could I sneak in.   As she has gotten older, I can see that we still have lots of work to do, different work, but it is still there.  But I have learned how to BE with her.  To enjoy her. To BE in the moment with her.

It was not easy arriving at this point and even though I am writing this to you now, I may find myself sneaking in some work on another day….after all, I am a work in progress as well.

But the gift of knowing how to BE with Elizabeth is wonderful.  So I am sharing it with you!

I wish everyone a peaceful day.

Michele