Pirates, Pools, and The Dalai Lama

A friend posted this on his Facebook wall:


When asked what surprised him most about humanity, The Dalai Lama answered:  "Man.  Because he sacrifices his health in order to make money.  Then he sacrifices money to recuperate his health.  He is so anxious about the future that he does not enjoy the present; the result being that he does not live in the present, nor the future; he lives as if he is never going to die and then dies having never really lived."


This week, Gabriel has been attending a boys' camp.  Each day there is a different theme.  It started with Pirate Day on Monday.  This camp is being hosted by a friend of mine at her house, and when we picked Gabriel up from camp that first day, he was so happy and sweaty.  He had such a great time!  It was such a wonderful feeling seeing him so excited!


Later that day, Dave worked in the yard, planting some Confederate Jasmine against our back fence.  While he worked, the kids and I sat in an inflatable pool that we had bought a few days earlier.  It was so fun and relaxing, sitting there watching them enjoy the water.


That night, I was sitting on the floor with Lily, when Gabriel brought me a book to read.  Before long, I had all three of them sitting in front of me, while I read them a story, like a librarian would to a group of children.  Dave took a few pictures and videos of the event.  He considered it a priceless moment.


It was a PERFECT day!


Yesterday, as Dave and I were driving down the road, he asked me if I would rather he have a job that made a lot of money but required him to work sixty to eighty hours per week.  I told him no.  Time is more important to me than money.  Dave alluded to the above quote.  He doesn't want to be that man who never really lived.  Neither do I.


We reflected on Monday and how we both had such a great day without spending a whole lot of money (sure, we had to pay for Gabriel's camp and buy the pool), but it's not like we took a trip to Disney World and spent THAT much money (and might have even had a better time). 


It's the little things.  We've grown to love and appreciate them a whole lot more.  And I won't say that it's fully because of Lily, because it's not, but staying at home to take care of the kids and being forced to downsize our budget has helped us open our eyes to those smaller things. 

I wouldn't trade that Monday for a thing in this world.  I definitely felt like I was living.