Record Your Precious Moments

The days are getting crisp as we anticipate Christmas just a week away. Though admittedly I relish the warmer days of summer in the Pacific Northwest, I do enjoy the cool, blue sky days of winter and always look forward to the holiday season and spending special time with my family.

One of our favorite places to go during the holidays is the beautiful resort town of Whistler. Located in the spectacular Coast Mountains of British Columbia, the village comes to life during this festive season of the year with people visiting from all over the world. There is nothing like seeing a fresh blanket of snow draped over Whistler and Blackcomb mountains, while an incredible display of twinkling lights can be seen throughout the village creating a perfect winter escape.

It's hard to believe that the border has been shut down for most of the year, and we couldn't go to Whistler or Canada for the holidays even if we wanted to. The disruption of the pandemic conjures up many emotions, and most are not welcome ones.

This Christmas I need to remind myself of my own mission to live an intentional life - one where I choose to be grateful on purpose.

On this Whistler trip a couple of years ago, I started a new tradition for myself of recording the precious moments of our time together. This morning I pulled it out, and reading it warmed my heart as I remembered how I felt as we shared this special time. Here are a few of the smile-generating memories form my journal:

• My Dad leading us in prayer at the dinner table. As his familiar words washed over me, I felt so grateful for the gift of being together as a family.
• My husband Graham teaching my 80-year old parents how to use the rowing machine at the gym. What a good example they are to us of healthy living!
• One of our little's ordering a gourmet hot chocolate piled high with whip cream, and the look of pure joy as he devoured it while getting it all over himself.
• Playing board games and realizing just how competitive we all are. The apple doesn't fall far...
• Dressing warm in our heavy coats, hats and boots to walk the beautiful Whistler trails.

As you think about your own life, take time to record your precious moments. These "joy" moments are times that bring a smile to your face and bring you deep satisfaction personally or professionally.

It may be times with those special people in your life, or it may be on a mountain top alone. What makes a moment precious is very personal and will be different for each of us. What makes them the same is how they make you feel. When you bring them to mind later, you can't help but smile all over again, and even be brought right back to the moment.

In this holiday season that looks a lot different for many of us, don't miss the very things that mean the most - the moments that come and go in the blink of an eye.

Record your precious moments as they become lifetime memories.