Hello everyone. It has been such a long time since my last blog post. I honestly cannot believe how many months have passed since I last sat down to write. I hope you are all doing well and that life has been kind to you. Thank you for still being here after my long silence. Life has been very busy, full of unexpected turns, and filled with both beautiful moments and heartbreaking ones. There were many times when I wanted to write, but I simply could not find the right words or the right moment. Sometimes life asks us to step away, to be fully present, and to focus on the people who matter the most. That is exactly what happened to me.
Over the past several months, so many things have changed. Some days brought happiness that made my heart so full. Other days brought sadness that felt impossible to prepare for. Looking back now, I realize that this season reminded me how life is never just one thing. Joy and grief can exist together. We celebrate, we cry, we keep moving, and somehow we continue to grow through it all.
One of the biggest highlights of this year was our trip to the Philippines in May. We spent an entire month there with family. It was such a special time because living far away means we do not get to see everyone as often as we would like. Those weeks were filled with family meals, conversations, laughter, and simple moments that often become the most meaningful memories. There is something comforting about being surrounded by the people who have known you your whole life.
At that time, none of us knew that those weeks would become even more precious than we could have imagined. It was the last time we would spend together with Dad. A month after we returned home, he passed away.
Losing someone you love is never easy. Even when you know life is fragile, nothing truly prepares you for the moment they are gone. Since then, I have found myself thinking about those days in the Philippines again and again. I remember little conversations, shared meals, smiles, and moments that once seemed ordinary. Now they feel priceless. I am grateful we made that trip when we did. I am grateful our daughter got to spend that time with him. Those memories have become something our family will always carry in our hearts.
Grief has a strange way of changing how you see life. It makes you slow down. It reminds you that time is something we can never get back. It teaches you to appreciate the little moments that often pass by unnoticed because one day those ordinary moments become the memories you treasure the most.
That is probably one of the reasons I have been trying to spend more quality time with our daughter. She is growing so quickly, much faster than I ever imagined. Every week she seems to learn something new. Every day she surprises us with her words, her thoughts, and her little personality that shines brighter all the time.
Today, we were at a playground together. She was happily playing, completely busy in her own little world. I watched her climb, run around, and enjoy herself with that carefree joy that only little children seem to have. Then suddenly she noticed me. She immediately ran toward me with the biggest smile on her face.
She looked at me and said, “Here’s my treasure. Mommy is my treasure.”
I cannot even describe how those words made me feel.
It was such a simple sentence, yet it melted my heart completely. Children have the most beautiful way of expressing love. They do not overthink it. They simply say what they feel. In that one little moment, all the busyness of life disappeared. It was just the two of us, and her sweet words became one of those memories I know I will carry forever.
Our daughter has always been incredibly affectionate. She loves giving hugs, kisses, and saying kind things. She has reached that stage where she can express herself so much better now, and every conversation with her makes us smile.
One of the funniest things she does happens when I am outside in our backyard pulling out weeds or grass. She walks over to me, looking curious, and asks, “What are you doing, sweetheart?”
Every single time she says it, my husband and I cannot help but laugh.
She calls me sweetheart.
Of course, she learned it from hearing us use loving words at home. She simply repeats what she hears, but hearing it come from such a tiny little voice is the cutest thing ever. Sometimes I have to stop whatever I am doing just to smile. It is amazing how children reflect the love they receive. They listen to everything, even when we think they are not paying attention.
These little conversations may seem small, but they are becoming some of my favorite parts of motherhood. They remind me that children really do see the world differently. They notice things adults often overlook. They make ordinary days feel extraordinary without even trying.
Watching her grow has been one of the greatest joys of my life. At the same time, it is also a little bittersweet.
Every new milestone is exciting, but it also means saying goodbye to another stage that will never come back. One day she needed us for everything. Now she wants to try things on her own. She wants to climb without help. She wants to choose her own clothes. She wants to tell her own stories. She has opinions about almost everything now.
I love seeing her become confident and independent.
But if I am being completely honest, I also wish I could slow time down just a little.
People always say, “Enjoy it because they grow up so fast.”
I used to hear those words all the time. Now I finally understand what they mean.
It feels like yesterday when she was learning to crawl. Then she started walking. Then talking. Now we are having real conversations together. She remembers things. She makes jokes. She comforts us when we are sad. She tells us she loves us without being asked.
Somehow, this tiny little baby has become a little girl.
As parents, we know our job is to help our children become independent. We want her to grow into someone kind, confident, loving, and brave. We want her to explore the world and discover who she is. We know that every stage of childhood is preparing her for the next.
Still, there is a part of my heart that quietly whispers, “Not yet.”
Not because I do not want her to grow, but because every stage has been so beautiful that I am not ready to leave it behind.
Maybe that is what parenthood really is. It is constantly celebrating new beginnings while quietly grieving the stages that have already passed. You cheer for every milestone while secretly wishing you could hold onto yesterday just a little longer.
Losing Dad has also reminded me that life keeps moving whether we are ready or not. Seasons change. Children grow. Families change. Time continues forward. We cannot stop it, but we can choose how we spend the moments we have.
So these days I am trying to be more present.
I am trying to look up from my phone more often.
I am trying to listen carefully to every little story our daughter wants to tell.
I am trying to laugh more, hug tighter, and appreciate the ordinary days because they are never really ordinary.
One day, years from now, I know I will look back on afternoons at the playground, backyard conversations, and tiny voices calling me sweetheart. I know I will remember little feet running toward me and hearing, “Mommy is my treasure.”
The funny thing is that she thinks I am her treasure.
She has no idea that she is ours.
Thank you so much for taking the time to read my little update after such a long break. Life may have pulled me away from writing for a while, but it also gave me stories worth sharing. I hope to be here more often again, writing about the little moments that make life meaningful. Until next time, please take care of yourselves and the people you love. Hold them close, make memories together, and never underestimate the beauty of an ordinary day.
