Life happens.

Today was a great lesson in living in the moment ~ and I think I passed.

Today was supposed to be spent at Galaxyland with Bevy and her family. Son and daughter were really excited to go on the rides, and so was my wallet (as daughter is free and son is only $10). So this morning I packed up the kids, goldfish crackers, water bottle, diapers and the kitchen sink (well, almost) and off we went to the cross-country - alright, cross city - trip to the west end. After meeting up with Bevy, finding a great parking spot, unloading the kids and cargo, and shuffling hand-in-hand towards the mall entrance...we arrived. At. the. wrong. time.

Alas, the tall green steel gates presented a very real wrinkle in our best-laid plans. Galaxyland was closed. And son's mouth was wide open. In protest.

Oh-oh.

But Bevy was fast on her feet and she came up with a plan. There is a great park nearby - we can take the kids there. And so we went.

And here's where I learned the real lesson. If a four-year old can adjust to the idea that he will not be going on way cool rides that mommy promised, that he can see, right there, right in front of him...if a four-year old can adjust to a new plan, one that we hadn't discussed, one that would take him away from the rides...if a four-year old can move on to the next thing, and forget about best laid plans and instead kick off his shoes in the park sand...then maybe that's what living in the moment is all about.

Life is not about planning, anticipation and expectations. Life's moments are about spontanaeity, presentness and experiencing.

Truth be told, the children probably had a better time at the park than any mechanical ride in the stuffy mall. Instead of watching blinking lights and hearing the beeps and horns at the amusement park, we were amused in the park by giggles, clapping and happy sighs as our children breathed in the fresh air and soaked up the warm autumn sunshine.

I couldn't have planned a better day. (Thanks Bevy).