🏡 Home, Family & Small Moments That Stay With Us

I decided to fly from the Pacific Northwest to the Midwest to surprise my mom for Mother’s Day weekend.

Sometimes a small moment stays with us longer than expected. On the day of my flight, I caught myself overthinking a stranger’s reaction and later laughed, realizing how human that really is. Life has a way of reminding us not to be too hard on ourselves.

When I arrived, my mom was joyfully surprised to see me walking in with flowers. Moments like that are simple, but they stay in the heart for a long time.

One thing that always reminds me of home is her Precious Moments collection. She has several figurines displayed on the shelves, each carrying memories from different seasons of life. Years ago, I gave her the figurine of a girl signing “I Love You” in American Sign Language. I originally hoped to find a boy version to reflect my role as her son, but it was never available at the time.

Recently, I found another figurine — a boy with his dog and an American flag — and it instantly reminded me of myself and my dog back home. I knew it would make a meaningful gift for her.

Being with family is always special, even when many miles separate us most of the year. We usually see each other every one or two years, but love and connection remain strong. We communicate mostly through sign language within our immediate family, and with others we simply text back and forth without any trouble.

It has also been comforting to spend time with my dogs again. Sometimes peace is found in the smallest things: familiar faces, shared laughter, quiet evenings, and the feeling of being home.

As Mental Health Awareness Month comes to an end, I’m reminded that caring for our well-being does not always require grand answers. Sometimes healing begins with rest, family, faith, meaningful memories, and reconnecting with the people who know us best.