10/15/2026
Welcome home, Dad!
After four months in the Philippines, we finally got to surprise Dad at the airport today. And honestly, these are the little moments I hope I never take for granted.
I feel so incredibly blessed to still have both of my parents here with me. I know that’s a gift not everyone gets, and it’s something I’m becoming more intentional about appreciating. So while I still can, I’m going to do the little things. I’m going to show up at the airport at 11pm to surprise him, make him smile, give him an extra hug, make the phone call, and find reasons to laugh together.
Because life is short. And the little things? They’re really the big things.
You never know when you’re sharing your last hug, making your last phone call, or laughing together for the last time. None of us gets to know how many of those moments we have left with the people we love. And I think there’s something powerful about remembering that without letting it make us afraid of what’s coming.
Instead, let it remind us to be here for what’s happening right now.
Back in January, I made a lot of posts about living in the present. About slowing down, being intentional, and making the most of the life we’re living instead of constantly looking ahead to the next thing. Here we are, with only two and a half months left in 2026, and I’m still doing my best to live that way every single day.
And I can honestly say this year feels different.
Maybe it’s because I’m learning that being present isn’t about having everything figured out. It isn’t about every day being perfect or life always going according to plan. It’s about recognizing what’s right in front of you and choosing to appreciate it while it’s here.
It’s about realizing that sometimes the most meaningful moments aren’t the big vacations, the major accomplishments, or the milestones we spend months planning for.
Sometimes they’re standing at an airport, watching your dad walk through those doors after four months away, just so you can see his face light up when he realizes you’re there.
Maybe this is why 2026 feels different. Maybe all those reminders I gave myself are finally becoming a way of life.
I don’t want to spend my life waiting for the next chapter, the next milestone, or the next big thing. I want to be present for the chapter I’m in. I want to make the memories, take the pictures, give the hugs, make the calls, and do the little things that might not seem like much today but will mean everything someday.
Because the little things add up to a life full of big things.
Welcome home, Dad. So glad we got to be the first faces you saw when you got home. I hope you know how loved you are.
Here’s your reminder, too: If you’re lucky enough to still have your people, love them out loud. Make the drive. Make the call. Give the hug. Show up unexpectedly. Take the picture.
Don’t wait for a special occasion to make an ordinary day special.
Be here. While you can. While they’re here. While life is happening.
That’s what living in the present means to me. 🤍