Holding On

I am again experiencing the need to hold on to a moment.  Tonight when I put Emma Jane down to sleep, she wrapped her tiny little hand around my finger.  That moment (as my Aunt Debbie says) soaked into my heart.  I MUST ALWAYS remember what it felt like to have her tiny little fingers around mine, because they will never be that tiny again.
With that in mind I started thinking about one of the most touching posts I've ever read by Ruby Red Slippers at Lions, Tigers, and Boys, Oh My.  I can't help but get teary eyed  (well, ok, more like cry my eyes out) when I read it because I think of my own parents.  Luckily I remember my mother's hands to a tee.  I remember exactly what they look like and how extremely soft they were.  No one ever could figure out how she kept them so soft, including her.  They truly were as soft as Emma Jane is now.  I also remember my Dad's hands.  His Duke ring and wedding band were worn almost every day of his entire life.  I have very vivid memories of what their hands look like and when I think of their hands, I feel so close to them, yet realize the finality of our situation.  I will never see those hands again.  I wish I would have taken pictures of them, or even had them in any of the pictures that I have.
If I were you (any one of you) I would take this idea from Lions, Tigers, and Boys, Oh My and make my own post like this.  Or if you don't have a blog, make a page in your scrapbook, or photo album.  I can't tell you enough, how much I wish I could.  Please stay tuned for my version of this post.  It may take me a bit (it takes time to get my thoughts about my parents into words).  I look forward to spending time thinking about all of the things those precious hands have done and been through.