There’s something magical about watching a show set to music, where every scene feels like a beautifully narrated montage of daily life. Recently, my husband and I watched an episode of Yellowstone. Between the rhythmic simplicity of cowboy routines and the soulful strains of a fiddle, I found myself overwhelmed with gratitude for the simple moments in my own life.

Maybe it’s the nearness of the holidays, or perhaps it’s the impending move to Omaha in the spring (yes, we’re relocating if you’re new here!), but Kansas City feels particularly special right now. Watching that episode made me imagine the soundtrack and narration that would accompany the daily scenes of my life. And you know what? I think I’d want a track that captures the joy of our kitchen dance parties.

Two years ago, I wrote about those moments (you can find the post linked below). Today, even with everyone battling some head colds, we had one of those spontaneous dance parties in the kitchen. This time, instead of a fiddle band, it was the Encanto soundtrack filling the air (because let’s be honest, that album has some absolute bangers).

Kitchen dance parties always seem to ground me, pulling me into the present. They remind me to treasure the everyday—the moments that, at first glance, might seem ordinary but are, in fact, extraordinary. Whether it was swaying with Tucker as a baby to Jack Johnson’s lullabies or watching both kids giggle and twirl to Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious, these memories dance around me, reminding me that time together is the most precious thing we have.

My three-year-old has recently taken to asking for a bedtime lullaby. It’s a sweet request I can’t bring myself to refuse because part of me knows these days are fleeting. The other night, after we’d completed the whole bedtime routine and tucked her in, she stood up as we were closing her door and said, “Sing to me.”

I should’ve known better than to skip it—toddlers never forget bedtime rituals, especially when they aren’t ready to sleep. My husband chuckled and whispered, “You’re going to regret starting this back up.”

My response, more emotional than I intended, was, “I’ll regret it more once it’s over.”

We shared a knowing look, a quiet understanding that the regret doesn’t come from lost sleep or extra effort. It comes from knowing these moments, the ones that seem small and routine, are the ones we’ll miss the most.

It’s not the passing of time that tugs at our hearts. It’s realizing how incredible those fleeting moments were and wishing we’d cherished them even more.

So, let the soundtrack of your life play on, filled with the giggles of a kitchen dance party or the soft hum of a bedtime lullaby. Don’t let the mundane overshadow the beauty. Take an extra two minutes to rock your child or savor the squeeze of their little fingers in yours as you twirl them around the kitchen.

Wishing you a weekend full of gratitude and joy.

As always, happy reading.
-Katie

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