Lipstick Kisses.

Mike and I are religious about giving each other kisses before the other one leaves for the day.

Sometimes he leaves so early that I barely have one eye open.

Other times, my lipstick is on and I'm the one out the door.

When my lipstick is on, our kisses change a little bit.

Mike hates these kind.

I either make him just kiss my cheek to not smear my face,

or I pull my lips in like a grandma so most of my gloss will be protected. 

I'm in too much of a hurry to fix my lipstick,

so kisses are quick.

A couple of weeks ago I was rushing to leave,

and because of Mike's work schedule we weren't going to see each other for 

a longer period of time than normal.

I went in to kiss him, hiding my lips to protect my gloss, 

but this time he just looked at me.

"Ashley. Just kiss me."

I found myself annoyed.

"I don't care if it gets on my face. Just put more on in the car.

I'm not going to see you for a while."

And then I learned...

I learned that if you're in too much of a rush to enjoy the small moments that matter,

at the end of the day you're left with a bunch of meaningless events.

I've been trying to slow down lately.

Trying to spend less time rushing what's the most important;

Love.

That's what's most important.

And letting the people that are close to you feel that you care.

That if it was the last time you ever saw them,

they'd be able to say,

"She loved me. I know it."

Now, lipstick kisses are the best.

Because they mean that I'm more concerned about my husband,

than the million things I have to get done that day.

Eventually, they'll all get done.

And then new things will come up.

And the people I need the most will be there through all of it.

I want them to know that I'm there for them, too.

This week, slow down.

Pay a little more attention to what matters.

And smear your lipstick all over the faces of those you love.