The Things We Live For

We have had a busy week, and so much more is planned.

This week alone…

Our beautiful children have gotten to go and see the chickens and hear the roosters crow up close and personal. Twice. Jonah wasn’t sure if he was safe when he heard the roosters crow, but finally decided it was okay.

Micah and Lydia got to see the ever-exciting, elusive Longmire, a baby peacock who is just starting to grow his feathers long and proud like his dad.

Our whole family took a picnic breakfast down to Spring Creek with the Grammy. Micah and Lydia ate an entire bag of Donnetts by themselves, save two lonely donuts, and also munched on cookies. Lydia walked around in Spring Creek, while Jonah waded his little feet. I waded in while carrying Micah and we saw the little fish and crawdads. Twenty five years ago my mother took me to the shores of this same creek for a similar unhealthy, delicious breakfast, and I am so grateful to have gotten to take my babies there for the first time in their lives as well.

Oh, but that is not all we have done this week…

The whole family went to Meremac Springs at my dad’s suggestion. Once there, we had a pizza picnic under a pavilion during the pouring rain. A giant thunder shook the pavilion, and our brave babies awed at God’s wonder. The downpour started once we were safely under our pavilion, and it cleared up just as we finished eating. (God is good!)

We walked all over Mermac Springs that day: around the spring and under the cave, by the hatchery and through the museum. The children fed the fish, saw some SNAKES, and slid down a slide as many times as their dad could stand. Jonah didn’t sleep until we were headed back to the car. Everything was too exciting.

But that’s still not all our children have gotten to do and see…

Yesterday Micah and Lydia got to meet up with their friends at MOPs, and they were each surprised with new books and toys when they woke up from their naps (Goodwill specials).

And then today I took all three kids to a strawberry patch and let them pick strawberries to their hearts’ contents. Micah carried a little basket, and Lydia tried to carry a giant tray. We saw more roosters and goats. A chicken walked right up to the kids and almost let them touch her. We played on playground equipment and then headed home to feast on a snack of fresh strawberries. (Ten times better than the strawberries you buy at the store.) We also made a cake.

All this and it’s only Wednesday… What other fun things are planned for this week?

Tomorrow, the children have a play date with several other families at a park, and on Friday, they will play with friends at the YMCA before coming home for a very long nap. Because Friday night, the family has BIG plans…

Friday night, we will all watch a movie together and then camp out in the sunroom. We will have a playroom picnic, make smores, and read stories. Nobody is expected to go to sleep before midnight if they don’t want to. Our little babies get to stay up late and look at the stars. We will listen to the critters of the night: frogs, crickets, and owls and maybe take a walk in the cool of God’s night.

These are the things that should make up our lives. Our gracious Lord has given us this beautiful earth to enjoy. But how often do we destine to enjoy it? Instead, how often are we too overworked, overstressed, or overwhelmed to intentionally enjoy these creations?

This week my children have enjoyed the Lord’s creations of nature, family, friends, and wonder; and I have gotten to enjoy all of these things right along with them because these are the things we live for.