Our school has a week off for Fall break so we decided to go to Illinois to visit family. I had to explain to J why we have a break- we work really hard at school then we have some time off of school to rest to be ready to work hard and do good work at school again when we come back.
It reminds me of Sabbath- set times to rest.
Several times before we left and as we were leaving the boys asked me to tell them what our schedule was going to be - how many hotels we'd be staying at and when. Their favorite thing about hotels is that they get fruit loops for breakfast. You can always tell when a trip like this is coming up because their anticipation levels are high. They get hyper and ask when we are going to leave several times.
It reminds me of being eager for Heaven, where He will wipe away every tear.
I'm writing this as we are on our 2 day car journey. I notice all the different terrains we have passed through. Hills, ranch land, tree and mini cliff lined roads, flat corn fields, towns, cities, repeat. Here comes a new state- get ready to yell the name when we pass the state line! So many things to see and even more things to do inside the car and yet, J is stuck on the repetition of, "I'm bored."
It reminds me of how easy it is to fail to notice the blessings around me everyday.
I've started a list of family quotes on this trip because I don't want to forget these funny moments. Here's a sampling-
As my husband suggested that J learn to enjoy spicy Indian food- "Then my throat will catch on fire!*
As I wondered aloud if we would go to Home Goods to buy presents for the people we are about to visit, M yells what he thought the name said, "Look, it's Ham Dogs!" Everyone laughed.
What do you want to eat, J? "I want roasted pig and roasted penguin!"
As a song about phonics that has a strong beat plays J says, "That song is bonker balls!"
All of us screaming like goats or laughing at the funny pig oinking that sounded like farting in our audiobook to help J get out of a grumpy mood.
It reminds me of how important it is to fill my head and the heads of my children with good things and joyful things because what we are filled with is what comes out.
A hard thing for me during trips like this is to hold on to daily routines, or to be wise about which ones to let go of. I enjoy having quiet time with God and waking my body up with a little exercise in the morning when I'm at home and those routines sometimes seem to disappear after they've stopped for a while. Who knows if the schedule of this trip or the wake up routine of my boys will allow those healthy rhythms or if new ones will form. I'm trying to hold on to blog writing, but praying that this blog even sees the light of day through the fullness of our trip.
It reminds me of how easy it is for me to get distracted from doing good things, even if the distractions are good things too.
Lord,
Thank you for the connections, for the opportunity to travel, for the wisdom and determination on keeping healthy rhythms, and for the blessings all around me. May my children and I see You in everything around us.
Amen.