Saturday morning the sun was shining gloriously after being held hostage by clouds for most of the month of January. The light and warmth did not go unnoticed by my kids and they were down the hill right after breakfast, making big plans, dreaming big dreams.
Meanwhile, my husband and I charted our day as well. He would clean the garage, set up those new storage shelves and possibly even pull out his extension ladder to wash those dirty second story windows that drive his wife crazy. I would tackle the housekeeping chores that get neglected during the week.
Pretty ordinary Saturday at home for us.
As we discussed our plans for the day we looked out the window to see our four little namesakes apparently constructing a teepee on the lower part of our property. Running high on enthusiasm and low on skill they each held a pole and began many attempts to position them for permanence.
My husband smiled – the big, fill you up on the inside, kind of smile. This, right here, was what he had dreamed about when we bought this barren property 5 years ago. Our kids were smaller then and there were fewer of them, but he was planning for this moment right here and many more just like it. Kids running wild and free with their big imaginations, room to explore and create. My husband hand-picked this property, signing the deed to a small, neglected acreage. But what he was really buying was a foundation. A spot to make memories, to live out adventures, to build a home, a family, a life.
But somewhere along the line, things didn’t go exactly as planned. Providing for this family means work. Building a home, work. Maintaining a property, work. Keeping up the house, work. And there are always projects, right? How soon should we put in a pasture? Work. Let’s finish the basement! Work. Add a few animals. Work. Work. Work.
There is so much to be learned in work, in doing, so much to be valued there, but the opportunity for over-consumption is real as well. When we never take time to enjoy the fruit of our labor because there is always something more to do.
Before I knew it, my husband was tearing down the hill to join the kids, to see if he could help them shore up that teepee frame just a bit. Sometimes, the work, the doing, can wait. It will always be there, but kids don’t keep. Wild imaginations grow and shift and there won’t always be teepees that need building.
A little while later I joined them. And one teepee became two. A few sticks, positioned together became Fort Westenberg. With a campfire. We christened it with a hot dog roast, marshmallows, s’mores. And we spent our entire Saturday down the big hill. Together.
There is so much to do, friends, always so much to do. But occasionally, I think we need to shrug off doing, for being. Being a family, being together, forsaking clean windows and clean garages. Trading those things in for time well spent, memories well made.
Like most everything else, it doesn’t happen without intention. Intention to seize small moments, capture the minutes.
Blink and it’s gone, they tell me. These moments with my little people, gone. I’ve made my share of bad tradeoffs in motherhood, given way to too many distractions, prioritized the wrong things far too many times. But I wouldn’t trade Saturday for a lifetime of clean windows.
Later in the day, my 10 year old told me, “I’ve dreamed about days like this, mom.” And I thought to myself, you’re not the only one, buddy. We all have. We all do. But we aren’t always brave enough to trade the good for the better, to stop doing, even if for just a few hours, and just be.
I LOVED this post! So very very much. I just randomly came upon your blog thanks to Pinterest, and this post — YES. That is the exact type of day I dream of for the property we bought for our forever home we plan to build someday. We are currently in the military, but someday I hope to move back, build a home, and start building teepees and campfires at the bottom of the hill with our own kiddos. 🙂
Keeping dreaming, Tiffany. I can’t say I was always patient during the wait, but looking back, all that dreaming (and waiting) makes it all the sweeter when it does. 🙂
This just about melted my heart! SO! Good!!!! I am a doer by nature and this is a lesson the Lord is gently (and sometimes not so gently!) teaching me about. To stop “doing” so much, and start “being” more. I wouldn’t trade the sweet memories I’ve stored up in my mama heart for anything. Intentionally being present in every moment is literally changing my life.
And you are figuring that all out at such an early age, Krystal. So much present left to enjoy. What a gift! And thank you, as always, for your encouragement. I sure do appreciate it.
May you have many more days like this! So beautiful..I love the picture of Ross and his boys so much. Would love a copy to frame.
I think I can make that happen! 🙂
I loved this! I agree its so easy to be so busy all the time and with seven kids there is barely a time when we are not busy. We have tried spending more time taking the kids out like the other week we took them swimming at the lake and it was great just being together. I remeber looking and watching all our kids in the water and I couldnt help thinking “wow all those kids are ours! We are so lucky!” and I stood there feeling quite proud and content!
#againstallhope
That’s exactly what I’m talking about, Ally. Those moments we want to have, memories we want to make, yet get too busy to ever get to. Way too be intentional about it! And I’m just the slightest bit jealous of you guys getting to swim at the lake this time of year – it’s freezing here! 🙂
Great post, Katie. Sweet memories that are inspiring who your children will be.
Thank you, Pam! I’m so happy you stopped by! I don’t always pull these moments off well but I’m sure determined to keep trying. 🙂
Awesome! My son is mostly grown now, and I this made me think of the moments that I captured and more so the ones that I lost because I was busy. It also reminds me of Mary and Martha and Jesus. Jesus wanted someone to spend time with him rather than tending to the business of life.
This is beautiful and wise. Don’t loose those moments.
I love that parallel, Hannah. I’m such a Martha! Fighting for more Mary moments, tending to what really matters. <3
learning how to slow down – and just enjoy it all
You and me both, Andrea.
Love this! What beautiful memories!
Indeed, thank you, Anne. The kind you want bottle up and never forget. <3
I always like song that says just be held…we need to learn to just rest sometimes because as another song says it is not in trying but in trusting that we find the strength of the Lord
Yes, Mardene. I am surprised how much we have to fight for it though. The world of hustle overtakes me so easily, I have to work to slow down and enjoy. No coincidence “abide” is my word for the year. 🙂
That last picture is all sortsa perfect. I love it, Katie. The pictures. The post. Your heart.
Thank you, friend. That picture reminds me of your dancing-with-her-daddy-in-the-living-room picture. The kind your never want to forget.