Yesterday, after a day of just hanging around the house (inside), I suddenly decided that it was time to go weed in the garden some (in the strawberries) and help get the other part of the garden ready for planting. (This was another time that I just loved having our new composter we made!)
So, I announced my plans to go out and invited any of the kids out with me. Jack and Molly quickly and excitedly wanted to go out, but Noah wanted to stay in and play his new video game (he had just bought it in the afternoon with a gift card from Christmas). Eric soon also came outside, after talking to his Mom on the phone, as she was checking on him in regards to how he was doing (after his sinus surgery that he had on Thursday). I was glad that, although it took a little while, Noah finally decided to come outside too.
After some weeding, I worked for a little while on reading from The Creative Family by Amanda Soule. It was nice to read outdoors, while listening to the kids pretending and playing. They also were very interested in the comings and goings of birds. It was fun to hear as they declared that our little plastic playhouse was Molly’s house, and the fort at the top of our wooden playset was Jack’s house.
They ate kettle corn (from the Farmer’s Market) and drank fruit juice, and they enjoyed the outdoors. They enjoyed each other’s company, and I counted my blessings.
Eric had headed inside to make dinner, although he was able to talk to me from inside as well. I almost hated that dinner would be done, as they kids were just playing so nicely and it was so beautiful outside.
To be honest…very honest…the reason I really hated it is because my kids are video game kids. They are computer kids. They are indoor kids. Sure, they pretend inside sometimes. And, sometimes, we turn off all the video games, computers, Gameboys, etc. and force them to play. It doesn’t always have to happen like that, but it does more than I want to admit. Obviously though, I’m not anti-video game. But, I know that my kids spend more time playing them and watching the TV than they should. So, there’s my big disclosure. My kids don’t play outside nearly as much as they should.
So, darn it — I hated it that dinner was going to be ready, even though we had totally put off having dinner. But, then at about 7:30 pm, Eric came outside with spaghetti and bread (from the Farmer’s Market) on paper plates.
Yes — we ate spaghetti outside. I told Noah, “You guys are probably the only kids in your class that did that this weekend.” And, while I cleaned up after dinner, I heard Jack say to Eric, “Thanks for bringing our dinner outside, Dad!” It almost mad me cry, and I don’t know why.
After we finally did go in (only after breaking up bread for the birds and then getting to see at least one bird eat some bread), we had a read aloud of The Sneetches and Other Stories and then some fun (and slightly crazy) family games that included rolling people around the living room, dining room, and kitchen on my computer chair. Oh, and I can’t not mention that we also play the game that I called “Slap Jack” (which made Jack’s eyes bug out and then we all were rolling with laughter).
I had prayed last Tuesday morning as I drove to some destination, “Please God, help me to live more intentionally. Help me to notice more moments and really embrace them.”
And at the end of Sunday night, I had to thank God for that Grace, and pray that I could find the way to help us live like that some more.
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