June 23, 2009

three hours from home


This summer we decided to just take a short weekend get-away. No big summer extravaganza... just a couple of days for the four of us... before the kids head off to Michigan with their Grandparents. There was hardly time to anticipate the trip... but once we were out of the driveway I could feel vacation settling in. I could feel the freedom and the fun curling up around us. Flip flops and free smoothies for breakfast, and we were on our way. While we were laughing and chatting along in the car, a prayer of thankfulness went up from my soul. While the evidence I see with my eyes tells me my children are growing, I began to look deeper, and really see how they have grown. Looking on together and sharing a game... lending a helping hand or singing along with the same tune... one splitting the snack and letting the other automatically pick first. They are growing in more than just inches. But even in their maturing state... there is still time to play. Still time to splash in a fountain, be tossed into the pool, or gaze up at the clouds racing across the sky.

I love Tuesdays... and digging around my heart for an ordinary moment that struck my heart in an extraordinary way. Thank you, Emily... for making Tuesday special... for inspiring Tuesdays Unwrapped.

13 comments:

Anonymous said...

Sounds like a great getaway to me.

Beautiful photos.

emily freeman said...

Dawn! This post is so beautifully written I want to copy it down and put it in my pocket and read it over and again! The fun curling up around us...so perfect. thank you for sharing it with us.

Kat said...

This makes me really want to get away. Like now!

Jen said...

Your getaway sounds and looks like a refreshing time!

Busy Bee Suz said...

This is so sweet. I am glad you had a nice time and you can reflect as you do so...
btw: if I saw those two laying in the pool like that, I would have tried to perform CPR on them. :)

Unknown said...

enjoying the journey.... that is such a gift
thanks for the morning smile, and your kind words to me as well.

angie warren said...

Wow, what a wonderfully written article. I was especially touched by this:

While the evidence I see with my eyes tells me my children are growing, I began to look deeper, and really see how they have grown.

Sniff sniff! My boys are still so young, but I even now I tear up seeing how they've grown.

Wonderful TU Dawn, thanks for sharing!

Shelley said...

This was such a well written and sweet post! Moments with family like this are precious!

Anonymous said...

I love Tuesdays too. :) Both in finding my own moments and in reading those of others. Thank you for sharing this glimpse into your heart.

Richella Parham said...

It's so much fun to walk with you through these fun little times--thanks for sharing your weekend with us.

And I just have to tell you. . . for some reason (my slow computer, I guess), I have to wait a few seconds for your blog to load. It sort of "unrolls" on my screen. And it's so pretty when it's doing that. The beautiful colors and graphics appear first, and then I can just read "Beyond Grace." That moment of beauty is really a blessing to me.

Kelli said...

What a beautifully written post!! Your sweet comment at "JOY" was sweet as well. Your vacation looked like lots of fun. Thanks for sharing!!

Anonymous said...

What beautiful memories to last a lifetime!

Jo said...

Dawn-this was delightful. And what you observed about your children growing/maturing...it reflects a mom who's been hard a work instilling those behaviors. And now, maybe you can even relax (a least a little bit!) and have fun with them--knowing they've got a great foundation for further growth.