my little things

We save. We dream. We pine for that grand adventure.  The adventure that will redefine our lives.  Why are all my Facebook friends going on vacation?  When will it be my turn to swim with dolphins?  Or ride an elephant?  Or summit Everest?  Or fly to the moon?  Or ride on the back of a panda?  Don’t pretend you haven’t asked yourself at least most of these questions!  All too often we fall victim to thinking we should be able to have it all, do it all, and be everything to everyone.  Well,…we don’t!  So, stop!  Take three deep breaths (nope, that is not the first time I have said that this week…I have 2 little boys).  And now think about those things that really matter…  Why are you doing what you are doing?  What are those things that will bring real live, lasting joy in your life?

Please note: we all get to fall victim to the ‘have it all right now’ mentality.  We all, at times, get caught up in the ‘they did that?  I want to do that!’ mode of thinking.  And, that is okay.  We are only human.  But, don’t let that type of thinking dictate how you think and act.  Don’t let it consume you and define who you are.  Know the foundation upon which your real happiness is built.

My greatest joy comes from helping my two little boys learn about and explore the world around them.  The innocence of a child is never more apparent than when they are uninhibited in the great outdoors.  Seeing everything. Touching everything.  Tasting a few too many things. Questioning everything.  It truly is a wonder to behold and one of the greatest joys of parenting.

Camping. To some people this is almost the equivalent of being behind bars with a very unsavory cellmate.  But for our family, it is one of the places where we start to really notice the little things.  How does a fire start? Can I help put up the tent? Dad, listen. Can you hear the crickets?  Mom, look at that moon!  So, many learning and growing experiences happen on a camping trip.  And most of those experiences are hopelessly unplanned.  You can’t prepare for the questions, but you can certainly be a willing participant in the search for an answer.  Kids just plain love the journey.

Pretty much at the drop of a hat we threw the 3-man tent, some sleeping bags, and some marshmallows in the car and took the short 5 minute drive up to the East Mountain Wilderness Park last Saturday night.  Yes, the weather didn’t look the best, but it was only 5 minutes from home if by chance the worst-case scenario did in fact become a not so hypothetical scenario. At almost every stage of our little overnighter, I realized how much I love being with my family in the outdoors.  Questions were abundant.  Smiling faces became sticky marshmallow messes.  One shoe did unfortunately get peed on. But beaming from ear to ear, our two dirty bundles of energy hoped in the tent, cozied into their sleeping bags, and you would have thought heaven had found its resting place on earth!  These are the days, and nights, never to be forgotten!  These are the moments that make up my joy!  These are the little things that I wouldn’t give up for a trip to Hawaii,…or the moon! Don’t get me wrong, I still want to take a ride on the back of a panda, but that can wait.  Right now, my experience has shown me that the best memories are found in the little things.  And more often than not, the little things seem to happen without much forethought and planning, and just a little bit beyond our own backyards…