Another Reminder
I shared last week about how going through a crisis showed me how big the world is and how God uses us to help one another. This weekend I was reminded of another thing I learned from that crisis.
Saturday Dan headed south for an outdoor concert and the kids and I had the day to ourselves. We are the keepers of two special summer projects, one intentional and one serendipitous (I’ll share that one another day). Our intentional project is the Sunflower Fort. We cleared out a 8 x 8 foot flower bed and planted sunflower seeds along the edges. Inside we put a thick layer of mulch. We left a one foot space as a “doorway.” Even though we planted late, the plants are really starting to live up to their name, Mammoth Sunflowers!
Making the choice to hang around outside with the kids in our Sunflower Fort instead of straying inside alone to clean or study is the direct result of the kind of promises Dan and I made to ourselves in the tiny NICU room where preemie Claire fought for life. We never wanted to put ANYTHING as a priority over our family. We always wanted to remember how clear our priorities were sitting in that room.
Sure, I’d love a cleaner house. It probably should be cleaner; I know there is a place for that. But these days, if I’m making choices, the living souls get my time. Everybody and everything else can take a number and enjoy the hold music! : )
To the Fort, I say to you!
You are right, Felicity! Your house will always be there to clean… but your kiddos will be grown up before you know it! Taking time with them is what will make the difference in their lives as you teach them who they are in Jesus, in all of those fun experiences! I don’t think I know of anyone who attributes their knowing Jesus, confidence level, creativeness or successes in life to living in a clean house!! I do know that my own kids creative ideas and talents have risen to surface amidst some pretty messy counters and floors!! Your kids are a joy to all of us!! And your sunflower fort is a GREAT idea!! Wish I’d thought of it!
Blessings to you all!!
what a cute picture! I’m inspired to try again next year now!
Best advice I ever received from Rogers Mother, and believe me she had some gems, was that all those “chores” would be there when they were grown and gone and you had all the time the in the world. She was right! Have fun!
So precious! Your kids are clearly having a blast…and they will remember this for the rest of their lives. How lucky they are to have parents who truly cherish them.
Things did seem so clear in that NICU, I remember that too. And I know just how you feel. I face life so differently after cancer. Every decision I face brings me right back to the perspective I gained then and the decisions I made about how to live whatever time I had left on the planet.
Amen to that! Sometimes I feel bad that as a part time stay at home mom I haven’t accomplished some great life project or kept my house sparkling clean. Then I remember exactly what you are saying here. I will NEVER regret talking walks with the boys or making messes with finger paint instead of cleaning or doing something to make myself great in someone else’s eyes.
Right on! To the fort! The playground! The beach! The park! The hammock!
Books. Games. Puzzles. Laughter. Sand and shovels. Swings and slides. Coloring books and well-used crayons. Balls and frisbees.
Memories of love are being made …
Amen.
I totally agree! In a book I read, the author says that life happens in chapters. I may not be able to do all the things that I want to do in life during this chapter of having young children, but it is a season, and when it passes there will be plenty of time for other things. I also try to remind myself how fast my children are growing up when I feel tempted to put housework or something else first. Some times it seems they grow as fast as those sunflowers! Thanks for the additional reminder!
I love this post! Nobody can get everything done and we all have to prioritize. I think every mom alive can relate to the choice you made…and I hope we were all inspired to follow suit! That million watt smile makes me wonder why any of us ever waste a moment cleaning anything at all!
Wow. So inspiring and I have never heard of a sunflower fort. I’m excited about raising my future kids in the city but then I read stuff like this and I’m a little sad for them too. They’ll never have a sunflower fort.
Well, at least I can follow your example and remember to unplug and goof around with them as much as possible.