Melting Like a Snowflake in our Hand.

We have only this moment, sparkling like a star in our hand -
and melting like a snowflake.

Marie B. Ray

This was not one of those relaxing, grilling, fun-filled memory making summers for us.
In fact, it was the hardest spring/summer Jeff and I have ever gone through together.

It felt both long and short at the same time.
Long because of things we were facing...short because we had no time for things we wanted to do.

Things like...an end of summer vacation, a camp-out, long bike rides and a hike around the lake.
Those things never happened.

God taught us a few lessons this past year. Lessons we needed to learn.
For me..how good I have it, how selfish I am and wow am I materialistic.
I also needed to learn what trusting God meant...Again! because I tend to forget I need Him at times!

Jeff's job for many months demanded early morning hours that stretched late into the night...sadly I can count on one hand the number of times we actually sat down and ate dinner together during the months of June, July and August....and his last day off work? Who knows. I still can't tell you the last time he has had a complete day off! Add farmers markets to the mix and family time has been pretty much non-existent.

Also, we only have one car at the moment and that one car goes to work with Jeff everyday.
and as I wrote above ^^^....he is ALWAYS gone!
Which means...we're home. A Lot.  Trapped. Did I say trapped? I meant to say content. ;)

{Someday I'll write all I've learned from not having a car (or car payments, that part is really nice!)
Today is not that day.}

Today I write about making a choice to take a moment when you think you can't.
Which is what we did on Tuesday. We threw schedules out the window and spent the day at the lake.

This was a big step for my workaholic hard working husband.
Getting him to take time off work is not always an easy thing to do.
But he (maaaaaybe with a little coaxing from his oh-so-loving wife...) decided to make time.

My girls must have said thank you a thousand times. The boys had a blast. and I LOVED having my husband around! Him taking a day just for us (minus dropping off blueprints to someone who happened to be right by the lake! How perfect was that?!) meant the world.

I guarantee we all will remember that day for years to come.
Had he gone to work..it would have been another hot day at home blended together with the rest of our days. Not that those are bad..but a special day every once in a while, a day that stands out like no other...those are the memory makers.

{and get this...my parents were up at the lake too.
we had no idea they were going, they had no idea we were going. what are the chances?}

No matter where we are, life is busy.
The more and more I talk to people, the more I realize ~ Gone are the 9-5 Leave it to Beaver days.
and maybe just maybe only black and white TV portrayed such a life.
Listening to my grandma talk, she says my grandpa was always gone working hard too.
She remembers being home long hours alone with her kids.

This summer I was humbled by my outlook on life.
What I thought was important and what I was taking for granted.

I'm thankful God opened my eyes to things in the midst of the chaos before it was too late.
It's easy to assume life will always stay the same...but it won't stay the same.
I'm glad I have the time to change certain things I want to change.

We need to be intentional about making time, because time won't make space for us.
We also need to take a good look what we spend our time doing.

If you are a Christian, what are you doing to serve?
Are you teaching your children to serve? or complain? or live life for themselves?
Because I was doing a whole lot of complaining! and a whole lot of selfish living.

I encourage you to be hospitable. Talk to people in your neighborhood.
Find joy in the simple things in life. Make time for your family. Make time to help others.
and take, take, take those moments..because they are fleeting..
and they will melt like a snowflake in your hand!
XxOo