And sometimes there’s nothing particularly profound to write.
There’s just my cold feet against his warm ones under the covers. There’s just a series of nightly visits by boys who’ve dreamed of sharks or monsters or are just plain cold and seeking shelter. Back-to-back and little bodies spooning between us, there’s just four people, a pregnant belly, and a pile of down comforters, quilts and whispered good nights. At 3am.
There’s home even when we’re on the road.
And we’ve been on the road nearly two weeks now. Suitcases, potty training and the pink pacifier. We are the four walls of home. Generating foundation and routine in the the midst of cousins and grandparents and aunts and uncles. We are the constant when the houses and time zones change. We can be high on fudge and family and nerf gun wars and still find balance in the quiet spaces in the whispered watches of the night when it’s just the four of us.
We are adrift and at peace in the familiarity of one another.
The routine of milk bottles and misplaced blankies is the same. The sticky kisses and tight hugs. The whining. The making up. We are compass and map and guide for one another. We are four but really we are just one flesh.
And when it isn’t driving us crazy, it’s so freakin’ great.
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PS: Curious about some of my favorite tips for traveling with kids and still enjoying the experience? Come back tomorrow.
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This darn near sums up our own traveling adventures! Especially the, “And when it isn’t driving us crazy, it’s so freakin’ great” part! Awesomeness.
Beautiful explanation of how family is structural support! Man, YOU are freakin’ great!
YES! Oh I so love this…I am ready to get back to normal though…the last two days I’ve been a little bit more heavy on the ‘driving us crazy’ part!
Great post!
Ah, Love it!! What a beautiful picture of what it is to be a family enjoying each other, even on the road (one of my favorite places to be with our kids).
Yes, traveling with little ones! It can be so much fun or it can be incredibly stressful. And I find that my expectations figure very prominently into which way it goes. When I am flexible and hold my “plans” with an open palm before the Lord, allowing Him to change them as He sees fit, the kids stay calmer and so does Mom. Less truly is more and the days we schedule too much are the days when things can spiral out of control. Most of what usually upsets me just isn’t worth the emotional expenditure. It’s a lot more fun to just calmly take whatever comes in stride and laugh a whole lot! Hope your trip is stress-free!
“And when it isn’t driving us crazy, it’s so freakin’ great.”
Amen, sister!
I wish I were on the road – sounds like such a great adventure!
I get this:
Back-to-back and little bodies spooning between us, there’s just four people, a pregnant belly, and a pile of down comforters, quilts and whispered good nights. At 3am.
I both love and hate those moments. Perhaps now I will simply chose to love them. Family time!