Island Life

It must be a blissful life when you can live on an island.  

There are no cares, worries, or agendas to follow. 

A place where you can just lay on the shore in the cold water of February and feel the warmth of the sunbeams on your face.

Then there's the search for sea shells 

and funny looking sea creatures...

There is an internal joy of just letting go of stuff,

 responsibilities of the "real world" 

to experience a sense of freedom

A freedom to just be

to fly

to laugh

to act goofy

or

to just sit and think!!

Lately I've been doing a lot of thinking, 

pondering, 

reflecting...

I've been in a season of solitude.  

sometimes a mama needs to do that 

to realize what matters most in life.

Why is it that life becomes so demanding sometimes?  

I think there's an invisible expectation of what should be accomplished.

Maybe it's certain career goals, a social status, or how much "stuff" we've accumulated...

If we don't conform to this societal formula then we might as well call ourselves 
a little "different" 

or 

unconventional

I'm teaching my children they have the freedom to think for themselves

and to not fall into the trap of thinking that they have to follow a certain formula to feel accomplished.

I used to think there was a special formula to becoming "something" in life..

If I did "A.B.C"... then I should be doing D next

nope 

not for my kids...

I want them to dream, to soar, and to follow their passions, interests and curiosities. 

The "formula" written in their hearts. 

I know they will most certainly make mistakes and get hurt

I guess that is what I fear at times. 

I don't want to see them hurting.

What parent does?

But then I realize that they will learn from their mistakes

That they have a mind to think for themselves.

A mind to make right choices.

I find myself then relaxing and trusting them

Trusting God who's the One guiding them.

Yes...

They may take that leap that might make them stumble just a little. 

But they'll be ok.

Most important is to not get lost in agendas and the general busyness of this fast moving world. 

To know that mom and dad are there

supporting them, 

talking them through their fears, 

worries, 

anxieties. 

We're there for hugs and cuddles so they can feel safe in this big fast world.

Deep down all they truly want

is our acceptance,

love,

 trust.

So to you I say...

When you lay your head down tonight

resting your tired and weary soul 

Take some time to reflect and think about how your life is going. 

 Then take your family 

love them

 kiss them 

hold them

Take a deep breath and know that life and moments 

you spend with them will come and go.  

So make them special. 

And don't forget to dream...

Here's a little song that Donnie and I like to sing when we're feeling funny:

(This song makes me laugh because I feel like i'm the mama bunny)

You and I, by Ingrid Michelson

"Don't you worry there my honey

we might not have any money

but we've got our love to pay the bills

maybe I think you're cute and funny

maybe I wanna do what bunnies do with you if you know what I mean

oh lets get rich and buy our parents homes in the south of france

lets get rich and give everybody nice sweaters and teach them how to dance

lets get rich and build a house on a mountain making everybody look like ants

from way up there, you and I, you and I"