A Leisurely Trip to the Farm

I decided to take the kids out to a local farm last Friday to buy produce. I have pretty much been staying at home as it is so hard to get out the door with four little ones--the youngest being only weeks old. However, I needed to get out and breathe some fresh air.

Generally, I hurry. I hurry to get breakfast done, then the dishes. I hurry to do chores, I hurry the kids. I race against no one but myself. But that morning, I thought, "If we do nothing else today, it's fine. And if it takes all day to get there and back, that's okay too. We are going to enjoy our day". Why don't I go about my day like this more often? It was lingering and wonderful!

Yes, it took two hours to get everyone ready. And yes, Ralphie needed to nurse on the way to the farm so we pulled over and listened to a book on cd. We went about our morning leisurely....soaking up each and every moment.

We picked out peaches, cherries and red potatoes fresh from the farm. As we headed toward the corn, Super-boy remarked, "This is the moment I've been waiting for!". I had no idea how exciting our trip to the farm market was for the kids.

The kids helped me shuck the corn with pure joy. As I peeled back the layers of husk to reveal the corn, I leaned down to Dynamite and whispered, "Surprise!". Super-boy looked at me and said, "Mom, he's a little too big for you to talk to him like that". I don't think we're ever to old to be talked to like that. And that is exactly what I felt in my heart as I chased joy with my kids. Surprise! Joy in the ordinary...

Often, finding joy is not effortless. It is a hunt for goodness, a force of the will to slow down and rest long.

G.K. Chesterton: "The way to love anything is to realize that it might be lost."

I want to love the gift of life...each and every day. To let the knowledge that tomorrow is not guaranteed seep in and fill me with gratitude for the now.

My list of thanks continues:
Sweet hand on my arm at church~Celebrating life!~Four healthy kids~Ensalada Caprese~Friends who call on the phone~A trip to the grocery store with my family~Sweet smelling basil filling up my house~Dear friend holding baby boy~Sleeping children~Zucchini and cucumbers from the garden~Smell of candle burning...