Skip to main content

Embracing Joy

By
I made a goal not too long ago to write something about once a month or so.  As November winds to an end, I have been feeling pressure to put something down.  Trying to steer clear of a simple Thanksgiving post, I've noticed something else that has stuck me as we head into the Christmas season.  The joy, excitement and wonder that children bring to just about everything.  
Photo courtesy of Erin's Instagram page

We hosted Thanksgiving this year and in order to make room for everyone, and have everyone at least in the same room for dinner we did some serious rearranging of furniture.  We moved a couch basically into our kitchen and used our front room, our library, as we call it, to add a couple tables so everyone could eat more or less in the same room.  

While this chore was not at all remarkable, the reaction to it by Nathan and Andrew has stuck with me.  We had moved all the furniture prior to the boys coming home from school.  On the walk home from the bus stop, I told them there was a surprise at home, that we had done something "crazy" to the house.  At first they did a bit of guessing, not convinced that I had set up bunk beds downstairs for them to sleep in that week.  Finally, after finishing up their guessing they simply couldn't wait any longer and sprinted home to find out what craziness mom and dad had unleashed at home.  

Once home, instead of being unimpressed with our furniture rearrangements the boys instead thought this was the greatest thing ever, and just ran around the house screaming at the "craziness" of simply rearranging furniture.  The pure excitement of something as simple and different as moving a couch and some tables brought such joy and excitement to them.  It was a similar reaction (maybe not quite as sustained) as when we went to Disneyland.  

That joy and excitement at such a simple thing hasn't left me in the last few days.  I just can't stop thinking about how quickly children are to embrace joyfulness.  And this is just one example of the countless things that Nathan and Andrew will just explode with excitement at the single mention of. Hot cocoa:  prepare for shouting and jumping.   Decorating for Christmas: watch out they will start without you before you are even able to take your coat off after bringing up the decorations.  Mention turning on the TV and Andrew will instantly do a happy dance.  The Huskies winning their 7th straight Apple Cup: oh boy, prepare for chaos.  

In this season of preparation one of my goals is to embrace joy.  To, maybe not shout and jump up and down at just the thought of moving furniture, but to find joy in both the little and the big.  To be grateful for all the great gifts we have.  To have fun and be silly.  To embrace that fun and excitement that Nathan and Andrew so often display and maybe even, gasp, join them in a little dance here and there.  I hope you are able to do the same.  Merry Christmas!
The boys were very proud of decorating the tree and
apparently are posing now in pictures.  

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Nathan, 18 months

By
Can you believe it? Can you believe that Little Man Nate is already 18 months? Nathan's Famous Hot Dog on Halloween. At 18 months, Nathan is 33.25 inches tall and nearly 29 pounds, but mostly, he is on the go. Nathan is curious about the world around him, spending lots of time opening doors or drawers, saying "uh-oh" when he finds something new. I know for certain I will have to buy a new set of measuring cups when we move again, as Nathan has adopted some into his toy collection, while others are just plain MIA. He loves pushing his cars, trucks and lawn mower around the house. He is quickly learning to match shapes with puzzles and point to his nose, ears and belly. He uses sign language to say "please" and "more" as well as ask for "help". We have just started practicing the sign for "thank you" and he seems to be grasping that one. Nathan will put his cup in the refrigerator or sink when he is "all done", and u...
2 comments
Read more

Christmas 2020

By
Have yourself a merry little Christmas Let your heart be light From now on Our troubles will be out of sight As a result of the pandemic, the model train festival we typically enjoy this time of year was canceled (thus no pictures with Santa). We missed family and friends this year. The fun energy of the last few school days before Winter Break was not quite the same over Zoom. I missed singing carols in church during month of December.  As the season progressed, I couldn't help but reflect on other times in history where celebrations were small and often just a nuclear family. Times and places where travel was too difficult or too expensive to justify leaving home. For those generations of families, the traditions were as simple as reading the Christmas story together or baking a special bread. In so many ways that was our Christmas this year and by seeking the joy in each moment, we found our hearts lighter.  We visited our favorite local tree farm to find THE TREE.  We...
1 comment
Read more

The Drive

By
    I love our new home in Battle Ground!  However, I am still a little unsure about living in Battle Ground.  Battle Ground itself seems nice, just a bit further out than I ever imagined I would live.  Six months ago we had a cute little NE Portland home, where we could walk to Breakside Brewery or Podnah's BBQ Pit.  There were multiple parks close by and despite the energy of the city we had a peaceful backyard retreat to relax in.    Now, it may seem strange, but having a 20-25 minute commute seems like an eternity for me.  Not since our first year of marriage have I had to commute more than 15 minutes.  It was the trek across Lake Washington  from West Seattle to Kirkland that made me vow to always have a short commute.  While I do not mind the extra time to make phone calls or listen to some talk radio, I can't decide if the drive is peaceful and relaxing or just a slog to and from the country.  I imagine it will tu...
3 comments
Read more