Do you want to know a secret? ---- It's really not about order, it's all about the people. Someone asked me the other day, "What have you learned or noticed about yourself during this pandemic?" What a great question!! After some thought I would say, this whole season in my life has taught me: 1) What I thought was stable and dependable may not be.
2) Great jobs can go away in a second.
3) The people in my life are the most precious thing I have, and I don't want to give up time with them to make a pay check.
4) I LOVE experiencing life with my Minis. It has truly been the dream of my life.
“If there lurks in most modern minds the notion that to desire our own good and earnestly to hope for the enjoyment of it is a bad thing, I submit that this notion has crept in from Kant and the Stoics and is not part of the Christian faith.Indeed, if we consider the unblushing promises of reward and the staggering nature of the rewards promised in the Gospels, it would seem that Our Lord finds our desires, not too strong, but too weak.We are half-hearted creatures, fooling about with drink and sex and ambition when infinite joy is offered us, like an ignorant child who wants to go on making mud pies in a slum because he cannot imagine what is meant by the offer of a holiday at the sea. We are far too easily pleased.”
It is not that we dream to large. No, it is that our dreams are too small, and of things that will never satisfy. Henry David Thoreau said, "I wanted to live deep and suck out all the marrow of life." For me that mean to do all that I can to spend all the minutes I am able with the people that I love the most. Deuteronomy 6 reminds us, the greatest lessons about our God are shared in living life together.
As I am embarking on this place of new beginnings, seeking order in our lives means two things. First, it is clearing the cob webs to make mental and emotional space to grow and be, both for myself and for the Minis. Our minds and hearts can be cluttered by a cluttered environment, and it keeps us from letting our hearts and minds soar, to explore with wonder what God may be leading us to. And secondly, out of this place of order and structure, we can quickly say yes to the opportunities or adventures that appear before us, whenever they may come. Sometimes it is large adventures. Last summer found us on the road for 3 weeks and over 3500 miles!! That is not an unusual adventure for us. Sometimes it is a hike up the hill from our house. I want to be ready to jump on those opportunities as well. Or to say "YES!" when a friend needs a last minute playdate and the space to decompress. Or to host our friends from out of state and showcase the beauty all around us. Our space and order allows us to quickly say "YES!" and offer accommodations and hospitality to go with it. These are the things that make my heart soar. I am pretty sure there is a travel trailer, and miles and miles of untraveled road ahead of us. Traveling with children is a whole different ballgame. The past 9 years and 4 children have taught me so many tricks. I can't wait to share with you our adventures from the road when that time comes. For now, we prepare!
And I have space to say, "YES!!!" to my daughter when she wants a hiking date with Mommy.
To say, "YES!" to my son when he wants his turn to scale the mountain with Mommy as well.
To enjoy precious moments with friends on an unexpected afternoon playdate. I love when our property is swarming with little ones. We photographed a first haircut, soared in the disc swing, and raced around the "track."
A few weeks ago we had the privilege of hosting precious friends who stayed with us for nearly a week. We had a combined 11 children between us. Yes, you read that right. ELEVEN!!!! We planned meals, already had bedrooms arranged, bathrooms were ready for guest before we ever knew of their plans to visit, and a day trip is a breeze when you are used to preparing for weeks of travel with kids. OK, so maybe it wasn't all a breeze, we did have ELEVEN children, but it was a week I cannot wait to repeat. We drove to the top of Pikes Peak in a snow storm, explored the vibrant colors of the painted mines, and scaled the magnificent rocks of Garden of the Gods. 
Stick we us as we continue to learn about creating space in our home and our life, both for our hearts and minds to soar, and to be ready to say YES to the next adventure we are presented with. If you are looking to travel with littles I have so much to share!! We are Mollie and the Minis, and we are on the Adventure!
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