Enjoying the Process

Yesterday a reoccurring theme made its way through my mind. I participated in my second sprint triathlon in the early hours of the morning. This race was much harder than the first race I did in June for a variety of reasons. The course was much more difficult and my training has lacked in the last month. The bike course was a very hilly road path through Holly Recreational Park. It was a two loop course, so after completing the first loop, I knew what was coming. :) Part way through the second loop the thought, "enjoy the process", went through my head. Even though I was completing one of the hardest things I have done in my life, I wanted to enjoy the process. The park was beautiful, the weather gorgeous. The path was tree lined and in a few spots lakes lined the path. It gave me something to focus on instead of looking at the massive hill I was pedaling up. It was a great experience overall.


Later in the day yesterday, when 2 out of the three kids were napping, I decided to mow the lawn. I wanted to enjoy the sunshine and the lawn was looking like a jungle, so why no mow it? It is actually a task that I enjoy. Up and down each row, and again I thought, "enjoy the process." Instead of trying to rush through, just enjoy it.


Sometimes I get caught up in the tasks of life, that I don't stop to enjoy them. It is easier to say, I just want this to be done and try and get it done and move on to something else. I do this with the kids sometimes. Some phases that kids go though are not so fun. Yet, they are only little once and I want to try and focus on "enjoying the process" more often. Again, it is easy sometimes (at least for me) to fall into the trap of complaining, focusing on how hard something is, or just rushing through something to get it done. I'm not blind to the fact that there are terrible tragedies and difficulties in life that people face, and enjoying the process just isn't feasible or seems impossible at times. But in my day to day, I want to try and accomplish this. I believe it will make me a more patient, can be attitude changing, and put a smile on my face instead of a scowl. I hope that you stop and "enjoy the process" in something today!

Summer

This summer has been filled with all kinds of adventures, changes, and growth. I can’t believe school is just around the corner.

· Melia graduated from preschool and will be heading to Kindergarten in a few short weeks
· Parker turned 2
· Just weeks later he was potty trained!!!! No one in diapers now! (He was the youngest to be trained out of the three kids)
· Parker moved from his crib to his full size bed. He looks like such a peanut in his big bed
· Chris and I completed our first Sprint Triathlon
· Melia and Eva learned to swim with out any rings or arm floaties and Parker is swimming just with arm floaties...We spent alot of time in the water. All three of them are jumping into the pool (the girls by themselves and P with floaties) :) I am so proud of their accomplishments.
· Parker learned to ride a scooter and a tricycle this summer.
· The girls learned to pump their feet on the swings and LOVE going as high as they can
· Melia is reading simple words and phrases
· The girls can both count to one hundred by 10's

I love that I have the summer off and can spend so much time watching them learn and grow. I would not trade it for anything in the world. I am so thankful I have this time with them.

· We spent ALOT of time in the pool, at the beach, splash pad, and parks (gotta love free fun)
· Had a great 4th of July party with family and friends
· Went to 3 firework shows
We went to a few festivals and parades
We spent a week in Lake City, MI with my family and closest friends (19 people...11 adults and 8 kids (all 7 and under) in one house. We had an awesome time.
We went to the Armada fair and watched the Monster trucks
We spent a lot of time biking and running
We celebrated with my BFF who turned 30 and finished her MBA with a Pirate Murder Mystery Party!
We are ending the summer spending three days camping with our best friends and their little guy in tents (with no water or electric) over Labor day weekend...it doesn't get much more fun than that :) Can't wait.

Everyday was an adventure and the kids woke up asking what are we going to do today! I start school again next week and Melia starts Kindergarten the week after that...all day, everyday in school. While I am excited to watch her continue to learn and grow, I will miss her. It will be strange to only have Eva and Parker home on my days off. While I am sad summer is coming to an end, I am excited for the new season we are embarking on. It is amazing the changes that can take place in ust a few short months. I am one blessed momma!

Paker kissed (he loves animals) a variety of animals this summer...here it is a cow at the Strawberry Festival

Arrrr Matey!

Melia walking across the bridge at her preschool graduation

A trip to the zoo

Parker's big bed

A Work in Progress

A few weeks back we rescued this gem from what would of been eternity in a garbage dump.

Slowly, we have been stripping the old paint away layer by layer to reveal the pure beauty of the wood in its original state. It is a work in progress.

Last month we heard a message at church titled, "Taking the Plunge." It was a back to the basics message on salvation and growing up in the Lord. A few days later, I was stripping the layers of paint away, and I pondered the words I heard earlier that week. Just like the dresser before me, I (and you) are works in progress. When we were 10 years old we knew more than when we were 5, at 20 we knew more than we did at age 10 and so on. As we grow in age, hopefully we grow in maturity. The Pastor mentioned during his sermon that "growing up" brings stability and wisdom. Words that seem simple, but they impacted me differently this time. I want stability and wisdom in my life. I want to be stable (or even more stable) for my kids, for my husband and others around me.

I want more than the stability that comes with age, I want the stability that comes from growing up, maturing, and increasing in wisdom in the things of the Lord. A stability that cannot be shaken. A stability that brings a new level of maturity. This stability takes some work. I am done sitting on the sidelines, waiting for it. I am chasing after it with all I have. The Pastor mentioned sitting in church for 10 or 20 years does not make you mature in the things of the Lord. While it is very beneficial, there is more to it than that. As a family, we are reorganizing and reprioritizing. I am sure it will stretch and change us, but in the end we will be better for it.

Just as the old paint is being stripped away, so are layers in my life. I am a work in progress and I am thankful for the things that the Lord is doing.