I hope and trust this post finds you with a happy heart & peaceful spirit on this beautiful Friday morning!
I have 3 things I want to share with you this morning.
1. This past weekend the Haslam crew took a quick trip to Grammy's cabin in the mountains of New Mexico. From the time we arrived my littlest Tender Warrior started asking, "Dad, can we go on a hike?" After literally everything we did on Saturday - shooting pellet guns, playing horseshoes, playing croquet, mowing the grass fields...everything! - "Dad, can we go on a hike?" Early Sunday morning as we all gathered on the porch to greet the dawn of a new day, first thing he says, "Dad, can we go on a hike?" It was at this point I outlined the day - breakfast, go fishing, come back and clean the fish, lunch, take Gehrig driving, go on hike, horseshoes and a game of family croquet, dinner, collapse! Now I must confess, it didn't go over so well when I snuck a nap in between lunch and taking Gehrig driving...it was not in the plan! And guess what I woke up to? Landry's precious little smiling face looking at me and immediately saying, "Dad, are we still gonna go on our hike?"
After waking up and taking Gehrig for a drive, it was finally time to go on the hike. We decided we would walk across the road from Grammy's and head straight up the side of the mountain and then, at some point, walk sideways across it. As we were getting ready to leave Landry and I got a pleasant surprise...my Beautiful Bride would join us. As we began to walk off the porch Landry assured me that all would be well as he had his knives - 2 to be exact! - "in case there is a bear." Throughout the walk the #2 and #3 positions would change; the #1 position would never change...Landry was our leader.
We walked up the side of the mountain until Landry finally started breathing hard - Kath and I had passed that point long ago! - and then, after a quick break, we turned sideways. We went over branches, under branches, around different obstacles. I had no idea that it was so much fun to launch off of a rock back onto the path! When my Beautiful Bride would be in the #2 position, Landry would turn back, hold his little hand out to her and help her over a log. When I was in the #2 position he would turn and say, "Dad, help Mom over the branch/rock/log." Hey, I got this! We talked about different tracks we saw - and honestly, poop...bear? Deer? Elk? A couple of times I was asked what I thought would be the best route - up and around the pile of branches/rocks/logs or down and around the same. We walked and walked. We noted the beauty of looking down across the valley. We discussed different plants - none of us know what poison ivy looks like however Landry assures me he will look it up on YouTube when we get back. We had a truly amazing time.
There are two things from our hike that stick with me. First, I let Landry lead the entire time and he led well. When I told him he had done a great job of leading us...well his disposition, his posture, it was priceless. Pride oozed from every part of him. His Dad had let him lead and validated his leadership. It felt good, real good. Second, the joy is in the journey. We didn't know where we were going, how long it would take, what we would do...we just enjoyed the journey, together. Please God, help me remember these things - always.
2. I want to share a quote with you:
"God is in control. When you feel like everything is falling apart, it could actually be falling into place. Have faith." - Unknown
I have been on a journey with my job for a little more than 3 years. It hasn't been that I didn't have a job - God has blessed me and my family so richly with great people, great jobs...He has always provided for us as His word promises He will do. No, I had a job I just didn't have the job that I wanted, that I thought I was supposed to be doing. Note to self: when you use "I" that many times in a sentence you are probably getting taught a lesson by God!
I recently had an amazing opportunity presented to me that I reluctantly looked into. The problem wasn't the people or the job...the problem was that it wasn't what I thought I should be doing - those doggone "I"'s again! Anyways, God was patient with me - and placed patience in the hearts of the people I will be blessed to serve with - and let me work through this with Him. Together, with God, I searched my heart, I asked myself uncomfortable questions, I opened my mind to possibilities and, as you can imagine, it was very enlightening. Yesterday my Spirit convicted me - God wants more for me than I want for myself. Things have not, were not, falling apart. They were falling into place. Thank you Lord! Thank you for your love, mercy, grace...and patience!
3. For a number of years Kath and I would take a weekend to get away together. We would take the boys to Grandma & Grandpa's, check into a resort and spend the weekend together. We would talk about us, our relationship, our hopes, our goals, our dreams, our worries, our fears, our boys, the struggles our family is facing, the obstacles that are on the horizon, etc. In the craziness, busyness of life we had let this slide. We haven't had a weekend getaway in 3 or 4 years. On Tuesday my spirit really convicted me: my Beautiful Bride and I need to get away together. We need to rest, to make each other THE priority, to...just be together. I spoke with Kath about it and we got our reservations. I am so far beyond excited it is ridiculous. Just the thought of the time I will spend with her this weekend makes my heart happy and brings a smile to my face. The end of this work day won't get here quick enough!
When we used to tell the boys Mom & Dad were going away for the weekend together they would ask if they could come with us, they would ask how come we had to go, etc. You know what they did this time? They smiled. There has not be one whisper of complaint. When I came home with a couple of gifts I am going to give My Girl this weekend, Gehrig and Landry helped me wrap them - they did note that I wrap presents very slow though! Our kids love to see Mom & Dad love each other...it makes them feel secure. I am showing my Tender Warriors that I am fighting for my Beautiful Bride...even after 25 years of marriage. They get it and it speaks to their precious spirits.
The other thing that I have thought a lot about is, "How did we get here?" Kath and I always enjoyed our weekends together, we always came back feeling refreshed, our relationship was always stronger. We need this time...our whole family does. So how did we go 3 or 4 years without doing it. The song, "Slow Fade" comes to mind. It is a slow fade as black and white turns to grey. It was baseball games, football games, yard work...the busyness of life. It didn't take long before we knew what was right, good & healthy for us had slipped away - black and white had turned to grey.
Thank you Lord for reminding me of my #1 earthly priority and for convicting my Spirit to act! WooHoo! I get a weekend with My Girl! Do not call, text or email me...I will not respond! :) I am going to be falling in love all over again with the most beautiful - inside & out - girl in the world to me, spending hours looking into those beautiful eyes, sharing my heart and tenderly holding hers! WooHoo! Is it 5:00 p.m. yet?!
Please don't hesitate to contact me if there is ever anything I can do for you or your family - except for this weekend. (O.K., I am just kidding. If you REALLY need me, I will be there for you!) I will always be willing to help you any way I can.
Have a great day, a wonderful weekend and please cherish those precious families.
Kev
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