Family Time

A few weeks ago, we agreed to help out our student ministry with their scavenger hunt. We were more than happy to participate but our only catch was that we would have to bring the boys with us. I love things like this, possibly more than the students themselves. However, as everyone was forming teams, Josh was chasing Joshua around the room and I was chasing Eli. We realized that everyone had a driver and we were not needed. I was crushed! I was ready to lead a team to victory. Jason, our student minister told everyone to "Go!" and we just stood there. However, there was one small, approximately 35lb, problem. Joshua spoke up "Come on Mommy! Let's go Daddy! We are on a race!" Oops. I had built this up to Joshua as well. He was ready to win. I thought & said to Josh, "we will look like idiots running around Memphis with just us". But my very wise husband replied, "Who cares. Let's have some fun as a family." And oh man did we. I think it was the most fun we have ever had with just each other. We were running all over the place...pumping a strangers gas, dunking the boys in a friends' bath tub, doing the chicken dance at a busy intersection, and the list goes on! It was a night of JOY. Psalm 126:3 says The Lord has done great things for us, and we are filled with joy. That night reminded me of two important things: 1. Who cares what people think of you! My initial thought was our church family would think we were dumb for taking a 1 & 3 year old around town on a hunt. Not to mention who we may have run into. But worrying about others' thoughts would have stopped me from having the best family night ever. 2. We were not accomplishing one single thing but having fun as a family! I often wonder how Josh and I are going to make it through our boys school aged years & not get drawn into the craziness of life. I mean, good grief, we are already very busy people! How will we juggle sports, school work & most importantly, keep God our #1 priority? We live in such a busy world, we forget to just have fun. I think we often, for one reason or another, lose our Joy. Why? Because we lose sight of the wonderful blessings God has placed in our lives. We are so busy surviving life, we don't even take time to enjoy it. The Lord has done many many great things for me but the three greatest...Josh, Joshua, & Eli...bring me the MOST joy. Ready for the crazy part? We got 2nd place!