Making space for snuggles, giggles and tractor watching

Making Space

Space.  It is something I so desperately longed for as the children were infants, barely having a moment to myself, with my space, without the warmth of another human resting against me.  And there is beauty in the space.  The space to have freedom of thoughts and peace and quiet.  However, lately I have been thinking of a new kind of space.  Making space within my life for intentional time with family, intentional, focused play time.  For you see, how is it that I can stay at home with my children, and yet still be constantly missing it?  Because, some days, I have no extra space within my thoughts.  They are filled with my ever increasing house to-do lists, business to-do lists, personal to-do lists.  I thought being at home would make it easy, and yet I do still get much more time with my children, but I still must fight for it.  I must choose to make the time, to make the space, for otherwise everything else will fill the day and I will miss it. 

So, this is what we are intentional weaving into the space of our days now.  We are making space for the snuggles, for tickling and chasing around the house and dancing.  For watching tractors and birds and ducks and chicks.   For picking leaves, playing in the dirt and discovering new things.  We are making space for it, for I know that if I do not create the habit of the little things and time with my children being important now, when they so desperately desire it and need it, then I feel I will miss my window and they will grow to not want it as they age.  They will find new desires, new people to invest time in them.  And this is my job, my family, my people.  They are always the most important.  So, let's start making the space for the little things in our lives too, because little things over time become the big things and big things become the memories etched within our hearts and souls.  So, may we commit to doing the little things well.  They are important too. Make space to breathe.  

Warmly, 

      Laura 

My hiding place: The Felsman Family

Psalm 32: 7

"You are my hiding place; you will protect me from trouble and surround me with songs of deliverance".  

My Hiding Place

Teeth chattering but smiles full, warm embraces and belly laughs.  We arose to the morning light and met it with joy and sweet music.  Stories being remembered and memories created all the more.  There was a collision of tenderness and wild, of beauty and strength.  This family, united, covered in a blanket of goodness and unfailing love.  And oh may we not forget hope.  For it rests here, in the gentle crevices between the pain.  But as it makes its way in, it bursts forth, shining brighter than the rest.  Overshadowing anything else that might be and restoring all to as it should be.  So much beauty, so much love, so much hope to be spread.  

This family; truly genuine, contagiously joyful, completely present. Hearts worn proud, and affections spilling over.  The adoration and respect of these boys to become men.  The simple purity brought forth from it all.  And within the real, the raw, extreme vulnerability presides, but it does not disappoint as it becomes the resting place for the truest beauty we are able to give.  Ourselves as we truly are, broken and beautiful.  May we continue to hide in the Lord, rest under His guarding protection and care and sing a new song to Him for the day of our deliverance is soon to be here and the hope is rising still.  

Thanks for spending the morning with me Felsman Family!  What a delight it was! 

Warmly, 

     Laura 

Interested in having your own family's story documented?  

Black and White Series: Planting the Harvest

Planting the Harvest

" I am still confident of this: 

I will see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living. 

Wait for the Lord; be strong and take heart and wait for the Lord"

The rain comes beating down with violent fervor, the winds howling and sky showing off in bright flashes.  A new storm has rolled in, spring showers are here.  The rain seems harsh, seems full of distraction and noise, but I know and I trust that in the morning, all will be well, and  better for what it has been through.  The flowers will begin to bloom because of the fresh rain fallen upon its roots.  The air will smell clean, refreshed, renewed.  The morning will feel brighter from the storm that came to pass.  

The Chaos of Family Life

Family life can feel many times like this to me.  It feels noisy and messy and much like destructive chaos.  One in the bathroom learning to potty train, but also getting tangled within her pants dangling at her feet, while the other is pulling over chairs in the kitchen and trying to climb the counter, reaching up towards my glass vase.  Destruction management.  The noises are loud with cries of attention, or learning to share.  However, I know that as I rest in this season, pushing through, the kids will learn to go on a big girl potty, Thomas will learn that some things are meant to be cherished.  They will learn to share and they will know how to be comforted and to comfort.  They will learn to love, give grace, be humble and kind.  They will learn that storms come, and life gets messy sometimes, that people mess up and need grace, but that we can always start over.  We may all be broken, but it is through the brokenness that we have the chance to say sorry, to turn around and begin again.  And what a hard but life changing practice this is.  Repent, and begin again.  The storm will pass, the bloom will come and all will be well. Are you planting for the harvest?

Warmly, 

    Laura 

*Would you like your own family story documented?