Several days ago Chloe and I drove home from ballet the long way.
Intentionally.
We took the Marsh Road.
At least that’s the name that we’ve affectionately given that back road. It’s a little two lane road nestled between marshes and lakes. Farms and homes cling to the shore, perched just feet above the water. In the spring it turns even more amazing — the snow melting causing swollen creeks to rise even higher.
In life it’s easy to keep driving the same way.
Doing the same things. Repeating. Over and over. Get up. Make coffee. Check emails. Unload the dishwasher. Start a load of laundry. Pick up toys. Read a book. Make lunch. Drive here, drive back. Over and over and over.
We need breaks.
A different view.
Slowing down.
The Marsh Road starts less than a mile from our home. We just needed to keep driving. To purposely take a little bit more time. Taking ten minutes and making a loop on the normal way home changing it to a day far from just normal.
Time where we got to laugh.
To talk.
To breathe.
Chloe and I just stared in wonder as our car moved slowly down the road. She took pictures with her ipod touch (these pics are all hers) marveling as the world changed from the frozen grip of winter into springs melting glory. It was her and I. On our own break from the Monday morning ballet drive home.
Do you have your own Marsh Road?
Do you need to take a Marsh Road?
Perhaps it’s not a literal road.
Maybe it’s switching the schedule a bit. Or announcing that for morning snack we’re going to have ice cream sundaes. Or deciding to take a walk when math or laundry or naptime is next on the schedule. Or ignoring the morning dishes and opting to read for a moment instead. Laughing. Enjoying the gift of time in the now. Looking outside. Watching the water. Breathing deep. Living grateful.
11 comments
You hit the nail on the head. This is exactly what I’m working on with my kids. To have normal yes, but to also shake it up a bit. To be a little spontaneous and enjoy the moment. Priceless.
I’m not great at changing my schedule a little bit to enjoy life more. I tend to be too stubborn in my schedule. Thank you for the reminder.
P.S. Those pictures are great considering they were taken with an iTouch.
Beautiful photos, and wonderful memory-building trip.
Beautiful photos. You are so right…the repetition of the same ole, same ole becomes wearing and tiresome. It’s always nice to mix it up. 🙂
This is beautiful. What sweet moments with Chloe. It’s definitely good to take the long way home sometimes. : )
We never change schedules or routines around here. If something messes up it seems that the whole day falls a part. I’m not even sure what spontaneous would feel like. Maybe that’s a bad thing. Maybe we should work on making things different every once in a while. Even if it’s nothing but a change in driving home from some place.
Love this! Such a great post 🙂 Also really enjoyed the pictures..
Oh, I’m so attached to my schedule and often it’s difficult for me to deviate from it. But, it is necessary at times and it is also good for me. Thanks for the reminder! Hugs to you!
Love this! One of the ways I’m slowing down is that this week I deleted my facebook account and my blog. I wanted to quiet my life and unplug. I’m also trying to not be so tied to schedules, and remember that I control the schedule, it doesn’t control me. There’s always “room in the schedule” for reading Little House on the Prairie to my kids, snuggling, or making up stories together. Time to trade shoulder rubs with my husband and chat about our days.
Thanks for this reminder.
Beautiful photos as always!
Know that I’m continuing to pray!
Psalms 57:1-2 Be merciful unto me, O God, be merciful unto me: for my soul trusteth in thee: yea, in the shadow of thy wings will I make my refuge, until these calamities be overpast. I will cry unto God most high; unto God that performeth all things for me.
Prayer Bears
My email address
we have a joke in our family about taking the
‘long cut’ home. you are so wise to spend
the extra time on marsh road with your sweet
chloe.