52 Weeks of 2013 - Week 3

My children have always loved the swings at playgrounds, I spent countless hours pushing them and yet it seemed it was never enough. The exhilaration, the sense of freedom? Maybe they felt like they were flying? At times, I confess, I would get bored and encourage them onto some other piece of apparatus, but they always came back to the swings. Now look at my baby...she can fly on her own and fly she does!

As I look at my life it seems there is rarely time to dream. These years with young children are full of dishes and cooking and laundry and running to and from one place to another. Yet I truly would not have it any other way...I know I will look back at this time as one of the richest of my life.

I entered a giveaway today where the question was "Tell me about a milestone or dream you have achieved or would love to achieve." I took a deep breath to try to think of anything! Surprisingly it came quickly to me and it wasn't about a career or great opportunity but it was my marriage. My parents divorced shortly before I hit my teen years and it was devastating. For many years I doubted that I wanted to ever marry, to risk it all when after five children and a life of ministry it could still all be thrown away? But deep inside I dreamed of a marriage that was strong, that was full of love and laughter and support. My husband also came from a family of divorce and had the same dream...last week we celebrated sixteen years of marriage. We have outlasted both our parents' marriages and are still going strong. I am blessed to have my best friend by my side to share life with!

As a family too we are starting to dream. Not one for resolutions, a few days into the start of the year I decided we would have a family dream list. Some of our dreams are completely realistic and some seem incredibly extravagant and unlikely, but we are writing them down and we will try to make them happen. The children are helping us come up with the ideas and we have 68 so far on our list which is to be 100. A simple one which we achieved this weekend, was to walk across the Golden Gate Bridge. I have lived here for 14 years and had never done it, but now we can cross it off the list. I'll be sure to let you know when we get to swim with dolphins or vacation on a houseboat or visit Thailand again and if you know anyone who owns a dog sledding team, let us know :)

Our time frame is before the kids grow up and move out, so we have a while. It was fun coming up with ideas and felt good to write them down and give airy dreams, skin and bones. Speaking it out, writing it down - I highly recommend it!