(just a few) Tales from the Wobbly Box

I am often reminded of how quickly vivid moments in life can slowly start to fade in our memories. I can usually recall many things about an important and profound experience but almost always I can feel the sharper details start to dull a bit and eventually slip away.

While it's still so fresh in my mind, I want to remember some of the details....the little things that enhanced what was a very special time spent with an unlikely set of smiling faces. This won't mean much to the 4 people who read our family blog...but I think it's safe to say....it sure meant alot to a few people and maybe like me, they'd like to hold on to some of the pieces for a little while. I look back on the last few days and feel I've been given a precious gift...the gift of time with some folks that I think have many lessons I can learn from.

It was a much needed weekend away from the realities of raising of busy family. A time to take a deep breath, have a 3rd cup of coffee and only begin to consider taking a shower at 4pm on a Saturday afternoon. A weekend where pajamas were encouraged and makeup was only optional. There was an abundance of cream cheese, avocados and cranberries. There were the first signs of springtime as we enjoyed the view of the rippling water from our deck chairs. There were blankets (and heating pads too!) that warmed us as we cuddled up in a new spot for a whole new topic and a delightful mix of country and 80's tunes that provided the soft background noice.

Had this been the essence of our time together, it would have been most sufficient for a set of hurried, over-scheduled Moms just looking to recharge. The gift though was that it was so much more than these things. The "so much more" brought a kinship that was not there before and hopefully that kinship will sit down and stay a while. Most of the "so much more" is too sacred to share...it wouldn't even make sense to most but it was a time

...filled with laughter and cherry flavored Carmex

...filled with tears

...peppered with jokes about lizards, dog splits and the trials and tribulations of whipped cream creations.

...It was time filled with admissions, confessions and revelations. Filled with apologies and forgiveness. Filled with a sense of sharing one's deepest fears and darkest moments in life. Filled with understanding the perspective of someone else in a whole new way and loving them even more because of it. It was time filled with example after example of the grace and peace that only God can deliver us to.

...It was time filled with gratitude for people who listened with open hearts. It was time made possible by a gracious hostess who opened her doors to suitcases, market baskets and groceries...lots of groceries.

As spring arrives and the summer heat starts to rise, I know the smaller details of our time in the Wobbly Box will begin to fade but I pray that these new and lovely friendships will do anything but that.

"Be devoted to one another in brotherly love. Honor one another above yourselves."

Romans 12:10