Intention

What do I want to give my girl?

What do I want to give my boy?

What do I want to give my husband?
Now is the time.

I get to practice how to love my children everyday through a million chances, a million moments.

Intentional trip living....

I have asked my family to join in these areas as we make this journey over these days together...

-Whenever we feel stress in a relationship, we give thanks (thanks A. Voskamp)
we have had to employ this one a few times.

-reading a book together (we picked up "The One and Only Ivan").  I think I have enjoyed it just as much if not more than my two beside me.  Bobo expressed the other night that he does not care for it. I am not sure if that has to do with 1) He falls asleep during the reading  2) He may not understand all of it  3) It might make him sad.  It is his book that we picked up for him in Canada.  Deveraux cried a couple nights ago, it is sad, but offers dealing with loss.  The author has a "stay with you" voice that comes along with a well written book.

-praying each evening for someone or someones...this is whoever is on our heart.  We become so easily consumed with our own stuff, it is good to think and pray on others!

-Time and connection

-making time to talk with people and be curious as everyone has a story

-gratitude journal (again thanks to A. Voskamp), we began this last February and we are not consistent everyday, but it is pulled out when remembered and we all write our gratitude's

-looking for ways to give or serve, this includes leaving each place better than when we came

-Andrew and I praying for our kids and re-writing our family vision statement (original cannot be found)

So those are some of the intentional.  They feel good.  And I will add as things make sense.

I also want to be aware that simply connection and being on this trip is important in itself.
Everyday it is good to be available for meaning.  I don't want to feel pressured with this time (if it doesn't happen now, it never will or I have to "make" something happen).  I know I tend to do this when I feel something is in limited quantity.  But I think being present now, with some intentions, will all contribute.  

Dad gave me a good reminder of just being is good and enough....."I smile ear to ear with the sight of you four lollygagging through the byways of Vancouver. What could be more intentional than a family on adventure patrol-------ready for sleep, ready with new eyes for new days." (thanks pops!)

We press on.  Continuing to face the days of unknown, adventure, being more blessed than when we started the days with eyes seeing new things, and finding goodness all around us!

In all things, we give thanks!