>In the van with the kids, this is society in a box. Six kids, two adults and the power play, social skills, and learning opportunities are enough to wonder how the human race has survived for this many years. There must be a God who wants us in relationship for sure, because this is the place we learn in….family time, ie road trips, is not for the weary of heart.
As a kid I was so envious of the families who traveled, who laughed about the endless hours in their conversion vans. I did on rare occasion have the opportunity to ride along with my Aunt Barbara and her (4 later 6) sons. I remember fondly, every time I see my cousin Jeff(y), the trip to Iowa for one of my father’s weddings, when we were all asked to step out of the van line up and be spanked with the floppy end of a boot. That was fun, then and now. The times with my large extended family on those long summer days, watching my cousin, who came in sets of brothers (not sisters, girls were/are rare), prepared me for the walk that the Lord would give me with my own family, with six kids. I am sure that part of the reason I longed for this size family was what I saw at Holton Haven, cousin camp, every summer, the good and the bad, seemed the way it was supposed to be. I know we have dysfunction , but as far as dysFUNction goes, it is more fun if others can experience it with you, at least then you have a whole set of folks to agree with what your remember (most of the time anyway, we all have our on stories).
Back to the van, my children, the six that my sweet Donnie and I co-created with God and have been preparing to set free on the world, for change, they are wonderful. Their noise, the fights about which fast food we are going to eat, the big splash at the hotel pool, the squeals of discontent with not enough space on the seat and floor, the baby (who is now 4) kicking Donnie in the back of his chair, all of this makes me happy, even my on fussing reminds me we are healthy, safe and happy. These memories are important, I hold it close to my heart, when I realize that the way we do things now, will be part of who our kids become. They need the conflict, the tears, the laughter, the scares, they need all of this to be whole and healthy. I need all of this, normal, pain in the butt days and squished vans, it is defining me and I am happy with me today, in our little piece of the world. On the way to Chicago land to spend an extra long weekend with so many of the very same people who had such a hand in my story.
This is my story and stories are important.
Share yours with someone today.

>I am uggggggg, that is the consensus. I have rather consistent pain level due to some auto immune stuff and I deal with it, it has made me a better person and today I realized that. My children don’t really care if I don’t feel good, you have to understand they can’t see that I don’t feel good that is the way auto immune icks are. This week, however, my eye has been flaming red and hot, I have iritis. They can see it and they are more prone to kindness and helping to do the things I have to ask repeatedly for usually. I wonder how often do we do this to the folks around us. We don’t see people hurting, physically, spiritually, or emotionally. The bank teller who doesn’t smile or is snippy, the phone salesman we are mean to, the child who is unusually unruly, what is going on? Are they hurting and can’t put there finger on it, are they sad and maybe don’t even know why? Are they emotionally hurting dealing with some trauma? Who knows, but I know this, we don’t know every one’s story. That is important. Everyone, everyone, everyone has a story. Everyone has a different story and our stories change. Even when we are playing nice or things are going well we are affected. If someone seems great, tell them, they need to know. If some one is crappy, or crabby, remember they have a story, it may not seem that bad to you or it may be absolutely astonishingly awful, we may never know the full depth, but we all have hidden pains. I am challenged today to be kind even when I don’t think someone deserves it, just because I can’t see that they may need it. Stories are important honor one of yours today.