Toes – The Mommy Map

I have to admit it. I am the kind of person that either has to do something 100% or not at all. So…I haven’t been doing this blog at all. With a homeschooling family of eight adjusting to a new size, I find our life so full that I don’t have the time to sit and write out long thoughts. Instead, what I can do is share our highlights here and there. Typically, I share them on social networking when I can get to it because it only requires me to type out 140 characters and possibly include a photo…and I can do it from my iPhone (sometimes while I’m in the only quiet place in the house…you know the one) anywhere and at any hour. But some people miss out…and they are random…and they are not all in one place…and I feel guilty for never quite spending time here.

In one of my few moments of quiet the other day, I read my friend, Love’s blog and was inspired by what she had to say. Maybe, just maybe, she had a solution to my dilemma.

i think it’s really crucial to remember that, for the most part, i’m showing you my

highlight reel. don’t get me wrong, i long to be honest and even vulnerable here,

but the reason that i started this space was to remember how precious our moments

are. so, just because the majority of them are sweet and loving and clean and styled–

make no mistake. i am human. we are human. there is mess–the literal & figurative kind.

The highlighted part jumped out at me. For this season of my life, I can either record something or nothing. For right now, I need a place in which I can record the gifts or “the highlight reel”–as she calls it–in our family life. Maybe I can’t sit down and write at length like I once could, but for now this place can be what I need it to be. I wonder if simple might even be better.

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Today was full of old memories and making new ones.

My grandmother passed away recently and after her memorial, we spent some time at the very same beach that I walked along with her many a time. Whenever we would visit her, we would always take a walk along the beach and collect sea shells. As I dipped my toes in the chilly water, played in the sand and walked along collecting shells in the warm sunshine, my memories with her began walking alongside new ones as our Hidden Treasure placed her little Russian toes into the Pacific Ocean for the very first time.

Her little piggy toes scrunching up, feeling the texture of wet sand and water running between her toes.
Her reckless abandon as she ran at full speed, unencumbered up and down the beach, feeling the wind in her hair.
Tentative at first, but fear giving away to joy as she took in the fullness of His creation.

I didn’t plan this trip to the beach to be so significant, but He did. He knew just what I needed today. He knew I needed something new.

I’m thinking I’m gonna go with this newness here. I won’t feel overwhelmed at all I have not shared in the past few months, but instead just start afresh from right here, right now.

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One Reply to “Toes”

Bethany January 11, 2012 at 6:01 am

I agree. I (used to) read a lot of blogs and many people slow way down on posting when their little ones come home from overseas (for obvious reasons!) Most will show up from time to time and write a lengthy apology for not writing, but I don’t think that’s the point of a blog. It doesn’t have to be to entertain others. I write when I can write and the reason I write is for my girls – a digital life book of sorts. If anyone tunes in, that’s great! No guilt. GREAT POST! Love those little sandy toes.