Continuation of previous post...

I had a lengthly conversation with a friend recently, who reminded me that not every family can get away for 4 days on a 'retreat.' She's right. I acknowledge this. Everyone has obligations and responsibilities that can easily interfere with trips away from home...finances, work, pets, etc.

But, spending quality time, focusing on each other, still remains important. You don't have to go anywhere to spend quality time together. You don't have to spend any money to create memories. Who says that making a game out of weeding the garden can't be an adventure (yes, I tried this and was successful)! The kids are still talking about the time we played the game where we had to destroy the monster (weeds) before they took over the land of the free (the vegetables). And Gabe just told me yesterday that his favorite thing to do with me was feeding the chickens (one more thing to love about my ladies).

So, turn off the TV, Wii, cell phones, or whatever distracts you from spending time with your family. Stop screaming at each other and PLAY together (even if playing is creatively getting your kids to help you with work)! My kids are AMAZING and there isn't one thing I'd change about their sweet spirits. So, why can't every day with them be a 'retreat?' Why can't I take a little extra time out of my day and cherish them? I don't have to leave the house to put my to do list aside.

Life is so valuable and precious and I don't want to wish my kids adolescence away and one day dream of when they could sit in my lap or ask me to lay with them at night until they fell asleep. I don't want to be one the kind of person who looks back on the years when my kids were young and wish that I had taken more time out of my 'busy' schedule to play with them.

You're probably reading this and thinking, "Doesn't she spend every minute of every day with her kids? She doesn't work!" Well, let me admit something that I've heard other SAHM's admit as well...sometimes we don't spend time with our kids even when we're home with them all day! Let me assure you...it's easy to do!

So, in addition to the work that I have to do in myself because of what I learned and experienced at Miracle Camp, I'm also adding to that. I'm going to do what I can, even if it's just an extra 10 minutes a day, to plan a 'retreat' with my kids and husband. Today, that may be running through the sprinkler when I'd usually be sitting on the porch. Tomorrow it may be a simple as reading an extra chapter of Stuart Little without the kids asking. And the next day and the next day...I don't know...but I know we'll be making memories :)