Just a BlinkProof Time Flies

I took the kids to Cascade Bay for an evening dip because tonight admission was free. Peter joined us after work. We pretended to be crabs and motor boats. We tossed around sand the largest sand box I have ever seen. Molly’s lips quivered from the cool evening air. Ryan went down a ship style water slide more times than I can count.

We ate a dinner of concessions as we listened to steel drums.

As an added plus Market Fest, Eagan’s weekly summer market, was moved to the pathway in front of Cascade Bay. Fresh veggie vendors, live music, artisans and cotton candy-very lovely indeed.

Molly in her zip-up jammies all dried off from the water looked longingly around the patio chair at the pool. I can relate. Fall creates anticipation for holding blankets, wearing sweatshirts and early nights. Yet, I am still tempted look longingly at the summer fun that is mostly behind us now.

I have an idea or the seed for an idea called The Simplicity Project. Sounds big because it is. It will come to me as I exist in each day discovering it. I plan to chronicle my efforts right here for you. It is my hope you will join the campaign too. Here are my thoughts that got me started thinking about change.

I think if I were given free rein over the house I could reinvent most of my life using a shovel, scissors and paint. Too much TV, plastic, sticky floors, loud toys, where’s this?, where’s that?, fast food, more TV, icky colors and dirty socks. Still we have lots of love, time and fun its not all bad.

I want to avoid frustration because I love living freely and not tied up in sad little knots. I will need a project to cure my creative home executive fix. I need simplicity. Too big I’ll get lost. Too little and it won’t help. I need The Simplicity Project (TSP).

My heart is brimming with inspiration but alas my eyelids are drooping from fatigue. My brain is overflowing with joy yet my hands are heavy laden with work. Balance, pace and commitment will all be involved with TSP.

Three steps to creating TSP

1. Big plans that are fluid. I must be flexible, easy-going and in motion.
2. Little spaces that are solid. I may not be able to move my actual house but our foundation in Christ is solid.
3. Happy hopes that are steamy. I will lift my desires upward. Seeking Him who strengthens me.

Having an early riser child has its perks. Namely, it gets me out of bed with just enough time to do a photo walk before the sun scorches all the beauty away.

Molly and I went wandering.

She was buckled into a baby backpack still wearing her jammies and I was geared up with my camera and a huge coffee craving.

During wandering maps aren’t crucial and time is of very little importance.

Wandering is fun when I am by myself or at least as by myself as I can be with Molly on my back. I differentiate wandering from exploring or even adventuring. Exploring is gathering information from a new frontier and adventuring requires a certain element of danger.

Wandering is walking on or off the beaten path if and when I want to with ease.  It promotes inner joy and satisfaction in nature which all lead to my ability to hear and meet with God.

Here are a few of my favorites from my wandering photo walk with Molly at Family Camp.

Please visit our flickr set for the complete series if you’d like!

Fern in the ditch on a dirt road.

The water was fine, a bit chilly though!

Old school house door.

I am in the midst of packing for a trip to family camp. I am swimming in camping chairs, bug spray and more kids clothes than I know I’ll ever need but can’t seem to leave behind. The process of leaving is always a chore but a necessary part of the privilege of actually going somewhere.

Long gone are the days of throwing a few things in a backpack, picking up some friends and fluttering off to a campground for a music festival.  Though, Peter would say he has never fluttered off anywhere, you get my drift. The children, I call them that when I distance myself from them, can not be crammed in a backpack and tossed in the car. Trust me, I’ve tried.

I was feeling so proud of myself that I didn’t tell Ryan about Family Camp until today (I usually can’t keep a happy thing to myself for long). I have learned however that anticipation for a happy thing just kills Ryan. He can’t stand the joy I guess. He gets moody and whiny to say the least.

He was way too out-of-sorts today! Maybe something to do with staying up at friends house last night to watch the Olympics until 10:30! That’s my fault, yes, I know. So on to why this post is called Camily Famp.

I scolded him with all that was in my special forces inspired Mama Arsenal. But alas, I broke down and just started saying cliche parenting comments.

Me: You know Family Camp is a treat so start acting like it! (What that even means I’m not sure.)

Ryan: Camily Famp is NOT a treat! That’s icky it would taste like dirt. You don’t eat Camily Famp!

Me: Bust out laughing. (How could I resist?)

The tension broke and on he went helping me pack up his back pack with his CARS flashlight, sunscreen and Blue (his blanket).

So off we go to Camily Famp to bond together at the end of this glorious season, summer.