Busi-ness. I've been busy. Too busy. So busy in fact, that we forgot a very special delivery we were to make tonight. I can't even remember what day it is, we're here then there, we're all over the place and I'm beginning to lose track. Some people think busi-ness is next to godliness, a close second to cleanliness. It's good to be busy, it means you're active in life, taking it all in, leaving nothing left undone, untouched, or unlived. One of our favorite mentors in life has instead likened busi-ness to an enemy of our soul. Taking our time, stripping us of truly allowing space in our lives to welcome the stranger or fill a need around us, it can reek havoc on family relationships and drive us apart. I land somewhere in the middle. I like to go. I like to be in the car on a trip with something new and exciting do, but I can see where too much of this can strain a family, especially children. On Friday, we were heading out the door and my son says to me, I want to stay home. He never wants to stay home, so I was surprised and it stopped me for a minute to reflect on how hectic this past week has felt. Full of appointments and drop offs and pick ups, I dragged them all over the city. Twice.

It's not that all those activities are not worthwhile. They are, each and every one of them serves a purpose that I look to fill in my family's life. But shoved too closely together, too many activities can instead take away from family life. As people, we need each other. More than we need soccer or swimming or even preschool and doctor's appointments, we need to know that we are loved by one another. And that can be hard when the relationship too often becomes about convincing someone (most likely the child) that it is in fact time to go, again. Put on the shoes, put on your coat, come on, we're running late! How many times a week can one person hear that before they put on their brakes and say, I want to stay home. I want to be here with you, building train tracks, building memories and love.

And so today I am reminded to slow down. To bake an apple crisp, take a walk in the crisp fall air, to be present to my family and to live with that being enough. We all have goals, aspirations, hopes and dreams to pursue, but there will be another day for that. Today is pure bliss of sunshine and hand holding. It is love being given and taken. We all need to put on the brakes, slow down, make space for the unexpected and be gracious. Here's to next week looking a little more like that and little less like last week.

By the way, one of the things that has been keeping us busy is an amazing greenhouse/yard shed we've been building out of reclaimed materials. It's our first ever Worden Building Project and going better than I expected. I'll post photos soon.