the top of my list

I took that photo about two months ago. Chris had meetings in Kansas City. The kids and I decided to tag along and explore the city while he worked. I needed to look for some light fixtures for our kitchen addition, so I thought I could swing by IKEA to pick up a few.

The sheer idea that I thought I could ‘swing by IKEA’ with 5 kids is funny to me. If I told myself that 4 years ago, I would have laughed in my own face or shook my head and rolled my eyes. Seasons change.

I had every intention of making it a super fast trip (I can speed shop anywhere, including IKEA). I assumed my crew would want to be in and out as fast as possible. I was wrong. We ended up strolling through every aisle of the massive store. I had so much fun with them and kept thinking how there was no one else I’d rather be hanging out with than them (and their dad).

There was a season when you could not have paid me to take my 5 kids into IKEA by myself. Too many bathroom breaks and snacks and re-direction and picking up dropped items would have been involved.

Not worth it back then.

More than worth it now.

It has been a couple months since our visit, but I keep looking back at that photo and thinking about that day. That day, for whatever reason, it dawned on me just how much fun it is to be with them.  I don’t think I realized before that how I feel the most myself with them. They show me the most grace and unconditional love. They aren’t perfect and I sure don’t expect them to be. They know I’m not perfect and they don’t expect me to be. I think that is what makes it so good. It is easy to relax around those that don’t have expectations that you will get it all right all the time.

There is something so wonderful about being the presence of those that love you unconditionally, are quick to forgive you, and don’t keep a record of your wrongs.

When it comes to people I want to hang out with – these guys are on the top of my list.

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