I’ve been really craving some family time lately. With the end-of-year rush with school, and all the extras that go with that, I felt like I was seeing my family, but really only for the business side of things - the schoolwork, piano lessons and recital, crossing paths on the way to one meeting or another. So, I did what any wife might do, and asked my husband to plan an outing for our family. But that’s not the entirety of this story. See, I’m a very structured and well-planned person. My husband is very laid-back. This outing, truly and genuinely about family time, is also about me learning to let go and just go with the plan - especially when I don’t know all the details. So, come away with me as I take you through a journey of fun, family and faith!
Our grand adventure began with getting on the road a little later than I had hoped. There were a few things we had to do before we started out, but we got going with a happy, rowdy set of kids. We were off to see lighthouses in Delaware! We were doing great until we hit some traffic and I began to stress about the amount of time it took to get to where we were headed. I may have pulled out the map a few times to point out how far we still had to go. BUT - we got there. A little later than I hoped, but we arrived at Fenwick Island Light, at the Delaware/Maryland border. The sun was out and it was a gorgeous lighthouse! Tim loves lighthouses, and that’s rubbed off onto all of us.
From there, we headed on to the next light - not a lighthouse, but a lightship! Apparently there are not too many lightships that you can actually tour, so we were all looking forward to this! We stopped for some lunch and ice cream on the way to the ship - that always makes everyone a little happier! Aboard the ship, we had THE BEST tour guide! Fortunately, our tour consisted of just our family, so we were able to move around a little more freely than if we had others in our group. The tour guide was patient with our kids, he answered their questions, he asked them questions based on what they seemed interested in, and he made the history of the ship quite fun! The ship was built in 1938 and there were some amazing historical artifacts including Time magazines from 1941, and a World War II newspaper. The stove in the kitchen was original to the ship and there were pictures of what the ship looked like before some major restoration took place. The ship sat in the Delaware Bay for 2 years at a time, with a crew of no more than 14, including the officers. We learned so many fun facts about this ship!
As the day went along, and as we were all having fun together, I began to realize that this business of letting go and trusting someone else with the plan was going well. It was still hard for me, but the kids were happy, the sun was shining, and we were having a great time together! My favorite moment on the ship was when I got a gentle nudge & a few seconds later there was this picture. Love!
After time aboard the ship, we took some time to run around the playground and the area near the ship. The kids used the time to burn off some energy and we enjoyed hearing them in a wide-open space, rather than in the confines of our van. I was still thinking about the time, the schedule and when we needed to move on, but listening to the laughter, standing in the cool shade of some trees with my husband, and enjoying the beautiful weather were winning out! The kids wanted a picture on this little boat and so we were happy to oblige. I spent about 2 minutes trying to get them together for a nice, posed picture. You know - something perfect. What we got, though, was so much better than perfect - we got authentic and I will take authentic over perfect any day! I love the details of this picture - our older son is lounging about, quite relaxed and content with life. He’s making his own space in the world and is comfortable there! Our daughter is on the edge, dangling her feet in some adventure, while keeping securely planted in the safety of life. Our younger son? Well, he is intentionally pointing forward, yet looking backward. I asked him more than once if he wanted to look and point in the same direction. Nope! This was the pose he intended. And in his mind, I’m sure it symbolizes something amazing; I just don’t know what that is. I could venture some guesses, though. Maybe he’s indicating that he cannot see the way ahead, unless he is learning from what is in his past. Or maybe he is trying to tell me that the best we can do is plant our feet, aim ahead, and keep an eye out for those around us. Truthfully, I don’t know, but I love that they all had aspects of their own personality evident in this picture!
We ended the day with a drive to see the Delaware Breakwater Lighthouse. We got to walk on the beach, which the kids loved, we saw some wildlife and got to talk to some of the staff who monitor the wildlife. The lighthouse was gorgeous in the late afternoon sun, and being perfect would mean I’d be posting that picture here. But often, love and authenticity are even better than perfection, and so rather than post the lighthouse picture, which was the point of this part of the outing, I’m going to post the picture which ended up being the best part of this outing!
When I let go, and stopped looking for perfection in myself and in everyone else, I had a really great time! Our family needed some fun, leisurely time together, and we achieved that goal. Special thanks to my husband, who planned our grand adventure! And because of his ability to let go, to be laid back, to go with the flow, he was open to Day 2 of our adventure! Join me again tomorrow, and come away with me for more of this adventure!
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