Are You Brave Enough to Live Life Unscripted?

My dad is here visiting.  Several months ago we decided that if our daughters had a SHOT at knowing ANY of their grandparents, it would be him, for a few reasons.

He lives only a couple of hours away.
He still drives.
He has a pretty free schedule.
He's in good health.

This is him with the girls the first time he met them.
It was love at first sight on all accounts.

So once a month, he comes here and spends a few days, sometimes longer, and spreads his "Pawpaw Magic" as he calls it.

Even in the early days, when she wasn't
a "cuddler," she loved snuggling
with her Papa.

Photo Op at the Pumpkin Patch

Helping them decorate their craft project
at the Easter Egg Hunt

I love his visits for many, many reasons, but I have to confess, some things are a little difficult for me when he is here.  He has a tendency to throw restraint to the wind.  He tells me it's allowed.  He tells me grandparents are allowed to throw restraint to the wind.  He tells me to relax.

HA!  Clearly he does not know me and my controlling ways.

Everyone Needs a Pawpaw

As I watch them interact with him though, I realize, everyone needs a Pawpaw in their life.  

• Someone who adores you just because you are breathing.  
• Someone who showers you with the most precious gift of all; time.  
• Someone who throws caution to the wind and says, "Who wants an animal cracker for breakfast?"

Right now, as I type this, I am watching my children play outside, hair undone, still in their jammies, no shoes, riding their bikes and watching the concrete trucks pour concrete as their "Papa" (as they call him) teaches them the precious gift of life outside a schedule.

Life Unscripted
 But he did eventually make them
put their shoes on!

I can't remember the last time I saw them this relaxed, and in truth, that saddens me just a bit.  Our lives are so busy, so demanding, and we tend to drag them along with us feeding them a very unhealthy diet of stress and worry and busyness.

Today, I think I need a little Pawpaw Magic myself.  A little life unscripted, unscheduled.  

Heck, I'm still in my jammies, my hair's undone, and my feet are bare.  Maybe I'll join them outside. Maybe I'll grab me an animal cracker and join them.

Here's to life unscripted.

Will You Do Me a Big Favor? 

Would you do me a favor today? . . . It's a big favor . . . 

Will you post a picture here (or on Facebook) of you throwing restraint to the wind and embracing life unscripted?   Are you brave enough to live life unscripted?

Here's mine!

In This Home

Three years ago, Mike and I moved into a small, three bedroom home; a home just perfect for the two of us as we started our lives as empty nesters.

And less than two weeks later, we went from being two empty nesters to parents of twin toddlers.  There are so many steps in our adoption journey that have taken place here in this home.

It was in this home, that we got a call in the middle of the night to go rescue the girls from their birth mom's home.

It was sitting upstairs in our playroom that our girls' birth mom asked us to adopt her daughters.

And in this home that she called us and said she'd changed her mind (it's odd how devastated you can be over losing something you never really knew you even wanted.)

It was in this home that we endured the season of extreme emotional distress where every single day was a meltdown from one or both girls; meltdowns that would last anywhere from 20 minutes to hours. (And just as quickly, life would be back to normal for them, but we were worn out!)

(I used to pray every single day before I picked them up at the day care that God would give me the strength to endure what I was about to face.  Those were dark days for sure.)

It was in this home that we received one terrible diagnosis after another regarding their developmental abilities; and in this home that we have seen such healing.

It was in this home that we knew God was calling us to adopt them, and in this home that their adoption became final.

So many memories here.  So many firsts.  So many heartaches and so many joys.  So grateful for this season and so grateful it is over.  

We have moved.  And a whole new adventure awaits us.