As I walk through the house these days, I notice that every surface is covered.
In the living room, the entire coffee table is covered in Axis and Allies. Grandpa got us this game a few years ago. There are approximately 2.5 billion little plastic pieces including planes, soldiers, anti aircraft guns, tanks, etc. We are apparently not going to change the course of history during this game, as the Allies (Parker's team) are still winning.
In the dining room, the table is covered in a puzzle (left on our porch by a kind neighborhood friend) and in home school and craft supplies. Maddie works on the puzzle a little each day. Caleb uses the sight words and fine motor skills buckets to practice his home school assignments. Jack creates comic books with paper and markers. Parker practices his cursive writing to earn extra screen time.
When we moved here, I remember cramming my stockpiles of paper, markers, crayons, glue, scissors, stickers, play dough, paint and all kinds of other junk into an upstairs closet. I wondered if and when we'd ever really use the stuff. These days, I'm so thankful I didn't "Marie Kondo" my stash!
The upstairs playroom table, desks, and floor are covered in Legos. 4 kids, 32 collective birthdays, and untold Lego sets have resulted in buckets and buckets of Legos. Yes, I step on them daily, but the pain is worth it. The kids spend HOURS building elaborate play scenarios together.
The media room is covered in blankets and pillows. Since the start of our "shelter in place" order, we decided to institute new, fun family traditions. "Fort Night Fridays" mean all the blankets and pillows in the house are dragged into the media room. Complex tunnels are created and crammed with flashlights, toys, snacks, books, you name it. The kids are allowed to eat dinner in there while watching a family movie. Then everyone sleeps in there. At least, that was the plan. As it turns out, it's not so easy to watch a movie from inside a fort. We built the fort then watched the movie downstairs. The kids attempted to sleep in the fort, but then the blanket ceiling collapsed. Some migrated, tearful, to our room. Others wandered to their own rooms. No one had the heart to tear it down the next day. So, it remains, most likely gathering vermin, waiting for this Friday.
Our floors are covered in muddy prints and a fine layer of dog hair. Though I sweep daily, our dog sheds profusely. The kids and dog are in and out of the house all day, running through a yard that never quite dries out between rain storms. I hear them shrieking as they all jump on the trampoline together. A little mud is a small price to pay for sweaty, smiling kids.
[I am not including a picture because it's just, well, gross.]
Covered. Our home covered in love and grace. We are called to love each other with the kind of love that blankets, the kind of love that suffocates selfishness and annoyance and fear and hatred. That is the kind of covering I am praying for for our home and for our country and for our world right now. I hope and pray that you are covered, too.
Above all, have fervent and unfailing love for one another, because love covers a multitude of sins [it overlooks unkindness and unselfishly seeks the best for others]. 1 Peter 4:8 AMP
In the living room, the entire coffee table is covered in Axis and Allies. Grandpa got us this game a few years ago. There are approximately 2.5 billion little plastic pieces including planes, soldiers, anti aircraft guns, tanks, etc. We are apparently not going to change the course of history during this game, as the Allies (Parker's team) are still winning.
In the dining room, the table is covered in a puzzle (left on our porch by a kind neighborhood friend) and in home school and craft supplies. Maddie works on the puzzle a little each day. Caleb uses the sight words and fine motor skills buckets to practice his home school assignments. Jack creates comic books with paper and markers. Parker practices his cursive writing to earn extra screen time.
When we moved here, I remember cramming my stockpiles of paper, markers, crayons, glue, scissors, stickers, play dough, paint and all kinds of other junk into an upstairs closet. I wondered if and when we'd ever really use the stuff. These days, I'm so thankful I didn't "Marie Kondo" my stash!
[I am not including a picture because it's just, well, gross.]
Covered. Our home covered in love and grace. We are called to love each other with the kind of love that blankets, the kind of love that suffocates selfishness and annoyance and fear and hatred. That is the kind of covering I am praying for for our home and for our country and for our world right now. I hope and pray that you are covered, too.
Above all, have fervent and unfailing love for one another, because love covers a multitude of sins [it overlooks unkindness and unselfishly seeks the best for others]. 1 Peter 4:8 AMP
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