It’s rare that I’d end up outside with just one kiddo, but yesterday afternoon our eldest and I were out by the lake, just the two of us, when he asked me if I wanted to take the kayaks out together. I hesitated at first, thinking about the logistics of my very pregnant self on a kayak, but a little voice in the back of my head whispered, “Go.” I’m so glad it did.

Out in the middle of the lake with our boy, those twenty minutes or so were some of the best of the day. The sun had come out after another bit of rain and the breeze was perfect, but of course the weather wasn’t the highlight. Paddling and joking with H out on the water was unexpected and beautiful. If I’d let the details get in the way of getting out on that little boat, I would have missed it. We laughed together over my belly, talked about how it was baby’s first kayak ride and noticed the colors on the water as the sun glistened down. I hope I never forget it.

I know there will be days coming up when individual time with each of our kids will be even more limited for a while. Certainly, in this season of pregnancy, our family is feeling the changes to our daily norms already. My lap isn’t readily available, my energy changes day to day. I’ve asked more from our children in the past few months than maybe ever before and they are truly rising to the occasion with grace. While I know they all already deeply love their baby brother or sister, I can’t wait to give them the joy of this baby here in our home and lives.

Tonight we took family photos out at the beach as a storm rolled in from the south. It was a night I don’t think any of us will forget too quickly. After running to the car to get out of the downpour, we waited it out until the sky cleared completely over the water. Then we all wandered the almost empty beach together, the kids running and exploring, and J and I remembering summers past when we wandered the same stretch of beach with one, then two kiddos and my belly just as full each time as it was tonight. Invitation. Invitation to remember, to savor, to enter in. Invitation to play in the rain. Invitation to say yes to what’s right in front of me. I’m beyond grateful for all of it, and I pray for continued opportunities to hear the voice in my head that says, “Go”–not only in this chapter, but for all of the times God has something for me that He’d hate for me to miss.

MM