Share the Magic

I have a very important challenge for all of you parents out there. Do something with your kids that you aren't supposed to do. Mix it up a bit and teach them that while routine is great, it gives you something to depend on, the magic happens when life throws you the unexpected.

Every so often I try to "break the rules" with the kids. Every time some amazing memories are made. Our most recent "magical memory" was made Friday night. The kids were all bathed, read to, prayed over, and tucked in by 8 pm as is routine at the Dunbar house. Then I took off to walk up to the gym for my workout. As I was walking across town, I passed a house that has a giant yard. The moon was huge, full and the most amazing orange color. Its moonbeams were shining across the lawn of this house making it almost glow. As I got closer to the house I noticed the lightening bugs! I am not exaggerating when I saw there were close to a million of them. I couldn't believe my eyes!

Right then I decide this was one of those times to break the rules. I called back to the house (I know carrying a cell phone to the gym, what the heck) and asked if the kids were asleep. Jamy said Abby was still up so I had him get her dressed and meet me on the porch. I ran back, put her on her bike and we headed out. When we got to this house I just stood and watched her. The sight of her running around with a million lightening bugs all around her in that moonlight is not something I will forget for a very long time. We probably stood on that corner for 20 minutes while she played. We decided to make a night of it and went for a long night walk together after that. I never made it to the gym, but, man, did my heart get a workout anyway.

So, take your kids and teach them that the world is a magical place just waiting for them to discover it. Heck, you might even learn the lesson as well.