The great outdoors

About 2 1/2 years ago Wes and I decided to move out of the "city". One of the reasons we had for doing this is because we wanted our kids to be able to play outside without worrying about someone taking them.

You see... I have this weird fear...I always think someone is going to take one of my children. I mean come on, have you seen them? They are so stinkin' cute so who wouldn't want them, right?

For some odd reason my kids love to play outside. They must get this from their father because I am an indoor girl myself. I can think of a hundred reasons why one should not go outside. Mosquitoes would be at the TOP of that list followed closely by bees, wasps, excessive sweating, etc...

I would try to discourage them, like any good parent would, but still they would gang up on me and beg.

So I would have to sit outside in a lawn chair and watch them ride scooters and play in our cul-de-sac. Then after like 7 minutes (ok... sometimes less) I would get hot sitting out there in the blazing sun.

Then I would think, " Michelle, you have nothing to worry about... these kids eat a lot and talk about eating even more so this make-believe-child-stealer would bring them back by the next meal!"

So I would move inside and watch them out the office window while I was surfing the Internet and reassuring myself that I was a fast runner and could get out there quickly if a car pulled up.

Not long thereafter we bought some property and started building our house in the country. I soon realized my kids didn't even know how to play outside. They would just stand on the driveway and look around. I would encourage them to play in the grass but I was always quick to remind them to look out for poison ivy, bugs, snakes, ticks, chiggers, rabid raccoons etc...

Finally, they started to venture out... a little at a time.

And now, I am happy to report they love it out here. I have even warmed up to being outside. On nice spring or fall days we sit outside on the trampoline and have school. They go hiking, play soccer, push matchbox cars in the dirt, play in the ditch, hunt for frogs, have campfires, and build forts.

The list goes on and on and on...

I knew we made the right decision to move here when my son came to me and said, "Mom, I love it here. There is always something to do and we have so much fun." Isn't he sweet? (sniffle, sniffle)

I am so thankful my children like it here. I pray this house is always a place where they feel safe, secure and loved. I hope they have many, many adventures here.

And I look forward to the day that they bring their children here to play in the trees and hunt for frogs. I know Wes and I will be sitting on the porch in our rocking chairs watching it all and remembering back to the day we decided to start this crazy adventure in the country!