To be like the Children

Freedom, happiness, creativity, and laughter. The things that make the spirit of humanity colorful. The things that get us out of our beds on the coldest days. <- Keep that in mind.

I had a fabulous weekend. So much work and so little sleep went into my trip to the Austin/San Antonio area (some may say it was inefficient), but it was worth every moment. I went to see my family, and I believe there are very few blessings on earth that are greater than long talks with a wise grandfather, and stupid ideas put to action with cousins and let's be real here. Grandma's refrigerator is always stocked up on delicious junk food that Mom refuses to buy.

Within five minutes of arriving at my Grandparents', my five-year-old cousin, Ben, had his little warm hand clasped in mine, as he led me to the back yard, rambling about rectangle cakes and dogs and other miscellaneous things five-year-olds are supposedly passionate about. I lifted him up onto the trampoline, and bam, the game began. "Now, Ju-yuh, this is a wrace," he said, "over there is the laser twap, that leaf is a power-up, and if you and me put both our foots on it, you'll turn into a wrace car and I will turn into a wrocket ship. Oh and don't let the bad guy get you. GO!"

Pondering, I watched Ben run around in circles, laughing his head off. I knew he was literally in a world that I was unable to enter. He saw the laser traps, the bad guy, and to him it was completely logical that putting two "foots" on a specific leaf would turn people into impossibly fast vehicles. For the first time in a long time, at that moment, I found that my [what I believe to be vivid] imagination was mediocre. Not that I felt like I needed to start imagining things like bad guys and rocket ships, but that I felt I needed to find a way to turn what I dream of, and what I imagine, into something real. Something that brings me freedom and happiness like Ben's little game brought Ben.

He stopped. "Ju-yuh," he said with genuine concern, "You have to run with me or the bad guy will get you." And so, hand-in-hand, my cousin and I ran around a little circular trampoline, laughing, leaping, loving and living. It was a joy that can only be felt through the innocence, imagination and freedom of a young child.

To see the adventure in a simple backyard, and to let the smallest things bring joy is what children do. To be frank, I think we need more of that as adults. In most little children there is a burning light that shines from their faces; have you seen it? Maybe that light is innocence, maybe it is freedom of thought, maybe it is something I'll never figure out. But whatever that light is, we all had it. Maybe you are remarkable, and still do. We were all once children with limitless thoughts, big bright eyes and generally happy dispositions. It is the way of the world, that we all get wrapped up in to some degree, that quenches that precious fire within.

I'm truly beginning to see what Christ meant about the children. "Except ye be converted, and become as little children, ye cannot enter the kingdom of Heaven." (Matthew 18:3)

I once interviewed an Obstetrician who told me with such passion and emotion these powerful words: "To hold a small human right after its birth is literally holding a piece of Heaven itself; I can really feel the perfection and holiness of the child pulsing through my spirit." 

To have a smile and sweetness that is contagious, freedom, happiness, creativity and laughter. That is what the children have.

We cannot let that die within us just because we get old.

Enjoy my favorite pictures of the trip.

Fluffy, blonde dandelion heads run in the family.

Katherine. FINALLY ANOTHER GIRL IN OUR FAMILY!  I absolutely love that my best friend is four months old.  And I love how awkwardly positioned my sister's hands are in this photo.

A little fact about our family: My grandpa has owned a bajillion laundromats in his small town since my mom was a kid, and his grandkids love working for him. Matt, Lilly, Tess, Hank, Ben, Sam and I stayed up super late building these carts and it was the bomb.