Just Write {42}

I’ve been writing nearly all afternoon. I can’t tell you how long it’s been since that was the case. Simple uninterrupted time is a beautiful thing. And now I can’t wait for Ryan and the kids to walk back in that door. Asher will be sure to say something funny and Miles will lean into my side to hug me. Elsie will say Ma.Ma.Ma…over and over and over and come at my legs like hers have springs.

Right now though, I love this time to just write. Before this afternoon it had been a couple of days since my fingertips had found their way or the time for a keyboard. When I sat down to log in and felt the familiar smooth indent of the keys and heard the clickety clack, I said, right out loud, OH I missed you!

We had a combined birthday party for Miles and Asher this weekend and we had so much fun with people we love and love to see. The kids bounced forever in the coolest bounce house and it was so hot so they would come in, panting and down glasses of water. Their cheeks were red and their shirts were off and Asher even had a big rip up the back of his shorts with his bare booty showing and he didn’t care at all. Of course not.

There is too much excitement sometimes. No time for changing your pants.

My Dad was here for the party and he watched me try to put the chickens away. As they get older, they get less tame, more independent. I have to chase them now, like a game. I had on an apron and one cotton white glove because I have exzema really bad and it cracks. I must have looked ridiculous. Then Kevin and his girlfriend came to say goodbye and I got the chickens cooped while they cheered.

I still love these chickens a lot, but good grief they’re making fools of me. Yesterday I shared about a book that talks about how doing new things ignites your brain and makes you feel more alive. I think that’s why I got chickens. That day, I just knew it was time for something new. I used to get caught in this cycle of thinking that if I felt off in any way, it was time for the next big thing. A move, a baby, a different job…

I’m finally learning that life doesn’t have to be so full of extremes that we mark on the calendar as the day of The Big Change. A friend of mine calls this “nexting” and yes, that’s it. I’ve been nexting for a long time; needing something big to focus on up ahead to keep that feeling of nervous anticipation, to feel more alive, to keep boredom or ordinary away. But maybe, the small things really are the cat’s pajamas. No. REALLY. And anything “big” that comes of walking through it all with an adventurer’s spirit will just happen as a result of truly living those small things. I mean, nothing is really small anyway. That’s what I think. Especially if I’m busy trying new things and going new places with the people I love. I mean, I had no idea that doing a little exciting thing like heading off to the farm store to pick out chickens would be what it has become. Some days I even feel I could write a whole book on what I’ve been taught through owning chickens. You probably didn’t know this, but God’s voice sounds like a little warbly bawk. See? Nothing small is ever small.

This is the 42nd installment of Just Write, an exercise in free writing your ordinary and extraordinary moments. {Please see the details here.}  I would love to read your freely written words so join me and link up below. You can add the url of your post at any time. Just be sure it’s a link to your Just Write post, not to your main page. Then please link back to this post in your post so people know where to go if they’d like to join in.) (Any links not following those two guidelines will be deleted.)

Also. Please take a moment to visit someone else who has linked up! It’s a really good way to meet new writers and get inspired by the meaning behind their moments. Word?