Just Write {42}

July 2, 2012

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 pageThen 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?

 

 

{ 13 comments }

Shelly Miller July 2, 2012 at 9:15 pm

There is too much excitement sometimes. No time for changing your pants. This cracked me up so much, it made the whole post for me. It says everything. Thanks for putting a smile on my face, making me laugh tonight.

Heather July 2, 2012 at 9:49 pm

You’re welcome :) Asher was giving everyone a serious moon view. Why didn’t he have underwear on? I have no idea. And if we asked him if he wanted to get some, so everyone would stop seeing his butt, he’d say “it doesn’t care”

That kid rocks.
Heather recently posted..Just Write {42}

Elaine July 2, 2012 at 9:55 pm

“Nexting” – so true.

And I had to laugh when I read the part about as the chickens are getting older they are less tame and more independent. Kinda like our kids. :)
Elaine recently posted..These Hands

Heather July 2, 2012 at 9:58 pm

I was thinking the same thing as I wrote it. So of course then I was going to make some kind of mom analogy but it just turned another direction with my train of thought. chooo chooooooo ;)

nicole July 3, 2012 at 9:26 am

I love you. And this post. And your funny boy.
nicole recently posted..Zebras in the Shower

Jennifer July 3, 2012 at 9:35 am

I love that term, nexting. I do that. When things settle I always feel the need to stir them back up again.
Jennifer recently posted..I am broken

Heather July 3, 2012 at 10:50 am

Ah, nexting. I’m guilty of that, waiting for the “what next”, hoping I’m not out of “what nexts” in the first place.
Heather recently posted..Don’t Complain, Lest Someone Assume You Hate Your Children

Julie July 3, 2012 at 11:32 am

I think each of us has a period of nexting. I want something to happen that is big – so deperately – that it bums me out when it looks like it isn’t coming. I think that’s the period I’m in right now as well.

And how much would I have loved to see you with those chickens! Gah!
Julie recently posted..#JustWrite: Things happen…

Sharone July 3, 2012 at 12:02 pm

I know the nexting really well. And also, I know you have no time at all, but every time you talk about chickens I think of P.G. Wodehouse’s Love Amongst the Chickens and think you must read it. Maybe I must read it. Right now. Betty MacDonald of Mrs. Piggle-Wiggle fame has also written a book about raising chickens that I haven’t read but hear is delicious (and a true story!) I don’t know how I came to be such an expert on chicken lit (chick lit? HAHAHAHA, I amuse myself so much) but there you go.

Anyway. Just stopping in to say yes, and I relate, and read chicken books. The end. <3
Sharone recently posted..blink. don’t blink.

Sharone July 3, 2012 at 12:03 pm

(and also, because I have to say it always, I love that Asher man. Really the end now.)
Sharone recently posted..blink. don’t blink.

Marta July 3, 2012 at 2:00 pm

Yes, I understand nexting all too well. Sometimes I wonder if I create problems in my head just to have something to focus on. Something to be the new. But perhaps if I just focused hard enough on the small, why it could become something all on its own.
Marta recently posted..At The Edge.

Gianna July 3, 2012 at 3:38 pm

That’s awesome! The part about his little bare bootie hanging out!
Gianna recently posted..I’m Not Prejudice?

Julia July 4, 2012 at 11:49 am

“Nothing small is ever small.” I love this, because it is the truth. Like you, I often focus on what’s next. This is a lovely reminder that what’s next is just what’s in front of us.
Julia recently posted..Writing Woes

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