We went to visit Mr. Fix-It’s momma and step-father this weekend (regular readers are quite familiar with visits to Mimi’s house!) since we hadn’t gotten to see them yet this holiday. Last week I was writing about how sometimes in the middle of the dead, brown, winter you can get a little low. Well, this weekend was quite a refreshment for us–and we had a lot of fun running and hiding in the middle of “dead, brown, winter!”

The crew ran through rows and rows of corn. They hid in winter growth hay fields. They hunted for deer tracks and bear scat and rolled down hills when their feet couldn’t move as fast as their bodies.

They ate hotdogs and fruit snacks, climbed towers and buried themselves in corn stalks. They stood on top of “mountains” and had to be carted back home in the UTV when their legs played out. (Well, Speedracer anyway. The other two probably could have hiked back to the house!)

They got dirty, and smelled like wood smoke, and had so much fun that Speedracer didn’t want to talk to us when it was time to leave.

It was a nice reminder that even in winter, the fun doesn’t have to be gone. That it’s more about perspective than situation. That sometimes you just have to take a deep breath and be thankful.Oh, and isn’t it funny how just when you start to wonder if you matter at all…if anyone’s listening…if there’s anyway God can use you–someone so very insignificant…

The Lord shows you that someone is listening…someone is reading…someone cares…someone appreciates your challenges and supports your efforts…

When we got to Mimi’s house, there were 3 shiny, brand new, 5-gallon buckets for us! Isn’t it funny how the simplest things can make you feel loved and appreciated and watched over and cared for? The Lord moves hearts in the most unexpected ways!

Not to mention that Mr. Fix-It didn’t have to enact my plan to pull over, jump into the ditch, and “rescue” buckets off the side of Route 460 on the way home! (Don’t people know how valuable those things are?!)

How was your weekend?