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We had a busy week. We drove back and forth and back and forth some more. They were good sports about it, but it was wearing on us all.

We drove by the tree at least ten times while we were busy, driving back and forth. “Can we stop and play on the tree?” they asked. My initial response was “No, I’m sorry girls, there isn’t time today.” But then I thought better about it. “If we can get through this week, we’ll stop on Saturday.”  They took that promise to heart and made big plans.

Saturday came and it was glorious. The weather—perfect. As we made our way to the tree ,we noticed that it was dressed in pink. It was for a wedding someone told us. The girls imagined it was for them, and of course we knew secretly it was.

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The big tree did not disappoint. We climbed as high as we could on her 300 year old branches. We marveled. Joy bubbled up. Sometimes gravity got the best of us when a hand was not close by. It didn’t matter. We made plans to return with the rest of our girl tribe and daddy of course. We celebrated with cherry Icees for all. 

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Did I mention this busy week was also a hard week? I didn’t chase after my God-sized dream much at all. Busy has a way of shoving everything else out of its way. In fact, I had more than a few moments where I wondered how in this crazy world I was going to get through another moment. But, by grace I did.

It’s inescapable: we will go through hard times but we are made to dwell in joy. – Holley Gerth

Hard times look different for each of us. For this weary mom, it can be life rising up and overwhelming my heart. I feel the pressure to be amazing when in fact, most of the time I’m not. Can I tell you a secret? This moment with my girls and the tree all dressed in pink, I almost missed it. I nearly drove by it again with apologies to my cuties. I was stuck in the hard times of the week with little vision to find my way out.

But we were made to dwell in joy.
To climb trees.
Pretend we are fairies (or pirates).
Sing songs and sneak drinks of your baby girl’s cherry Icee when she isn’t looking.

And surprise, surprise, guess who our hearts find in the joy dwelling place?

Splendor and majesty are before him, strength and joy are his dwelling place. 1 Chronicles 16:27

As it turns out, the author of my God-sized dream, He climbs trees, too.

xo,

Stacey

{for more Joy +God-sized Dream girls, check out Holley’s link up today}