I love nights like tonight. It’s 68 degrees with a gentle breeze that is slightly cool. I have all of the windows open right now just enjoying the fresh air. Nights like tonight I miss having a front porch to go out and relax on. I feel like I used to do all of my best thinking from there.
I used to bring my coffee out in the morning and just sit with my older son for hours when he was a baby. We also spent many nights out there too. My favorite thing was sitting on the porch swing with him wrapped up in my arms on rainy days. We would just listen to the sounds of the rain and enjoy the fresh clean air. We moved from that place when he was one year old. Now we live upstairs and there is no porch at all on this place, however we traded in the porch for an amazing back yard.
Right now I am sitting next on the couch next to a window that looks into part of the back yard. The breeze is blowing, and I can just feel my body relaxing as I sip my decaf (not trying to be up all night) coffee. Looking out at our swing set I realize I might not have that front porch anymore but I have been able to make so many great memories on just that swing set alone! I remember the day my downstairs neighbor/adopted brother brought it home. He had gotten it for free from a friend’s neighbor as long as he took it down himself. Well he did and brought it home. The kids don’t know or care that it’s used or that we got it for free. They LOVE it!!! We really are so lucky to have it.
This cool clean air really is great for cleansing my mind and soul. As I sit here alone I am really able to just be. Looking out the window at the swing set also reminds me that I am doing something right. I am giving my children great memories. Memories that don’t involve the TV or video game systems. It may feel like we are stuck inside a lot but the truth of the matter is we do spend a lot of time outside. We do get a lot of family time together doing something other than watching TV. I have watched both of my boys learn how to climb the ladder to get to the slide, I’ve watched them transition from the baby swing to the regular one. However the younger guy still likes his baby swing too. I’ve watched my boys play with their cousins and use their imaginations to play games for hours on that swing set. There has been so much time spent loving that old swing set and I hope we can continue to enjoy it for years to come.
Nights like tonight remind me that I am doing my best as a parent. It helps me feel like I am not failing them. It also reminds me of how blessed I truly am. I could sit here for hours tonight while my children sleep and just be at peace. This is medicine for your soul.
Morning view of our swing set from my window
