1.) The Simple Things
I work hard to keep my kids occupied and happy.
We’ve been to museums and zoos. We’ve stayed with friends and visited hotels. We’ve done fairs and parades and Disneyland.
Last weekend, as an after thought on our way home from an event, I decided to detour quickly and take the kids to a spectacular view of a waterfall they hadn’t seen before.
Admittedly I wasn’t really “in the moment” as I day dreamed about the things I have left to check off my list with them.
Let’s see…camping and hiking, ice skating, a cooking class, glass blowing lessons, horse back riding…what else will make them happy? How else can I be the best mom ever?
But as I stood there thinking about all the things I could do to make them busier and happier (how can I top a surprise trip to Disneyland?), Maile stared on at the falls and to no one in particular, quietly said, “this is the best day of my life.”
So much for plans.
You win God.
Now it’s your turn!
Choose a prompt, post it on your blog, and come back to add your name to the link list below. Be sure to sign up with the actual post URL and not just your basic blog URL (click on the title of your post for that URL). For good comment karma try to comment on the three blogs above your name!!
The Prompts:
1.) The simple things…
2.) Write an entry inspired by the word: Yellow.
3.) A memorable sporting event.
4.) Sex education! How old were you when you learned about the birds and the bees? Who taught you? Describe that experience.
5.) This month the theme of Oprah’s magazine is intuition…write about a time your instincts were wrong.
6.) Create a video where you share your opinion on when bloggers should stop blogging about their kids.
{ 60 comments… read them below or add one }
That is pretty amazing! Kids are so easily amused…..most times!
It really doesn’t take a lot to make children happy does it? Why we continue to kill ourselves in the process beat me!
Aw, that brought a smile to my face! It truly is the simple things that make them happy!
Wow. That is great; it even gave me a little rush of goosebumps.
I picked the same writing prompt – I hope you like my “take” on it :)
xx
I’m certain the photo doesn’t do it justice and I find myself going “wow”.
I’m with Maile and wish I had a waterfall to go look at.
What a fabulous impromptu stop.
Yep, nothing beats jumping in muddy puddles in my family…
It is the little things, isn’t it?
What a wonderful moment! It truly is a beautiful waterfall.
Sometimes we really do try harder than necessary to make memories for our children, don’t we? I’m sure what your daughter said just made your day!
That is one magnificant waterfall.. It’s worth the pitstop.
How wonderful that she can appreciate nature and the simple things. You should really tap into this and save your money! When I asked the 5th grade boys in my VBS group this week what was the most fun thing they did so far this summer, two responded, “having a water fight.” Oh, and any cat will tell you a box, a string or a milk cap ring beats any toy you can buy! (Maybe I should have done this prompt!)
Can’t blame her…that waterfall looks spectacular. It really doesn’t get better than that!
What a great lesson!
I’ve been to that same falls before on a vacation – it’s lovely!
Yup – it really doesn’t take much to impress the kiddos. Think of their favorite summer things – blowing bubbles, writing with chalk, sliding down a homemade slip n’ slide – all things that don’t cost much at all. Glad your little ones are appreciating the simple things already – and I would, too – stunning pics!
Nothing can beat the simple things. Kids are amazing. I enjoy the simple things with my grandson.
What a lovely post and a great reminder too! Life could be so much easier if we’d just allow ourselves to enjoy the simple stuff instead of knocking ourselves out all the time!
We try so hard to make them happy, to assure they are having fun and it’s always the simple things that do it best. When we took a family trip to Disney World a couple of years ago, the lines were so long and it was unbearably hot and all they wanted to do was go back to the hotel and swim in the pool.
I thought the waterfall was pretty stunning too…and really? why do we work so hard trying to impress our kids with new fun and exciting activities that will knock their socks off? It’s so true, the little things totally make them just as happy…
Now excuse me, I need to go pack for yet another trip to Disney….ha! If only we had a waterfall….
WOW!! What a summer! Those are some activities. Lucky girls. But it usually is those simple things that the kids remember most isn’t it. Sometimes exploring life and seeing what is out there is the most fun. We never really know what will be truly special to our children. Loved your story. Thank you for sharing. It is a good reminder to all us mom’s that sometimes the simple and off beat trips are the best! -Laverne
Well, considering kids usually like the cardboard box more than the toy…we shouldn’t be surprised they like “the simple stuff”. I wonder when you lose that?
I love it.
The simple things.
You brought up something I’ve never really thought about before: how we may not be ‘in the moment’ but our children may be, with respect to something like observing a waterfall. I definitely know I’m not always into moments at the playground or here at home, but I realized sometimes I try to give my children an experience but am too absorbed with other thoughts to enjoy the moment for myself. It matters a lot to me that my girls enjoy the moment or experience it though. I’m glad your children loved the power and awe of the waterfall! That was quite a house/building on the top!
How awesome that your daughter loved the falls so much. Beautiful pics!
:) Yup. I have a 19 yo nephew who was spoiled rotten with… things. He had everything, he went everywhere. But the things he remembers the most are the little ones- how I was there waiting for him on his first day of Kindergarten, how we’d go get french fries before a movie, riding bikes thru the neighborhood, etc etc.
Wow, when I read Maile’s words I got chills! Sometimes it really is the simple things in life, in this case God’s beauty, that make it wonderful. Great post!
That is one of the sweetest stories ever. Amazing waterfall :)
Perfect post – LOVE your daughter’s un-edited, in the moment comment. And…love your conclusion! God Wins!!!
What a beautiful waterfall!
What a beautiful waterfall! I bet they do think you are the best mom ever already! :)
That is so cool. As much as they love the crazy kid stuff, they also love discovering their world. Beautiful!
I got chills. CHILLS!
you just never never know what it going to make them smile do you???
I love those SMILES today…they made me GIGGlE. Awesome, little things. ;)
It’s always the things you least expect that make the biggest impact.
Aww… that’s sweet. It’s just like at Christmas when you get them some fabulous toy and they’re happier with the box it came in :)
I need to find a waterfall like that by my house. It is beautiful even better is you kids being amazed by it.
I love it when it’s something simple and lovely and beautiful and my kids appreciate it…really appreciate it…without prodding or poking or cajoling.
Makes me realize that they will someday take notice of the beauty around them. Once they slow down a bit :)
LOVED this… i love that kids are so much less superficial than we expect them to be!
what a beautiful waterfall, and a great example of the importance of stopping to appreciate the simple things.
The faith of a child.. moves mountains and wakes us up to the realization that miracles are in the everyday of life. Beautiful pic and reminder..
oh how I love this! Out of the mouth of babes!!!!
Isn’t it great to know what little it actually takes for their happiness?
Awww, that is incredibly sweet. Sometimes those are the moments we remember much more than Disneyland or sweets… Beautiful.
The Simple Things are best. Beautiful falls!
that’s beautiful. my heart just melted.
I think the waterfall is better than Disney any day…..
That is such a blessing.
My heart just melted and is now dripping into a puddle at my feet.
That is just lovely. I love seeing things through their eyes, especially unplanned things like that.
Beautiful. You have a very wise little one.
Beautiful! It always amazes me when they decide on the best days ever! They seem to get it right much more often than I do! Love this today.
So cool. It’s always so interesting to me how kid decide what things are the best things.
Seeing that view would make it the best day ever.
Love what you are teaching them! I always think it is amazing at the things they like. Mine remember “Mom’s Roadtrips”, with stops at every single monument and road marker along the way. Life is totally fun!!
beautiful! and what a great post!
It always seems that when we work our hardest and try to plan so much to please them, it ends up being the most seemingly insignificant thing that our children remember and enjoy the most.
Love those lovely smile ^__^
Kids have the best perspective.
What an amazing sight!! This week’s prompt had me blogging about the simple things – I think this my favorite post I have ever written.
Waterfalls = pure bliss.
God has a way of showing us up
SO TRUE! Gorgeous shot. Wow.