Sanctuary

We just returned from the kids' spring break from school. Each year we take the week and visit my sister and family in another state. Each year, the kids love and enjoy this break and neither want to leave when it's time to go home. The kids love their aunt and uncle and cousins. But there are more reasons why we all love it there.

Let's start with space. My sister lives on 28 acres of land. Lots of wide open space, trees, ponds, horses, and plenty of room to run around. We have flown kites high into the sky there. We have fished in the pond. We have hiked. We have played tag and hide and seek. And we have watched hummingbirds feed off one of many feeders in my sister's yard.

Also, outside there is a porch swing. My kids and I adore this swing. We sit on it each day we are there and swing and talk and laugh and look at the beautiful country. Sometimes the hummingbirds will come for a visit. Or the cat. Or even the horses!

One of my kids' favorite things about my sister's house is that we all sleep in the same room. They feel more relaxed and comfortable because of this. There are no nightmares or fears of the dark because we are all in the same room. Everyone sleeps better and longer most nights because of this.

The house itself is ranch style, which means there are no stairs. No stairs! Everyone is on the same level and never far from each other. My kids love running laps in the house and sliding down my sister's long wood floor hallway.

Time seems slower there. More abundant. It seems to stretch like a lazy cat in the middle of a nap. Days seem longer there. Unlike at home. Where our schedule seems to keep us so busy that we always feel rushed and scattered. There, we feel like we have all the time in the world. Unrushed. No hurry. Just breathe  - kind of time.

The greatest part of our spring break is being with family. The kids play with cousins and aunts and uncles. They hear stories about family and my childhood growing up. They see mom with her siblings and begin to understand how important family is. They see a lot of love and laughter in a short week. And it affects them. Probably more than they realize.

In short, I would say my sister's house is a like a sanctuary to me. It reminds me a lot of my childhood home.  Somewhere that always feel safe, happy, relaxing, and somewhere that you always want to return to, as often as you can.

(Thanks, sis, for a great week!)