August 2

This evening started out as family movie night, as many Fridays at our house do. Although he laughed and snorted along with The Smurfs' antics in the Big Apple, Brady eventually decided he wanted to go outside. I watched him through the screen door as he played first with a bubble blower, and then as he called for Adam to join him outside so they could play catch. He obliged, and Isaac followed suit. Then shortly thereafter, when the movie was over, Abby and I made our way outside as well.

As I stood and watched Isaac perfect his football skills and tossed around a mini basketball with Brady, I thought about God's role in all of it. In the blessing of playing ball with my kids. In the loveliness of our back yard. In the cool weather. In the reminder that changes in plans --moving from the planned movie night to the time spent outside-- can be unexpected blessings, as long as we're willing to roll with them.

And yay -- it's the weekend, too.