One would think I would have been concerned about what we would do all day, and maybe I should have, but in the 10 minutes I had before I went to release the boys from their room I processed the situation and got oddly excited about a day without power. I began to think about all the different things we would be able to do because we didn't have access to our "lazy" vices that we so often have used as a crutch this winter. No television, no internet, no clothes dryer, no lights, nothing. And strangley (or maybe sadly) it was so liberating. I felt like I had the world at my fingers again, my choices were limitless, as if I had been granted so much of my time back. I became excited to think I may actually sit down and read a book, or even write out a blog post on paper and have it ready to transfer over; I could have taken a candle lit bath, there were endless possibilities. The sheer excitement at being powerless made me begin to think about what a beauty there is in simplicity and just how much that desire is pulling at my heart. It is like a dull ache that you don't know is there until someone hits it just the right way. I desire to live simply, with more management and less distraction. Granted I am the one who chooses how to spend my time, I know that. But to be pushed to realize the fact you don't care as much about certain thing was such a good experience.
It was so good an experience that event though by 10:30 that morning the when the power had come back on, I never told the boys. Instead I chose to keep all the lights off and continue on our "no power" day. And wouldn't you know, we had the best day! They took a bath by kerosene latern light, we then read about 5 books in a row (We are doing good to read a book every other day. The teacher in me beats myself up about it constantly), played in the game room , made a little charm bracelet, fought each other with pretend swords, colored, sang, and read some more. I could tell they were enjoying it to, a day out of the ordinary, so much so they didn't complain once. This day taught me so much, gave me so many ideas, and stirred something deep inside that I am still trying to process.
I learned that sometimes a messy house means a loving house. It wasn't my first choice to have the boys color at the dining table, but since the room is basically made of windows, it had the most light. They were entertained at least 30 minutes while I made their lunch, coloring to their hearts' content and using as much paper as they wanted. It all still sits there now where we will use it tomorrow. Owen still has toys in the living room he brought out and never put away. Laundry is everywhere on the couch, folded, but everywhere. And despite the appearance of chaos, I know there is love here. I am trying to lower my expectations of how my house should look or how I wished I had somebody else's view of clean (hello OCD people). We had fun today and it showed.
So yes, I was reminded today of how simple isn't bad, simple is actually good. I was pushed to maybe rethink the way we schedule our days, what we have, and why, and perhaps now I am pushed to change it. I desire to change it, to take away and trash the things that don't matter. To overcome my hoarder-ish tendencies, and evaluate why we have each item in our house. I was challenged today, and it was good, so very very good.
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