My Magical Minivan
Tuesday, November 22, 2011
But I digress.
During those driving moments, I have found that the minivan can be a sort of magical.
If I am driving alone in the car to get one or more of my kiddos, I crank up the music and sing to my heart’s content which is quite refreshing as there is not a soul there to tell me how bad I sound.
I pray during those solo-driving moments as well. It is time alone with God to contemplate my heart, those who are near and dear to me, and to seek God’s presence in my life. I don’t close my eyes or bow my head, but I believe God is present in that minivan beside me as I seek Him.
I call my mom. On most drives to or from one destination or another, I dial my mom on my cell phone and put her on speaker phone (so that I can keep both hands on the wheel) and we catch up on our days, stresses, and blessings.
And when I have some of my children with me on a commute to or from a lesson or practice, I open the door for conversations and connections. Sometimes the conversations are casual like how recess was today or how much homework do you have. Sometimes they are about friendship issues they are facing at school or hurt feelings they are experiencing.
And sometimes, they open up a deep part of their soul to me during a commute and share a secret feeling or fear they are afraid to share with me at other times.
Driving is not the only time I accomplish tasks in my minivan. I spend many moments waiting in this parking lot or that parking lot for a lesson or practice to end and for my child to come out to meet me. I used to just get impatient at those times as the clock ticked away and my time was wasted sitting there doing nothing.
Not any longer.
Now I find that time to be precious and perfect for certain tasks I can’t seem to squeeze into my normal daily routine.
I file and paint my nails. Yes, I have given myself a manicure while waiting for basketball practice to end.
I grade papers for school. Just like a mom’s job is from sun up til sun down, a teacher’s job is never done, and sitting in the minivan is the perfect place to grade papers.
I put makeup on, read a good book, catch up on my text messages, call dear friends to say hello, and even have been known to take a power nap with my seat tilted back just so.
Time may be money, but you could never put a monetary value on my time in the minivan. I guess you make do with what you have, and I have hours on end in my minivan.
So instead of becoming impatient and frustrated, I have decided to get creative, and I have turned my magical minivan into a place of refreshment and relaxation as I strengthen my relationships with my children and God in a very unexpected place.
The front seat of my minivan.
Now if I could only find a way to do pilates there, it would be perfect.
Struggling with loads of laundry, clutter in the kitchen and chaos in your life? Stress can easily steal our joy. Trish Berg reminds us to simplify the small stuff and find Joy in the Journey.
You know what they say; time is money. Well, having little of either time nor money, I have found some creative ways to use what little time I have. As a mom of four, I find myself spending inordinate amounts of time as a chauffeur driving my children to and from practices, lessons, events, and activities. I think my rear end is forever molded to the plush cover of the front seat of my minivan.
But I digress.
During those driving moments, I have found that the minivan can be a sort of magical.
If I am driving alone in the car to get one or more of my kiddos, I crank up the music and sing to my heart’s content which is quite refreshing as there is not a soul there to tell me how bad I sound.
I pray during those solo-driving moments as well. It is time alone with God to contemplate my heart, those who are near and dear to me, and to seek God’s presence in my life. I don’t close my eyes or bow my head, but I believe God is present in that minivan beside me as I seek Him.
I call my mom. On most drives to or from one destination or another, I dial my mom on my cell phone and put her on speaker phone (so that I can keep both hands on the wheel) and we catch up on our days, stresses, and blessings.
And when I have some of my children with me on a commute to or from a lesson or practice, I open the door for conversations and connections. Sometimes the conversations are casual like how recess was today or how much homework do you have. Sometimes they are about friendship issues they are facing at school or hurt feelings they are experiencing.
And sometimes, they open up a deep part of their soul to me during a commute and share a secret feeling or fear they are afraid to share with me at other times.
Driving is not the only time I accomplish tasks in my minivan. I spend many moments waiting in this parking lot or that parking lot for a lesson or practice to end and for my child to come out to meet me. I used to just get impatient at those times as the clock ticked away and my time was wasted sitting there doing nothing.
Not any longer.
Now I find that time to be precious and perfect for certain tasks I can’t seem to squeeze into my normal daily routine.
I file and paint my nails. Yes, I have given myself a manicure while waiting for basketball practice to end.
I grade papers for school. Just like a mom’s job is from sun up til sun down, a teacher’s job is never done, and sitting in the minivan is the perfect place to grade papers.
I put makeup on, read a good book, catch up on my text messages, call dear friends to say hello, and even have been known to take a power nap with my seat tilted back just so.
Time may be money, but you could never put a monetary value on my time in the minivan. I guess you make do with what you have, and I have hours on end in my minivan.
So instead of becoming impatient and frustrated, I have decided to get creative, and I have turned my magical minivan into a place of refreshment and relaxation as I strengthen my relationships with my children and God in a very unexpected place.
The front seat of my minivan.
Now if I could only find a way to do pilates there, it would be perfect.
Posted by Trish Berg 9:44 AM
Labels: Graphic Publications, The Bargain Hunter, Wooster Weekly News
