Oak Tree in an Acorn: Boxes, boxes, and more boxes

Tuesday, June 9, 2009

Boxes, boxes, and more boxes

Our exodus has begun. For the last couple of weeks we have been packing up as our house closing date is now drawing near. The girls are starting to see some of the changes we have been preparing them for such as decorations coming off the walls and loads of boxes everywhere. They have been enjoying decorating the boxes with their drawings which is also giving us some time to get some serious packing done.

Whenever I experience a major change in my life, work, etc., I tend to search for something to focus on. Finding something that is stable helps me get through what sometimes feels like chaos. It seems Olivia is like that too. She decorated a box like a lion's den and poked little chimney straws all through the top. Then, she attached plastic army soldiers to the straws to protect her and added some special trinkets that had yet to be packed up. She set the box in the middle of the kitchen floor which was a little difficult to get around. When I told her we were going to have to move it some place else, she started to cry and said that we were moving everything and could she please keep the box. What a dagger to the heart! I started second guessing our move because of its affect on the girls. For the past three days, Genevieve has woke up in the morning calling out, "Where is the letter 'B'?" referring to the alphabet decorations that used to be on her walls and are now in a box in storage. Did we really do the right thing here? Are we following God's plan for our family?

I barely slept last night because today our furniture would be moved to offsite storage. I worried about how the girls would react. We were gone all morning because I was hoping to shield them from the change. We went to Jungle Java and they had a blast. Unfortunately, the movers were running late, so when we got home for Eve's nap, they were still doing their thing. Olivia stayed in the study where we had all the boxes that would remain until Sat. and not until Eve woke from her nap and the movers left did the girls look around. I held my breath....

Guess what they did!

They ran around the house doing karate moves (or their versions at least)! They loved all the empty space and made all kinds of loud noises to try out the new echo. Brian and I just sat down on the floor and watched them and laughed. Kids are so resilient! Empty space and a lot of love and they can still be happy. :)

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Why the title, "Oak Tree in an Acorn"?

Well, really it's all about perspective when raising the girls. It helps me to think about the grand scheme of parenting and remember that what we do now affects how our little acorns will grow. Like an oak tree, we want them to be strong in their words and deeds, be able to withstand life's storms, set and reach their goals, and be people that others can lean on and trust.

We have an oak tree planted in our yard that came from an acorn my dad planted in a pot. This acorn came from a huge oak tree that was planted in the backyard of my dad's childhood home. My dad's father also planted this tree from an acorn he found on his hunting lease in the early 1960's. Our tree is thus a family heirloom, a "family tree".

It was the year of Olivia's birth when we planted our little sapling. It looked so very sad that winter with no leaves; it was, basically, like a stick rooted in the ground. Five years later, though, it stands 9 feet tall, and we continue to nurture it and watch it grow. We hope one year it will produce acorns of its own, and we can continue to pass on this family heirloom. We hope to remember it's example of how each acorn has the potential to be an oak tree, and how our acorns, Olivia and Genevieve, will one day, with help from God, become mighty oak trees themselves.