Grateful for creativity

In trying to stick to my theme of thankfulness, today I'm grateful for the imagination and creativity that my children exhibit. Although it often means a bigger mess to clean up, I am constantly amazed at the things they come up with. Yesterday I stepped outside to check on them and they had pulled out Adams stack of 1/8 inch plywood sheets (about 2 1/2ft x 8 ft) and made a long runway, the length of the entire driveway, with a ramp at the end of it. They and half the neighbor kids took turns, riding their wheeled vehicle of choice, such as skateboard, rollerblades, or bike down the runway and off the ramp. My neighbor was out in her front yard and we began visiting. I'm sure she doesn't enjoy seeing our yard turned into a circus, but she was very nice about it. She commented that her kids would never come up with something like that to entertain themselves, and she enjoys seeing what my kids dream up. Her children don't make up games to play, or do much pretending on their own. That's hard for me to comprehend!

I came inside and viewed the restaurant set up in the livingroom, the costumes and "gadgets" left on the floor after a great game of spies. All around I have colorful and interesting drawings, homemade money, and toys set up in a variety of poses left in the middle of some game. Even though it may mean more work to put things back in order, and putting up with constant rearrangement of my decor, I'm so glad that my kids are using their minds and having fun together while they're doing it!