Stop and smell the McDonalds

The other day as we were walking through the store Austin, completely out of the blue, asked me if I was going to die when I was 100 years old. I laughed and told him that I probably would die before I was 100 years old. Which made me start to think just how crazy our lives are moving. When you think about it, which I don't recommend because it gets depressing, your children are only with you for 25% of their lives and yours! Of that 25% there is a year where they won't talk to you because they can't and 3 to 5 years where they just plain won't talk to you.

I look at Shaustia and I just wish she would stop growing for awhile and let me enjoy her as she is. Every time I turn around she is older than she was before. The fact that she is getting baptized has me on my heels. I just can't seem to come to grips that she is going to get baptized and then go to Junior High and then Highschool and start dating and then go to college and get married and. . .

I remember when I was a kid I would always say I just can't wait until I am old enough to. . .

Now I am old enough to do and I think to myself I wish I could go back and. . .

We catch ourselves thinking as soon as we get into this house life will be good, or as soon as we get this we will be happy. News flash. Americans are not happy. Why? Because all we want is more stuff. Stuff doesn't make us happy. We make us happy. Stuff can give us "fun", but fun doesn't always equate to happiness. I love to ride my father-in-laws snowmobiles it is a lot of fun but I would trade that for one more hug from my kids, or one more evening in the living room wrestling with them or all snuggled together with Emily and the kids watching a movie. That is my definition of true happiness.

What is really sad is our stupid mortal bodies put all these different desires into our heads and tell us we need the fun and excitement and thrills in our lives and this can get in the way of what is really important. We see our neighbors with all of their stuff and think man that would be fun, definitely is, but at what cost?

Which is what brings me to the point of this blog. I do not like eating at McDonalds. However, my kids love going to McDonalds and we do it together. Sadly one day Shaustia isn't going to think McDonalds is cool anymore. But until that time comes I plan on stopping and smelling the McDonalds.