Continued Learning

I continue to learn so much from our children. Zane is at the stage that he is observing things and taking information in at a wild rate. I love watching it and try to keep up with the questions and information he spills onto us. It has had me thinking about how I want to continue learning as I get older. How do I stretch myself to expand my mind and enjoy it at the same time?

As I was watching Zane's intense concentration on writing his name on his Valentine's for his classmates it hit me that my continued learning is right in front of me. Besides photography, the two things I enjoy most are writing and reading. They both breath new life into me and challenge me which is what I need. I have had a friend challenging me to share more of my writing publicly and last week I did that and I hope to do more of that on this blog. I want to continue to make myself sit down and write, just to write, not always with a specific reason involved.

Then there's reading. Oh how I could sit with a good book all day long and pour over the pages! Of course having time to read isn't always the easiest in this stage of my life with two boys running around. However, I am learning that sitting down on the couch with a book while they play is okay and actually is turning out to teach them something. Jude has started to go grab some of his books and wants up on the couch beside me. As I read, he sits and turns the pages of his books. I have tried to make a habit of getting up early and having some time to read the Bible and journal a bit before our crazy days begin. Zane will get up and join me on the couch, ask me what I'm reading or writing and just sit with me. I hope that by watching me read they can learn that you don't need all the video games, TV shows and movies to keep you entertained. A simple, lovely book can do just the same and take you into worlds that stretch your imagination.

I guess I am already continuing that whole learning throughout your life thing. I hope to be more intentional with it and cut time out for it.