finishing well

This morning did not start well. It was rough, from breakfast to getting dressed, right through church and past lunchtime. Things did get a bit better after naps - all of us seemed to have hit the "reset" button on the day. We even took a family walk (with the boys on bikes!) to try flying Obi-2's new kite this afternoon. And then, of course, the kite broke. So we came home and had dinner.

Then we got out the ice cream ball.

If you have not experienced the ice cream ball, I highly recommend it. We got ours here, but they're available lots of places. I'm not usually one for saying you need something, but this may be the exception. The ice cream ball looks a bit like a big glass or plastic soccer ball. It has a cylinder in the center, where you put cream, sugar, and vanilla (or other flavorings & additions). After capping this end off, you turn it over, open the opposite end, and fill the outer shell with ice and rock salt. It's great for taking to picnics, camping, or just making ice cream outside.

The key is to keep it in motion.

We kicked it, rolled it, and tossed it down the sidewalk to the neighbors' yard. We rolled it up and down the slope of our yard. We recruited neighbor kids & parents to help us. Pretty soon we were all giggling and cheering the progress. Making ice cream is an exercise in patience, and even with the ice cream ball, it takes time. This method, of course, also requires a lot of running around!

When it was finished, we sat in the yard and enjoyed delicious ice cream. We even got to take a bowl to our elderly neighbor who can't leave home, and she loved it. We slurped down every last bite, and finally, I thought the day was really ending well. I had no idea it would just get better.

Mr. Kenobi hosed down the ice cream ball and emptied the remaining ice. Obi-1 grabbed an ice cube and tossed it at his daddy (he has great aim). Mr. Kenobi fired back with a squirt from the hose. Pretty soon, both boys were throwing ice cubes, and daddy was hosing them down, in a full-on summer water fight. I laughed, safely spectating from the porch, until Obi-1 got ahold of the hose and sprayed me. That brought me down to confiscate the hose and chase all three boys (grown-up included) around the yard, drawing piercing shrieks of laughter.

After finally drying off, the boys were changed into pj's, teeth brushed, and into bed in record time. In our tradition, I hugged each goodnight and prayed with them. Obi-1 asked to pray, too, and how sweet it was to hear him say thank you to God for having us worship Him today. I left the room, and could hear Mr. Kenobi singing "Alleluia" (a rendition of the doxology) with the boys - a chorus of boyish voices mingling with their daddy's lead.

And then I realized, it really is all about finishing well.