Today I went out and spent $11.88. I was truly a big spender this morning. I traveled to my local WalMart, and bought my two children their own full fledge pool. How fantastic is that? Seriously, they have their own pool, snack shop, and lifeguard service for a one time deal of $11.88. You too can have this deal if you run, don’t walk, to the closest WalMart. Anyhow, all exageration aside, Tiffany and I decided that it would be fun for our kids to have a little baby pool in the back on our deck. So we went out, and reluctantly I bought this thing. I’m gonna be honest, I wasn’t to thrilled at purchasing this oversized plastic dog dish. But you should have heard Noah when I Jammed it in the back of our cruiser. (aka, minivan) He goes like this,
“OH WOW. WOW. WOW.”
You would have thought that I bought him the moon or something really significant. “It Blue” he says. “It Blue mommy. WOW” So, that cheered me up a little bit. We are driving home, and my wife turns to the kids and in the traditional always excited mommy voice, she says, “Who wants to go swimming when we get home.” I looked over at her, and didn’t even say a thing. I looked back at the road, and knew full well what was ahead of me when I got home. In my mind, things were racing through my block head as to why we shouldn’t fill it up and use it today. It’ll be too cold, it’s to close to lunch/naptime… and all the other reasons I could fabricate. However, I didn’t say anything. First smart move all day.
Well, cut to the chase, we got home and I performed dutifully, I filled the pool, and even heated it for them. I put their slide into the pool and then we let them at it. Well, this was the greatest thing that we could have ever done for both of these kids. They loved it. They went down the slide, splashed water, they were giggling and laughing and having an amazing time.
Well, you know how you learn stuff from your kids. Yeah, well today was one of those moments for me. My kids were living in that moment. They were just laughing and they were focused on the here and the now. They didn’t allow the thought of the ever approaching nap time spoil their fun. They weren’t thinking about what they were going to have to eat for dinner. They weren’t worried about if their pool was as cool as the neighbors pool, or if their swim suit flattered their particular build. No. They lived in the moment. They splashed it up. They laughed and slid into the pool. They taught me a huge lesson.
How often do we sit around and look at other people’s stuff, and say to ourselves, man that would be great. I wish that I had that. My car isn’t as good as theirs. Or if only I looked more like Brad Pitt, or whatever holllywood A lister you long to be. When we do that kind of a thing, we are completely blowing off what God has given us right now, what we have been blessed with today.
For me, I will never forget this day, the day that $11.88 thrilled my kids beyond belief. God has given each of us so much, yet all to often we look at it and say, why isn’t it better? Or more like that persons.
Live in today. Live today to the max. Don’t let tomorrows worries encroach upon all of the fun and blessings that are in front of you right now. Hmm. Sounds almost Biblical huh? Something like, “Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself.” (Matthew 6:34)
So, anyhow, I can tell you where to get a sweet deal on a baby pool!
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This morning I was driving in my car with Noah and Grace in tow behind me. We were driving from the house to the church. Today was going to be a special day! We were going to play at the church for the morning. We brought their bikes and we were going to play! It was going to be fun. We all willingly put our coats and shoes on, and we headed to the car with excitement on our faces. ALL OF US! So, we get in the car and something magical happened. We were descending the hill on West Street passing by Doyle Elementary school and I noticed what was happening in the back seat behind me. We were having a little school lesson. 
