Being Caught

This week we went to the lake to spend time with some of our family who we rarely see. My cousin Ashley and her husband Stefan live in Boston and we were so excited to see them and introduce Neema to their children James (3) and Maya (1).

Some of my first favorite family moments:
Neema's first time ever on a boat and James explaining everything: fast motor boat, where to sit, how to drive and the art of tubing.
Taking turns feeding the fish at the boat house. James' graciously letting Neema go first.
Seeing Neema and Maya in their matching red, white, and blue bathing suits and hugging so tightly for pictures.
Making s'mores and being ok with the fact that there was sticky marshmellows and melted chocolate all over everywhere and then seeing them laugh with glee as we put all three in a big bathtub!
listening to Uncle Jud/Grande tell a made up story about how the children saved the grown-ups as all three of them sat in footie pajamas listening intently to what would happen next!
hearing their little voices as they talk about who knows what over baskets of hot dogs at their miniature table on the porch.
Just loving all of their little barefeet running around in life jackets that are bigger than they are! - Simply delicious! :)

please look at James' sweet little hand.

There was one moment that struck me however and really inspired this post. We were sitting in the grassy yard at the end of the day all wrapped in towels, Maya walked by and Ashley grabbed her and pulled her to herself. Maya just giggled the cutest little giggle I have ever seen. She then got up and Ashley was going to let her go but then she kinda looked back at her mama as if to say "get me..." and then Ash caught on and grabbed her again pulling her in and tickling her and said "oh you want to be caught!" They then proceeded to play this little "ill get you" game for the next few minutes.
I couldn't help but think we are all like that....wanting to be 'caught.' We are independent people and want to accomplish things and feel self-sufficient even in control sometimes, but I think at the core we all want to be 'caught.' We want to feel safe and at the end of the day take that deep sigh of relief like its all ok.....we all run from things and it is just so exhausting. When we can finally just stop and trust or just hand it over or just surrender whatever it is you are running from their is such comfort in just being 'caught'
Like Maya, who knew her Mama was gonna keep coming after her and who was going to pull her in and smother her with kisses...we have a God who feels the same way about us, who will chase us until we are ready to surrender it all to Him. It was a beautiful picture of His love for us.

Hope everyone has an amazing 4th of July weekend!! Glad we can be in America to celebrate!

just couldn't stop snapping...