Taylor starts her last semester of high school this morning. The clock is ticking. Time is running out on her time at home – at least in this phase of life. As the girls get older we find it hard to find time – or even make time – as a family. We’ve tried, unsuccessfully, to set aside a regular family night. Often, we plan to spend time as a family and everything conspires against us.

Sometimes family moments just happen on their own. Last week Madison, Wendy and I shared a late dinner (Wendy’s Chicken Parmesan! Mmmmmmm) and some really good conversation. As we finished up dinner, Taylor came home from small group and joined us. Three hours we sat at the dining room table and talked about life, boys, dating, childbirth, and I can’t remember what else. It was 9:30 p.m. when we broke it up and no one was in a real hurry to leave the table. I couldn’t have planned that kind of a blessing.

Occasionally, we do plan it and it works. We switched our "family time" to Sunday after church. After worship together, we had a nice roast dinner (remember big family dinners after church?). We then cleaned up and watched a movie together. It was one that had been recommended to us by several sources, The Ultimate Gift. It was a great movie to watch together. Afterwards we sat around and talked about God, politics, church, sin and life as a believer in an unbelieving world. I’m glad we planned some time together. It worked out for once – and I was blessed out of my socks to spend that time with the girls.

Planned or unplanned – successful or unsuccessful, I guess the key is that we keep seeking time together. We keep trying to work it out. Our batting percentage may not be all that great, but once in a while we take the pitch life delivers to us and we knock it out of the park. When you’re rounding third and coming home, you’re glad you dared to step up to the plate.