Last weekend, Sophie and I headed out on a girl’s day adventure… First, we headed to Shipshewana for a day full of shopping(mainly looking) and horses.  I love that she likes spending time with me!

We had a first on our adventure, Sophie’s first Starbucks, she wasn’t overly impressed. She had hot chocolate and I sipped on some spicy coffee concoction. Then we were off to a the Shipshewana Vintage Christmas Market.  This was my part of the day, however, we both loved all the fabulous vendors. So many creative things! There were super cute boutiques, chippy architectural pieces, and fabulously repurposed crafts.  We

“Mom, watch the road!”

shopped and browsed every aisle, oohing and awwing at every turn. As we walked, we talked about all the things we could create and make; picked up cute creative trinkets and thought about all the people we knew that would love the treasures we had found.

After that came Sophie’s favorite part, Mid America Cowgirl Rodeo Drill Team, their first show! We had a blast watching those girls ride their hearts out!! Around the barrels, across fire, standing atop of horses, all in a day’s work. Several times I gasped and covered my eyes. Sophie would look over at me and laugh with a look that clearly said, “Really mom!” For a girl that loves horses Shipshewana is the place to be.  Horses everywhere, and not just the ones in the show, but the amish community was out in full force! Horses and buggies everywhere!!

When the show was over we were starving and ready to head home to share our day’s adventure with the boys. I’d have to say the best moment of the day happened on the way home, when Sophie looked over at me and said, “I think this was my favorite girl’s day so far.” Gooosh!! My heart swelled with delight.

Days like these reminds me of just how fast things change and kids grow up.  While there were many other things I could have done on Saturday, but the best place I could be was right where I was.

As moms, we can get so caught up in the day to day demands of life that we look over the moments that make for great memories and times that draw us closer to our children. Just like our heavenly Father desires to spend time with us, His children, so do our children desire time with us. Time is the greatest gift we can give in a culture that seems to lack it.