We’re a family of six.  Sometimes seven when we travel, as the teen usually brings a friend.  So we like to spread out … have a little breathing space.  Not to mention CJ is up at some ungodly hour … and let’s just say based on his complete lack of quiet skills, I’m pretty sure he’s the decedent of some form of elephant.  Did I just write that?!  ;)

Anyway … so we usually get 2 rooms when we travel, sometimes even 3.  On this particular vacation, we had 2 {connecting} rooms.  They were confirmed and double-confirmed, but as plans sometimes go … they went awry.

When we checked in, the hotel only had one room for us.  They could give us another, but it was 2 floors down.  Um, yeah … no thanks … 3 children under 8, I don’t think that’s the best idea.

So anyway, we decided to just be thankful for the one room {which technically was a bedroom and living room} and made our way upstairs.  There was a pull out sofa, and the hotel uses aerobeds … so it’ll do for the 3 littles.  And quite honestly, I realize we’re a bit spoiled in travel “requirements” … as I know a lot of families plan for, and make due with 1 room.  That realization, in itself, humbles me.

Anyway, back to my story … So the 1st night, Hunter ended up in bed with us.  When she pushed CJ out of bed, he decided to try out the aerobed … um, yeah.  No thanks.

Morning came, we got rid of the aerobed and set Hunter up on this little settee lounge thing in the corner of our room.

During our stay there, as we’d go to bed at night, I loved listening to her tell her little stories, watching her finally give way to sleep and then listen to her breathing deeply.

It occurred to me that as our children get older, we rarely have these opportunities to experience this night-time ritual with our kids.  We do it all the time when they’re babies, but … at least for me … it’s rare that I feel these steps of sleep with her.  And isn’t there something sacred in watching and feeling someone give way to sleep?

Although Emily is taking a break this week from Tuesdays Unwrapped, I’d still like to share with you the gift I discovered in the midst of ordinary …

I’d like to unwrap something quite cliche … we need to remember to take our lemons and make lemonade.  I encourage you to step back from whatever situation are you in, whether big or small … and ask God to unwrap the blessing in store for you.

I realize my story here is basically a “small situation” and that you may be faced with a much larger, even life-changing situation … but what I’ve learned over the last few years is that there is no situation we are given, that God doesn’t have a blessing in store.  That may sound trite and easy to say … but I promise you it’s true.

And better yet … I challenge you to discover the blessing or gift He has waiting for you.