Risk the Ocean

The original plan was to take my kids on a mini camping adventure over this last weekend.  My son wasn't feeling so hot, and I was still all spotted with poison oak (never have worn those new swimsuits....I would look silly in them now while covered in polka dots), so we changed plans and stayed home for the weekend.  Oh it was a hard decision....I really wanted to see NeedToBreathe play live.  Alas, I've already seen them live 4 times now, so I guess I can hold off this once.
It was a good decision.  Not only did I save some cash, but sales for my business took off this weekend, so it's good that I'm home to ship out packages today.
My raccoon friend is still coming back every night.  Last night he brought the larger neighborhood raccoon with him.  This one is much bigger and leaves me feeling a little more tense sharing the porch with him, as he doesn't seem as friendly.  For starters, he hisses when you get close, and when he stands on his hind legs and puffs himself up he is huge!  I was armed last night though; with Fig Newtons and Kashi Dark Chocolate Oatmeal cookies.  Ah shit, these raccoons aren't going anywhere are they?  Why would they if I continue to leave food out for them on a nightly basis?  My love for animals and nature has a tendency to bite me in the ass.
I've been showing off my poison oak and bruised legs like they are battle scars.  I've also started to feel like a broken record as I tell everyone I know and meet about my latest road trip.  When I'm driving down the road now and look in the rear view mirror, I even feel a bit sad to see my bike is no longer riding on the back of the car.  I've seriously fallen in love with my bike this summer.  If it wasn't so metal, cold, hard, and bulky....I'd like to hug it.
I don't feel like I've done much since I've been home, aside from housework and being mom.  I've spent the last week contemplating my trip and my current reality.  Sitting at home now feels almost more dull than ever as I think about how I'd like to get up and start writing some new amazing chapters in my life.  I don't think I need to road trip every weekend in order to come up with some exciting material, but I am certainly ready to start writing a life story that involves a lot more getting off my ass, getting out, and taking risks or trying new things.  David Crowder says it so well in his song, "Sometimes," when he says, "Just set your sail, let's risk the ocean....there's only grace."  You can listen to it here.  It's so easy to get caught up in the day to day mundane routines in life....today my prayer is that my life never grows stale because I've gotten caught up in the struggles of life or grown weary of the monotony; but rather that I continue to step outside of comforts, cross paths with others, and know that if my life should be a story worth reading.....my character must be one of substance.