-Posted by Isaac

By far, the biggest news of the week— the sun came out.

It’s got me feeling so good. Energetic and forward thinking. Life is looking up again, and I can’t help but think a small bit of this happiness could be credited to the second biggest news of the week— we found a suitable replacement for our one term patron saint. (Our Father of Perpetual Embarrassment?)

We won’t dwell on this, lest I lose my blogging privileges. I’m one of the celebrators, but I understand there’s mixed feelings and some serious bouts of identity crisis going around. So let’s feel good about this sunshine, and leave it at that.

My brother must be feeling the same. He had a big dose of good old American gumption this week— He moved a barn. Not joking. I’ll show a clip at the end of this post.

But for now, I’d like to talk about Shop Time.

We’ve established a routine with the kids— Shop Time— every day. Mandatory.

The initial idea was to find some alternative, anything to get them off the devices. We did have rules in place, but somehow, almost daily those rules would get broken. You know how it is. Kids are sneaky.

But now we have this.

They actually seem to be enjoying it. Not that they still wouldn’t go off and sneak a video game if given the choice. But that’s just it— they’re not given the choice.

I’m right there, coaching, helping, sometimes finishing a project. I usually even have a few moments to work on my own projects.

The kids document what they’ve accomplished, and write out their big ideas for future projects. Suddenly I’m having big ideas. Or, at the very least I’ve got a little time to kick back and drink.

I mean, think. Kick back and think.

It’s awesome. I wish we had thought of this years ago.

I foresee great things coming from it. Far greater than bike baskets or Christmas ornaments. I’m talking about the kind of greatness that stretches for years and lifetimes.

After you have the right tools, after you develop the right skills…. you go on to accomplish great things. (Insert “That’s what she said.” joke here.)

No, haha, insert my brother— Justin. He and his wife/ business partner Adrienne, are in the business of moving and fixing up old barns. It’s the coolest thing.

It took him about a week to get it all jacked up and put on skis.

How did he learn all this?

Maybe the 40 years of Shop Time had something to do with it…

If you’ve got a notion to spend a country weekend in a plush old barn, here’s their business link on Facebook.

And if you take a further notion, come on over and visit. See what we’re doing in the shop.