A fire in the backyard

There is just something about sitting around a fire, toasting marshmallows and just talking.  I love our new home and our back yard.  We have an amazing golf course behind our property.  Most golfer are done playing through around 7 p.m., so after that, it's like we have no neighbors at all behind us.  It almost feels like we live in the woods even though we are in the middle of the city.  This spring, I purchased a firepit.  I've always wanted one and now we have the perfect spot for one.

Even though it was a little chilly last night, I lit a fire.  The boys were playing with friends and soon we had several neighborhood children in our backyard roasting marshmallows and talking.  Simple polite conversation seems to be missing in these days of cell phones, facebook, blogs, video games and technology.  I sat with about 6 children ages  4 to 14 and we told stories, laughed and just had fun.  They asked questions about the peepers we could hear in the distance, the stars, thunderstorms, our cat bear, trucks and much more.  When they started to leave around 9 p.m., they all wanted to know if we could do this again.  I told them that we most definitely could!

In the hour and a half we were outside, not one child texted, played a video game, logged on to facebook or even took a call on a cell phone.

So this summer, put away the cell phones, log off of the computer and spend time with your kids.  Find out their what makes them tick.  Ask about what they like to do.  You may just make a memory that will last a lifetime and light a fire in their heart about the world.