Six Hours in the Sun

I recently spent six hours volunteering at a school event.

There was music, games, popsicles, and the kind of laughter that only happens when kids are truly in the moment. It was loud. It was chaotic. It was beautiful.

There’s something really special about watching young children play without hesitation—cheering for each other, running without a care, giving out high-fives like confetti. And then, as the day goes on, you see the shift. The older the kids, the more self-aware they become. Still fun, still sweet—but layered. You can feel the changes coming, the growing-up part. It's subtle but powerful.

Mm mm

The grown-ups?

Well, let’s just say I got a peek behind the curtain too. There are always little dynamics at play— It’s not good or bad. It just is.

And even when everyone is nice, it’s easy to feel like the new kid walking into a scene that started before you arrived.

But here’s what stuck with me:

Even when I felt a little out of place, I knew I was part of something that mattered.

To show up. To be present. To help create a day the kids will remember.

I may be sunburned and tired… but my heart is full.