Searching is half the fun: life is much more manageable when thought of as a scavenger hunt as opposed to a surprise party. -Jimmy Buffett 

In his epic poem, the Iliad, Homer wrote about the Great Trojan War in the city of Troy. Many of Homer’s early readers wondered if the city of Troy really existed, and some explorers went in search of the city. In 1873, the OG treasure hunter, Heinrich Schleiman, a self-taught German archeologist, traveled to Turkey to dig for the city of Troy. Experts now agree that the site Schliemann excavated was really the city of Troy!  

One of the most enjoyable Christmas memories was when my husband and I turned the traditional present unwrapping into a scavenger hunt. Our kids ran with delight all over the house as they unlocked clues to discover the next gift.

Proverbs 25:2 says, God delights in concealing things, and we, from our beginnings as the tiniest humans, love a good treasure hunt! Jeremiah 29:13 says, You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all of your heart. So make plans this spring break to treasure hunt for the realness of God in this world with the simplest of family fun. Here are some ideas to get you started.

• Try Geocaching. Geocaching is a global treasure hunt of people looking for hidden treasures. Download the App to find the closest hidden treasure to your home. It is hours of free fun for your family.  
• Listen to the audiobook The Boy, The Mole, The Fox, and the Horse by Charlie Mackesy. It is absolutely delightful! The print book also has beautiful illustrations. For the ultimate experience, listen to the audio while reading the print copy!
• Say goodbye to social media. Be present with the people in front of you.
• Bake a strawberry pie. Here is my favorite recipe. 
• Take dinner to the patio—al fresco.  
• Share biblical treasures by taking turns telling your favorite Bible verses. Make it extra fun by sharing the funniest Bible verses you can find.
• Go bird watching or hang a bird feeder in the backyard.
• Find a local hiking trail and check it out.
• Shop at a local farmer’s market.
• Skip stones at the lake.
• Walk or bike somewhere you usually drive to.
• Write your child a love letter!
• Laugh – tell bad dad jokes or watch funny videos.
• Surprise yourself and someone else with a bouquet of flowers. Trader Joe’s is my favorite place to pick up inexpensive flowers.
• Look for stars in the sky with a star-watching app.

The basic idea is to get out this spring break to discover sweetness in your world differently than you would on a regular day. Be present with your people and purpose to see the goodness of the Lord in His world.