Tuesday, December 30, 2008

A Warm Day...Long Hike...and His Gifts

Today dawned sunny and crisp and was proving to be a beautiful day. So after all the cold or rainy weather we decided to take the time for a short walk in the pasture before lunch. We set out ten minutes before lunch and was only planning on a short stroll. We ended up walking out to the edge of the woods and telling the boys that at the bottom of the steep hill in the woods was a creek. The boys immediately wanted to see it. So Chris said there used to be a fairly clear path at the back of the pasture along the power lines. We headed for the power lines and found the path overgrown. We decided to make our way down anyway and through small pines, vines, and a steep rock embankment. We found the creek, full and flowing because of the recent rain.

We decided to walk the creek and climb the hill into the pasture later instead of climbing back up the rocky embankment. The woods were cool, the sun was peeking through the trees and the creek was making music over the rocks. It was a beautiful time to enjoy one another and God's creation.

Our short stroll turned into a 3 1/2 hour hike with no lunch, water and an interrupted nap time. The little ones were amazing. They hardly missed lunch and my nursling took a nap laying on mommy in the shade of a tree while the boys played in the creek.

When we finally got home our peanut butter and jelly sandwiches were like a feast. The ice cold water was wonderful and the warm bath to relax was so refreshing. The boys are napping now. Little legs exhausted.

a newborn calf...black as midnight...mother's love protecting

turtle shell...white with age...under the flowing water...God's geometric designs

little one...eye's heavy with sleep...snuggling close to mama...her body warming mine in the shade of the giant trees

watching boys and their daddy...play at the edge of water...then rest in the shade

Bo...such a little man...hiking hungry with hardly a complaint

the warm sun peeking through the trees...shimmering on the water as it rolls down the rocks

Boo...a much improved hiker since last March...quickly becoming a little man

Daddy...so patient and loving with the our new inexperienced hikers

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