The Trail

Recently a trail to the other side of the neighborhood was formed behind our house. Since our first trek through light woods along this trail, the girls and I are hooked; one says, "Mom, let's make this something we do every day!"

Perhaps the appeal lies in the outing's simplicity. A trip down the trail can occur on the spur of the moment, and can be completed in little time. If we find ourselves desiring more, we just turn around and do it again! The girls gathered "walking sticks" for us that are from thick, sturdy branches. We store these in the garage, and grab them as we head out to travel the trail.

Here is what the opening to the trail looks like: 

Early today, we headed out before doing our indoor schoolwork. We inhaled the thick, after-the-rain air, delighting in the cool, damp morning. The mushrooms that were so tiny just a few days ago have swelled from the wetness:

"Why did the mushroom have fun at parties?"

"Because he was a Fun-guy!"

Get it?

(From an undisclosed source; you know who you are).

I love the feeling of moist leaves and ground softly squishing with each step. The girls enjoyed poking parts of fallen tree trunks with their walking sticks, observing how easily the rotten wood crumbles. 

The first time on the trail, we found a cone shaped like a "J." We decided to lean it in the crook of a certain tree, and leave it there as our "marker." Whenever we venture on the trail, we check to make sure it's still there:

A conversation on the trail this morning went like this:
Girl 2: Mom, why are there squirrels?
Me: Do you mean, why did God make squirrels?
Girl 2: Yes; why did God make squirrels?
Me: Well, why did God make every living thing?
Girl 1: For His glory!

This was followed by the girl with the big questions singing her own tune, "Glorious Sun!" as we trailed along. I know the Lord loved it; I sure did.

They also love to use their sticks to balance-walk on the trunks and branches that have been placed along the sides of the trail: 

A third girl joined them: Me! We held our sticks in front of us and marveled how scary and difficult it would be to balance like a Wallenda on a tightrope. Our consensus is that we like staying close to the ground!

How wonderful to invite the Lord to do this in our hearts and minds: 

"Be renewed in the spirit of your mind." Ephesians 4:23

One of my girls chose these lilies to plan in the front yard. I've had to tie them to sticks to keep them from falling over in the wind. Sticks sure have become versatile around here! 

A book I recommend is Parables From Nature by Mrs. Alfred Gatty. Each charming tale about animals in nature has an important life lesson. Our excerpt today described a man "in the autumn of life" who was sad over the anniversary of his wife's death. It was a cold, snowy, and dreary day. Suddenly, the robin in the tree sang, thankful for a daily provision of berries. This warmed the man's heart to think,

Until next time!