Monday, April 23, 2012

When the gift of life really becomes a gift!


When a firstborn, who is getting so tall, asks if we can have a picnic on the driveway - the gift begins. A quilt is spread and lunch is served and blessed! And these little faces are my precious company ~

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I notice the sunlight filtering through overhead leaves and it strikes me as beauty! One of those leaves falls and Rachel gets all silly and pretends to eat it and we laugh together and the gift just grows.


We continue on our journey with Almonzo and his family - loving the adventures that books take us on! I love seeing children just enjoying the lengthening of time that goes with childhood - a spring afternoon seems to linger forever in these heady days.


These are the kinds of days you can never really predict or make happen. I mean, even if we plan something fun - we never really know how it's going to go until our children decide that outcome.


But, this was one of those where we were all relaxed and enjoying and the gift just kept coming and our afternoon stretched long - toes ran through new grass and voices giggled at its tickles, cartwheels were done and even rolling through the grass. Those joys only fueled the next though - when the idea comes to little minds to bring out blankets and books and just downright make selves at home in the front yard!

I notice the clouds and realize I've never really taken photos of clouds before and then I inspect hydrangea bushes and eagerly await the blooms it promises!


When things just click and time seems to stand still - these are the moments I hope make up the memory bank of childhood around here. When strawberry juice drips down their chins and they can sit in the field and just feel the warmth of the sun and are in no hurry - it swells my heart and fills it with beautiful memories. When they dance through the grass and take the time to lay down and look at the sky and don't have a care in the world - these are the moments that magnify in my mind and so they fill my memory first.


And, the gift just grows when Mama is able to just soak it all in and enjoy it too ~ these are the days that you cannot plan, cannot force - they are pure gift!


Just like pictures like these cannot be staged and turn out with so much feeling of the moment, so life cannot always be staged into beauty. But! We can allow the time for beauty to happen for the gift to come!


And, then the best part of the gift - opening it! enjoying it! You know what joy it gives you to give a gift and see the receiver open it and exclaim over it and enjoy it! How much more our Heavenly Father - this is all a gift from Him! Are we available to recognize the gift, open it and enjoy it! What delight this must bring to His heart!


Emily's self-proclaimed "peace chair" and reading Ann's book no less - definitely a gift!

12 comments:

Kathy said...

Gifts to treasure!

Thanks for sharing your gifts with us!

Wendi said...

We experienced an afternoon like this last week... pure bliss!! Hope you have many more moments like this. :)

Mom said...

Love, love, love these photos!! :) Love, Grammie and Pepaw

LynnMarie said...

Another gift is having grand children to do all these things with.

blackberrywintergirl said...

I love how you share the beauty in your life with the rest of us! What a lovely spring day...

Grace said...

BIG SIGH of contentment!!!

asnipofgoodness said...

pretty post Monica, pretty pictures captured the beauty. I LOVE Emily's hat, you must tell us the story behind that gift :)!

Anonymous said...

Looks like a really fun day.
Beautiful photos! Thanks for sharing.
Love, Grandma

Susan said...

Oh how I miss the days when my children were little. With what I know now, I would've taken more time with them. Enjoy!

Angelia said...

Oh yes, the moments are truely treasures! My sons and I cherish time in the backyard like this. Nature days, there is a pond nearby we go to regularly. You have inspired me to get more time outdoors. It is Sunny day here in Tx, Angelia

Kelli said...

Love this post. My little one was in the hospital over the weekend and while I sat at her bedside I thought of all of the times I said no to her. No we do not have time to jump in the puddle, no we can not go on a walk, yes that is pretty but we are in a hurry. I think today when my older kids get home we are going in eat dinner in the back yard and just enjoy the beauty around us. Thank you for this reminder.

angie said...

I sense Ann's influence on your writing style today. She is a wonderful writer to emmulate.
My son and I had some time together last evening. We had fun together playing badmitton in the driveway and leisurely looking at the library.