Today's post will have no picture - and there is a story behind the reason why. A few days ago, the trees in my yard were just bursting with beautiful blossoms and were just beginning to be blown away by the breeze in the most dreamy sort of way. By the way, I did figure out that the tree with the white blossoms is a pear tree. I was outside playing in the backyard with the girls. Emily's newest love is to swing - at EVERY possible minute. She has graduated from her baby swing that hangs off the deck, to the "big girl" swings and she thinks she is just too big for her britches now! Hannah was hobbling around with a broken broomstick, and an actual broom pretending to have a broken ankle, and was using them as crutches (??). Hannah discovered that if she hit the lower branches of the pear tree, that it showered down the dainty white petals just like snow. Emily was completely mesmerized. She started shrieking and giggling so loudly that she actually drew the attention of the neighbors, who thought something was wrong! She just danced and danced under the showering white petals while yelling "Mommy, its snowing, its snowing!!!" Hannah was just as joyful and danced right along with her. They both ran around and danced and fell down while being covered in petals, their hair turning absolutely white with petals. It was the most precious moment - and the whole time I kept thinking "I need to go run get my camera!" But then I just stopped, and I heard an almost audible voice that just said "Be still, and enjoy it, savor it, soak it in". It was then that I realized (again) how very fleeting moments like these are. Instead of always trying to capture everything on camera, sometimes I just need to "be still" and enjoy it for what it is. I am again reminded in moments like these how incredibly blessed I am to have three amazing, healthy children who run and laugh in God's creation, and still wonder in the amazement of it all. These petals that last only a few days and then are blown away is so symbolic of my own children's lives. They are here with me for only a moment in time, and will so quickly disappear just like the white petals. So, while I don't have an actual photograph to remember the day that they danced in the showering petals, I will always, always have the mental picture of that wonderful moment.
This morning I was reading an update on the blog
www.audreycaroline.blogspot.com and was so surprised to see that her latest post was all about cherry blossoms and the symbolism she discovered. In a way, it seemed to magnify those moments we spent together under the showering blossoms and inspired me to share them with you!
Saturday was SUCH a beautiful day! Richard and I got so much yard work accomplished (pictures soon to follow). It was so nice out that we even let Emily skip her nap and she played outside absolutely all day long. Hannah and Emily enjoyed a picnic lunch outside. One of the things we have been working on outside is Hannah's Water/Butterfly garden. She thinks very hard about how she spends her money, and she always makes very wise choices. She decided to spend most of her birthday money on a butterfly and water garden. We have the water garden installed, and she has planted a butterfly garden all around it. It's a slow process, but it's coming along. She even caught some minnows and a frog from the stream and they are now living in her little pond. She used the rest of her money to order this Live Butterfly Garden that she can keep inside. We received the caterpillars in the mail on Friday. They were so tiny, we couldn't tell what were the actual caterpillars and what was poop!! It is unbelievable how fast these guys grow. This picture was taken on Sunday, I wish I had taken one on Friday. I think they triple in size every day. By the end of this week, they should have made their chrysallis and then we can watch them turn into butterflies! We'll be sure and keep you posted!!
