Beautiful heavenly rays greeted us as we headed down the mountain into town early this morning.”The dawning of a brighter day majestic rises on the world.”
We headed to a friend’s house, then the church to drop off girls for a week of camping. My girls, they are growing up! They didn’t ask for help {except to order a backpack for the overnight hike} but rather took the initiative to gather all needed supplies on their own. It was nice . . . and stress free . . . and sad all at the same time.
Hugs and kisses good-bye with well wishes for fun and safety, I left them excitedly talking with friends and leaders. Driving home alone, thinking about how independent they are becoming, the silence was shattered by ringing. “Hello, girly,” I answer. “Mom, I forgot my sunglasses and lotion. Can you be sure to send it with Brownie tomorrow?” I smile. They do still need me if just a tiny bit. “Sure thing, hon.” “Thanks, Mom. I love you!”
As I descend the mountain back into our little valley I notice storm clouds are gathering on the horizon. Please, rain, come and pour your cooling mists upon us! {But not on the girls who will be hiking and sleeping under the stars}
I arrive home to find the sliding door locked by the simple placement of a dowel. The baby, he has learned to open the door and escape outside. At least he can’t walk yet to get too far. He can crawl fast but the small sharp gravel puts a damper on that quick.
These simple moments are not lost on me. Stopping progress for safety’s sake, letting go for growing’s sake. Heavenly rays shifting to a tempestuous blanket. It’s another circle making my days go round.
Beautiful cloud photos. 🙂
I love your discription above as being “nice . . . and stress free . . . and sad all at the same time”. How incredibly true. These things they do, and grow at, then all of a sudden they are gone. I am not looking forward to the gone part.
I just hope that I have raised my boys with everything they need.
Beautifully put as always. I love your life posts!
I kind of wonder how I’ll feel when my kids are actually old enough to do things on their own. The other day my oldest surprised me by doing some cleaning on her own and she did a great job and really helped me out. It was incredible and relieved a burden, yet I sniffed to think how she was growing up so fast…
You brought to mind the recent packing for camp here at our home. CR gathered his supplies without assistance, giving me a short list of items to buy. It’s his fourth year to leave home and experience camp. He then moved into the mentor role, making a checklist for Z to use. It’s Z’s first year away. A circle of sorts – watching the older teach the younger (and his own father at times) when it comes to the camp packing.
Beauty in silence and diligence.
Wow! I found your last lines quite profound. It’s kind of ironic, isn’t it, that we spend so much time putting safety barriers in place for our children only to eventually let go of them (the barriers and the children!) On the other hand, I guess it makes perfect sense, too… I think the letting go part is hard, though! Thankfully, it seems that it happens little by little instead of all at once.
I love your blog, by the way! Thank you for all you share!