The Great Outdoors

On Jones's half-birthday, I made a list of things I wanted to help cultivate in him throughout his growing-up years. Two of those things were a love of God's creation of nature and a desire to explore and discover. Today, we went to the park close to our house and sat on a blanket in the grass. I perused a book while he wheeled around on his tummy, grabbing fists-full of grass and staring seriously at leaves. And from what I could tell, to this little boy, the event was glorious -- he squealed and stared meticulously at a small stick before putting it in his mouth and chewing (where everything goes these days); he would brush the grass with his hand, brow furrowed, before his face suddenly burst into a smile and he yanked it from the ground. It was a wonderful scene to behold; and I find it intriguing to think that these first years of his life will hold such a wealth of discovery and newness, all of which I will get to lead and partake of. I'm excited at the things I will learn, being a mother to this little Shackleton.