Five Minute Friday: See

See how they walk ahead boldly? See how everything is new and exciting in their eyes? See them, watch them, enjoy what they enjoy. See it how they see it. God's mighty creation, every leaf worth stopping to examine, every rotting log a little mystery to investigate. See how they boldy march forward but stop to check back over their shoulders, are you still there, Mom? Are you listening? Look at what I found! Mom look over here, look at that, see that flower and that stump and look down the path over there... And in all of that, what they're really asking is, do you see ME? Do you HEAR me? Am I important to you?

Today we wandered around in the woods and I didn't have any agenda, I didn't have a time limit and we just walked and explored. I tried mostly to stay out of the way, stay quiet and let them decide where to go. I let them declare their discoveries and assured them we would return here again. I saw how Archer led the pack and explained all of his discoveries one by one. How Shelly kept up a constant stream of narration, her imagination running wild and just spilling out in her words and stories. How Elijah tried desperately to do exactly what the older two were doing, balancing on logs and hopping over sticks. How Elijah learned to brush off his hands and knees every time he fell. How Archer was careful not to miss any detail. And how Shelly danced between her brothers, got up quickly when she fell and skipped on ahead without missing a beat.

Today I saw discovery in my children's eyes. Tomorrow, and the next day, and the next, I hope to see it again. I just need to open my own eyes and really see.

Linking up with TheGypsyMama