Special Memories

A couple of weeks ago, before the rains began, Jackson and I were doing his "schoolwork" outside on the swing in the front yard. We were reading The Listening Walk by Paul Showers and were having a great time. It wasn't too hot out and there was a gentle breeze that we could hear blowing through the trees surrounding us. We live on a very wooded 8 acres of land. The book follows a little girl and her father as they take frequent listening walks through city, park and country settings. The last words of the book go something like this, "Now, close the book, shut your eyes and just listen. What do you hear? " Well, we closed the book, shut our eyes and listened. And then we heard the leaves rustling behind us. I had just whispered to Jackson that there must be a cat or squirrel behind us when out bounded two deer just to the side of us. It was very exciting! We see deer frequently from INSIDE the house, but have never been outside when the deer appear (except when Jeff and the boys rescued the deer caught in the fence last fall). What a very special mother and son time that God gave us that day! I am so thankful to be home with my children where we can share special times like this. We would have totally missed the lesson of listening and thus missed the reward of seeing the deer if we had been inside. Glad the Lord lead me to go outside for our school time that afternoon.