An amazing day!

I have had the most wonderful day with 4 amazing 7/8 year old girls.  I woke up feeling good, showered, got the girls ready to go, washed and vacuumed the car, loaded the car, and this was all by 1000.  Then the twins and each brought a friend and I headed out to Hood River, Oregon to pick apples for Rosh Hashanah.  We had an absolute blast!  I felt good, was able to interact well with the girls, and carried lots and lots of apples and pears.  We went through a corn maze, visited an Alpaca farm, and ate caramel apples. 

I still feel strong and active; would love to work on making pear sauce tonight, but I don't have time.  I need to make sure I'm in bed on time, another work week is ahead of me.  We walked and carried and picked, but most of all, we laughed. 

The girls giggled and laughed the whole way there and the whole way home.  They played tag, ran through apple orchard and were full of questions and wonder about the Alpacas (Hannah asked why they have 3 stomachs and got the answer :)  We sang in the car (Band of Angles by Lynn Francis Anderson became an instant favorite with the friends) and rules were obeyed. 

I felt like a kid too.  I ate a caramel apple (the first in years), had fun watching the girls go through the corn maze.  They read Shel Silverstein's Where the Sidewalk Ends to each other in the car; I caught myself reciting the poems with them.  It was fun watching all the girls as they learned new things, experienced new activities, and the wonder of learning.  I felt innocent again.

With that, I also felt strong.  I was able to keep up with the girls.  I was able to carry the apples and pears.  I was felt strong, capable, and wasn't worried that I was going to tire out.  I didn't get tired and become grumpy.  It was the first outing in years where I had more than enough energy to enjoy the day and the wonder around me.

The Columbia River Gorge was amazing.  Lots of low clouds, sun breaks sparkling off of the river, the green of the hills and valleys of Hood River, the feeling of communing with the beautiful nature that we have here in the Pacific Northwest.  That was rejuvenating for me as well. 

So all of that being said, it is time for me to go take care of me and make sure I get my strengthening sleep (I'm not really sure about beauty sleep, so I look at is as making me strong).


“One day your life will flash before your eyes. Make sure its worth watching.”