Beauty awaits

Earlier this week I was determined to get out for a hike in the mountains, but I felt like all the signs were saying STOP before the hike began.  We got out late, the sunscreen was a gooey mess of oil, and the little miss started the hike kicking and screaming....but then it happened.  We escaped into a world of beauty and wonder.  We stopped to admire the abundance of bright green clover whose delicate leaves were all shaped as hearts.  We marveled at the teeny-tiny pine cones that covered the earthy fragrance beneath our feet. We soaked in the sweet music of the forest.  The chirping of the birds, the rush of crystal clear waters, the clicking of life in the canopy of trees above....pure nature.

No matter what kind of day I'm having or what hellish mood I may be in, the outdoors holds a beauty that transforms my soul (and the spirits of my little one, too).  We walked and ran with curious eyes in awe of God's creation.  It blessed us beyond words.

Then I fell.  Going down hill.  With Maya on my back.  She came out of it unscathed (thank goodness) but my walk has been slightly altered since the crash.  It didn't ruin the hike, but certainly has made the last couple days seriously uncomfortable on my otherwise healthy body.  With a bum knee and a twisted ankle, I still say...nothing beats a walk away from the hustle and bustle of the city.  Just be sure to watch your step.

Oh, and Happy St. Patrick's Day.