March Musings '19: Grandbaby’s Spring Surprise

Today, I realized it is getting much harder to leave my family in Virginia after one of our visits. My 21-month-old grandbaby is absolutely delightful to be around so we want to enjoy every minute of our time together. Yesterday, she surprised us when my husband, son, and I went on a nature walk outing. She started conversing in her usual baby babbling way but this time we understood what she was saying. What a treat!

"Animals"

"Yes, Sierra, we do hear the birds and the doggies. Grandpa heard a woodpecker."

"Birdies, tweet-tweet. Doggies, woof-woof."

Then, she stopped and pointed to the sky,  excited to exclaim, "Planes".

We were really surprised by her new set of words: animals and planes.

Sierra continued amazing us while we walked the path. She was intrigued by everything she saw. "Wa-wa", she excitedly shouted as she jiggled across the bridge. She wondered where the fish and beaver were after we told her they live there. Further down the path, she walked through muddy areas, touched some strewn pieces of twigs, and showed me her new pink gloves that got dirty. I marveled at her awareness of nature.

We returned back to the quiet house, reflecting on what we noticed, wondered, and found. A beautiful arrangement of forsythia and daffodils growing wildly in the woods were our dinner table gift. 

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On the ride home today, I started recalling our walk, the following thoughts emerged and fashioned themselves into a #haikuforhope sequence.

noticing nature

reflecting on springtime sounds-

babbling brook and child

life strikes a balance

we walk in nature's shadow-

lingering in love

excitement mounts

spring shares its earthy colors-
nature's artwork shines

daffodils + forsythia = early spring slice of nature (equation poem)

Day 26 of 31 days of writing

March Slice of Life Story Challenge

Two Writing Teachers