Nature Exploration

So, today I took the kids to do something different. We have been a little cooped up the past couple of days. I mean, we've been outside, we've just been outside at home- no driving. GAS!!! It's so freaking expensive. Everytime I fill up (yes, my Honda minivan- I'm old), I want to throw up. Anyway, I took the girls to this old country club in Franklin. It closed down about 3 years ago, and the city of Franklin bought it with aspirations of creating a big park. But right now, it's just an overgrown golf course. There are all sorts of cart paths throughout the course. However, the best part is that there is an abundance of wildlife at the 3 different ponds on the course. I took the girls in the stroller down the path and we discovered some geese, ducks, and even a crane. We had brought some dry bread to feed them and we, including me, had a blast! The looks on the girls' faces were priceless. The geese were very friendly, not that I let the girls touch them though-let's be honest; birds are filthy. But, they didn't hiss or fly away when we got close to them.
The reason why I wanted to post this is b/c today, just for a moment, I felt like a bit of a hero. When the girls looked at me, it was if I had been hiding this magical spot and revealed it to them at that instant. I felt so thankful that God had given me these little babies to be able to amaze with His own magnificent creation. And though it may sound cheesy or nostalgic, it was such a favorite moment. It really was.
I am constantly telling my friends, I feel, about how hard it is to be a parent. And it is- lots of cleaning, making meals, disciplining, and less sleep. I'm afraid that I don't talk enough about how incredibly wonderful and rewarding it is. Sometimes, I don't talk about that aspect b/c I'm trying to be sensitive to those who are unable to have children or those who desire a family and are not at a particular point in life where that is a reality. But, I am realizing that life should be a celebration of all avenues- whichever ones we happen to be traveling down. B/c I want my children to know that even though I have to be Courtney and not just Mommy sometimes, that they, along with their Dad, are God's greatest gifts to me. B/c we choose our friends, to an extent, and we can take some pride as to who we choose and why we choose to continue the friendships. But, our children are given to us specifically from the Father who knows how to choose well for us. And what we do with them and for them molds them into the people that they will grown into. That is a great responsibility and an incredible honor. Today as I got to watch their little minds reeling with all that was around them, I felt overwhelmed with gratitude. And when they looked at me, I also saw their little hearts swelling with love for their mommy b/c they were grateful for what I had done for them and with them today. You can't buy that, create that, take that, or make that - that is a gift from a Father who looked down on me today like I looked at my very own children....