Reflections of a mother

I couldn't keep my mind from tumbling over these thoughts one day as I watched Katya on one of her little discovery trips through earthy things.

As adults, we collect things like purses, shoes, ties (if you are my husband) and other relatively useless things but children, when they go outside, they collect things that are real. They walk around with rocks, acorns and sticks they collect. When they pick up each of these little treasures, they examine them and have this look of curiosity, as if they must remember the idiosyncrasies and wonders of their design.

These are the things I like to connect Katya with, things in nature, because they are real. These are the things that have been here since the time of Adam to the Middle Ages, to now. They have survived every change. There is something innately calming and anchoring about them. They will always be here, and when they cease to be here, so do we.

Yesterday we went to Camelbeach in the Poconos. Katya had all she could do to bite back the tears as we tried to get her to go on the children's slide and sprinklers. Usually, the tears won so we just hung out barely knee deep :)

Catching Some Wind

Yesterday Katya and I walked to the stores by the east river. She was so cute in her striped purple pants and pink raincoat. On the way there she was delighted by the gusts of wind; her little face would have this look of wonder, like she was being caught off guard in a wonderful way. In the stores she played with her toy or sippy cup and was so content; she was the perfect little shopping companion. The cutest was on the last leg of our errands and way home; she would rest her legs on the outer parts of the stroller (I had her in the car seat in the stroller so I could see and talk to her). She looked like she was at home with her feet up. It was so cute that even people in the store and passersby on the street had to take notice. I just have to thinl that Andres and I were meant to be together because something that wasn't meant to be could never be so beautiful. My mom asked what she was like this morning when talking to her and really, she is just a very content, inquisitive, playful little girl. She is our little angel in every way...except at night time ;) We love you Katya!

Central Park through a child's eyes

Nature is one of the great healers God gave us. There and the temple are the places I feel most at home and most at peace.Today Katya and I went for our exploratory walk in Central Park. We watched birds, ducks, geese and a swan but perhaps our favorite was the squirrels. We stopped in the wooded area to watch a little neighborhood of them. Two were having their dinner of acorns and one was gathering leaves. The gatherer would go out and gather the leaves in his mouth and then run, jump and at times fly back to his little hole under a branch. Katya is so cute to watch as she sees all the creatures. She makes noises, her eyes get big, you can see she is trying to figure it all out and she smiles her little smile at times. She is also a wonder and delight. I love that little girl and am so grateful I get to introduce her to and explore with her this beautiful world.