Nature Walk

At Joy School yesterday we all went on a nature walk. It was fine except...I just wanted to walk.

When I was younger I walked everywhere because I didn't want to have to pay the bus fee. (This was England where everyone either took the bus or walked). Thus I learned to walk fast, aiming for a particular destination. Also, as I was often alone, my thoughts would fill my head. It was good thinking time.

Thus, when we went for a nature walk yesterday, I found it really hard to just meander. I wanted to WALK. What's this "stopping and looking" stuff? =D

Actually, it wasn't too bad at first. I really enjoyed the pond and looking at the horses and feeding them carrots etc. It was fun. But then Andrew got bored and walked ahead. Far ahead. =D So I kept up with him...and we left the others in the dust.

I don't know. Maybe the "wanting to walk fast with my head in the clouds" has more to do with genetics than learned behaviour. Andrew certainly seemed to enjoy doing the same thing and he wasn't raised in the UK. Maybe it's a desire to explore what's just around the corner? Or maybe it's simply a desire to keep moving and not stop, even to look at bugs under a log?

This all ties in to being in need of some help. How on earth can I stop and smell the flowers...and look at bugs...when my natural inclination is to a)not stop and b)get freaked out by bugs?

Furthermore, by the end of the walk I found it REALLY BORING to stop. I wanted to WALK....and so did Andrew as he left the bug exploration and set off at a spanking pace around the corner. (It was a very private place, so he was safe....he wasn't rounding the corner on a busy street or anything.)

In fact...Oooooh! I think I have some pictures on my phone. Let me see if I can download them without blowing up the computer.



It's a beautiful secluded area in Fairview. In fact, there's some land for sale right next to the horse paddock, and there's a house in foreclosure around the corner. It's ideally where I'd love to live...but houses just aren't selling here, and the Spirit whispers now is not the right time to move. One day, maybe.....




After our nature walk we roasted hot dogs over a campfire. Before we left the children had gathered kindling from the wood directly behind the house and Brother Griffith had built a fire. =) It was idyllic.

Except the smoke from the campfire gave me an immediate headache which receeded as soon as we left. What's with that?


Notice Ben joined in the fun. =)