One last hike

Hiking to a Native American shell ring

Oh it's good to be home, but our memory still lingers on the past several days spent in beautiful South Carolina.  We saw some of SC's finest I believe, everything from starfish to horseshoe crabs, bird's nests to alligators, shell rings to wrens and cardinals. What a wonderful place. Thanks SC (and especially to our friends who invited us to join them), we will be back.

Joining with Sherry in April's Nature Connections:
"Its purpose is to showcase photos of children

enjoying nature to inspire all of us to get outdoors more."

My Loves Pt. 2 ~ The Boy

At DeLeon Springs

His lashes are as long as they are thick, making any girl envious enough to tell him so.   He has always been my sensitive, shy, compassionate cuddlebug, content to stay in my arms for as long as I will hold him.  I see glimpses of a more independent and braver version emerging, subtly reminding me that soon his wanderings will take him farther than I can follow.

You can often find him among his favorite things: Lego, video games, board games, parkour, swimming, nerf wars, playing with dad, and being with his friends. But my favorite things about him are his gentleness, humor, versatility, and easy-going nature which make him the best big brother any drama-loving little sister would appreciate. 

I make no excuses for going on and on about my children.  Hubs likes to joke that I am blinded by them.  Maybe I am, but I'd also like to believe I can see them clearer now, more than ever. 

Also linking to Sherry's Nature Connections and Amanda's This Moment.

Wishing you a warm and beautiful spring weekend.  Happy April!!!

"Let nature be your teacher." ~ William Wordsworth

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Today is the last day to enter the giveaway :)...

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Joining Sherry for Nature Connections....

We see something new every time we go for our nature walks, usually a new kind of bird, flower or bug. How fortunate we are to have such diversity and beauty surrounding us. But as I sit here writing about these times, I am fully aware of the responsibilities that my children will inherit from us one day.  I have shadows behind my joyful love for nature.  Shadows that carry fear, sadness, graveness, and urgency.  I thought better, perhaps, that images rather than words may serve better to show you my shadows ...

Here and here.  (Thanks mb for that post.) 

Honestly, I don't say much about these happenings to my children.  I don't try to scare them or preach to them about global warming, pollution, etc.  I do ask myself if I should do more to help bring awareness to my children about what is happening to our planet.  Yet as their own connection with nature grows, I notice their own awareness grows.  They see it for themselves when we go on our walks.  The bottles in the lake, the plastic bags floating in the breeze, someone's leftover fast food sitting in the middle of the parking lot. 

The other day I panicked a bit while waiting for my son to finish his running club as I noticed my daughter was missing.  I turned to look for her and she was off in the distance running from one place to another.  As I stood there watching her, I realized what she was doing.  She was picking up trash that lay scattered outside the running track near the middle school.  I just watched her until I finally called to her to tell her we were leaving.  Her answer to me was "Just one more piece over there Mom!".  I realize, as with anything, they are learning for themselves what needs to be done.