children and nature / family / home / HOMESCHOOLING / life on thomas run / LIVING WELL / MOTHERHOOD

when all else fails, go to the stream

Each day, as part of our morning routine, I have the girls write a few things in their Gratitude Journals. I've found that it helps them reflect on their day and remember that they have many blessings and much to be thankful for.

Lately, I have to confess, I've been wallowing in some worry. Letting it get to me when my worry can do nothing to help or change the situation.

And it struck me on Monday, that I needed to be keeping a gratitude journal of my own. So I traded in my teacher hat, and became a learner, just like my children, spending a few quiet moments attempting to refocus my worry into what gifts and goodness I already had in my life.

Armed with my new attitude, and inspired by a much-needed day of sunshine, we blew off much of our typical school work and headed outside to the stream.

Streamside

I packed my camera, my FLIP and we headed out to a newly-discovered spot in the stream–accessible now that the cooler temperatures have dried and pressed down the once long and overgrown grasses and vines. A turn in the stream that has been catching logs and debris for quite some time. It makes for a magical spot. Slightly nerve-wracking for the mother on the shore, but still quite a place to explore.

A little musical montage for you to enjoy….and lest you think that all is magical and perfect here on Thomas Run–allow me to let you in on the behind the scenes:

The movie is set to music because Mary was crying desperately  in the background since I wouldn't let her cross over the stream on the tree trunks without my help (in her very slippery, new cowgirl boots).

The movie is spliced together in order to edit out one child who wasn't completely clothed after needing to "use the facilities" once we got down to the stream, which subsequently led to each child needing to "use the facilities" Funny how that always happens.

And the littlest and probably the most fearless in my brood explores the edges of the water without any care or knowledge of the consequences if she were to fall into the water. (You'll notice the camera lurch when she slips on the shore, and I prepare to dive in and save her.)

Enjoy.

Happy Wednesday, friends. What are you thankful for today?

Each day, as part of our morning routine, I have the girls write a few things in their Gratitude Journals. I've found that it helps them reflect on their day and remember that they have many blessings and much to be thankful for.

Lately, I have to confess, I've been wallowing in some worry. Letting it get to me when my worry can do nothing to help or change the situation.

And it struck me on Monday, that I needed to be keeping a gratitude journal of my own. So I traded in my teacher hat, and became a learner, just like my children, spending a few quiet moments attempting to refocus my worry into what gifts and goodness I already had in my life.

Armed with my new attitude, and inspired by a much-needed day of sunshine, we blew off much of our typical school work and headed outside to the stream.

Streamside

I packed my camera, my FLIP and we headed out to a newly-discovered spot in the stream–accessible now that the cooler temperatures have dried and pressed down the once long and overgrown grasses and vines. A turn in the stream that has been catching logs and debris for quite some time. It makes for a magical spot. Slightly nerve-wracking for the mother on the shore, but still quite a place to explore.

A little musical montage for you to enjoy….and lest you think that all is magical and perfect here on Thomas Run–allow me to let you in on the behind the scenes:

The movie is set to music because Mary was crying desperately  in the background since I wouldn't let her cross over the stream on the tree trunks without my help (in her very slippery, new cowgirl boots).

The movie is spliced together in order to edit out one child who wasn't completely clothed after needing to "use the facilities" once we got down to the stream, which subsequently led to each child needing to "use the facilities" Funny how that always happens.

And the littlest and probably the most fearless in my brood explores the edges of the water without any care or knowledge of the consequences if she were to fall into the water. (You'll notice the camera lurch when she slips on the shore, and I prepare to dive in and save her.)

Enjoy.

Happy Wednesday, friends. What are you thankful for today?

17 comments on “when all else fails, go to the stream”

  1. I’m a wallower, too, Molly, so I know how hard (and how important) it is to break out of that pattern.

    This might sound cynical, but today I’m going to be grateful that things aren’t worse (vertigo off and on for a month, but mildly–I’ve heard far worse horror stories, and am grateful that this is what I have to deal with).

    and I’m grateful for kind neighbors. That’s much less cynical!

  2. Hi Molly – lovely post! Reminds me a little of my last post – trying to find the beauty in the mundane (and yank myself out of a deep, dark hole at the same time). Thanks for always inspiring me. How did you create your photo collage, btw?

  3. That was quite lovely! I wish I had recorded moments in our creek from the past several months. Very refreshing and I smiled the whole time. Your blogs always seems to bring a smile.

    A Gratitude Journal is a wonderful idea|! I think I will start my own. It’ll be nice on hard days to remember what I’ve been thankful for in the past. 🙂

  4. Thank you so much for sharing this. How we seem to forget when those “worry” times come in like a slow dripping faucet, that there is a bigger picture and we are so blessed to be apart of.

  5. thanks for posting this today. I’ve been wallowing in my own cesspool of self pity lately. Thank you for the reminder to be grateful for what I do have, because there is so much to be grateful for if we just stop and look. Thank you for helping me to stop and look, it made my day go so much better.

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