Through the Eyes of a Child

Last weekend we went on a road trip to visit family and friends in TN. It's been about two years since we've been able to spend quality time with Curtis' grandmother, aunts, uncles and cousins. Curtis' grandmother lives on a farm outside of Nashville. The views and scenery are absolutely breathtaking. Our trip coincided perfectly with the autumn leaves--something we miss terribly in TX.

We took the trip with Curtis' parents, so there were enough hands to help with Wade and the driving on the 10 plus hour trip. Wade was exceptional! He typically doesn't sleep in the car, and except for about 20 minutes, this trip was no exception. However, he handled the long car ride very, very well. Of course we took frequent breaks for ice cream and other goodies!

Grandma's farm is one of my very favorite places. It's quiet and serene. You can often see the deer hiding in the woods as you drive up the 1/2 mile lane to the house. I love sitting at the kitchen table and watching the birds come up to the feeder at the window. The scent of nature fills me, which is quite amazing since I'm not really the outdoorsy type. You just can't help but feel less stressed and anxious when surrounded by this beauty. For the first time though, I got to experience these things through Wade's eyes. And those visions make the farm even more incredible and memorable.

Each time we drove between the farm and Aunt Linda's house, we saw horses and goats and cows and deer along the winding back roads. It was so much fun to see Wade's eyes light up and get big as we pointed out the different animals. On the way to church Sunday morning, we even got caught behind a John Deere tractor!

On one trip in, we were stared at by a cow from the back of a trailer in front of us. On our last drive out the lane, our view was of a very recently shot deer laying on the bed of Curtis' cousin's truck:-(

The weather was absolutely perfect for playing outside. Wade's second cousins also came out for a visit, and we took the time to kick around the ball, run, catch bugs, and climb trees. It was so heartwarming to see all the boys include Wade in their adventures. Even though he can't run and climb just like them, they made sure to include him.

At one point, Carter wanted to pull his brother Hudson and Wade in the old Radio Flyer wagon. Unfortunately, we didn't have a way to support Wade in the wagon. We tried his Childrite seat, but it was too wide to sit securely in the bottom. The adults had pretty much given up on the idea, but five year old Carter was determined to find a way. I watched as he went and grabbed Wade's umbrella stroller. I think my heart stopped at the thought of Wade buckled in the stroller as it sat on top of the wagon. However, Carter had a different plan. He looped the belt on the stroller through the handle of the wagon as he told us to put Wade in the stroller. He then pulled the stroller backwards which pulled the wagon. All three boys had a great time with this!

The entire weekend was a much needed break from routine. Sometimes I forget how precious the little things in life are. Just being with family and friends--talking and laughing without the distractions of computers and televisions and cell phones--is such a blessing. I get so caught up in everything that *has* to be done, and somewhere along the way I forgot what it really means to be a kid. This past weekend was a much needed reminder to take a look at the world and enjoy life through the eyes of a child. It's a beautiful perspective!