Rainy Day Rambling

You know how you sometimes forget something about yourself for a while and then remember? Well, I'm remembering that I used to love rain when I was a child. I lived out in the country, and the rain made everything smell fresh and sweet. Even when it was a little cold, it felt like I was being held and washed.

Then, I moved to Boston, where the rain smelled like a wet dog that had rolled in poo. The rain caused this disgusting steam to rise out of the manhole covers. Papers that people had dropped on the sidewalk got plastered to the ground and began leaching color.

Then, in Denver, I had mixed feelings. I expected the sun all the time because it was present so often, and rain disappointed me. At the same time, Denver needs all the rain it can get, and I could see the rain coming from quite a distance. I had never seen that before going out there. The first few times Jordan and I saw it, we didn't know what it was. It looked like the sky was falling in dark streams or like the cloud just couldn't hold itself aloft any longer and let itself slip to the earth in gray-black ribbons. Once we figured out that it was rain, it made total sense - like an impromptu Earth Science demonstration.

Now, here, in Sewanee, I have all the smells and feelings of my childhood experience of rain. I went outside this morning to feed the dogs, and the smell of home almost made me cry. My mom always let me play in the rain because (everyone say it together) you don't get a cold from being cold. I bet my being able to play in the rain contributed to my fondness for it. My kids love it when it rains because it means umbrellas and rain boots and splashing in puddles. Those are good childhood memories, I think.

More hiking

The kids and I found a hiking buddy! Whoopee! I've been wanting to hike with them on a regular basis, but I don't really do anything on a regular basis except brush my teeth - usually. But with a hiking buddy, it will be much easier! Thanks, Katie!!

Today, we hiked from Morgan's Steep to The Cross. The highlights in terms of terrain were the streams and waterfalls, the steep leaf-covered hill almost constantly to our right, and a rock scramble with a tunnel! Both kids loved the trail.

In the car, on the way to the hike, Eli said, "I don't want to do a hike."

I said, "This trail has lots of water and a big rock that we get to climb over and a tunnel!"

He brightened and said, "Oh! That sounds percfect!" I'm not sure how he gets two c's in the word, but it's adorable!

Elijah must have fallen a dozen times, once on his face (that was the first one), which resulted in a raised bruise beside his left eye. Eli hopped, jumped, and ran for he entire time that he moved under his own power, which was most of the 1 mile hike. He lost his shoe at one point, which bounced and rolled down the steep, leaf-covered hill until it hit a tree. I used it as a teaching moment regarding listening to me and holding my hand. He absorbed the lesson well, especially after watching me slide and stumble down the hill and huff, puff, and grunt my way back up :)

Skylar amazed me by her energy and her skills. She plotted her own path through a rock tumble that was at least the length of our house. She also only needed a little help getting her first foothold on the rock scramble. She told me at some point that she had done the hike before and lost her princess hat on it. I recalled a hike early in the year that Jordan did with the kids and another seminary couple (I wasn't feeling well and stayed home). When we got to the rock scramble, she said, "And that's where I lost my princess hat." Oh, how I wish my memory were that good!!

I didn't bring my camera, even though Skylar told me to. :) I'll just have to go back and take pictures for y'all to really appreciate how amazing my kiddos are. :)