The Great Outdoors

One draw to country life is the amount of time the children get to spend outdoors. At our place in Texas, their room to roam was limited. I knew they needed to be outside more, but we simply did not have the space big enough for their imaginations. We tried to work into our schedule a weekly park outing, but even that was not sufficient for the energy of little children.

I have been pleased to see them outside for hours upon hours riding bikes, harvesting the plants in the garden, collecting eggs, chasing chickens that have gotten out, playing with the dog, and making up games at their little fort in the woods. They have given themselves little projects to clean up the walking path in the woods and lined a few more trails with rocks they have found.

The neatest little project is their 'log cabin' in the woods. Using felled limbs, they have made a little fort which is used for all sorts of settings: weddings, battles, and even a funeral for a little chipmunk that lost its battle with the cat.

A cedar tree is the location for a tree house. H and B like to enjoy some reading in their little refuge off the ground.

On school days, they all work hard on studies, finish their chores and are back outside picking up where their pretend world left off. Ironically, these playgrounds of their own creation get much more attention than the pre-made swing set in the yard.

It makes me smile to see them running around outside, soaking up all that vitamin D, burning off some energy, and building memories.

"Lo, children are an heritage of the Lord: and the fruit of the womb is His reward." Psalm 127:3