Sour Potatoes

Last Sunday, I decided that what I would like most would be to go for a hike.

And so, my dear family, wanting me to have a wonderful Mother’s Day, complied with this request.

Interestingly, it was also every other mother’s dream to go for a hike on Mother’s Day. And we waited while the rangers drove around to see if the park was full or not.

Adam snapped these fine photos while we waited in our vehicle pulled “as far to the right” as it could possibly be pulled. Those rangers are specific in their instruction.

Once we were admitted to the park (it really was that crowded!), we parked in the first spot we found and headed for the top of the trail.

And it was absolutely lovely, so much beauty in the wide open spaces.

There were kids at the top of rock formations…

And the ramshackle remains of a homestead long abandoned but fun to climb on…

And more kids at the top of rock formations…

But you must know that the real star of the show is always the stream, at which we arrived a mere two and half hours after we embarked and yet we all came away feeling that the effort made our time in the water very sweet, indeed…

That fresh flowing water felt good on tired, little feet which had travelled far to play in it’s gentle currents…

And on it’s banks…

And though I did ask myself a number of times on that hike why I had chosen this of all activities on Mother’s Day for I could have been at the spa…having a massage…and a pedicure…instead of up to my (very sore) ankles in dirt and bugs. And why had the ranger, who chatted us up nicely as we waited, noted that Mother’s Day is always the busiest day of the year?

And then I snapped this picture and I remembered exactly why we choose this activity on Mother’s Day. Because it puts on display some of the most wonderful aspects of the family. As I recall there was a very long, very sweet conversation on the subject of fairies and the fact that they wear acorn tops for helmets. There was also much oooh-ing and aaah-ing over the beauty all around us which led, deliciously, into reflection on The Creator and His creation. I witnessed much tenderness take place between my children as each one watched over the other, warning and helping each other over the hard spots. I got to hold each of my family’s hands at different intervals during the afternoon and I was presented with any number of priceless treasures along the way. I tripped once, right into the strong arms of my wonderful husband, and I liked that. A lot.

Yes, that is why mom’s like to go hiking on Mother’s Day, I think.*

At least that’s why I like to go…

*I suppose it is entirely possible that some mom’s simply love to hike…but that sounds a little crazy to me! 🙂