Serendipity!: Botanica

There wasn't school yesterday, and when at 8 am the only way to keep the two bigs from fighting was putting them in front of the TV, I searched the web for something to do outside. Its always true that when they get into fresh air, they get along better. We went to Botanica Gardens. Best day ever. EVER.

We got to watch a butterfly crawl out of its chrysalis.

And then stood in silent awe as it stretched its wings for the first time.

I know I'm a mama because the moment made me cry. Watching my kids watch in silent wonder. And watching this miracle of new, wet, unfolding wings. And how, by instinct, the butterfly knew just how to hang onto the chrysalis and stretch to dry.

And then this happened....

That is going on the wall. The old and the young. And the beauty in between.

I've been reading Rumi - the great 11th century poet - lately. He would put it to such perfect words. It was magical. And we all - the volunteer, the kids, the butterfly, me - were quiet and reverent in this space.

I'll carry it with me for awhile. I think Eva and River will too - in that subconscious place where children carry their understandings of beauty and God and age and new life.

Botanica is awesome. They were the only children there, and we took our time exploring. I don't know if it was the sun or the fresh air or all the carbon dioxide from the plants everywhere or the moment we experienced in the butterfly garden, or just lucky happenstance, but it was a rock star day. We're in a season in our family of using all our reserves every day just to get along. This day in the middle of that was a total God-send.