Covered Bridges, Crisp Breezes, and Temper Tantrums

Now that school has started, it is time to get back to the three Rs Reading...wRiting...Reflecting. Today I will focus on wRiting and Reflecting. It has been almost a year since I last wrote a blog post. So much has happened in life and I am spiraling thinking about all of the things that I could write about. For now, I am going to focus on the little things. This past weekend was a fall treat. The weather was crisp and sunny with beautiful breezes blowing. There was time for rest and work. It felt like the change of a season. The windows open and the bird sound flowing in. The sound of crickets at night. Fall is in the air, though summer is holding on.

I was able to spend Sunday with Benjamin on an adventure. We spent the late morning/early afternoon driving through Frederick County. Our mission was to explore the covered bridges and the parks that accompany them. It was a gorgeous day - and we had the best time together. The first stop was the Hessong Bridge. This brought back so many memories of driving the kids to Utica Park for John's t-ball and soccer games. The bridge became a weekly ritual. During the pandemic, we drove out on our weekend drives to get out of the house and that is the area where Benjamin saw his first baby donkey and fell in love with them. It is also the time when he had to hear "Dominic the Donkey" over and over again. As we explored the bridge we saw so many butterflies, mostly cabbage whites and sulphurs. Though they are a pest, especially the green caterpillars that come before them, for me they are a reminder of my aunt and grandmother. My aunt and I always thought of her when we saw them in the garden and it was great that they were with us on our adventure. 

The next stop was the Loy Station Bridge. We started with a walk around the park and wetland area. Ate our lunch from Sheetz and Benjamin swang and played on the playground while I sat in the shade and soaked in the breeze and laughter coming from my 8 year old entomologists as he marveled at the insects and almost reached the clouds on the swing. Life with Benjamin has not always been easy. A sweet and curious boy - he has struggled the most with his mental health. There are so many similarities between us. During the pandemic I became his person and this bond has persisted - wearing myself and Becky down at times with the ups and downs of mood and behavior - it is always a blessing to see him carefree, happy, smiling, and to hear him say "I'm not having a good day, I'm having a great day!" Sometimes it feels overwhelming, but these are the moments I hold close and recharge. We took a look at the creek and spotted tadpoles in different stages of their metamorphosis. This was a perfect reminder of the all the stages that he has gone through and how, after each one, he is more adjusted and happier.  

The last stop was the Roddy Road Bridge. This is one of my favorites because of the creek. The access to the water and the long trail that follows it are a wonderful treat for a nature nerd like me. Benjamin took off his shoes and walked in. Exploring the rocks and nooks and crannies of the creek bed. We found the molt of a crayfish, small minnows, and tons of water striders. Watching them move across the water was like watching a figure skater on ice. While taking a picture, I captured the shadow of the strider and the beautiful pattern it made reminded me of a sand dollar. The beauty of nature and simplicity of a day exploring covered bridges with my son was balm for the soul. 

Though this may sound like the perfect weekend - it was perfectly imperfect as every weekend and weekday for that matter can be. The ideal weather and activities were punctuated with yelling, fits, and fights from the children. Lost tempers and stress from the parents. Date days and humdrum nights. The balance of reality and perfection to remind us all that we are imperfect beings doing our best to muddle through this path of life. Seeking the solace of a covered bridge when we need it, the recharge of a crisp breeze, and the grounding in reality when a child looses their mind over a chore they don't want to do. I did not go to church on Sunday, but I was wrapped in His presence in all that I did that day. Like the covered bridge, God protects us. Like the crisp breeze, He recharges us. And like the temper-tantrum, He tests us in our Faith and walks with us always through the good times and the tough. 

For now, I will sit in the memories of a crisp fall breeze, the sun shadowing through the trees, and the laughter of an 8 year old - this is my faith in action.