Vacation ... America-style

Oh sweet blessed US of A.
When you live outside of America for 2-ish years the things that you grow to miss about "home" are sometimes very strange things.
Sure, things like donuts, sweet tea, that National Anthem being played at any and every sporting event, Chick-Fil-A, 24 hour convenience stores, Dr. Peppers, slurpees, Slurpee Dr. Peppers, and having access to your own car 24/7...those are all beautiful things.

But, unquestionably, one thing I was so ready to experience...or rather, see my children experience, was nature.
Blue skies and clean air.
Sunsets as far as the eye can see.
Birds.
Stars too many to count.
Running through grass bare foot.
Playing carefree in dirt.



And we enjoyed every single second of all of it. Even those chilly Texas-sized-windy days that blow tablespoons of dirt in your eyes. Enjoyed it.
Eden gasped the first time she saw purple and pink in the horizon one evening at sundown.
Salem was obsessed with going outside every evening and trying to count the stars.
And Caleb learned a new word while we were there: "Bird!" or rather "BUH!!!" Bird-watching became his new favorite hobby.

But by far it was the grass and dirt they enjoyed most.

At almost any given second Salem could be found outside with a large stick in his hand





or covered entirely from head to toe in dirt.





Caleb wasn't far behind him.





And even participated in an outdoor version of hide-n-seek.



Even Eden was quite taken with stirring up the ant beds.



Nature. Clean (relatively) nature. Un-"fertilized" grass (you get what I mean). Trees that aren't roped off.
I loved seeing my kids enjoy it all. I loved seeing them roll like rolly-pollies on the grass in my Gigi's backyard. Seeing my boys in such a boy-ish environment, digging in rocks and dirt, swording each other with giant branches, all brought my heart so much joy.

The heavens declare the glory of God, and the sky above proclaims his handiwork. 

Psalm 19:1