Backyard Adventure

A typical afternoon, playing in the backyard is a favorite for the kids. So many wonderful things to do and see just beyond the kitchen door.

We caught some frogs. Five in all. We had 4 in one bucket and 1 in the other. The kids like to hold them in their hand and tend to squeeze them too tightly so we made homes for them in buckets. We added grass and a little water from the sprinkler, which the kids loved doing. Then we set them free when we went inside. Our little two-year-old girl named hers Froggie and her brother named his Froggie-a-saurus #1, #2, #3, and #4.

We also dug in the dirt for bugs, played some baseball,

we rode bikes and played in the sprinkler.

We even had a brief game of butterfly chase,

the butterfly won and would not listen to

shouted requests of "Slow down, please!"

(The butterfly is the small yellow dot you can see in the top middle of the fence.)

There is so much trust in the simple action of holding hands. Someone always want to hold your hand. It makes them feel safe.

The two kids in the picture where I am holding hands, left yesterday. It was very sad and I miss them so much. It is so hard to say goodbye to the child that has learned to trust you and love you. I could not help crying as I buckled them into their car seats to leave and they looked at me with such honesty and whispered, "I love you, Emily." I pray that they are loved and cherished and understand one day why we had to say goodbye.