We all have days sometimes, where we wake up just needing a lift. Every day, really, we need the lift that out morning quiet time can provide. Yesterday, I was distractedly trying to focus on my own personal quiet time, with the knowledge that three little boys were tromping outside in the field, doing something. I often allow them to go out individually, or with me, for a morning nature walk, and I think these times are invaluable for what they observe, but to have all three out there together? I just wondered how much nature they’d be observing, and how much chattering would be taking place. However, with a few peeks outside to be sure they were at least walking and not running, I prayed a prayer that the Lord would lead them to focus on the beauties of His creation and take something back that would stay with them. Then, I left it with Him.
Soon, I heard chatter outside in the front flower garden, then three big smiles poked through the door, complete with handfuls of a whole variety of wild and cultivated flowers. The boys were so excited to share all of their treasures from nature, and I inwardly thanked God that He had indeed impressed them with the beauty of His works. And, as a side benefit, I was truly encouraged and uplifted by the pretty flowers. 🙂
Later in the afternoon, while doing some outside work, Action A almost stepped on the first of the Chickadee fledglings that had just launched. We all dropped everything to watch for awhile, as Mama Chickadee worked so hard to try to woo her other stubborn and scared babies out of the house. Nothing doing. She must have worked for several hours, taking a seed or worm in, teasing them with it, then quickly hopping out to the big outside world. We never did see any babies come out, but I could see three more in the nest, plus the two or three that had been brave enough to try their wings and fly. I’m so glad that we got to witness the almost first flights of those little babies. We’d been watching for weeks as the parents made their nest in the bird house that Daddy and Action A made, then for a good week, we’ve witnessed the Mama and Daddy feeding the little babies. So faithfully–seemingly every ten minutes or so for what appeared to us to be all day, those parents faithfully brought worms, seeds, and other goodies. I thought it was a good parenting lesson in patience and care.
We’ve really been blessed this year with the bird families. The Chickadee family right outside of the dining room window, the Eastern Bluebirds outside across from the kitchen window, two ugly/cute little fledgling Tufted Titmouse babies, and yesterday we discovered a family-in-the-making of Northern Mockingbirds right outside the front door. The boys noticed the nest first, with only one egg in it. We thought it had been abandoned. Just for fun, a couple of days later, we looked again–this time there were four eggs! I took a picture yesterday morning, and by the afternoon, the eggs had been rearranged, then rearranged again this morning. Well, this afternoon when we looked, the “different” egg–we’re assuming it’s a Cowbird’s egg–had been pitched out somewhere. We looked and looked, but never did see the other egg on the ground anywhere. That Mama Mockingbird must have a good kicking foot! So, we are keeping track on what happens in that nest. Daddy was actually going to cut down that tree yesterday, until we discovered the eggs in the nest. It can wait until the babies have grown! The Mama is almost never at the nest–she is very cautious about coming and going. I tried for a long time this morning to just get a picture of her in her nest, but she stayed away and made a very circuitous route in coming back just to peek in on the eggs. We caught her briefly sitting on the eggs this afternoon, but she quickly vanished when we opened the door.
We are very excited to be able to see so many bird families. We are learning a lot just by observing them, and it is very sweet to see how the parents care so faithfully, and differently, for their young.
Lessons...and lessons 