Collecting ourselves

We spent the early evening yesterday walking along a nearby creek taking in all the little bits of nature along the way.  There was leaf collecting, acorn collecting and leaf boat construction followed by leaf boat racing, but mostly there was peace and togetherness.  Lately I have come to realize that these are the times when my family is the happiest and the most at peace.  It's never when the laundry is finally folded and put away, which is almost never.  It's not when the dishes are done and the house is clean, also almost never.  No, it's when we are outside with wind in our hair and dirt on our hands.  It's when we are appreciating the splendor and magnificence of this beautiful land we have all around us.  It's when we come together as a family in the presence of this wonderful thing we call Mother Nature and allow ourselves to receive the calm and tranquility being offered to us.  It's when we have accepted this remarkable gift She has laid at our feet that I can see who the members of our little tribe truly are.  It's here that I see them at peace.  It's here where I see our whole family at peace.  And it's here, where I see ourselves being collected more than anything else.