Sights, sounds, and imaginings of a morning walk

Most of you already know that I enjoy a morning walk.  My walks extend from around 30 minutes to 1 hour and 30 minutes depending on the time I have to spare.  I must be honest I particularly love when I am granted the later.  I walk basically the same route every morning. The only changes that are made is there are 4 loops; walking all  4 loops gives me the long walk, 1 loop around the short walk and adding the other 2 in any combination is somewhere in between. 

Sometimes I take my camera on my walks and these few pictures were taken with it as I am enjoying spring awakening in Fallbrook.

Almost always I take my little mp3 player and listen to a podcast.  My favorite podcasts come from Krista Tippet's On Being show, broadcasted on APM.  Other podcasts I enjoy are BYUI devotion talks and BYU devotional talks.  It is not surprising to me when I receive inspiring words from these podcasts; like this morning, from "Presence in the Wild" :

1)"I can only do that by being as completely loving to them as I can be, whoever they are and wherever they are."
2)" I look for God's work always in how people love each other, in just the acts of love that I see around me."

3) "allow God to just do what God does and not feel like I have to shape it or guide it or force it into a certain place that accords with anything, that I can really just let it be."

Often I just "happen" to listen to a talk or podcast that just "happens" to be necessary to direction about a need or even a lesson or talk or moment I have to prepare.  Just "happens" is often and I feel very blessed for the guidance.

Part of my walk takes me along Fallbrook Street while parents drive their children to school and others are on their way to work or home but somewhere.  I took a moment to look into their lives during their drive and this is my imaginings of the events.

1) A man with his dog right next to him, not the seat over, but right close, as close as a lover might be.  I believe the man loves his dog and the dog loves his man and they are happy to be with each other.

2) A mom driving her son and sharing loving words before he is sent off for the day while he listens intently.

3) A daughter so excited to share her story with her mom she exclaims with joyful expression and throws her hands in the air to make her point clearly.

4) A husband and wife driving together and he takes a moment to glance lovingly at her and smiles because she is with him.

 5) A mom singing to her baby in the back seat to calm him.

Mating season also appears to be among us and I watch red tail hawks dance in the air together, listen to male pigeons cooing and bobbing to attract the female, and startle 2 mallard ducks hiding in the bushes.

 

The birds and the bees definitely seem to be.

My morning walks are a blessing and gift to me.  I think they are a refreshing time to give me the strength, love, energy, and guidance I need during the day.  I believe it fits this example given to us by our Lord, Jesus Christ.

" And in the morning, rising up a great while before day, He went out, and departed into a solitary place, and there prayed."   Mark 1:35

All grown up

Today I listen as my daughter Aimee described part of her responsibility to her job as Executive Assistant to Heritage School Executive Team.  When did she grow up?  When did she learn how to handle such big things?

I can't still keep picturing her like this:

About 4, being silly

or this:

Preschool

She has become this amazing young lady who was never afraid to attempt and accomplish great things.

Like this:

Showing where she attended school during her study abroad semester in Vienna, Austria

or this:

Eternal Marriage in the San Diego Temple

or this:

Bachelor Graduate from Brigham Young University

or this:

In front of her and Nate's own home

I have felt sometimes like the mother in "Brave", wanting your child to be like you or do what you have brought them up to be, but instead they become so much more; much, much more.