Just as soon as the bags were out of the car, the coolers were unpacked, and everyone had chosen their bed (and then negotiated to trade about five times over so that they all landed where they started to begin with)....I went for a walk with some clippers (because I travel with clippers in the car now, naturally). A lovely walk that included lots of noticing and a bit of gathering, followed by a peaceful few moments arranging and then placing around the camp.
One of the kids saw me doing this and asked "Why, Mom?" with genuine curiosity. I paused for a minute, a little surprised that I've never been asked that before or thought about the answer. But it was quick and simple, "Because it makes me happy. Because even if no one else notices, I think it might help them feel good too. Because I want to notice."
It was admittedly a weak answer for something that I feel so deeply. But over the course of the week, I watched as the circle around each of those "bouquets' grew to include rocks that Annabel had brought up from the bottom of the lake, a little bit of loose moss from Adelaide's walk in the woods, and the bluejay feathers that Ezra found on the ground (after watching a majestic eagle swoop down to capture that beautiful bird). Ah, I was reminded. I don't need to tell them why I bother to bring these things inside, they already know. Even if they don't know they do.
On our last morning at camp, when the car was loaded back up, the refrigerator was empty once again, and those beds had been stripped and made ready for the next kids to argue over....we went outside to the land of "fairy houses" that kids have added to over the years. We added all the treasures we had gathered and brought inside for the week. I didn't say much, and either did they. But I know that in that moment, we all felt it deeply - the beauty, the gratitude, and the joy.
