Meerfelder Maar

~ January 28, 2009 ~

Prescription for Cabin Fever: A long walk in the fresh air.

Take 1 group of grumpy kiddos, load them in the van, and drive 15 minutes Northeast.

Give them the rules.

Release.

Two tired mamas happy to be in the fresh air...

with the sounds of cheerful children

running off pent-up energy.

Just a little over an hour before the dads are scheduled to return home from work.

Setting sun.

"Listen guys! If we walk quickly... and don't get distracted...

we'll finish our walk in..."

Claudine is looking at me --

skeptical.

"Listen," I continue, "I bet we can walk around this lake in...

40 minutes!"

Claudine glances at her watch.

She smiles that gorgeous smile at me --

the one that communicates so much.

This time its you really think we can do it?

I feel confident.

That we'll try.

But then,

I'm distracted.

It seems God has written a poem

just for me today.

I don't want to miss it.

Nearby a songbird calls.

The children's sweet voices,

"Hey! Look at this guys!"

Feet running.

"Ohhh, cool! Will you help me find one?"

Now they are all searching for the

perfect stick.

Someone throws a rock

onto the frozen lake,

the hollow ka-frunk and ensuing

froooosh, as it slides across

the ice.

Patches of ice off the beaten path

lure the children.

Except for Eva -- Claudine's daughter,

who walks a steady, determined

pace.

I attempt to focus,

not be so distracted.

Walking on ice.

The delicate squeak,

precarious creak,

victorious giggles

at the final crunch,

as feet scramble

away from the

water seeping

up from the crack.

Bright eyes.

Rosy cheeks.

(Hat knitted by Eva!)

Everything is clean, crisp.

Everyone is

content.

The children's laughter,

background music

for God's poetry.

Uninhibited.

Full of ideas.

Curious.

How very much

I have to learn!

They are my gurus

of play.

Claudine & I.

(I love you, Sister!)

Eli & Israel.

End of the walk.

Not quite 40 minutes.

More like 70.

smile.

Back at the van,

open the "emergency"

snack bucket.

Ahhhh!

Life is sweet!

(No more grumpies...)

Yeah, God!

On the way home,

we stop for one last picture,

of God's

signature

across His poem.

*** These pictures were taken just north of Manderscheid, at the volcanic crater lake of Meerfelder Maar, about 15 minutes Northeast from our house. This is one of our favorite walks.