Hiking..through the eyes of My child!

Today obviously is Sunday. Sometimes I think we forget about the incredible world given to us to cherish, protect and thank God for every day. So when I took my 2 and a half year old son to Paris Mountain State Park, I was humbled by seeing what I take for granted through his little eyes.

This is a picture of Paris Mountain where there is a State Park with a swimming/boating lake, picnic, playground and many hiking trails with great vistas of Greenville and the Blue Ridge.

Inside the park within this mountain, amazing creatures and things never before seen to a child await.

To my baby, the trees are sooo big. Wonderous creatures that move and make noise and give shade. They are beings that change with your view. He loves the trees and the big pines and maples were wonderous things to behold indeed.

Then there are the rocks! Because we're in the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains and close to the Smoky Mtns, the boulders are immense and solid granite. So much fun to climb! There's an abundance of quartz crystals and pyrite or fools gold in the creeks and streams too! Those shiny flecks are so fun to collect for a child. They think they won the lottery. In many ways they do!

The serenity and peacefulness of exploration and the adoration of all things God made just for us really sets me free. Granted these pictures were taken in spring when it was a bit chillier than the 97 degrees of today. But we went hiking again last weekend and will again tomorrow..this time we'll splash in the creek and throw rocks to keep cool. But the wonder is still there before the world overcomes him. For now I'm reminded to be thankful. And I'm reminding you too.