As the Sun Sets

As I stood at the kitchen sink last night, the warm water running over my hands as I washed the dishes, I watched the sun slowly fall behind the tree line. For a moment I was in awe as I witnessed the sun setting on another day. There was gratitude in my heart for another day lived well, and a little bit of sadness that another day had passed. Pretty quickly, though, my thoughts changed, and I realized that today was the day we could resume our after dinner walks. Oh my happy heart.

You see, I love our after dinner walks, but winter around these parts is very dark, and with no street lights whatsoever, after dinner walks become a thing of the past once we turn the clocks back in the fall. But this time of year, as the days lengthen, and the sun sets a little later each day, we can bundle ourselves up and head out to enjoy the setting sun, and a bit of winter fresh air.

And so, as the dishes sat drying on the rack, my little man and I headed out for our after dinner walk. He rolled in the snow, walked the dog, climbed a hill, walked in the woods, and then held my hand. I walked with him, laughed as he fell in the deep snow, snapped a few photos, and when he reached for my hand, held it as tightly as I could. It was dark when we returned home, the sun fully set on another day. Our rosy cheeks glowed, our smiles were huge, and inside my heart was happy.

The rhythm of our life here on this land is pretty special to me. We live with the seasons, adapting our rhythm to meet the natural rhythm of the earth. It feels right for us, and so very special, to have the guidance of Mother Nature in our life, to allow her a place in how we live, and to honour her in the small ways that we do. It is a gift to allow Mother Nature into our lives, and I hope my little man never forgets what a treasured gift it is.