Happy Trails

Last Monday three of my very favorite little girls walked with me on Messiah College's nature trail.  The reason you don't see them all together above is because they really never were together during that walk; the older girls (by the tree) were eager to explore ahead and the little one (walking on the rocks), though she ran with just as much enthusiasm, couldn't cover ground as quickly as her sisters.  And of course she picked up every stick, nut and blade of grass she came across and examined each one for a half an hour.  Everytime I turned around to see if she was in sight, she looked up and said, "I comin'!"  

Isn't it a job to keep everyone together?  You always have those who are running ahead either to explore or, sometimes, to run ahead because they can; you always have those lagging behind whom you have to encourage or keep an eye on (most of the time you have to keep an eye on the 2 year old--she encourages herself).  Keeping everyone together is often the job of the guy (or Grammie) in the middle who loves the kids ahead as well the kids behind and who doesn't want anyone to get lost or eaten by a bear.  So she yells, "where are you???" to those running ahead and sometimes has to carry the little ones holding up the rear.  

On our walk, the two-year-old would, from time to time, run in front of me, holding out her arms so I would pick her up.  I wish I had a picture of that.

Pictured below are the three girls in camouflage.  They wanted to be pictured "incognito."  It kind of exemplifies my experience on the trail.