Wide-Eyed Wonder

I was working the morning shift at my coffee shop job earlier this week when a family came in holding a baby around six months old.  This baby captured my attention right away with her huge, blue eyes.  This girl was using her baby blues to take in anything and everything around her.  She would stare at whoever was holding her, looking right into their face and light up with a smile.  She was looking all over and noticing our staff, the food, the decorations.  Everything was amazing and wonderful to her.  It made all our days. It reminded me of my children when they were little, especially my daughter.  We adopted my daughter from another country when she was a year old.  She had lived in pretty stark conditions, so when she came to live with us it was like a whole new world to her.  It was a bit of a shock at first, but then she ate it up.  Everyday she was discovering something new and fabulous around her.  These were things I had experienced for years but had come to take for granted.  But through her wide eyed wonder I began to remember how beautiful and great life really was.  Why yes, watermelon is amazing with its sweet, red juiciness dripping from our mouths now that you mention it.  And the neighbors cat is so soft and funny rubbing against our legs like that.  How had I not noticed, or how had I forgotten? [caption id="attachment_224" align="aligncenter" width="300"] one of the many fascinating spiders/webs in our yard.[/caption] Watching this baby and remembering my own children’s wonder inspired me to wipe off my eyes a bit.  It seems they’d gotten a bit dim and crusty again.  I’m now trying to reclaim a bit of my own wide-eyed wonder.  I’m trying to notice how the morning dew shows off the spider webs like a highlighter, to marvel at all the web’s intricate designs instead of just cursing the web.  I’m remembering to appreciate the overflowing pear tree in our yard as a gift and not a nuisance.  For pears are tasty treats and more pears means more to share.  Especially when friends I’ve shared them with return the pears back to me in the form of  a delicious pear butter. [caption id="attachment_222" align="alignleft" width="300"] crisp pears and a bonus tomato[/caption] [caption id="attachment_223" align="alignright" width="300"] pear butter may not be beautiful, but is DELICIOUS.[/caption] I’m grateful for babies and children and all those who see the world with eager eyes.  Too often we rush through life and miss the good stuff all around us.  I’m trying to slowing down today and take it all in.  What wonders do you see when you stop to notice?]]>