The Wonder of it All « Temporary? Insanity

The Wonder of it All

by Kym on January 9, 2009

Yesterday afternoon I found myself sitting here (as I too often do), staring out the large windows gracing the back of our house. They look out over our mountain valley, and from this height I can see the broad expanse of it. Mist rises off the meadowland beyond the trees, till it is nearly impossible to tell where the snow covered ground ends and the wall of mist begins. Thick tendrils of it seep up into the evergreens, strangely clear of snow after a recent wind storm.

I watch as it begins to snow. The flakes are the size of quarters and nickels, and flutter about on the churning wind which I hear whistling about the eaves of our cozy home. The flakes fall straight down at first, and then the wind whips up and they are streaming horizontally past the windows. Another wind joins the fray and I watch in quiet amazement as the thick flakes whirl past in concentric circles. It is not unlike watching a dance, and long minutes pass as I am lost in the wonder of it.

Later in the day, I watched my daughter flying about the house. “Watch how fast I am, Mommy! Watch how fast I can fly!” She runs at full speed from one end of the house to the other, making loud whooshing sounds as she goes. The knuckles of her small fingers have butterfly stickers precariously attached. I am amazed by her creativity, her joyfulness, and her restless energy. She has butterflies on her knuckles. Of course she can fly.

Becca is playing with her small stuffed animals. She speaks to them, and they speak back. It is only natural to her. I watch as her imagination soars to heights I have long forgotten are even possible. I pause to count myself blessed for the insight my children give me into who I once was.

It is such a bittersweet thing, watching my daughters. Watching the snow. I am reminded of so much that has been lost. So much joy. So much wonder. Life seems so mundane. Not always of course, or I would spend my all my days weeping. But far, far too often I am overwhelmed by the dullness of my days.

I wonder…what would it take to reclaim my sense of wonder? I turn now to watch my daughters playing together. Becca has decided to be a pirate captain and is speaking in a delightfully scruffy voice, ordering her older sister about. Emma is a doctor, ministering to the captain’s ailing animal contingent.

I think perhaps, I don’t have too far to look for teachers.

31 comments
Share on Twitter, Facebook, Delicious, Digg, Reddit

31 comments

I love watching my youngest play. She takes it so seriously–it’s like work. But good work. Her level of curiosity is unbounded. I love the questions she asks. (Last night: “Why do we need blood?”)

Cool new look, by the way. I’m liking this one.

Annette´s last blog post..Today, A Tag

by Annette on January 9, 2009 at 4:53 pm. #

I love the new look — very creative and yet still simple.

Children are the greatest to watch. They aren’t limited by the reality of life… I wish I wasn’t so much. I remember when dreams seemed so attainable that they seemed more real than my everyday life. Now I’ve almost forgotten how to dream… Sad. Maybe that’s why we’re given children — to remind us.

And I love the description of your backyard and house. I can see it in my head and it’s beautiful.

Sarah´s last blog post..Baby Steps

by Sarah on January 9, 2009 at 5:11 pm. #

I also love your new look! Gorgeous in its simplicity.

Those moments of wonder and insight, the stark honest realization of what life is about, come in those moments. Those are the moments we have clarity and the monotony of life drains away. The secret, I think, is to do more to allow those moments to happen instead of trying to hold on to them. People who schedule every moment of their lives are organized, but they miss out on life’s little joys. We all need time to think and just ‘be’.

I think you’re right about your little teachers. That’s one of the blessings of having children, I know.

Rebecca´s last blog post..Who’s Googling Now?

by Rebecca on January 9, 2009 at 6:32 pm. #

This is so beautifully written! I can just see those snowflakes dance and your girls play and I can also feel that mundaneness (not a word, I don’t think) and the cold blue blankness of it. The new template goes perfectly with this post.

Heidi Ashworth´s last blog post..It’s Not That I Don’t Listen When My Kids Are Talking

by Heidi Ashworth on January 9, 2009 at 6:34 pm. #

Oh Kim! I love your description of it all! You truly are a gifted writer, thanks for sharing!

by Abra on January 9, 2009 at 6:50 pm. #

I love this post. Far too often I watch my little ones and wonder why on earth things have to be so complicated. When did the simple things end? Have you ever noticed how staring out the window causes these deep thoughts? I wonder what it is about the window…hmm…

Shanna´s last blog post..My Kid Rocks!

by Shanna on January 9, 2009 at 7:21 pm. #

Mmm, I love these delicious descriptions of yours. And gosh, your girls sound adorable. I’m glad you captured these small moments.

by Beth on January 9, 2009 at 8:12 pm. #

I need to embrace the snowflakes in my life more, embrace their youthfulness and their awe and wonder.

By the way, I am in LOVE with your new look over here. I think by far this is my absolute favorite. It is clean and classy and spiffy and easy to navigate … please leave it up for awhile … you can call it my birthday present :) !! (Hee hee!)

An Ordinary Mom´s last blog post..Six Months Old … So Sad He’s Sick

by An Ordinary Mom on January 9, 2009 at 8:49 pm. #

I tend to think of my “snowflakes” as whirling dervishes. You know, the white-out kind of snowflakes, but I do love to watch them play.

And I think it’s just nature that makes us think if we take the time to look at it. Windows help with that. Especially the ones at Kim’s house. Not all of us are that lucky.

Maybe I can be more patient tomorrow for reading this.

Eowyn´s last blog post..Did you know?

by Eowyn on January 9, 2009 at 10:51 pm. #

wow…I felt like I was back in my English literature class, reading prose assigned by my professor so I can appreciate the tapestry of words when woven perfectly…

BTW, I have not been here to your blog for awhile (holidays!) and I love the new look. It has a very academic kind of feeling. Clean and uncluttered. I love it.

marivic´s last blog post..This Little Piggy …

by marivic on January 9, 2009 at 11:32 pm. #

I love the new look, too!

Yes, we can really learn a lot from our little ones, can’t we. Yours sound super creative. And cute. Follow their lead!

LisAway´s last blog post..You Say You Want a Resolution

by LisAway on January 10, 2009 at 2:53 am. #

Lovely, as always, though your title made me giggle–it’s a line from a very cheesy commercial for a local ski resort.

Novembrance´s last blog post..The Thing with Feathers

by Novembrance on January 10, 2009 at 4:18 am. #

Kids are the biggest source of magic and wonder… I love being outside. That is my own way to reconnect with being amazed at life. Just sitting outside, with no one to talk to, watching the clouds and the wind blow the trees…

tracey´s last blog post..Ten. Diez. 10. One-Oh.

by tracey on January 10, 2009 at 9:18 am. #

Lovely post! (For a second there I thought you were writing MINE!)

And you must read Katherine Paterson’s _A Sense of Wonder_. Another great writer who refuses to lose sight of that elusive childhood gift!

charrette´s last blog post..The View From Here (Stopping By Blogs on a Snowy Evening)

by charrette on January 10, 2009 at 9:20 am. #

I love trying to see the world through my kids eyes. I really miss being a kid!

Summer´s last blog post..Ya Think?

by Summer on January 10, 2009 at 9:51 am. #

This is so true and so beautifully said. Sometimes in our grand maturity life looks so boring. Oh, but it’s not. Not through the eyes of these kiddos. I’m so thankful for that. You rock.

Heather of the EO´s last blog post..The bad in the blogging is really quite good

by Heather of the EO on January 10, 2009 at 10:45 am. #

You have such a way with words. This is beautifully written post. There is a reason why the Lord teaches us to become as a little child.

by Tonya on January 10, 2009 at 11:50 am. #

God bless our children. They bring so much – so VERY much – meaning and perspective to our lives.

by david mcmahon on January 10, 2009 at 2:11 pm. #

i love it now that the thrower can talk *and* has both a fab sense of humour and imagination.

today he brought me his train tracks, the ones that are curves. he said ‘yook, a wainbow!’

kinda makes up for the messes he makes.

some of them, anyway…

holly´s last blog post..evil comes into my house

by holly on January 10, 2009 at 4:31 pm. #

Wonder. Not far to look at all . . . Love the descriptions

julie wright´s last blog post..Resolutions, hearts, and other things we break

by julie wright on January 10, 2009 at 9:23 pm. #

It’s true that children recognize so much more wonder and inspiration from the world around them. I’m jealous. But I’m mostly jealous that they just play all day and somebody else feeds them and washes their clothes. I should have been a socialite because I think they get that too, except that I’m not too sociable, so maybe that wouldn’t work either. Oh well, can I at least eat Lucky Charms a lot? I should have just stopped after the first sentence.

Steph @ Diapers and Divinity´s last blog post..Deep thoughts about eyes, light, image and example

by Steph @ Diapers and Divinity on January 10, 2009 at 9:32 pm. #

I remember when the Goober started talking to his toys and narrating his play. It was so delightful, listening him make up stories about his trains, putting them in situations he had experienced and work out different scenarios with them. It was so amazing to get this insight into the workings of his mind. I eavesdrop on my kids every chance I get. Not to spy, just to enjoy how they play and how their mind works.

Love the new look, too.

VirtualSprite´s last blog post..goals

by VirtualSprite on January 11, 2009 at 12:25 pm. #

I think to get the wonder back we simply have to allow ourselves to be children again. To NOT CARE about all the boring adult-stuff.

It’s hard. But do-able.

Rebecca – That Girl from Brazil´s last blog post..Today I laughed like an extremely ticklish two-year-old

by Rebecca - That Girl from Brazil on January 11, 2009 at 3:17 pm. #

Children ARE our greatest teachers, aren’t they? Whenever I start having a pity party, I love to just lose myself in their imaginary world and then everything seems all right.

Amber’s Crazy Bloggin’ Canuck´s last blog post..And the rightful owner of the Target gift card is….

by Amber's Crazy Bloggin' Canuck on January 11, 2009 at 6:03 pm. #

Visiting you from Authorblog . . . did you know that you are a post of the week?

It IS so easy to be crushed the mundane and routine; to not see or feel the magic of living anymore. (I struggle with it myself!) Lovely meditation here, and I think that your conclusion is just right!

Bee´s last blog post..Happy Birthday to ME

by Bee on January 12, 2009 at 4:22 am. #

That’s a great post! One of the most memorable statements about children I ever read was, “I brought her into the world, now I’m letting her show it to me.” I popped over from David’s. Congratulations on making his Post of the Day list.

Cheers!

Lee´s last blog post..TV on the Web

by Lee on January 12, 2009 at 6:40 am. #

I think you’re quite correct in your conclusion that you haven’t far to go to find teachers. The wonder of children lies in the wonder they find in the world. (It was actually the subject for a photo of mine recently.)

They will teach you as much as you teach them… in one way or another.

Congratulations on the POTD nomination at David’s!

Mojo´s last blog post..That’s My World Tuesday #13: Drums Along Bicentennial Mall

by Mojo on January 12, 2009 at 12:00 pm. #