The "Cwountry"

We went to Livingston this past weekend with my mom and dad.  Hurricane Ike had a bit of a hayday with the place, and knocked down many trees onto our beloved trails.  We worked hard to clear most of the mess and trees off of the clearing where the houses are (miraculously unscathed, I might add--Praise God!), but the trails are a mess.  So we have lots more to do.  

Judah had a ball-- he loves the country (or as he calls it, "the cwountry").  Papa takes him on tractor rides and he likes to help rake with his little plastic rake.  He slept in the barn room this time, and that was a little bit surreal, because that was the room I slept in as a little girl.  I remember creeping out of bed and peeking through the kitchen door to watch my mom and dad and my grandparents sit around the table and play games I could not, and talk about "Grown-up" things.  This time, with my child asleep in the bed, I sat around the table with my own parents, doing the exact same things.  I kept shaking my head periodically as I was struck with the irony, and watching the kitchen door, expecting to see his little blonde head at any minute.

We had a bonfire, and Judah thought that was great fun.  He liked when I would poke at the fire and make the sparks fly high.  We let him stay up late and sit outside with us, much to his delight.  Mom played with them during the day, and took the boys on wagon-rides, and did lots of car-playing, of course.  She has decorated the place for fall (yep, I come by that obsession naturally), and was showing Judah all the fun decor.  He selected a scarecrow to play with, and Mom explained to him that it scares the birds.  Judah looked at it briefly, then thrust it at the sky (where the birds live) and yelled, "BOO!"  Then he chucked skyward as hard as he could.  We cracked up.  He looked at us, a strange mixture of confusion and amusement-- happy that he made us laugh, but not sure why.  

We had a wonderful time, and I count it one of my favorite blessings that my children have the benefit of growing up with the country cabins as I did.  It is such a special place, and so full of memories and love.  If the walls of that cabin could speak, it could only spin tales joyful fellowship.