Perseverance

Nothing helps you get over your fear of failure like failing a little. 

I ordered my hiking book.  I hiked three times a week for two weeks.  And then came the first hike.  We went on Labor Day and I found a hike that would be kid friendly and we set off early one morning with a picnic, water, and ah crap we forgot the Off.  We stopped at a corner store and grabbed some Deep Woods.  For some of you, you may be thinking, ah, its just a little mosquito. I have seen some here as big as horse flies and they probably carry around a pint of blood...each...little bloodsuckers.  Anyway, we pull up to the area that we wanted to hike and they are closed.  CLOSED!!  Ugh, thankfully about 20 minutes back towards home is another hike from my book and we head off again.  We finally arrive and of course everyone has to make a bathroom stop so we are about an hour past when we wanted to start when we actually start...which of course means that we are all now sweating buckets.  The hike starts off very well and I am elated, joyful...nothing is going to ruin this.....even the dripping down my back...ewww gross, I know...sorry.  Until, I turn around when my son is calling me to look at something and see this...

Except, he is surrounded, not by dirt, but giant swarming mosquitoes.  I look at my husband with a look of such bewilderment and he suggests that we all just keep walking and not stop.  Deep woods OFF ain't got nothin' on these bad boys.  So we walk along and the mosquitoes sort of follow us and hover over each of us, but as long as we don't stop, they don't seem to land.  We walk for another 5 minutes or so and Levi comes alongside me to take my hand and he gives me a look of regret and understanding.



I suppose we should turn back. (trying to hold back tears...I know it is silly...doesn't matter)

mmm.

Before those bloodsuckers fly off with our youngest. (trying to lighten myself up)

smirk. (Oh my man of few words)

Ok guys, lets go eat our picnic.

Cheers and shrieks from the kids.

The kids were of course excited because now they could go and play on the playground as the mosquitoes weren't flying in that open space, and they probably kept the playgrounds sprayed.  We had a lovely picnic and the kids played but I was having trouble with my disappointment.  Levi came to sit next to me on a bench and took my hand again.  It was too hot to lean into him, but I wanted to. 

It was a good day.

Yes.

Thanks for the picnic.

Your welcome.

You know...it was a good walk.

But I didn't finish.

We'll come back.

I know.

Levi was so incredibly supportive without having to say much at all. 

I didn't get many pictures as I couldn't stop long enough to, but captured this one and my oldest told me a really cool legend he learned about the Spanish Moss (that isn't moss and isn't Spanish, btw):

 

 

So the next week it rained off and on, although that is really just an excuse...I could have found time.  And this last week I have had a hurt foot..  I slipped in a parking lot because I was wearing flip flops in the rain.  It was really rather embarrassing because I was having an argument with Levi who was about to take our son in to use the bathroom at a fast food place.  I said "the last word" turned and stomped off...I know, real mature, and instead of making my exit, I ate it.  My flip flop hit the wet stripe in the parking lot and well, it was not pretty.  It bruised the side of my foot and hurt to walk for a week.  Ok, it might be slightly comical now, but was rather embarrassing at the time.

 

So, needless to say, I have not earned my new shoes, which I am pretty bummed about, but I will be beginning again this week and have already walked this morning in my neighborhood, where I caught this photo:

 

 

Working on my perseverance- (or just plain stubbornness)

 

The path is always waiting for me...I just have to keep walking.

Bea