Passing By

Supplies : Paper by October Afternoon, Scenic Route, and My Minds Eye; Flowers from Prima; Buttons and Jute from Papertrey Ink; Candy Dot by Pebbles; Thickers and Remarks letter stickers from American Crafts;

I used some of those fun embellies I posted on Saturday on this layout I made using the Inspired Blueprints #37 sketch. March of last year Caitlyn was in speech therapy 1-2 times a week and at that time the rehab clinic was in the main hospital building. They have an area with a fountain that goes down to a stream and a little bridge that takes you over to some seating where they created a spot of lovely desert landscaping. It's an area we usually rushed past because there was always someplace to be and because it's nothing all that special, just an area around a hospital. After therapy it was errands or going to the preschool, another doctors appointment, picking up Paul, etc. And every visit Caitlyn would ask to see the fountain and go across the bridge, each time receiving the 'we don't have time' answer that seemed to become so commonplace in our lives. One day I finally realized we needed to slow down and so after the therapy session that day we crossed the bridge and played. Caitlyn spent most of the time just sitting near the water, listening and watching it and in those quiet unrushed moments I saw that this was something she needed and she needed this more than I needed to finish some other errand right at that moment, or to be early to another doctors appointment for her where we would wait another 20 minutes before being seen. So almost every time we had therapy after that we spent a little time across the bridge or by the fountain wall. And it made all the difference, not just for her but Audrey and I as well. I no longer had to drag her to therapy and running errands afterwards seemed to go more smoothly. I was more patient with them and they were more tolerant of doing things that weren't fun. Just 5 minutes to get away from the hustle. Five minutes in someplace beautiful and quiet. And I wonder how much we miss when we're just passing by. I've noticed since she's started Kindergarten that we've been in that rush again and I need to break us out of it. Take some time today to enjoy something you haven't noticed and have a lovely Monday! Thanks for visiting ;)