everyone has a story to tell

....about yesterday's earthquake that rattled the Mid-Atlantic. We East Coasters aren't used to such phenomenon. I was on a conference call with my Babycenter pals when the whole house started to shudder. And of course, earthquake wasn't even in my frame of reference, so I immediately thought, "This is it. This old farmhouse has finally had enough. It's falling down.This must be what it's like."

I was relieved all the girls were outside "babysitting" Birdy while I was on the phone. I ran outside, staring up at the house expecting to witness the walls and roof give way. And I thought, "Shoot. I'm still in my grey pajama pants {in my defense I'd been cleaning all morning}. My hair is a mess. I have no make-up on. And the baby is wearing soaking wet clothes from playing in the water tub."

Of course, I was slightly mistaken. My house wasn't falling down, we were just experiencing the tremors of the quake in Virginia. (Which also happens to be almost EXACTLY where we were on vacation. We even stopped for ice cream cones in Mineral.) 

And now that the earthquakes have subsided, we've moved on to the next natural disaster, waiting to see what this hurricane stirs up over the weekend....

But alas, let's discuss something much cuter....meet, Girl.

She was the special project that was included in our farm-sitting duties at my uncle's farm. Rescued when she was just a day or two old, she's been bottle-fed and cared for by their family ever since.

We saw her on her first days home, when she was refusing to take a bottle. Her legs like little twigs. I never imagined them to be so fragile. But now, having mastered the bottle, she's thriving. 

Girl hangs out in the fields around my uncle's farm and comes in around the same time each day when she's feeling hungry. Some days she'd be eagerly waiting on the front porch, another day I only found her by the tiny brown ears sticking up out of the bean field. 

These are the moments when I want to take my childrens' little faces in my hands, look them square in the eyes and say, "Do you realize how special this is? Do you realize how blessed you are, to be doing this?"

If there's one thing I want to instill in them, it's gratitude for these moments they experience almost every day, for the views out our kitchen window, for the open spaces to explore and run. For the closeness they have to the natural world around them. 

Comments

[Mama Urchin]

I once fed a "wild" deer in a national park. I just picked the type of flowers they were eating and held them in my hand. She slowly walked up and ate them. Looking back I really shouldn't have done that - let the wild be wild and all - but it was a magical experience for sure.

[Melissa Howard]

She is so incredibly pretty - how lucky you are!!

[Cassandra]

Oh my! I love HER! I want a girl of my own!

[Molly]

Oh, I am so JEALOUS! How amazing to be able to watch her grow!

[Heather]

Truly blessed, yes.

[Jennie]

Wow- how incredible is that! So, so beautiful . . .

[erin]

Girl. I love her name.
And what a special thing for all of you!

[christina]

She's Adorable! And someday they will realize how special it is/was, and be so thankful for it!

As for me just a wee bit north of you in a Delaware, I did not feel a thing! I was driving when it happened with my three littles and we missed it, never felt it..so I have no story to tell...ah well I am sure there will be more...

[amelia studio]

Oh my goodness -- she is so sweet. Lucky girls! What fun.

[Sarah Jane]

Glad you're safe and sound.
And what a beautiful deer. Dear for sure!:)

[Anna Marshall]

What a true blessing to live in such a beautiful place! Thanks for sharing it with us!

[Tamra]

You are so right...I want my children to see the beauty in this world. We have deer walking thru our yard every night and marvel at the babies and how brave they are, coming so close every now and then. Love the eyelashes on Girl. So sweet.
Glad everyone is ok there...

[Brenda]

How beautiful and, yes, special. I had goosebumps reading this post. xx

[beth lehman]

how lucky!!!

[sarah]

how special! your children are so blessed to have such a wonderful childhood.

[Pia]

Molly,
You and your girls are truly fortunate to have this experience. Here in Oregon, there were a few families who did the same thing, rescued a fawn and cared for it as their own child, and were fined by the state for interfering with nature. Needless to say, they were devastated to lose their beloved animal and have to pay for their caring and love.

You are all truly fortunate.

[Krysta]

I wish I could hug this post. So wonderful, thank you for sharing this special glimpse into such a special moment. I hope I can remember to do this for my daughter more often. Your daughters are truly blessed.

[Earth Mama]

Oh YES, do tell your kids just how lucky they are!!! SO lucky. I would love a little baby deer, if only for a fleeting while till she grows big and strong to find her own pack. So beautiful and so so so so cute and special!

:)Lisa

[Lilliputian Girls]

This completely took my breath away. I could look at the photo of Girl's sweet white spots for *hours.* Blessed, for sure.

[wall art]

Aww look at her, she's lovely!

[Ellie {Musing Momma}]

Oh wow - my boys would just die to have this experience!!! AWESOME! And what gorgeous photos! Parc Safari in Quebec has a deer enclave where the kids can walk around and pet and feed the deer. But that is nothing like having a baby in your backyard. Nothing at all!