Our Family's Journey: Observations From the Porch

Our days are slower, more routine. There are certainly moments of boredom but we also find

Us on the Porch - compliments of Caitlin

simple pleasures during the day. Most days around lunch time and early afternoon we spend time on our front porch. Last year when we had the landscaping redone we selected plants that would encourage the bees, hummingbirds and butterflies. So, we always have good company on the porch. It's peaceful observing the wildlife, listening to the fountain and merely being present.

Jake, the dog, joins us and generally is waiting anxiously at the door ready to head out long before us. He lays on Patrick's lap and naps most of the time. His protagonist is a grey cat that lives somewhere in our neighborhood but likes to frequent the wetland across from our house. This is one of the few things that really gets him excited, except perhaps when Caitlin drives up returning from school.

Our house sits next to a bike trail and open space between houses. The bike trail runs from local high school all the way past the middle school. So it's a major through way for students going to and from school. Most of the time we are not noticed by the kids heading home, although every now and then one will smile and wave to us.

My porch buddies. This is red alert for Jake!

Across the street we can view the beginning of the bike trail from Woodcreek Oaks to our street. Each day there are two friends that walk home from school on this path. Patrick noticed them first and pointed them out to me. They walk back and forth on this stretch of trail talking excitedly with lots of hand gestures and enthusiasm that we can view even from where we sit. I don't think they know we are there, frankly they are too engaged in their own conversation. When they finally head home, the boys separate with each going the opposite direction, however, right before the other is out of sight, the boys both turn one last time and wave to each other. It's such a wonderful testament to friendship and we are the beneficiaries each day of witnessing this exchange.

We have guests on the porch occasionally, Corrinne comes by to visit or Caitlin takes photos for her college course. In the fall, because we did more hanging out at night, we had neighbors that stopped by to say hello. Here are some photos from the porch... if you look closely, you'll see the two friends walking the trail.