Too often we have come to the end of the season and wondered to ourselves "where did it go?" We have driven by the same parks for years and each time commented that we need to stop in there someday. This year, it is someday.

A week ago, when driving by Donald Park and saying yet again that we needed to stop there, we finally turned the car around and stopped there. We then spent the next 90 minutes hiking the trail through the woods and open land. Luis and I talked about things that we hadn't made the time to talk about lately, the kids ran ahead, dawdled behind and threw pieces of grass into the Mount Vernon Creek. Simon looked in wonder at the sky and then napped in the sling.

We made the decision that for the rest of the summer and fall, we will hike together as a family at least once a week.

Today we visited New Glarus Woods state park. We parked the car in nearby New Glarus, then hiked the path over to the park. We watched red wing blackbirds and swallows dive in the prairie and listened to woodpeckers in the woods. At the ranger house, we met the ranger, who is also a non-Christian homeschooler. After an interesting conversation with him, we invited his family to join our homeschool group. We ate our lunch sitting on rocks and found a bench at the top of a hill to sit upon and talk. Abigail took pictures with her camera, and Isabella bounced down hills. Vincent ran down the path, arms flying out the side and his voice filled with joy as he spotted each marker, and Simon alternately napped and stared wide-eyed at the sun-dappled canopy of leaves as he hung out in the mei tai.

The guidebook for the trail was unique. Instead of pointing out various flora and fauna, it posed philosophical question about man's role in the natural world. There were discussion points, things to think about, quotes from people like John Muir and poetry. Much of it was over the children's level of thinking, but Abigail and Isabella did absorb some of it. It gave interesting food for thought.

Four miles and over three hours of living in the moment. It was time well spent.