The Gift

I didn't feel like walking to gymnastics. I felt like staying in the car.

But the rain had stopped, so I didn't have an excuse. I pulled out the baby jogger and strapped the girls in.

The air still smelled like rain, and wet grass, and growing things.

There were flowers in people's gardens: roses clustering over fences, purple rhododendrons, irises, red poppies. A breeze rustled the bright green tree leaves above our heads.

Then Anna said: "Those birds are in the shape of a bunny!" and she pointed up at the sky.

When I looked, I saw two flocks of pelicans in formation. Huge birds with enormous wing spans.

I stood for several moments totally transfixed, until Anna's little voice urged me on. "Let's stop standing here looking at birds!"

But, thank you God, for the gift.