Yesterday, I wrote out a “to do” list. Something I used to do on a daily basis. Always a notebook with my to do’s…somewhere along the line I got frustrated with all of the things I was not able to cross off the list because I got sidetracked, or the kids needed me, or I just put too much on my list.

My list was short…

• run
• shower
• grocery store
• car wash
• vacuum car

I had 3-1/2 hours to accomplish everything on my list while both kids were in school.

As I dropped down the hill into the park near the river, I saw two bald eagles fly overhead.

Minutes later, a great blue heron.

Song birds were chirping and flitting through the woods.

I rounded the corner along the river and a hummingbird dive bombed me on the way to bright pink blossoms on a shrub along the trail.

Before the railroad tracks, I slowed down to look in the pond where many ducks and geese hang out in the winter. There was another great blue heron…fishing.

I crossed the bridge and ran by the fenced dog park. Happy dogs were barking for their owners to throw the ball one more time.

I looped back through the forest path along the river. I had it all to myself.

I crossed back over the river, then under the train tracks to peek at the great blue heron again. Still fishing.

Around the corner I ran into one of my friends from our Friday playgroup. This was the second day in a row that I had unintentionally run into one of me sweet friends.

I finished the run through the park and headed up the hill back to the road. As I approached the warehouse buildings past the water treatment plant, I looked up at the cell phone tower to see one of the Osprey guarding their nest. I saw them working on it over the weekend. Suddenly, it flew down into the nest…and I noticed another Osprey fly by.

I walked to the intersection and pushed the button for the walk signal. Right before I was going to cross I took a look back at the cell phone tower as one of the birds took off. It flew away and then up into the sky. Two bald eagles followed. And, there was another pair of Osprey in the sky,

I walked back to the soccer field behind me and sat on a bench. Watching in awe. The five birds soared through the air.

Higher and higher.

It was like a magical dance.

They were calling and swirling.

The two bald eagles eventually flew to the west.

The pair of Osprey eventually flew to the east.

The single Osprey that flew out of the nest flew back to the cell phone tower.

I’m never going to be the fastest runner.

I’m never going to run a marathon…probably not even a half marathon.

I am going to remember that run.

 

I got through the first three things on my list.

I still need to get my car washed and vacuum the kettle corn off the floor from our ride home from the tulip farm.

 

BUT…

I watched baby girl play at her school playground in her princess dress with her friends.

I walked the little guy’s bike to his school so he could ride it home yesterday afternoon with me and baby girl.

I prepared dinner in advance so we could eat together at the dinner table…for the second night in a row!

 

Those things were NOT on my “to do” list, but were important parts of my day.

 

I haven’t written a “to do” list for today, but this morning I walked the little guy to school.

He saw two snails.

Baby girl and I walked home…SLOWLY.

We saw a great blue heron.

 

Those were important parts of my day.

 

Sometimes, the things that are most important to get done are not on a “to do” list.

 

home is…the things that are not on a “to do” list.