never lose my sense of wonder

The weather has been between 15 and -5 degrees the last few days… almost too cold to snow, until yesterday.
It was dark outside when the snow began coming down in big fluffy sparkling clusters. It was still extremely cold outside so they held their intricate crystal forms perfectly. I turned on the back porch light and it caught on the falling snow and glittered beautifully.

It is interesting how the things that are the most beautiful in the world usually go unappriciated by people… at least adults.
Snow is far more beautiful than diamonds, but it is not something we can keep forever. It seems that humans naturally want something they can hold onto, that has (in their opinion) lasting value… they need something they can feel security in.
It is hard to let go of things… but nature teaches us to do it every day.
Each beautiful thing is followed be another, we don’t have to hold on forever.

True treasure can be found in each day.

~Chavi

My siblings and I went out and got all-you-can-eat sundaas at the ice cream bar. We put so many toppings on our ice creams, it was so funny… whipped cream, strawberries, chocolate, peanut butter, toffee, nerds and after dinner mints… oreos, cotton candy cream… and just about anything else you can think of, with a cherry on top.

We all got really sticky. It was so fun.

I never want to lose what it feels like to be a child.
To an adult something like a sundae isn’t anything special, it might taste alright, but its fattening, and makes the kids sticky, etc. I find myself feeling that way at times… I have to train myself to see things with wonder and excitment through a child’s eye, even little things like ice cream.

It is January, and normaly by this time of year we are covered in snow and ice. This winter however has been almost alarmingly mild.
A few nights ago I was on my bed, I had happened accross a rather creepy tv show, when suddenly something began tapping on my window. I was alarmed, anyone would have laughed if they could have seen the expression on my face…
When I opened the window a warm breeze met me, along with the “monster” that tapped on my window – my sister.
I stepped out of my window, and onto the rooftop with her. The night was mistical, the wind was soft and cool, it sent shivers through me. It was quiet. We could hear the water in the brook far in the front yard, and distant chimes. Everything was colored in different shades of shadow. The naked trees looked so tall and hauntingly beautiful. The air felt so clean and pure, that it flet like every breath added a year to your life.
The world was changed under the deep night sky.

~Chavi

Christmas is one of the most wonderful times of the year.
This year I am trying to stop and just enjoy it, and it has been working really well.
I went to a mall with my 13-year-old sister, and we rode a trolley, sang carols, tried on makeup at bath and body works, got hot chocolate and hot fudge ice cream, and just had fun walking around and looking at the beautiful decorations, and watching the busy shoppers.
When it got dark, thousands of white lights came on, the trees glittered with them against a sky of dark velvet blue, there was a gigantic christmas tree in the square and a brass band playing carols there. The night was so beautiful, and so christmas-y.
It was magical.

I wondered how many other people noticed the beauty of that night. I hope those people weren’t thinking only about how many gifts they still needed to buy, or whether or not they would get the closest parking space.
I hope people enjoy this beautiful season, no matter how much they still need to do… no matter how hectic everything around them is.

I have made it an unofficial goal to watch the sunset every evening that its possible this summer.

Many nights I climb out of my window and onto my rooftop to watch the sun set. It’s one of the most wonderful things to do… from my perch I can literally see for miles in all directions.
To the west (my back yard) there are acres of long grass, and then there is a dark forest, which I still haven’t thought up a suitable name for. To the east there is a stream, and a little hill with trees… thankfully the road is mostly covered from view during the summer.
The fireflies sparkle everywhere… and there is a symphony of birds, crickets, water and rustling leaves.

The sunset from my rooftop is something I never want to forget as long as I live

I have been appreciating the things around me more lately. It really makes a huge difference when I slow down a bit and enjoy life, living in the moment. Everything seems more exciting and beautiful, I feel inspired.
This is a wonderful summer…

In the words of bizquik:
“I want to have that sense of wonder all the time, like a little kid. I want to see things that are so amazing and unbelievable that it leaves an everlasting impression on me. I want to make sure when I go places that I look around and completely appreciate what is around me because either I won’t ever see it again or it won’t be around forever!”

I feel I am losing what I once had… it’s funny how you sometimes don’t know you even had something until it is gone… but I hope it hasn’t come to that.