The Puddle Pail

Hello readers, have local libraries in your area re-opened already? Much to our great delight, our township's library started doing online reservations and pick-up services last week. Unfortunately, though, there's a five-book limit and we read an awful lot in this household! It's also difficult to figure out what's at the library because you need to have titles in mind to search availability. My good friend and I decided to do a book swap since her own Silly Bean is six months older and loves reading as well. It is super fun because get to borrow personally curated books and also choose books for our little friend that we think he will enjoy 😄

Silly Bean's friend loaned him a book called "The Puddle Pail," a very fun and colorful book about two crocodile friends who collect things in their pails (one collects more traditional things like stones, feathers, etc. while the other friend collects puddles).

Silly Bean enjoyed reading this book--it was the first time he was introduced to the idea of collecting things, as he has never been one to pick up tons of rocks and put them in his pocket on walks. Today we were trying to come up with an idea of another way to play outside--we have been doing the chalk and bubbles thing most days for half a year now (!?!?) and we really need something new! So we grabbed our pail from the water table, reminisced about "The Puddle Pail," and out the door we went for a new adventure!

 

We went to the usual places we go to on our (pretty much) daily walks, but with a different set of eyes. Instead of talking about how the pool and playground are still closed, we noticed a lot of large rocks in the area in front of the pool.

We filled up the little pail with rocks, but quickly realized it was heavy and difficult to carry without the handle falling out, so we did dump some out and looked around for other things to collect and place in our pail.

Sticks and acorns filled up the rest of the pail and was happily much lighter. Silly Bean became really interested in finding other oak trees in the neighborhood to find more acorns, and our hunt for oak trees led us to a mini forest that's very close to our condo but we never really ventured to. Silly Bean said, "Mama, I love oak trees because they make acorns for me! Why do you love oak trees?" My answer was, "Because they are tall and give us some shade." And on a hot day today, we were so thankful for the shade, especially because this collecting activity had us outdoors for a good hour and a half!

This little adventure was such a great analogy for me about the perspective with which we see things. Are we focusing on the negative things (like the pool or playground being closed every time we go to check if they opened yet), or are we looking with fresh eyes anticipating finding treasures in the small everyday things? As the pandemic continues to get worse in some areas, and in some states moving back a phase in terms of reopening, what is our perspective on it all? I am reminded that even though we may be walking around with empty pails, God wants to fill our pails with joy as we shift our perspective, a perspective of eagerness and expectancy in the midst of it all.