Horses and Frogs and Lake Bugs, Oh My!

This past year, our local YMCA organized a Friday play group for parents of young children and their tykes, and as an extension of that, two summer outings were planned, including a zoo trip and, more recently, a visit to the YMCA camp at Lake Cormorant in Minnesota. Though early-morning clouds threatened to spoil the day, they dispersed in time for us to take full advantange of the activities, including a spin along the trails via horseback. Some days I forget that my children, being raised in a more metropolitan setting, are missing out on some of the joys of rural life, including the thrill of being hoisted up on the wide, warm back of a horse and having that amazing vantage point from above. When it was turn for my youngest to go, he looked like the most valiant of knights from days of old, a proud smirk upon his face from being up there on the beautiful beast, an equine magic carpet of sorts. One of the counselors commented that he’d never seen such a tiny rider but I don’t think my little guy felt tiny at all. That, along with the hot-dog roast, frog-catching session and dip in the lake proved to be just what the doctor ordered. Those several wonderful hours we spent at Lake Cormorant allowed me to pause long enough to store up a few extra inhales for later. And when it came time to decide whether to swim out to the inner-tube trampoline, I indulged my girls who awaited me and loved every moment of our romp out there in the “middle” of the lake. “Woo-hah!”

Sweet summertime!