We had such a delightful family outing to the strawberry patch at Chiles Peach Orchard, located in beautiful Crozet, Virginia.
Of course, when you are a family of five, each person has a different goal in mind when approaching an activity such as strawberry-picking. While I wanted everyone to have a good time, I also wanted to leave with enough berries to make jam. Our oldest went in search of the largest strawberry she could find, and the middle child wandered from row to row, searching out the largest section of all-ripe berries. Our youngest spent her time climbing in and out of the wagon, eating way more berries than she picked . . . in fact, I'm fairly sure the employees should have weighed her instead of her bucket! My husband spent his time making sure none of the kids tipped their buckets over while I happily picked away.
The strawberries were so plentiful that it didn't take long to get the amount I needed and then some. I quickly realized, though, the best fruit I was gathering had nothing to do with strawberries. We were all together, outside on an amazing day, and everyone was enjoying themselves. If the children are in a bad mood, I can usually do something silly to jolt them out of it, but my husband is a different story. He works so hard (two, sometimes three jobs), and he tends to let his worry keep him from having fun on our excursions. On this particular day, he was actually enjoying himself, and his good mood helped to boost the rest of us. The fruit I truly received that day was a family full of connection, love, and happiness.
It is especially wonderful, once our strawberry jam is made, that I can feel that sense of peace and happiness every time I take a bite of that spring deliciousness.
Of course, when you are a family of five, each person has a different goal in mind when approaching an activity such as strawberry-picking. While I wanted everyone to have a good time, I also wanted to leave with enough berries to make jam. Our oldest went in search of the largest strawberry she could find, and the middle child wandered from row to row, searching out the largest section of all-ripe berries. Our youngest spent her time climbing in and out of the wagon, eating way more berries than she picked . . . in fact, I'm fairly sure the employees should have weighed her instead of her bucket! My husband spent his time making sure none of the kids tipped their buckets over while I happily picked away.
The strawberries were so plentiful that it didn't take long to get the amount I needed and then some. I quickly realized, though, the best fruit I was gathering had nothing to do with strawberries. We were all together, outside on an amazing day, and everyone was enjoying themselves. If the children are in a bad mood, I can usually do something silly to jolt them out of it, but my husband is a different story. He works so hard (two, sometimes three jobs), and he tends to let his worry keep him from having fun on our excursions. On this particular day, he was actually enjoying himself, and his good mood helped to boost the rest of us. The fruit I truly received that day was a family full of connection, love, and happiness.
It is especially wonderful, once our strawberry jam is made, that I can feel that sense of peace and happiness every time I take a bite of that spring deliciousness.
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