February 2

Our Saturday afternoons often include a long walk, and today didn't deviate from the norm. We looped past Abby's school and down a long, paved trail that we've frequented for several years. Though we stayed on the path, I stopped for a moment to admire this:

It is, in a very literal sense, the road less taken: a narrow lane that winds its way over the terrain and up a hill. The ground is ruddy and uneven, and it's wise to watch your step, lest you might come across a temperamental snake, or, more practically, an ankle-swallowing hole in the ground.

But that doesn't mean it's not worthy of an occasional stroll. After all, sometimes the best memories are made when we veer off the path.

And you know something? I think that sometimes, God Himself provides those little side trips. They're like a little bite of Heaven right here on earth.