This past spring was the first one in our new house. In our last house, we had a small backyard but we had three cedar trees that attracted the cutest little finches each year. They built nests in the trees and would sit on the fence and sing (or squawk at us protectively). When we moved, I have to say that I was very sad to be leaving those little birds, even though I was very happy to be getting an upgrade on our house. Change is hard. Even positive change. It's a little bit like stress in that way. It doesn't matter if it's negative or positive, it can take a tole on your psyche. As we move through the ages and stages of life, we are faced with many changes. Try as we may, we cannot hold onto anything forever and getting used to the impermanence of everything in life is another path to serenity. I have yet to master it, but I've read plenty of Buddhist texts which attest to it and I'm not going to dispute age old spiritual wisdom! Anyhow, we were all settled into our home this past spring and I was starting to yearn for those mornings when I would look out the kitchen window and see the little finches collecting the fronds from the plants in the backyard. But then something magical happened. Not only did we get to see birds around our home and a have full view of their nests this past spring, but we also got our own personal view of the entire breathtaking process from the laying of the first wee egg to watching these little creatures take their very first flight.
As you can see in this picture, mommy was very protective (as she should be) and didn’t like us watching her. Once in a while, I would sneak a peak behind the curtains of the window that I used to take this picture and she would watch me. I haven’t done too much research on the mommy instincts of birds but they are pretty powerful. I would peak around the corner in my hallway and sometimes catch her but more often than not, she would fly away. When she was out doing the things that mommy birds do when not at the nest, I would quickly open the door and snap a photo. We were always very careful not to disturb her and never touched any part of the nest or area around it.
These photos above show the babies as they are getting ready to take flight from the nest on 8 June 2018. This was something that was absolutely amazing to watch. I as so grateful as we were home when the babies all decided that it was time to leave the nest and we got to watch them each try to fly for the first time. We were getting ready to go out and I wanted to go and control traffic for them as I was terrified that something terrible would happen if they got close to the road. This is something that my husband keeps me from doing, playing mommy to the creatures in the neighbourhood. I'd wrap them and my own babies in bubble wrap if I could.
You see my friend, sometimes we don’t want things to change. Change is hard! Fear of the unknown is a very real thing that has power over everyone at some point. And change, even if for the better, often comes with fear and feelings of loss. I was sad to leave my old home, for this and many other reasons. As hard as it was, and sometimes still is, there are beautiful things which await when you accept change in your life. When you let go of what was, or even what is, sometimes there is something even more magical waiting for you! Be courageous ~ your future awaits!
As Amazing as you are! Great job!! So proud!