Yesterday in the house parenting realm was a bit of apickle. Tower House is parentless until further notice. Matt and Missy (Eagle
House house parents) went to Darwin overnight to celebrate Matt’s birthday.
Then Dale and Denise (Magpie House house parents) were going into town for the
school day to take students to the clinic. Who was called upon to step up and
fill in?
Quick question – what would you do when two houses are
parentless after school and you want to keep the kids out of trouble?
If you were in the Litchfield National Park in the Northern
Territory of Australia, you would take them to Tolmer Falls.
Bron (Level 3 teacher and night-time Tower House mum this
week) drove the bus, and Noe, Lauren, Leyna, and I went with her and about half
a dozen boys from Eagle and Tower Houses. The boys weren’t terribly excited
about the destination, but they were still game to go – it’s been so hot that
any excuse to get wet and cool off will work. Besides, it gets them away from
school for a couple of hours.
When we got to the trail leading to the swimming areas, Bron
told us (Americans) about a second, scenic route that we might want to take.
Sam and Jackson – both of Tower House – became our tour guides, which was a lot
of fun because Sam is hilarious, and not afraid to take you to the best views
(even if it means off-roading it a bit). And Jackson was playing off of Sam
brilliantly.
So we found ourselves at a lookout at Tolmer Falls itself,
and suddenly understood why the guys weren’t so keen on it. In all its beauty,
it is just far too tall to jump into the water from (remind me to see if David
posts the video he made for the kids – they’re such show-offs in the diving
arena).
Looking out at the falls, I didn’t have an epiphany moment.
I’m starting to have one in reflection but at that moment, there wasn’t one.
Purely and simply, Tolmer Falls was a moment of joy. The scenery was beautiful,
we were all excited to be there, and I didn’t have to process anything else. I
got to just be.
I needed that.
After nine days straight of processing through my junk, my
mind needed a break. I needed to rest. I needed that reminder of how it really
is okay to take some time in all the thinking and praying and working through
to enjoy the places I’m at and the people I’m there with. Joy is a vital part
of the healing process, as I’m starting to understand. And I don’t want to miss
the healing for all the digging.
