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Sunday, April 23, 2006

Nine wheels, ten pedals, and this family is on the road!

This is our latest aquisition - Maddie's tag-along-bike. She is SO proud! When we got to church on Sunday morning, she had to show it off to anyone who would stop to look.

There's an incredible scene in American Beauty, when Ricky Fitts is showing the girl (can't remember her name) the video of a plastic bag floating in the breeze. He says, as his eyes fill with tears, "Sometimes there's so much beauty in the world I feel like I can't take it, like my heart's going to cave in." That's how I felt this weekend on the numerous occasions when we went out for family bike rides. Pedalling my bike behind my husband and three daughters on a perfect spring day felt almost overwhelmingly beautiful - so beautiful I felt my heart would cave in.

It's hard to describe when you have a moment in time that feels as close to perfection as you can imagine. The sun shining, the warm Spring air, the man that you love ahead of you, Maddie saying hello to people on the sidewalk as she bounces along behind her dad, Nikki racing to try to beat her dad, Julie's earnest look on her face as she pours her heart into pedaling... it's almost more than the heart can take. We biked a couple of times to St. Vital park, watched the sun begin to set on the overflowing river, tossed breadcrumbs to the ducks on the duck pond, climbed the rocks - basically had an amazing time.

My life is full, and I am happy. May I live to see many more bike rides with my family.

10 comments:

Dale said...

Glad to hear your heart is full, Heather! I thought of you and your family this morning in church when we prayed for the people of Manitoba who are affected by spring floods. You're fine, right?

Gina said...

Maddie sure has a sweet ride!

You know, oddly enough, I was thinking something very similar not an hour or so ago. About those moments in life where everything is just perfect.

So happy to hear about yours. I am sure there will be many, many more.

Anonymous said...

This looks like such a fun bike and such a fun time. St. Vital is one of my favourite parks. Yea.. Spring!!

Heather Plett said...

We're safe and dry, Dale, thanks to the floodway protecting the city. Our friends to the south aren't fairing as well, unfortunately.

Thanks for thinking of us!

Linda said...

Some of my fondest memories are of our whole family biking. I know the feeling of your heart caving. Maddie seems so thrilled with her new bike!

ccap said...

Great photo. Yeah, I had a similar feeling of my heart bursting as we wandered Assiniboine Park yesterday.

Judy said...

I know that feeling well.

For me it's rocking my grandson on the front porch.

True beauty.

What a cool bike! Could my husband get one of those for me?

Anonymous said...

I had to look at that picture more than once to make myself see Maddie and not Julie!

Anonymous said...

Such joy! Jason and I were just talking today about when we could get Sydney a tag-along bike...so imagine my surprise to see your post. I bet Maddie will have so many fond memories of riding throughout this summer.

owlhaven said...

We have a bike trailer we love for our little kids, but that ride-behind looks like great fun too!

Mary, mom to many