Step by step, the unknown becomes known…
Our adoption was finalized five years ago between Valentine’s and Family Day and is now always celebrated between these days.
On this Family Day, we went for a morning hike at Hilton Falls Conservation Area.
It was a beautiful sunny day and 1 degree compared to yesterday’s -12.
During our one-hour drive, we played “Into the Unknown” by Panic at the Disco from Frozen 2, one of T’s favourite songs.
When we first adopted T, he was on the cusp of learning to walk. We are thankful we got to experience that milestone with him.
Once he found his footing, he was always on the go and rarely sat still.
We were thrilled to introduce our love of nature to T, going camping before he was 2.
T is in his element in the outdoors.
It was nice to explore a new park and to experience our first winter hike.
I loved walking with tall poplar trees on either side, the warm sun reflecting off the snow.
We stopped to enjoy the whimsical…
… and admire the beauty all around us.
As we hiked in silence, I thought about the road travelled together.
Little did we know back then what an adventure this was going to be – the joys, heartache, laughter, uncertainty.
My mind continues to process the recommendations from his FASD diagnosis report and the next unknown that lies ahead.
But I promised myself I was going to enjoy our family time and save that work for another day.
Because like a hike in the woods, you somehow always find your way.
Sometimes by intuition and determination.
Sometimes by following the footprints and markers that others have left behind.
Sometimes by following others on the same path as you.
Sometimes by venturing off the beaten path and charting your own way.
But if you take the leap of faith and dare to venture into the unknown, you will always find something worth your while.
Day by day, step by step, breath by breath, the unknown becomes known. The uncertain becomes certain. The afraid becomes unafraid.
Wonderfully written and I love that Frozen song as well 💙
You mentioned thinking back on your son’s diagnosis and the recommendations and it made me think of the other day, I was organizing my son’s paper work from early on and stumbling upon his first official diagnosis and his recommendations and having a flashback to how overwhelmed I felt by all the papers, medical jargon and new world we were being tossed into blindly.
I’m thankful we did, and I’m glad you and your partner chose to jump in with both feet for your child as well.
It’s a wild ride, but can be amazing too 🌷
Thanks Rachel. Brandon Urie has such a lovely voice and sings it with such infectious joy!
I can understand how you can empathize and relate. Those reports sure are overwhelming but so so useful and helpful in opening doors and identifying clear steps forward. We’re thankful for it. And just taking it a day at a time. 🙂
Take good care.
Thanks Ab, you as well 🌼
Glad to hear that you made it it Hilton Falls Conservation Area. This looks like a lovely spot to get some fresh air and go for a hike. I love the frozen waterfall and all the tall skinny trees along the trail. One of the things I love about hiking is that it’s a great way to clear your mind and think about what’s important in life. I completely agree that if you venture into the unknown and out of your comfort zone, that you will always find something meaningful about yourself.
We’re glad we made it. We all woke up fairly tired and wanting to go back to bed but we’re glad we followed through. It was a nice hike and so close to GTA. I recommend it if you haven’t had a chance.
They have fire pits near the falls area so pack some food with you if you make it an outing. We were quite envious of families who came prepared with hotdogs while we sipped on our tap water. 😆
I’ve been meaning to visit Hilton Falls since it’s super close to where we live. It sounds like it would be awesome to check out in the winter and I love how there are even fire pits to warm-up. Thanks for the heads up. If we do visit this winter, I’ll make sure to pack some marshmallows!
This looks like a nice weekend to visit! 😊
Thank you for sharing this post. We all have our fear, worries, problems and yes, the unknowns. It takes a lot of love and faith to trust all things will turn out okay even if we don’t know what awaits ahead or it’s challenging along the way. This is my fav, “Day by day, step by step, breath by breath, the unknown becomes known. The uncertain becomes certain. The afraid becomes unafraid.” It’s comfort. It’s freedom. It’s peace. And can even be happiness. Thanks Ab for being an inspiration to us all. 🙏
Thank you for always sharing your kind comments. 😊 It’s nice that we can all draw from and provide inspiration to each other in the blogging community. I know you can relate to the message and it is true that sometimes we just have to face the uncertain because that’s where the biggest joys and growth come from. Happy Wednesday to you! 🙏
Very True. Happy Wednesday too my Friend.
This is wonderful it really is.
Thank you Gary!
LOVE THIS POST!! The photos and correlating insight are wonderful – ENJOY!!!!!
Thank you, Vickie. 😊 I have to say I wasn’t much of a winter hike person but yesterday showed me there’s much enjoyment in it. Hope you are having a good week!
What a beautiful post. Both because of the vista and wonderful photos, and the sentiment that guides you.
You will find your way for all of the reasons that you had mentioned, but also because you are thoughtful, observant, caring, and compassionate. You will all be fine <3
Thank you! I have faith we will. 😊 And the vista was indeed beautiful. We’re lucky to have so many great outdoor spaces within Ontario, near and far, to explore. Happy Monday!
Well, you know I’m always an enthusiast of hiking metaphors! I love your pictures – what a beautiful hike in relatively warm (at least comparatively for you) conditions.
One of the things I was taught early on in hiking/climbing was that at every turn of the path you need to look back and see the way you came so that you can find your way back. The landmarks always look different from the other direction. It strikes me with this post, you are looking at the landmarks and orienting yourself, celebrating how far you’ve come.
So many milestones. So much love. So much progress! Beautiful!
Thanks Wynne. And I enjoy your climbing metaphors. 😊 Very similar ideas, I think, in the journey – forward, present and backwards.
It was a nice hike and we really needed just quiet time of solitude after a trying few weeks. 😊
Hope you and the kids had a nice weekend too!
I’m laughing at the solitude because while I enjoy that a great deal when I hike, it’s never happened when I go with my kids. They never stop talking…. 🙂
So glad that you all got some! Enjoy the rest of your week!