Imagination Runs Wild

As an adult, it takes me awhile to remember to use my imagination. For me a rock looks like a rock, there are no monsters hiding in my closet, and there's not much you can do in an empty field.

Not so for my children. They are gifted imaginers.

After a doctor's visit for Daniel (and that's another story entirely), I needed to stop and feed Grace. Near the doctor's office, nestled between the very large Bellevue Regional Library and a dozen or so skyscrapers (each at least 18 stories high), there was a small field. The perfect place where the other children could run around while Grace nursed. Once we pulled into the parking lot, though, the excitement in our car increased because the place was actually a baseball diamond.

"Hooray! We can play baseball!" shouted Ammon. His brothers and sister hoorayed with him. I wondered if Ammon had secretly stashed a bat and ball in the car (which, by the way, he has done in the past). But as the children scrambled out of the car, I noticed they only had two toy lightsabers and each other.

But it was enough.

Ben stepped right up on the home plate and pulled out his lightsaber. It became the bat. Ammon strode to the pitchers mound and Daniel and Elizabeth spread out behind him. Then Ammon threw the ball. The imaginary ball, that is.

Ben hit the imaginary ball and took off for first base. I watched Ammon and Daniel chase the imaginary ball down, catch it, throw it to each other and try to tag Ben out. Then Daniel was up to bat. His grounder went through Ammon's legs and Ammon chased it down while Daniel slid into first base. Then Ammon had a turn swinging the bat. He, of course, made a home run. Elizabeth chased after her brothers and practiced sliding onto base as well.

The wind was blowing their hair, dirt was clinging to their legs, and smiles were on their faces. And all because of their imagination.

It brought a smile to my face, too.