The girls packed their bags the night before with stuffed puppies, and cameras, and well-worn bathing suits. They counted their money in pink jeweled wallets anticipating a gas station stop that was sure to be scheduled. In the morning, they loaded into the van requesting the turning up of Adventures in Odyssey, trusting their daddy to follow the freeway out to where Grandpa and Grandma waited.

Along the way we took a rest and kicked a ball between us. They ran and squealed and got distracted as only little girls can when dandelions, beautiful and seeded, are found and calling out to be blown, making little girls smile wide.

Upon arrival at Grandpa's and Grandma's, we shared our hugs and they shared their stories, before leading us down a bouncy road to where the water meets dry land.

An oasis, the place where dust is parched and thirsting, the dry land is wide and bare. The mesquite and the arrowweed grow rampant, but their leaves are small and brittle. In the distance the native fan palms stand tall as though stating that they have found the place of refreshment ~ the gushing water that brings full life.

To "be like a tree, planted by the rivers of water, that brings forth its fruit in its season, whose leaf also shall not wither; and whatever he does shall prosper". 

The broad leaves reach high while the roots stretch down, twisting through the desert land to drink the water deep.

I hear the desert wren sing its song. I see the white crowned sparrows feast. In this dry and thirsty land, they have found their home.