The Secret Passage

Tessie went over to our neighbors house to play for a while today.  Christian was napping, and I got some cleaning done while there was no one under-foot.  When it was time for her to come home, I walked next door to pick her up.  We said our goodbyes and thank yous, then headed home.  We have a "secret passage" to the neighbors house that Tes like to walk on.  It's just a spot on the side of our property that has been worn down from dogs walking on it, but it is a more direct route to their house, and we get to walk through the trees, so it is a lot of fun for a little kid.  I walked ahead of Tes and turned back to watch her walking through the trees.  She was wearing a princess dress, of course, and her hair framed her face like a golden halo.  As she picked her way carefully down the path, a sweet smile played at the edges of her mouth.  In that moment I knew she was in another land, filled with fairies and wood nymphs.  I felt almost like I was spying on her in a very personal moment.  It was beautiful.