Leaves in Heaven?

One September, 2008

Fall has come. Summer is ending. School is beginning. I watch the leaves wither and fall from the tree limbs as my 3 year old asks, " Do leaves go to Heaven?"

"Of course," I answer affirmatively. "They are up there with the dinosaurs and the ants that you had in your ant farm. " I then continue on with my description of Heaven as a beautiful place with angels and big puffy clouds. What a jewel of a moment.

"I don't like Heaven," she states matter of factly.

Curious, I venture to ask, "Why not?"

Quick to answer, my three year old sums it up. "Heaven is where you go when you get lost. I don't like to get lost."

Uneasily, I mention something again about fluffy clouds. Another jewel of a moment, I might add.

"Mommy, look! The leaves aren't in heaven. They are right here!" She points to a pile of brown, crumpled leaves lying under our tree."They are in our backyard," she states quite pleased with her discovery.

"Yes," I agree.

And that is where we leave it. For now!