High Falls

Last week we had the privilege of seeing the High Falls of the Pigeon River on the Minnesota-Canada border. They were just thundering down! There was mist no matter where you stood. It was absolutely breathtaking there. We enjoyed a week up North with another family, seeing the sights and exploring God's amazing creation.

Blowing in the Wind

from freevector.com

I have been taking walks in the morning for about 5 weeks now. It is a time i need. A time for me to gather my wits about me for the day ahead. A time to pray. A time to think. A time to plan.

This morning, the walk seemed extra beautiful. The air was much cooler. It was windy. The Fall colors have been amazing the past 10 days. Today, the leaves were falling off of their trees, blowing around, swirling in driveways.

I stood amazed at the wonder of it all. Feeling small in the shadows of the great oaks and poplars, maples and elms. Thinking of how great our God is. How amazing His creation. These walks have helped me to take more time to give Him the praise and thanks due Him. How awesome He is, to paint the trees every Fall with such ardent colors!

Watching these leaves, i stood in awe. They loose their bonds from the great trees that bore them in the Spring, to make room for new leaves the next year. But they don't just fizzle away. NO! they glow, and burn, and dance on their way out. They are free. As i watched the leaves all around me, i noticed a dance. They seem to dance on their way out. Dancing and singing praise to God in their own way. Each leaf unique. Each leaf beautiful. Each leaf dying, to make room for new growth.

Today, i was thankful for walks in the morning. For time with God. For His beauty reflected in creation.

I was also thankful for freedom. Freedom to let go and to trust Christ with every detail.

Celebrating

Brian and I recently celebrated 17 years of marriage. The week before our actual anniversary, we took a trip to northern Minnesota. What a wonderful few days! Even though it was rainy and misty most of the time, we still got out an enjoyed the scenery. It was also a time to reflect and reset. Both of us learned lessons and were reminded of wonderful Truths of the Gospel as we were out and about. 

Harebells grow and bloom in adverse circumstances. There is a huge lesson there.
More on that in a different post. 

Yarrow growing in a crevasse at Cascade Falls.

Yet another plant, blooming where you would least expect it.

We were amazed at this old, gnarly tree. Roots straight in the rock.
Hmm. Another lesson right there; Our roots needing to be in the Solid Rock.

Celebrating 17 years of marriage. We hiked up Look Out Mountain,
and were rewarded with a misty view. What you would see on a clear day
is Lake Superior to one side, and the Superior National Forest on the other. 

When we returned to church on the 24th (the actual day of our anniversary), our pastor, Dr. Jeff Rich, preached on Genesis 1, and the crowning glory of God's creation. It was riveting. We had just been surrounded by the glory of God's creation, and to hear that even more glorious than all of that, is man! Man is created in God's image, we know this. Yet, how often do we elevate the beauty and majesty of the oceans, or of the mountains, or a waterfall, above man? I learned that as glorious as all of that may be, and is, that my husband and I reflect God's glory even more. He has created us in His image. When we were in sin, He called us out of the darkness and into His glorious light.  He has redeemed us. He has made us His own, through the precious blood of His Son, Jesus Christ. What could be more glorious than that?

Bluebird

 

photo credit

To say that i like watching birds would be an understatement. I have the Birds of Minnesota book and faithfully check off each new type of bird i see. The book (and accompanying cd's of bird calls) are on top of a hutch in our kitchen for quick and easy access. Unfortunately the book was missing for a good year, but i found it this Spring in our front closet, right under my nose the whole time. It was a happy day when that book was found! The funny thing about me getting into watching birds, is that my husband has too. Last summer he was the one to spot the Scarlet Tanager that came by! I finally was privileged to see it, but he had the first couple sightings.

We have lived in our house for over 5 years now. I start to think that maybe we won't see any new types of birds, but.... WE DO!

 Last summer was the S. Tanager, this summer it was the  Eastern Bluebird. Many people in our area see them; i happen to be the one who doesn't. In June, i spotted one on a fort wall at Fort Snelling. I was so thrilled! Then, a couple of days ago, Brian and i were sitting on the back deck. He says, "What kind is that?" At first i didn't know what he was talking about, but his eyes were on a branch close by, so i assumed it must be a bird. All off a sudden, a flash of blue wings took off and flew across the yard! An Eastern Bluebird!

My jaw dropped.

This is the branch where the bird landed.
It's a dead branch i put in a container with
zinnias and morning glories. 

I couldn't speak.
I was so stunned and elated!

I ran inside and grabbed the bird book to show him. It was just the coolest thing to see that bird, the bird i have wanted to see close up for so long, right there on the branch on our porch, not five feet from us!

Seeing that bird was a sweet gift from my Father. He knew that something so simple would fill me with great joy. Brian said that it was like i had won the lottery, my reaction to seeing the bird was so big :). Though the moment was short, the sight of that bird helped me. It brought joy to a world-weary heart. It reminded me of the amazing Creator God that i serve. It reminded me that moments of absolute beauty pop up when i am least expecting them.

And...

It filled my heart with a deep gratitude.
Gratitude for simple joys. For beautiful nights. For time on the deck with my husband. For Eastern Bluebirds that will sit and rest for a moment on a branch nearby. For the One who created all things, and who does all things well - our great God!

Guess who visited the branch last night? A Hummingbird! The little thing came and took a sip of nectar from a flower, and then perched right there on the branch while we were eating our dinner. You should have seen all 6 of us just stop and stare and wonder! So tiny, so beautiful. 

Along the Way...with Worms

Now this is the commandment, and these are the statutes and judgments which the Lord your God has commanded to teach you, that you may observe them in the land which you are crossing over to possess, ² that you may fear the Lord your God, to keep all His statutes and His commandments which I command you, you and your son and your grandson, all the days of your life, and that your days may be prolonged. ³ Therefore hear, O Israel, and be careful to observe it, that it may be well with you, and that you may multiply greatly as the Lord God of your fathers has promised you—‘a land flowing with milk and honey.’
⁴ “Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one! ⁵ You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your strength.⁶ “And these words which I command you today shall be in your heart. ⁷ You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, when you walk by the way, when you lie down, and when you rise up. ⁸ You shall bind them as a sign on your hand, and they shall be as frontlets between your eyes. ⁹ You shall write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates. Deuteronomy 6:1-9

These verses in Deuteronomy have been on my mind for a very l-o-n-g time. I don't know about you, but i really struggle with talking about God in the every day moments. That right there should be a wake up call for me! Lately i have been working at being much more intentional at bringing our sweet Lord into every day moments.

Yesterday, my daughter and i were out in the garden weeding. She found worms...and thought they were cool (for the first time ~ EVER). She was talking to them, petting them, and making sure that they were put back in the dirt and covered before their worm-slime dried out in the sun. Watching her fascination with these creatures was amazing.

Then,

It dawned on me! THIS IS A MOMENT when i can bring the wonderful Creator of all things into our conversation. I told her how incredibly cool it is that God created worms, specifically to make our gardens healthy. We talked about how worms naturally add compost to the soil; how they tunnel and break up the soil (which, by the way, is MUCH needed when it is CLAY!). This was a moment. A moment when i could talk to my daughter about the wonders of even the seemingly insignificant parts of nature, that God lovingly created. We talked about how He made everything. How everything matters and everything is important in creation.

Finally,

My husband came outside to chat with us. She excitedly told him about the worms, and that she had **gasp** touched them! Do you know what he just naturally did? Yep....told her about how cool it is that God created worms and how beneficial they are to the garden.

We are learning.
Learning to teach.
Every moment that God gives us with them.