I love a rousing hello when I knock on a friend’s door and she calls out, “Come on in!” as if I’m the new best part of her day. Or if I’m meeting someone for lunch and as I look around I hear, “Joy! We’re over here!” (this one is often partnered with a friendly wave) And then there are…
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This almost grown up blue jay baby cracked me up, and then reminded me of me. This young bird stood on the food she wanted and begged then demanded that her parents feed her. The parent birds stayed hidden in a nearby bush. Their calls to her were gentle as if they were letting her know they were there for…
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Every day when I wake up and after I have savored my first (and maybe my second!) cup of coffee, I make plans to get out to this space ASAP. It’s here that with my second (or third!) cup of coffee I take my stress to God. And I let the gentle invitation of Jesus words wash over my heart. Because…
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When Jon and I moved out here just over ten years ago, we started growing wildflowers – lots of them. We’re now up to approx. 19 acres of them! We knew not all of them would bloom the first year so each spring there’s a Christmas-like anticipation about what new blossoms might show up. When we discovered this one shooting up…
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It hadn’t been a great morning so far. Oh, it started out really good – Jon and I had scrambled eggs and coffee together and talked about how we planned our day to go. He kissed me goodbye and I headed outside for a little bird time. My attitude took a dive the second I sat in the very cold,…
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On a recent walk after the rain, I was dazzled by the drops on the tangles. The shimmer, the reflections, and the colors. I thanked God and took more pictures. When this one came into focus, I took an internal detour. I heard myself say, “Wow! That one looks like a human heart except I can see through it.” At first,…
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This stump being worked on by a diligent pileated woodpecker got to me. I tried to ignore it the first time I saw it but went back the next day to ponder its effect on me. A lump rose in my throat looking at the rugged beauty carved into what is left of a once strong, vibrant tree that has been…
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The sun was warm on my shoulders as I stepped into the woods and my heart beat a little faster because I knew there would be loveliness sightings all along the way. And right there was this trout lily which is maybe my all time favorite woodland wildflower. It was a thank You Lord kind of moment. Seeing it, I felt loved. Not by…
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Lilac Buds On my morning walk, I saw the gentle emerging of spring all around me and felt the hope (expectant confidence) that comes from believing in Jesus welling up in my heart. Within each beautiful moment, His Word tenderly brought this Friday into focus. Forsynthia Buds Lately, I’ve been stressed and at times overwhelmed by the stuff of life….
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“Wildflowers are the stuff of my heart!” ― Lady Bird Johnson It’s only March and I’m walking the wildflower fields as often as I can. The plants are still mostly dormant (there is a bit of green here and there at ground level) and crunchy and brown. Still, I can’t help myself because their beauty draws me in. Sometimes when the…
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A few weeks ago, the wind blew the way it does in a summer storm except that it was February. My photo fort ended up in a tangle in the dogwood bush the birds like the best. And their favorite feeder landed on the path where the deer usually walk. Since that day, the birds have been cautious and rarely…
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