The other day, I was thinking about underbrush and God. Underbrush is all the scraggly little trees and thistles and ferns and tiny bushes that make up the bottom of the forest. The helpful thing about it, is that it allows little creatures in the forest to be able to remain hidden. I was remembering how when God first made people, He put them in a little forest of trees and wild growing things. And one day, those first people separated themselves from God and they were so ashamed at what they had done, that they ran and hid in the underbrush. But, God came walking and calling out for them because He was used to doing that--He was used to chatting with them and just enjoying life with them and spending time with them. But, on this particular day, they didn't really want t[...]

Most days, I crave the sky. I'll be sitting on the couch in the evenings, brain dead, you know, because it's the end of the day, and we're watching a show, and I'll glance outside to see the softest light, slowly fading. I get this itch. I have to get out there. So up I go and steal away out into the backyard, and I find that one big patch of sky through the trees and look up. The sky bellows down, God-glory.  Somehow this helps me breathe in deep again and feel refreshed. I take it all in, the work of my Maker's hands. And sometimes I tell my husband that we need to the drive down to the lake. Because if you can get to the lake, then you can drink in so much sky. I've got this hunger. I need to watch the light breaking in and see the clouds shift and swirl like eddies in a[...]

I love trees. They are good for our souls, me thinks. At least, there have been some trees in my life that have been a great comfort and solace to me. And I know I’m not the only one. There was this young Jewish girl, Anne Frank, who died in a concentration camp during the Holocaust. You most likely know her story already. Before she died her and her family hid for a little over two years in a secret room upstairs, above her family’s business. I feel sad when I think about her sufferings. How she couldn’t even go outside. No running in the yard after lunch. Or walking over to the ditch to pick wildflowers or check on the wild blackberry bushes. There were a few times at night when she would sneak up to the roof and look up at the stars, but she wasn’t able to do this much. [...]

 If you ever happen upon a bullfrog, don't be skeered. He's nice.Now, he might try to intimidate you. He might look you straight in the eye and croak. Or he might rare his back and bloat out his belly and puff out his legs, but it's all just a joke. 'Cause the truth is, you're awful big to him so he wants to be big too. He wants to make you think he'll zap you up with his ginormous tongue and swallow you right down. But, he's just plumb terrified that you're over there sizing up his hind haunches and that you'll cook him up in a frog-leg stew. So, don't let his silly tactics fool you. He's actually just a nice guy. Really. If you're easy-going and gentle, and don't scream like a girl and high-tail it the other way, you can make friends with him. You can even pick h[...]

In the early morning, I find myself wide awake. I keep rolling over and close my eyes tight, in hopes that I could just get a little more sleep, but these thoughts keeps rolling and my soul is feeling hungry. So, I shake off the drowsiness and find my Bible and a chair and sit outside.Today I want to see the sky. I want to watch the light breaking in and see the clouds shift and swirl like eddies in the ocean. And it's good for me to observe the birds fly across that great expanse of blue. I open up the Word--food for my soul--and am reminded that God speaks loud and clear and all I have to do is look up to see His existence written out on sky-canvas.The heavens declare the glory of God, and the skies proclaim the work of His hands. (Psalm 19:1)The Lord is God, and He has made His light [...]

Morning came and I slipped out the back door. I didn't know the river would be cloaked in fog. I wasn't expecting to see only this one glorious tree, hugging the hillside, inviting me to be still and listen for His voice. I came seeking Him and needing to be filled.Hungry-hearted, I stood still. Hushed. "Be still and know that I am God. I will be exalted in the nations. I will be exalted in the earth." (Psalm 46:9-11)And I watched as warm morning light seeped slowly through the haze, revealing soft blue above."Oh, send out Your light and Your truth, let them lead me. Let them bring me to Your holy hill and to Your dwelling." (Psalm 43:3)Two swans appeared. Tranquility. "You will keep in perfect peace, whose mind in stayed on You, because he trusts in You." (Isaiah 26:3)The day rushes on.B[...]

I really should be doing something else at the moment. You know, something like cleaning the bathroom, or putting those clothes up that I've piled on the chair, or vacuuming the room. But Bubby is sleeping and I'd much rather be telling you a story...so I think I'll do just that.Remember Sally and Mander? Well, as much as I loved them with much love and fondness of heart, I decided that they would be far better off in the wild woods where they belonged, so I let them go. It was also getting harder to take time to feed them. Don't get me wrong, I thoroughly enjoyed pillaging through the leaves looking for grubs, but it was a funny feeling, parking Gideon in the stroller beside me as I sat down in the yard digging around. I wonder what my neighbors were thinking as they observed my daily rit[...]

One of the reasons why I started this blog is because I want to share life with you. And I want to somehow do my part to help you enjoy your life a little more. One way I can do that, is by encouraging you not to fill up your life with too much busyness and hurry, but to pause...and take time to enjoy the wonder and awe of God and His creation.This here window is in the basement bedroom that we're staying in. Every day I peek over the plants and look to see what sort of critters have fallen down overnight. This weekend, I saw something that I've been aching to see for a long time--a SALAMANDER!!! Actually, I saw two salamanders, even better.I vividly remember the first time I ever dug one of them up in the backyard as a little girl. I was completely mesmerized to find the sweetest, sleekes[...]