Allan called me on the way to work this morning to let me know that the sunrise was beautiful!
Category: Nature
Leaves
On most school days we walk. We use the walk to talk, discuss school things or just day dream out loud.
Even though it was colder this morning, we spent our walk looking for beautiful leaves. We collected some to press and took pictures of others. We were very thankful that yesterday’s rain did to seem to wash the leaves’ color away any.
Redbud Leaves
While walking around the yard, these Redbud leaves caught my eye. I had been playing around with the black and white setting on my camera and was surprised how neat they looked.
Cosmos
One of my favorite flowers.
Experimenting
While roaming in the woods, I decided to look at the trees a little differently.
Dragonfly
The nights are turning cooler and we are starting to wear sweaters. While Mark was roaming, he came running and told me to get my camera quick!
He had discovered a huge dragonfly resting in the woods. It was just chilly enough that it was not moving much. We both admired it before moving it so the rest of the kids could see it.
The branch it was sitting on vibrated for a little while, like the dragonfly was shivering. Then, just after all the kids got to see it, the dragonfly took off and flew around the back yard for all of us to admire before disappearing back into the woods.
Sand Dunes
When Allan and I were married, we went backpacking. One of our stops was at Ogallala Lake in Nebraska. It is a park where you can camp on the sand dunes. Unfortunately, after getting our car stuck (and unstuck) in the sand, we noticed ominous storm clouds, so we ended up in a horrible hotel, made worse because we both really wanted to stay at the dunes.
On this trip, we decided to try staying there again. After exploring, we could not find anyplace that looked like what we had discovered years ago. We did learn that nearby Lake McConaughy also had sand dunes that we could camp at, so we stopped there.
The kids enjoyed camping on the beach! If we had more time, we all would have loved to stay and explore for a few days. It is on our be-sure-to-stop-again list!
Wellfield Botanical Gardens
 The “big kids” are all at camp, so Adrian, Megan and I decided to visit some botanical gardens nearby. I am not sure how many times I have passed the gardens, but only recently realized what they were.
We enjoyed our trip very much. The people we met were super friendly and helpful. They seemed to go out of their way to help the kids enjoy their trip. Adrian was excited when he was given a scavenger hunt to do. When they completed it, the kids earned a chance to dig through a treasure box full of mini erasers and stickers.
It was a beautiful garden and I look forward to taking the older kids.
Chitter Chatter
Meet Chitter Chatter, a super friendly squirrel-named by Audrey- that visited us at my Mom’s house.
Daddy and I were walking in the front yard and Chitter Chatter ran in front of us. She started up the tree and then came down and watched us for a little bit. I had my camera because Daddy wanted me to try some flower pictures for him. Since the squirrel was just sitting there, I tried a picture.
When the camera “clicked” the squirrel started toward me. I did not like that at all! I backed away and put the camera down. The squirrel retreated some and I tried another picture. Once again, when the squirrel saw the camera come up and heard the click, she came closer. I put the camera down and she moved away. I held the camera up and she moved in. I would have played some more, but something startled the squirrel and she ran away.
I was telling Mom about the over friendly squirrel and she asked what color it was. I learned that an elderly lady down the street has been feeding the squirrels, and this one was probably hoping for something to eat!
Amazing
Adrian, Megan and I have been exploring the park while the older children have camp. While Adrian takes us wherever he desires, we are on the lookout for flowers, butterflies, turtles, frogs and other neat things. We keep asking Megan, “Who made the flower?” “Who made the frog?” She is learning that God created it all.
I was thinking about this verse today as we explored, The grass withers, the flower fades, but the word of our God will stand forever. Isaiah 40:8 (ESV). I am so thankful for a God who is real and gives us many amazing visual aides to point us to him!Â
