Spring Thoughts

This spring will be spent waiting.  The bursts of color from the flowers, the popping buds on the trees, and the birdsong floating on the air all shout their message of newness and joy to my heart.  This day was spent with Fernando at The Morton Arboretum, since where else would I find so much color and spring?

The daffodils covered the field, as they do each spring.  I never knew there were so many varieties; I tried to capture them all.

Walking down one of the paths on the west side, we encountered the early mayapples!  Their umbrellas were just opening.

I love the redbuds with their beautiful little blossoms.

This was my first time capturing the waterfall from below.

I love trying to capture texture, as in this photo of standing water, twigs, and pieces of tree.

And oh, the glorious meadow with all its bright beauty!

Yellow magnolias.

Sometimes, and especially in spring when there's so much beauty and color surrounding me, I have to dig to see the special.  I have to get down on the ground, just lie there with my camera, turn to the side, to see something beyond the ground cover.  Pretty little white flowers, sweetspire (some call it lily of the valley), blossoming where no one looks, where no one even bothers to search.  Most don't even know it's there.  But I do, and so I lay down and search, then snap.

Hidden treasure.

Back to life,
Christine

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Signs of Spring

On a beautifully warm late morning, just before I went in to work today, I had the chance to drive up to The Morton Arboretum with my camera and macro lens to find some signs of spring.  I was hoping for some color, and I was not dissapointed.

Blue catmint.

Various trees were budding and almost ready to blossom, and even though I had only a short amount of time, I was able to spot the buds.

It was almost high noon, with bright sun, so it wasn't the best time to take pictures.  However, I did find some good angles, and of course, when I spotted things pushing up through the winter ground, I just had to capture them!!

I love the fuzzy buds on the trees--I think they're magnolias.

This photo of a leaf is one of my favorites, even without any color.  I love how the sun is illuminating the edges and causing the shadows on the inside of the cur.  I love the waves along the edge, too.

Yellow!  It almost hurt the eyes, it was so bright.

The Lenten roses were blooming, too, just in time for Easter in a few weeks' time.  I had to lie down on the ground to capture the little flowers, but it was worth it.

And, finally, daffodils, one of the most iconic signs of spring, just blooming alongside the road, just a small clump, but enough to let us all know that spring is almost here.

Back to life,
Christine

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End of September in my Garden

Thought I'd share a few photos of my gardens on this beautiful, warm, sunny late September day!

It's a jungle, but I harvested a lot this year!

The red flowers on the above plant are pineapple sage--a little plant I purchased at The Growing Place this past May.  Who knew it'd be this pretty?  It's supposed to be a butterfly attractor.

English thyme.

Back to life,
Christine

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Where the Lord Leads

A week or so ago, I decided to take a walk at The Morton Arboretum.  It was a warm day, perfect for an hour-long stroll in the woods, and Danny decided to tag along.  We both took cameras, just in case, of course.

We lasted about 15 minutes, long enough to realize the swarms of mosquitoes at our backs were eating us alive.  Swatting, flicking, scratching, we trotted through the woods back out to the road, then down the road back to the parking lot and our car.  Our leisurely walk turned into a mad dash for the safety of our mosquito-free car.  We even rolled up the windows and turned on the a/c, it was that bad!!

Sometimes the Lord takes us on journeys like this, and we have to be prepared for some mosquitoes amid the beauty.  Yes, I'm trying to turn this into a spiritual lesson--I think it works, too!

Armed with His Word, His promises, His love, His grace, we walk on.  We were almost too busy swatting mosquitoes to take in the sheer greenness all around us along the path cooled by the trees and the breeze.  Next time, armed with mosquito spray, we'll be able to stop and appreciate all that's around us--majestic trees along the soft wooded path, skittering squirrels and chipmunks darting here and there in the brush, and sudden spots of color--flowers that have found their way to grow toward the dappled sunlight.

The Lord has made a thousand living things to survive--and thrive--in many different ecospheres; we can find our way as well, with His grace.  He uniquely made each created thing, including me, to exist in its environment.  Whether I'm a flowering beauty, bursting forth in bright color in bright sunlight, or whether I'm a hardy green Jack-in-the-pulpit, quietly living almost hidden on the forest floor, catching glimpses of sun through the branches and leaves--I can grow where He plants, live how He has made me, for His purpose, for His glory.

I took one last hurried picture of the woods, looking into the trees from the roadside, before we hurried along to our car.  The penetrating green of early summer met my eyes, and I pause now as I think back to that moment, thankful that even in His transplanting me to different environments and circumstances, my roots are in Him, deep in His Word and His promises, and He gives grace to grow and live for Him.

Back home, I spotted one more flower, which happened to sprout up in the sand we poured along the entrance to our garage door.  This hardy daisy grew in the most unlikely of places, without dirt or grass or a beautiful garden surrounding it.  It not only grew, but bloomed, right there in the sand along the asphalt.

I'll bloom where I'm planted, Lord.  Send my roots deep into You; gird me up and grow me strong.  Shine in my life as I surrender to You, and bring glory to Your name because of me.


Back to life,
Christine

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Reflections on 28

Darling,

We made it another year, Papi.  I look at that photo above and see the picture of us on our wedding day, and marvel that we thought we were so mature back then.  We really were just kids, weren't we?

We've had a fairly easy marriage, a fairly simple relationship.  Being opposites, we just fit.  I don't understand you; you don't understand me.  And most of the time that works smoothly and seamlessly!  Seriously, though, we've experienced a lot, and lately, a lot more than we thought we'd ever be facing at this point in our lives.  It's one thing to be broke newlyweds, living on love, so to speak, and quite another to be oldy-weds (ha!) in extremely difficult ongoing circumstances.  Our cares and concerns are different now, since then we literally had nothing but a few pieces of furniture and few responsibilities, and now--the issues seem to be overwhelming.

You know I'm not going to write a flowery, ornate missive here.  Simply, the Lord has kept us, and He is faithful.  I've quoted the following verse throughout my posts about our journey these past few years, and I'll quote it here because when all is said and done, His faithfulness is what has kept us, in His care and as one together.

This I recall to my mind,

Therefore I have hope.

The Lord’s lovingkindnesses indeed never cease,

For His compassions never fail.

They are new every morning;

Great is Your faithfulness.

Lamentations 3:21-23 NASB

I love you, and thank God for 28 amazing years together.

Yours forever,

Your Girly.


Back to life,
Christine

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The Lake -- Day Three

July 21.

Another beautiful day at the lake!  I snapped a few pictures around my parents' lake house before heading down to the dock.

Blue jay.

Mom's wind chimes.

The Jackson bears.

I set my camera aside at the dock so that I could chat with Judy (Allie's aunt) and play with little Sophia--we gathered stones and snails together, then lay them out on a little table to ooh and aah over our favorites.  She was such a cutie!

After lunch, we said our goodbye's to Allie's relatives and drove into Chaumont to visit Uncle Dave and Aunt Bonnie.  Allie took the opportunity to play beautiful music for us as we chatted on the porch.

Toward the end of the afternoon, my Aunt Bonnie sat down to play a bit, and Dad joined in with his harmonica.

We went to the Blue Heron for dinner, as is our tradition with Uncle Dave and Aunt Bonnie!

We made it home for another beautiful sunset, and I spent a peaceful evening down at the dock.

There was just enough clear sky to capture the sun sinking down before the clouds obscured it.  Such a beautiful reflection on the quiet lake, with the loon calling in the distance.


Back to life,
Christine

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