Green

I guess this is sort of Eye-spy-ish. I haven't been real creative with my photography lately but I've sure enjoyed taking the time to walk around and take pictures of alot of spring's arrival. There is a big difference between looking around at all of the blooms and changes in the hills and trees vs. actually squatting down beside a plant or bud and photographing it with your closest eye. For there is where we see the real beauty. Being still, taking the time to really look at the subtle changes all around us. Such a gift from God.

The Starts of Spring

tulips staying warm

daffodil says Hi!

dogwood blooms facing up like little peeps in a choir!

a hosta unfolding

pear tree blooming on a spring day

weeping cherry tree blooms

dogwood bloom begins to open

Drinking from the Waters

I have been a real GAG blog slacker. I am struggling to keep up with life and my own blog but I think I'm going to make it over for the water entry. And not because I have some awesome water photography. Well I probably do...I know I have a library of beautiful photos of rivers and oceans and lakes that we have visited over the years scattered throughout my archives. But when I heard the topic of "water" these photos are what came to mind, strangely. I guess they are just special to me because they capture so much for my eyes...and good memories. We were at Hawks Nest and it was a hot September day.

Great family time roaming our beautiful West Virginia...but the kids were hot and thirsty
and so when we came up on this little rock made water fountain it was like buying a new toy at Toys R Us. I had just bought a new camera and was testing it out so I squatted by the fountain and watched them quench their thirst. They loved it and so did I watching them. And although theres no fanciness to these pictures I love moving water like this captured still. (you need to click on the photo in large form) It even looks enticing and thirst quenching. Which of course means yes I must tie in a lesson here.

Our thirst for Christ can be quenched if only we come to his waters. Sometimes I feel so guilty that I do not live up to or give God the time I need to be devoting but I do feel comforted that I still have that constant thirst...that need and desire is there. I just need to do better at drinking it all the time. Because I know the satisfaction and benefits I would reap are just like in these photos of my kids that hot September day when they found this fresh cold water for their dry throats.


As the deer panteth for the water
So my soul longeth after you
You alone are my heart's desire
And I long to worship you

P.A. Churches

I could have easily submitted some photos from Salt Rock U.M.C...the country church I grew up in. But I did spot a few neat ones on a recent road trip to Pennsylvania. There's this one spot right off the busy interstate that always catches my breath. I love it! I believe it is in Cumberland Maryland. But its in a quick turn and no quick simple access off so all I can really provide is non-quality photography. Its a fast drive by hang out the window type photo shoot so its more about quanity than quality with this one. Look at all of those churches! I don't even think I captured the other ones nearby. I just love that quick view. They all sit nestled in a valley.

The last photo is somewhere? in Pennsylvania... I have no idea where-it was just right on the way to our destination. What you must envision with this picture though is that the church sits a top a hill...all alone with the cemetery. Its just plopped right there on the side of the road with the autumn hills all around it. The hill side kind of reminded me of God's outstretched arms around that little simple church. It was very quiet and still with a subtle breeze there. So serene. And so welcoming to just "be still".

This was a fun category. I didn't have a lot of time to put into it but can you just imagine a portfolio of all of the churches and their beauty! They are everywhere. And there is something about a church. I think its because people know there's so much more than the building. Its a safe haven. It represents love and unity and most of all...it is God's House.

*I like the silence of a church, before the service begins better than any preaching. ~Ralph Waldo Emerson

Grody Beetle Thingy

For some reason I had great difficulty with this category. God knows theres tons of strange things in nature! I even considered snapping a picture of myself...after all I am a creature made by God. But lucky for me the other night in the church parking lot was something strange. Leigh Ann was even there to witness it in "real life". And she can vouch for its gross-ness and strangeness. In fact, she was the one with the handy camera in her purse to help me out with this entry. It is very strange...I have no idea what it is but it did get crunched by our sweet youth standing around looking at it after our little photography session with it. In the car as we left Nathan asked Aly (who contributed to the bug crunching fun) "What did that little thing ever do to you?" Okay it wasn't little and it was so nasty. But guess he has a point...it is one of God's creatures...just like us.

"It's not a bug - it's an undocumented feature.”

Baby Bluejays

I love flying things. Isn't that one wish we'd all like to have is to be able to fly and see that awesome view? I love bluejays. Although they are fiesty and can kick my cat's butt on any given day...they are one of my favorite birds. Their beauty, confidence and famous harsh "jeer" vocals always capture my attention. This particular day I photographed the babies that exited the nest and the Mom stayed close by watching her young. Birds have got to be the neatest creature out there that God has given us. For something so tiny, with no arms & minimal defense ability-they sure know how to live amongst the wild-soaring in the air, feeding their young, building their nests and caring for them until they learn how to fly--it is just amazing. They are tough. I challenge you to sit and do a little "bird watching". Its not just an old-people hobby-and you may find you really enjoy them. Sitting and watching birds also enables you to sit in nature and be still...and get close to God.

Little Green Frog

This category was hard for me because I LOVE God's creatures. And being at the beach there are oodles of them that I have captured but Jan would kill me if she had to upload them all. Seagulls, sand pipers, turtles, praying mantis, pelicans, dragonflies, jellyfish...I could go on and on. So I had to pick my favorite & its these darn cute little green frogs hanging out by the pool. And they make such beautiful singing at night! God is ever present in so many aspects of my life but he seems to speak to me personally the most through his creatures. I have a soft spot for them & I just see so much of his handi-work when I see them. The patterns on the turtle's face or even the idea of his shell on his back. The way a bird or a crab travels through the sand and leaves its own travel design behind...the way the pelican glides over the air way better than any man-made air craft can soar. It is amazing. Sometimes I wonder why God put all the creatures here. I know there's a chain of command there-that "circle of life" which in itself is bewildering but I also think he uses these little animals to grab the human's attention of His constant presence in our lives...even if through the eyes or sounds of a critter.

Hisbiscus

Okay this was a difficult category for me. I'm not one to take something old and make it new again for some other purpose. I've never really had the eye for vintage. I can't creatively turn spoons into windchimes. I was stumped. Maybe because my brain is already on vacation this week. Anyway, I really love this beautiful Hibiscus. I think its neat that at the same given time the plant is blooming in all of these different stages. Soon parts have old blooms falling off, some are in buds and others are full bloom. All in different stages of constantly renewing itself to be beautiful at all times. And the Hibiscus has lots of uses-an antifungal & emollient . The bark has strong fibers that Hawaiian chicks make grass skirts with! It can also be used to make wigs. The medicinal properties contain cures for ailments. And its extracts are good for making protective hair oils-making a natural shampoo. Dried hisbiscus is an edible delicacy! And we've all seen the Hawaiian women wear the single flower tucked behind their ear...which ear is used to indicate the wearer's availability for marriage. So this pretty hibiscus definately has uses from old to new. I wouldn't be surprised if Jan's next feat finds her soaking hibiscus leaves and flowers in water and using a wet grinder to make a thick paste to make that natural shampoo.

Indiana Memories

I spy with my little eye...something round...and bumpy...and beautiful. This little treasure is one of many that we have collected in Indiana's creek beds. One summer we visited Indiana and Nathan's late Uncle Steve drove the tractor and pulled us all through the creek beds on a flat bed as we spotted and retrieved these fine jewels. We had Haley & Alyson in tow and they loved this treasure hunt! There can be some great mineral specimens inside of them. They are sphere shaped on the outside and have a partially hollow cavity inside that is lined with beautiful sparkling quartz crystal on the inside. They begin as bubbles forming from glaciers that covered Indiana many years ago.
Over time the outer shell hardens and water forms inside which results in a variety of minerals (quartz, amethyst, calcite, chalcedony or jasper). So each one of these is unique in its composition and the only way to discover what is inside is to crack it open. Some people call them "Mother Nature's lottery ticket" because the anticipation of what is inside can be exciting as it could hold some great value such as amethyst, ankerite, aragonite, goethite, siderite or honessite-selling by the "carats" and being quite rare. Most Indiana varieties began as cauliflower-like growths of salt called gypsum. When we brought them home from Indiana we just enjoy them "whole" placed in landscaping. (Although here is one picture of one broken Jane has in her flowerbed) Nathan's Dad built this little well years ago by placing them in cement. These pretty rocks are called Geodes (greek for "earthlike"). They are beautiful treasures in nature and I like to think that God sees us just that way. Unique-not one is alike-and all has an inner beauty inside. But you cannot carelessly smash open a geode, you must cut or crack carefully to reveal the shining interior. Isn't that how each of us like for others to learn about who we really are? To carefully and slowly and ever so gently discover what makes each one of us special. I have also learned the more I grow in God-the more I understand that my life is always on His GPS. It is significant. And by reminding ourselves we are each very different-unique and specially made by God-then we are reminded that nothing in our life is arbirtary. Everything has a purpose.

I am your Creator. You were in my care even before you were born. ~Isaiah 44:2

Aren't those the coolest things you ever did see? You are going right out now to the creek to see if you can find some aren't you?

All's Well

Well, Leigh Ann obviously showed us how awesome God's sky can be in her last entry. I have so many pictures of pretty clouds and the rainbow and the sun-so hard to choose. But this one springs to mind as my fave. Probably because of the feelings associated with it. It was the last day of our Sunset Beach Vacation and we literally watched the sun set on it. Bittersweet I must say. But breathtaking. A time lapse picture would've been great...to watch the change that occurred every few minutes with the sky's color & the sun's position.
And just to think it does that 365 times a year!

p.s. I love to see and hear Canadian Geese fly over my head. That to me would be an awesome sky picture...but I have yet to capture it. I'd probably end up with a lens full of crap. So well...uh...here's the sunset picture.

National Geographic

Who can top this on natures critters on the way to the bus stop? Seriously, just wanted to share the beauty we found this morning after last nights thunderstorms. Click on the picture and look at its beautiful detail. Even its antennas!

Study nature, love nature, stay close to nature. It will never fail you.~Frank Lloyd Wright

End Note..."interestingly we saw it again 2 days later in the jap maple tree. and then a week later saw a different one when eating out at steak and shake. weird!~"