Autumn Leaves

 Our autumn leaves have been buried under snow for about two weeks now, but back in September when they were just beginning to fall, my nephew came for a visit!

After the cat ran away from such enthusiam, we played with leaves in an attempt to forget that mommy was out of sight picking the last tomatoes.

When our tired little guy was on his way back home in the evening, I pulled out my nature notebook and took a closer look at that twig full of leaves. (The cover of my journal now sports a sticker from Grace of Across Fields Studio, who struggles with even more daily disabilities than Elsa and me. She is inspiring as she focuses on the truth amid the pain!)

The leaves and twig were beautiful little subjects to focus on for an evening.

When October arrived with that "graduation day" punctuated by park explorations, I picked up a few more leaves to study.

Have you learned anything new about your everyday surroundings lately?!

A Drive in October

With Mom and Dad back home, we kept an eye on the weather and took advantage of a rare day of sunshine to try to see some more fall colors. The red maples in the hills east of our prairie were already long emptied, but the oaks, and the all the yellows...!

I wonder if the trees in the garden of Eden ever put on this glorious show or if it is only something beautiful God has redeemed out of the ugliness of a fallen world. Either way, it's a gift!

Lessons from the Pilgrims, Part 2

Four hundred years ago, in November of 1620, a covenant was written and signed by the Pilgrims and others aboard the Mayflower as it lay off the shore of the unfamiliar Cape Cod.

The Mayflower Compact contains the following reasons for forming the first government in the area:

"In the name of God, Amen. We, whose names are underwritten... Having undertaken for the glory of God, and advancement of the Christian faith, and the honour of our king and country, a voyage to plant the first colony in the northern parts of Virginia; do by these present, solemnly and mutually, in the presence of God and one another, covenant and combine ourselves together into a civil body politick, for our better ordering and preservation, and furtherance of the ends aforesaid." [somewhat modernized spelling]

Since the Pilgrims were under contract with the London Company to equally share all profits from the first seven years, their new colony began under a type of communism. It didn't take long for that to damage work ethic and relationships.

To quote Pilgrim Governor William Bradford:

"The failure of this experiment of communal service, which was tried for several years and by good an honest men proves the emptiness of the theory of Plato and other ancients, applauded by some of later time - that the taking away of private property, and the possession of it in community, by a commonwealth, would make a state happy and flourishing; as if they were wiser than God."

Interestingly, the years of hunger and want on the planation were not left behind until each family was given their own corn to raise for themselves. They took pride in their work knowing that they would only get out of it what they personally put in. Will we learn from the past?

Click here for Lessons from the Pilgrims, Part 1

Lessons from the Pilgrims

This week Columbus Day was on the calendar. Last week it was Leif Erikson day. (Well, I don't suppose many calendars contain that celebration of a Nordic explorer arriving in North America around the year 1000 A.D., but I put it on mine!)

Both of these men were remarkable in courage and (despite well-known shortcomings and inconsistency in the life of Columbus) for their desire to spread the gospel to new lands.

But this year is a big anniversary for some people I admire far above these early explorers. Four hundred years ago, the Mayflower set sail in pursuit of freedom to worship God without government interference. The Separatists on board also yearned for a homeland where they could raise their children with less destructive, worldly influences.

They found this place when they landed at Cape Cod, but it would be far from easy to build their new lives in a new land. 

One of the Pilgrims, William Bradford, published an account of the treacherous journey and first ten years of this new life called, "Of Plymouth Plantation." Of the first winter after arrival, he wrote:

"But that which was most sad and lamentable was, that in two or three months' time, half of their company died, especially in January and February. ...In the time of most distress, there [were] but six or seven sound persons, who, to their great commendation be it spoken, spared no pains night or day, but with abundance of toil and hazard of their own health, fetched them wood, made them fires, dressed them meat, made their beds, washed their loathsome clothes, clothed and unclothed them. In a word, did all the homely and necessary offices for them which dainty and queasy stomachs cannot endure to hear named; and all this willingly and cheerfully, without any grudging in the least, showing herein their true love unto their friends and brethren. ...I doubt not but their recompense is with the Lord."

Does this history help put the trials of 2020 into perspective?

And reflecting on the Pilgrims as we approach the season where we continue their celebration of Thanksgiving, I wonder... 

How much of their faith, freedom, and vision have we lost 400 years later as we look for comfort and prosperity more than for God's glory lived out in our families and nations?

A Drive in September

While Dad and Mom were off camping, hiking, and watching a buffalo roundup...

...Elsa and I got out for a September drive near home.

Our roads are busier with extra farming machinery and trucks nowadays. This little, old combine was so cute!



Who knew there were egrets within three miles of our prairie home?!



On our bike ride this summer, we enjoyed a rare wheat field in an area dominated by corn, beans, and beets. Now it had a picturesque straw-bale feature to enjoy.



What forts we used to make with mounds of hay-bales stored for feeding our sheep each winter!



And within sight of home, one more stop for an early autumn view of our local schoolhouse.

It was good to get out for a bit. I hope you are finding places to explore and enjoy the beauties of God's creation in this new season too, friends!

A Joyful Graduation

This has been a novel week. I explored two little city parks I'd never heard of before... all in one day!

This riverside park had the best autumn scents along its winding paths.

While the huge, old linden trees had me looking up and up, many smaller plants called for attention at my feet.

Dad was my only exploring buddy this time. He has been my faithful driver to doctor's appointments farther than half an hour from home for many years now.



Since this day held an appointment first thing in the morning and another mid-afternoon, we had time to spend beyond the usual errands.

This park was such a restful gift on a weary day! And the view from my blanket on the grass...

After lunch and errands, there was still time for another park.

Even the doctor's office sported fall colors.

But no part of the day brought bigger smiles than when I rode the elevator back downstairs and walked out of the clinic after five years of post-thyroid-cancer follow-up... with no more appointments scheduled! The doctor said I have graduated!

"Praise God from Whom all blessings flow!"

For more of the story, see these posts:

A Sign of His Goodness, Part 1

A Sign of His Goodness, Part 2

Providential Pajamas

In Clover

Elsa and I have gotten down the road a quarter mile or so a couple times recently... on our own feet, that is.

There is so much to see when out for a stroll!



One stalk of clover came home with me to sit for its portrait.



When looking up more details about this wildflower, we were amazed at all the varieties of clover to be found in our area.