At the creek

The Butterfly Bush

 Just as the floodwaters carved out a new landscape in my backyard, the tide of fear, shock, sadness, and anger that followed carved out a new reality for me. Life is different now. In some ways, it will never be the same again.

The pictures above were taken in our yard on 8/27/2011 - the afternoon before Irene arrived.  This is our yard just 4 days later...The force and power of the water was incredible...

I was thinking today about Noah's flood...how incredibly powerful that must have been. Imagine the fear that filled Noah's heart as the rain pelted the ark and all living creatures outside perished. Imagine the faith, as he waited in the ark for the waters to dry up. Imagine the hope that welled up in his heart when that dove returned with an olive leaf!

Imagine the mud they must have stepped into when they exited the ark!

I found my "olive leaf" today -- a single, straggly stalk of green. It had been badly battered by the power of the flooded creek;  power that had downed trees, moved trucks, relocated boulders and bridges, had even moved houses off their foundations. It had stolen away large chunks of grass and yard, plants and flowers. Yet here, on the very edge of the eroded lawn, still rooted in the earth where I had planted it just this spring, reaching toward the sun, was my butterfly bush -- the survivor. This little bush not only hung onto its scrap of dirt - it waited until the waters receded and then mustered up all its strength to produce -- a blossom. A beautiful purple flower. Promise of another season to come, when all the debris will be finally cleared, grass will be planted, and (I promise) there will be new butterfly bushes planted alongside my survivor to keep him company....

 Irene may have taken much, but I am finding so much more that she has given. But that is the subject of another blog.....

Today is a new day. Tomorrow is a new tomorrow. I will hope, trust, stand, and reach toward heaven, and rooted firmly in the soil of my Father's garden, I will blossom, just like my little butterfly bush.

"For the Lamb who is in the midst of the throne will shepherd them and lead them to living fountains of waters. And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes." Revelation 7:17

Feathered and Furry Friends

I've rediscovered a new stress -reliever -- bird-watching -- since hanging a feeder off our deck - love it! Pippin joined me one morning so I snapped a pic of her too.

Winter in Greene County 2009-2010

It's been an interesting winter, weather-wise. Warm, cold, floods, snow....here are just a few pictures taken here and there all in Greene County, NY.

A Saturday in September

We were blessed with beautiful weather this weekend, and I was blessed with some time with Anna, Samuel and Elisia.

Skiing, Boarding and Bear-Play at Hunter Mountain

This was taken last week at Hunter Mt, just down the road from our church. I wonder who is having the most fun?
Thanks, Nate, for sharing this!

Around Lexington

In January we moved to "the other side of the mountain" - the town of Lexington, about 20 miles away from Maplecrest. We are now closer to our church (only about 15 min away) which is in Hunter. Lexington is a new area for us, and now that the weather is warmer we are beginning to get out and explore our new surroundings -- here are a few shots of the hills and dales within walking distance of our home.

Catskill MountainThanksgiving 2008

Thanksgiving snow on the pumpkin -- just a dusting. So pretty :)

We enjoyed a cozy family Thanksgiving in spite of the chilly weather outside. We have so much to thank God for!

Warrensburg Weekend

Antique effect - kind of smoky looking, though.

For the second year in a row Dan and I enjoyed a wonderful, relaxing weekend in the Adirondacks at the Pastors and Wives Retreat sponsored by the Shepherd's Haven of Rest Ministries. This year we were able to stay at Cornerstone Victorian B&B -- beautiful. We had a great time...and the FOOD! Thank you Doug and Louise for sharing your beautiful space, and Charlie and Suzanne for sharing the heart of Christ with us and so many pastors and wives who have been touched by your ministry.

October Snow 10/28/2008

Winter arrived early this year -- a sign of things to come??

Children and Flowers

Anna loves to pick flowers, but not from Mommy's garden!

It's Summertime!

Those lazy, hazy, crazy days of summer...

WELCOME!!

Actually, I am still hoping for some laziness and maybe even some craziness, but the fact that the calendar says it's summer gives me some hope that long days of summer haziness can't be far behind! Remember how endlesss the summer days of childhood seemed? ("What do you want to do? I don't know, what do YOU want to do?") Those kinds of conversations took up quite alot of our time in those days.....Now the question more likely is, "What do I do first?"

Well, whatever the next couple of months holds in store, let's not forget to push the pause button from time to time (yes, I got that from The Upside Down Show) take a deep breath and ENJOY some summer sunshine. And a lazy day or two.  And maybe even chew on a piece of hay sometime between now and Labor Day.

What do YOU want to do?

Summer arrives today at 7:59PM EDT.
(And its the first day of Winter in the Southern Hemisphere!)

 

Welcome, Spring!

Laura is pleased with her garden -- most of the plants made it through the winter just fine. The pansies were just adopted from Kern's, however. Aren't they pretty??

We've waited so long......but, finally, the trees are green and blossom-y, the breeze is cool most of the time (as opposed to freezing cold, that is), the peepers have been peeping, the bunnies hopping, the bears have awakened -- well, you get the idea. We did have a young bear in the yard last week, but, alas, I did not have my camera....will try to get one posted one of these days.

Country Scenes

"Up the valley", near Milton MacGlashan's bridge and farm.

Some of my favorite shots from the mountaintop, in all seasons. See why we call it God's Country?