At the Outset

We couldn’t have dreamed it up, this life we’ve had together…

We’ve just unearthed some slides and reconfigured them for the digital era… In light of our upcoming 29th anniversary I was looking back at our beginnings.  Since this blog seems to be about traipses,treks and trails and the flora and fauna along the way, perhaps these shots have a place here… It’s been quite a trip!

Jim 89Beginning with this good looking guy who found his girl at Bible College… (where else!).  It wasn’t exactly love at first sight…but almost!

In love 2 84In love 83This is as close as it got to holding hands in those days…

But with the wonder of a wedding all that changed and we whisked off on a cross-country honeymoon in our own Frigid-aire coupe!—a VW truck, in the dead of winter—the week before Christmas to be exact!

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And somehow the changes just never stopped…

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And soon we were three…

Jim and Micah 85

Just kids with a precious bundle of life entrusted to our care….

Micah bunting

MGS 85Micah

Micah 85

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Trundling off down the road of life together…

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The rest is history.

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But that’s old news—the last time we were all together for Christmas.

And here it’s coming ‘round again, and there will be booster seats and babies to the count of 3!

1…2…gotta run! many things to get ready!

–LS

“Shout for joy to God, all the earth;
Sing the glory of His name;
Give to Him glorious praise!

Say to God, ‘How awesome are your deeds!’

Come and see what God has done;
He is awesome in his deeds toward the children of man.” Ps.66:1-5

Grace for the journey…

All packed up and on her way—our sunbeam, fourth of five children to fly the nest…

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And within hours we are more lightly packed and heading in the opposite direction…

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Accompanied by two daughters, torrential rain, a rainbow spanning the horizon, dense fog and much beauty…we journeyed the 700 miles to memorialize a Mom who has forever changed our worlds…

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…and to catch up with eight  weeks of growth that has taken place without us…

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The memorial service was precious, and memorable.  The much family gathered—all five children, four spouses, 12 of the nineteen grandchildren and 10 of the fourteen great grandchildren–a tribute to God’s incredible and continuing faithfulness …

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Even in the stark chill of winter there is beauty, because of grace.

memorial slide50thLast rose

Thank God for the love of mothers, so like His own.

–LS

Her children arise up, and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praiseth her. Prov.31:28

Heralding October

 

In all the recorded history of our town never has there been a September so rain-free as the one just past! And now October has come with a token rainfall and the sun lingering yet…

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We had our first frost this week and our first fire in the woodstove.  I’ve dug out my turtlenecks and my new woolie socks…

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We’ve commenced our fall birthday season with strawberry chiffon and black forest cakes and a whole quart of whipping cream consumed between the both of them!

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But for this morning I’ve come out to savor the brisk brightness of autumn and see what’s smiling in my garden…

I find honeybees harvesting last pollen and nectar from summer’s merry-golds…P1080400

Pole Beans hang on the vine fattening seed for spring planting.

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Other more exotic seed pods do likewise.  Here’s ‘love in a mist’…

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I stumble upon my fall crocus nearly spent from its blooming, its beauty almost overlooked.  And I am glad I came out to see the morning…

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Nasturtiums ramble brightly still, holding their faces to morning’s cold dew for a few more days.

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Jim’s homegrown Christmas trees, backlit by morning sun, await their season of celebration…

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While this year’s lone duet of wee pumpkins herald October.

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The neighbor’s grapes are plump and tart as ever.  Rachel tries her hand at jelly. We’re surprised to see the color green grapes produce!

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The firewood’s all dried and split, gathered in to clear the chopping lot  for next year’s logs.

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And I sit out back in the Adirondack, cherishing the gentled chill of this fine October morning… Whoops, roosting crows in the willow branches straight overhead are intent on making a mess of my meditations…must move on.

–LS

“While the earth remaineth, seedtime and harvest, and cold and heat, and summer and winter, and day and night shall not cease.” Gen.8:22

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