When I was a little girl, my dad used to take me on walks in the woods. We would traipse around our property, sometimes not even on trails, just walking and seeing. It wasn’t far, but to my little legs it seemed like miles and miles. I learned a lot on these walks, not because … Continue reading In the Dirt
Nature
Rainy Sunday Morning
The rain is falling, gentle but steady. Slow enough the birds are still singing and the herbs in my garden still have their faces raised. There is a squirrel on a branch just a few feet from where I sit on my porch. He has found a clump of leaves just over his head and … Continue reading Rainy Sunday Morning
Lessons in the Storm
The storm rages. The thunder rolls, bounces off the mountains, and returns like a boomerang. The ground is moving. My usual porch writing spot does not feel safe, so I withdraw into the house. The walls tremble and shake at the vibrations. Pictures rattle. Even as a lover of thunderstorms, I am on edge with … Continue reading Lessons in the Storm
True North
A star peers through my window as I drive. It is luminous, and for the past few nights it has been capturing my notice…almost calling me to pay attention. Whispering a message through its repeated appearances throughout the countryside, I pull over to listen. I gaze at the seemingly stationary star, and as I do, … Continue reading True North
An Interlude
From my first footfall, the tension I had been carrying in my shoulders started to evaporate. As my steps continued across the bridge, the water rushing underneath transported my cares away from me like white water over the rocks. I paused to breathe it in. Fresh air caressed my lungs, and the slight breeze tousled … Continue reading An Interlude
Web vs. Cocoon
I have always been intrigued by spider webs. They are so delicate, yet so strong. The intricacy is breathtaking…a work of art really. To think that an eight-legged creature created a web that lasts through storms and catches its food boggles my mind. I have walked through enough spider webs when hiking to know that … Continue reading Web vs. Cocoon
A Solitary Journey
When I was a kid, I remember listening for the snow. At some point in my young life, I had realized that it eliminates some sounds and insulates others. The quiet produced was a sure sign that freedom was mine, and that the next day would be full of frolicking and fun. I trained my … Continue reading A Solitary Journey
Fall Worship
Fall hiking is a form of worship for me. I try to get away early, to my quiet place, before the leaf lookers come out. It’s not that I mind sharing my backyard with the tourists, it’s just that in order to hear the sounds of the autumn choir, I like to be alone. However, … Continue reading Fall Worship
Down in the Valley
Down in the valley, the wind is carrying the truth with it. Down in the valley, tragedy and triumph are intertwined like poison ivy on a mighty oak. Down in the valley, surrounded by glorious color and golden sun, the seasons change. The steadfast mountains remind us that we are but temporary residents, and that … Continue reading Down in the Valley
Wild and Untamed
God often speaks to me through nature. There is something about a waterfall, or a misty mountain that is soothing to my heart. To be out in the forest on a trail is the place I get to know him best. Somehow becoming familiar with the creation opens my eyes to the creator. His personality … Continue reading Wild and Untamed
Michelle's Mosaic 