There's something especially lovely about an arrangement of flowers fresh picked from one's own garden. . . .

Thanks to Mom, for planting her retired Easter lily in our backyard. =)

Butterfly Time

I took this picture in August 2010, on the Verity campus in Indianapolis, Indiana. Needing a quiet moment at the tail end of a whirlwind weekend, I stepped outside to one of my favorite spots on campus--the patch of wildflowers behind the barn. Ahh, my weary soul was nourished observing the beauty and life in God's creation. 

I am challenged by the brief lifespan of a butterfly. In its short life it is and it does what God designed. Its life is so fleeting as to be measured in moments—what beautiful moments they are, basking in the fullness of God's eternal goodness.

Biking the Chippewa Nature Trail

As much as I love the mild weather and vibrant colors of autumn, I'm not feeling ready yet to give up the fleeting days of summer. One of my favorite things about the season is bike riding the Chippewa Nature Trail, in Midland. It's a delightful 14-mile round-trip route from my home—

. . . by the country club golf course, past the library, past Dahlia Hill . . .

  . . . through Emerson Park . . .

 . . . on the Rails-to-Trails path, across the Tridge, between the softball fields . . .

 . . . and then onto the Chippewa Nature Trail. . . 

Can you see why I ride this route every chance I get?

Blooming Flowers Beckon

When life is full of frustrations, I find that taking a few moments to intentionally enjoy the beauty and order in nature helps direct my focus back to my Wonderful Creator and Sustainer. Blooming flowers beckon me to join with their grateful praise that He holds all life in His wise, powerful, tender, faithful hands. Needing that reminder again this afternoon, I took a study break from my grad research papers to go on a brief photo-shoot at the Dow Gardens. Here are my favorite pictures from today. . . .

In the Land of the Living

I love how the Psalmist expresses his life experiences and his faith in God, in Psalm 27. Today I feel like I can definitely relate to him when he said, "I would have lost heart, unless I had believed that I would see the goodness of the LORD in the land of the living" (Psalm 27:13). Like the Psalmist, I've learned that when life doesn't seem to make sense, I need to search all the more determinedly and intentionally for God's beauty.

One of the best ways I cope with frustration, confusion, and disappointment is grabbing my camera for a photo-shoot—"Do not worry about your life. . . . Why are you anxious? . . . Consider the lilies . . ." Jesus woos (Luke 12:22-31). These pictures were taken this afternoon "in the land of the living"—specifically, at the Dow Gardens in Midland.

Detour for Dahlias

This time of year Midland's unique landmark Dahlia Hill is a visual delight--the terraces are blooming with over 200 varieties of dahlias! Driving home from school this afternoon I took a detour by Dahlia Hill so that I could enjoy another photo-shoot . . .

Flowers from the Farmers Market

My mom is so sweet to buy me fresh flowers for my room, every Saturday morning at our local Farmers Market. These are the flowers she bought me yesterday. Aren't they lovely?

Walking to the Library

Today is a lovely day to enjoy one of my all-time favorite pastimes: walking to the local public library.  I packed my camera in my book-tote and had fun taking these pictures of the flora I noticed along the way.

Flutterbies and Flowers

"It's been a while since I've been to the Dow Gardens on a photoshoot," I thought to myself last night. "I'll pack my camera in the car tomorrow and drop by the Gardens on my way home from babysitting." So that's just what I did. =) Here are some of my favorite pictures of the "flutterbies" (as some children cutely mispronounce "butterflies") and the flowers I saw this afternoon. . .