Another highlight of our Oregon visit was seeing the Columbia River Gorge while en route to all those waterfalls I mentioned earlier. Being wild about waterfalls, I overlooked the gorge for a bit. Sorry about the pun.
I would say I skipped it for a while, but who can skip over a gorge like this?
Well, maybe some skipping was involved…
The Columbia River is the border between Oregon and Washington State. These beautiful snow-covered mountains are officially in southern Washington.
See the tiny dome-like building perched way over there on that cliff? It’s a scenic overlook.
We got closer. This is the view from the parking lot.
If you learn nothing else about the Columbia River Gorge, learn this: It’s wildlywindy. The wind comes roaring across the Pacific Ocean and whips relentlessly through the gorge.
That wind put one daughter’s Columbia jacket and the other’s North Face fleece to the test just long enough for me to snap a few pictures. Then hatless and frazzled, we took cover in the dome-like building. Here’s what it looks like inside.
“See! The winter is past; the rains are over and gone. Flowers appear on the earth; the season of singing has come, the cooing of doves is heard in our land…”
Song of Solomon 2:11-13
We rushed over to visit a dear old friend yesterday.
Spring! And, oh, she does look so lovely!
So captivating — wearing all those blossoms.
We breathed in her fragrant, flowering magnolia trees.
Her little blue scillas, so dainty and sweet, reminded me of someone else I know.
Her helleborous (Lenten rose) bloomed bravely, though nearly hidden behind a bench and surrounded by crunchy brown leaves.
She introduced us to a host of white daffodils.
Tiny raindrops pearled up on her sunny yellow daffodils.
Her dwarf Dutch irises truly delighted us.
Her apricot trees cheered us.
And her lilacs — oh, they hold great promise for April!
“Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old is gone; the new is come.” -2 Corinthians 5:17
The end of the school year always makes me think about caterpillars and butterflies and how my little girls are growing up.
Last June we acquired five monarch caterpillars from another homeschool family. We fed them milkweed — which wasn’t easy to find — and we watched them eat, eat, eat.
The girls’ favorite caterpillar was named “Tiny Corn.” She was the last to go into her chrysalis.
We marveled at the shiny gold dots on each chrysalis as they hung from the lid of their habitat.
One by one, after they broke free from their chrysalises and dried their wings, we let them fly.
“Tiny Corn” was the last to go, and she held on to the hydrangea on the patio for a while.
Then she held onto Linnea’s finger for a while.
And then, just like the others, the stately monarch mounted up on the breeze and flew high into the blue sky.
Thus ended our monarch butterfly project.
the path to Butterfly Meadow
Two years ago we raised painted lady butterflies and let them go at “Butterfly Meadow” — another lovely experience!
Today is Good Friday. The calendar also says it is Earth Day.
So shall we cry “Save the Earth!” or will we proclaim “Jesus Saves!” — that’s really the question.
Whom will we worship today? Will we worship the Creator of the universe? Or will we worship the creation?
Don’t misunderstand me. I marvel at God’s creation and feel strongly about being a good steward of it. When I slow down to accept and enjoy what God has created, I learn so much about His character.
“Show me something glorious and I’ll show you the Maker of it all.”
-“Something Glorious” by Revive
Romans 1 talks about how God’s creation makes plain to all men God’s eternal power and divine nature. Looking all around us, seeing what God has made, we are without excuse for believing in God! He is the One behind it all.
Yet mankind is foolish. We fail to see Him. We fail to glorify God, we fail to give Him thanks, and we exchange “the glory of the immortal God for images made to look like mortal man and birds and animals and reptiles.” (verse 23) We worship false gods.
Oh, Father, forgive us. Forgive me.
How many times have I exchanged the truth of God for a lie? How often have I worshipped and served created things rather than the Creator? (verse 25)
…man’s problems will never be solved through the elevation of human reason, the power of science, or the interventions of the state. Nor will rescuing the biosphere of planet earth save man or ensure him a future on this planet. You cannot save the earth.But human beings can be saved. And the only hope of salvation is found in Jesus Christ — the Creator! It is this Creator through whom we live and breathe and who by the very power of His word holds the worlds together. He will someday establish a new heaven and a new earth and will bring all of His people into Glory.”
The universe was created for the glorification of God’s grace at Calvary.”
With the shedding of Jesus’ blood on Calvary, our sins have been forgiven. As David Crowder sings, there is grace enough for us and the whole human race! Oh, happiness! And oh happy day! He has washed our sins away!
So let’s thank God! Let’s rise up and dance our shoes off!
The fresh snow on our next-door neighbors’ tree this morning — with a little emphasis added — looks so peaceful.
What a snowfall we’ve had in the last 24+ hours. Of course it comes on a weekend already packed with a piano recital, company party, and church dinner — just to name a few activities. Yet somehow we managed to squeeze in a trip to see the movie Tangled, which was wonderful. We all loved it!
One resort north of here is advertising that they have more colors than your crayon box.
And it’s true. The trees are gloriously ablaze in especially vivid colors this year.
As Minnesotans, we tend to savor every drop of color — knowing the stark whites and greys of winter will soon blanket everything.
The leaves may be dying, but they are going out with a bang. They are displaying the splendor of the One who created them.
Fall is a reminder that we are all dying, too. Our bodies will eventually fail in one way or another. And while we are in the “fall” of life, aren’t we, too, called to display God’s splendor?
My baby is turning 5 this week. And soon we will be reuniting with relatives who live far away, and already I can hear them exclaim how tall my girls are growing.
Growing, yes. But not like weeds. Like trees.
“…They will be called oaks of righteousness, a planting of the Lord for the display of His splendor.” -Isaiah 61:3
God keeps bringing Psalm 145 to my attention lately — a timely reminder to pass on to my children all that I know about the one true God.
First, as part of our homeschool curriculum this year, I purchased a fabulous new family Bible story book by Starr Meade called The Mighty Acts of God.The author’s note for parents explains that the book gets its name from Psalm 145:4. “One generation shall commend Your works to another, and shall declare Your mighty acts.”
Meade goes on to explain that the purpose of telling stories of God’s mighty acts isn’t for entertainment value or good moral examples. The purpose is to make known the wonder of God’s great character. What a great verse Psalm 145:4 is for parents and grandparents!
One way of declaring God’s mighty acts is by talking about them, and another is by writing about them. Psalm 102:18 says – “Let this be written for a future generation, that a people not yet created may praise the LORD.”
Over Labor Day weekend, our family had the privilege of seeing the Dead Sea Scrolls at our local science museum. How amazing to see those ancient words of God that He miraculously preserved in jars inside of caves for two thousand years. What a mighty act of God! And how thankful I am for those men of long ago who obediently and diligently wrote those precious words down on scrolls so that my generation could see them and praise God!
My daughters also were quite inspired by seeing the Dead Sea Scrolls, and they were eager to create their own scrolls at home. (We just glued parchment paper to wooden dowels to create them.)
Laurel writes in her scroll.Linnea uses hieroglyph stamps on her scroll.We wrap each scroll in felt to help preserve it.our jar of scrolls
Another way to pass along truths about God is through song. And that’s actually another way God brought Psalm 145 to my attention. While my husband was leading worship music at church a few weeks ago, he found this fantastic song for a Sunday morning offertory. Our very talented friend Mia sang “The Lord is Gracious and Compassionate” beautifully. It’s one of those songs that you can’t help but sing along to, and the words are right from Scripture. Many are right from Psalm 145. Listen to this version from Vineyard Church and you’ll see what I mean:
Putting Scripture to music usually helps greatly in attempts to memorize it. So when the fall Sunday School classes kicked off at church this week, I suppose I shouldn’t have been surprised to discover that my oldest daughter’s weekly memory verse comes from Psalm 145. It’s verse 9: “The LORD is good to all; He has compassion on all He has made.” She came home from class with it already memorized, thanks to that song she’d heard over and over!
What’s more, my youngest daughter and I have been studying the seven days of creation in Genesis this past week, so “all He has made” has been at the forefront of my mind. Her memory verse isn’t from Psalm 145, but it dovetails nicely into this message of God’s mighty acts. Luke 18:27 says, “What is impossible with man is possible with God.” Preserving words on paper for two thousand years would be impossible for man, but it was possible with God!
So, as we dive deep into a busy new school year — teaching the next generation about God — I am thankful for the fresh encouragement in these ancient words of Psalm 145. When I am tempted to be angered by my children’s attitudes or behaviors, I cling to those words “gracious and compassionate, slow to anger, rich in love.” Lord, help me respond to my children the way You respond to Yours!
I am so thankful that God is good to all and compassionate on all He has made. I am thankful that He provides for my needs and watches over me. He is worthy of praise for ever and ever!
Psalm 145
A psalm of praise. Of David.
1[a] I will exalt you, my God the King;
I will praise your name for ever and ever.
2 Every day I will praise you
and extol your name for ever and ever.
3 Great is the LORD and most worthy of praise;
his greatness no one can fathom.
4 One generation will commend your works to another;
they will tell of your mighty acts.
5 They will speak of the glorious splendor of your majesty,
and I will meditate on your wonderful works. [b]
6 They will tell of the power of your awesome works,
and I will proclaim your great deeds.
7 They will celebrate your abundant goodness
and joyfully sing of your righteousness.
8 The LORD is gracious and compassionate,
slow to anger and rich in love.
9 The LORD is good to all;
he has compassion on all he has made.
10 All you have made will praise you, O LORD;
your saints will extol you.
11 They will tell of the glory of your kingdom
and speak of your might,
12 so that all men may know of your mighty acts
and the glorious splendor of your kingdom.
13 Your kingdom is an everlasting kingdom,
and your dominion endures through all generations.
The LORD is faithful to all his promises
and loving toward all he has made. [c]
14 The LORD upholds all those who fall
and lifts up all who are bowed down.
15 The eyes of all look to you,
and you give them their food at the proper time.
16 You open your hand
and satisfy the desires of every living thing.
17 The LORD is righteous in all his ways
and loving toward all he has made.
18 The LORD is near to all who call on him,
to all who call on him in truth.
19 He fulfills the desires of those who fear him;
he hears their cry and saves them.
20 The LORD watches over all who love him,
but all the wicked he will destroy.
21 My mouth will speak in praise of the LORD.
Let every creature praise his holy name
for ever and ever.
By the way, the girls and I have been reading The Mighty Acts of God aloud, and it’s really well done. I highly recommend it.
Today I write in celebration of God’s divine goodness toward our family during our Boundary Waters vacation earlier this month.
1 The LORD is my shepherd, I shall not be in want.
2 He makes me lie down in green pastures,
he leads me beside quiet waters,
3 he restores my soul.
He guides me in paths of righteousness
for his name’s sake.
4 Even though I walk
through the valley of the shadow of death,
I will fear no evil,
for you are with me;
your rod and your staff,
they comfort me.
5 You prepare a table before me
in the presence of my enemies.
You anoint my head with oil;
my cup overflows.
6 Surely goodness and love will follow me
all the days of my life,
and I will dwell in the house of the LORD
forever.
Psalm 23
Father in heaven, thank You for leading us to this captivating place where I count so many blessings.
1. Fresh, gentle breezes drifting through open windows.
2. Daisies showing You love me.
3. Raspberries ripening, wild and sweet.
4. Waters parting as canoes glide quietly.
5. Water lilies floating elegantly.
6. A strong man persevering.
7. Hikers exploring new boundaries.
8. Rocks welcoming young climbers.
9. Water falling like stairsteps.
10. Little girls wading deep in clear water.
11. Pine trees scenting the air.
12. Wind rustling the leaves, which encourage it to slow down.
13. Hummingbirds darting to and fro while chickadees sing cheerfully.
14. Chipmunks bravely scurrying to play hide-and-seek.
15. Friends treasuring time together.
16. A sailboat whisking away in the wind.
17. A dog flying, fetching into the water.
18. Lupines growing tall but fading.
19. The moose evading the camera.
20. Popcorn promising to pile up like winter snow.
21. Tired little girls resting in snug bunk beds.
22. Loons crying lonesome in the night.
23. Your Love Lights, aurora borealis, brightening the dark night sky in the wee small hours.
Thank You, Father in heaven, for this peaceful place beside the water, this place where You give me rest and restore my soul. Your goodness and love follows me. My cup overflows.
“Gratitude is the culture of the sinners made saints.” –Ann Voskamp
Once upon a time, there were two lovely little girls.
Since it was a warm, sunny day, they took a lovely nature walk through the trees.
Presently, they came upon two lovely little houses: one in the shade, and one in the sun.
The first little girl took the lovely house in the shade, under the trees.
It was just right, so she decided to stay in the cozy, cool house.
Meanwhile, the second little girl dashed to the lovely house in the sun.
It was just right, too, so she decided to stay.
But then the second little girl either got too hot or too lonely in her sunny house. So she left to visit the little girl who lived in the shady house.
Knock , knock. Anybody home?
They played together happily ever after, exploring nature in the warm afternoon sun.
Happily, that is, until the second little girl got “a piece of nature” in her shoe.
Starlight Writer 
