Wandering on a lazy afternoon...

With eight children in tow, I walked the paths at Blendon Woods Metro Park today. We enjoyed the comfortable weather as we walked through forest and field. Butterflies, daddy long legs and even squirrels scurrying in the underbrush caught our fancy.

The kids, students at my school's summer camp, delighted in a scavenger hunt.
(Don't worry my students had to show me what they found, we did not collect anything.)

Along the way we took a break to play "Guess the animal" with a communal piece of chalk on a bit of paved trail and my charges drenched each other with the contents of their water bottles. I laughed and looked the other way. Water, after all, is just water.

I returned to the bus with a smile and a very satisfied feeling. I hope you have an opportunity to enjoy this wonderful season.

Now and always, I pray you are blessed with the peace that comes from the One who made the forest in which we played today.

Walking the "walk"... Hiking in the rain...

With a smile on my face,
I was back today at Battelle Darby.
Many months ago,
I tried to meet up with a "MeetUp" group that was hiking.
Rain
and a terrible sense of direction
prevented me from meeting the group.
But,
that day I decided to hike anyway...
kind of a...
"I will do what I desire regardless of who else will come with me..."
While I wouldn't necessarily advise
that hiking solo in the rain is the most intelligent idea,
I must say it was a blessing for me.
A turning point of sorts...
It was nice to be back today,
with my kids in tow.
The sky was clear,
and I know...
really know...
that I can make it on my own...
that I am never really left alone...
that even on rainy days...
I can "hike" on...

Great Seal State Park

Nestled near Chilicothe Ohio,
is a little piece of heaven.

With hills to leave you breathless,
you should take several bottles of water and sturdy shoes.

I was fortunate to hike today in this wondrous place.

My friend and I enjoyed each moment.

He found a itty bitty walking stick,
I frighted a tiny bit of grey fur that ran off the trail.

I admired lovely dried flowers growing on some moss,
my friend told me they were its spores.
I was delighted when I touched them
and saw tiny clouds of new life drift out over the trail.

We saw giant anthills
and I understood how tying someone to an anthill would be a bad thing.
My friend made an amazing lunch,
I brought cookies.

It was an unbelievably,
one for the memory books,
perfect day.

Tonight as I laughed,
chatting on the phone with my hiking partner,
we talked over future adventures.

I think very soon I am going to get a chance to try out a kayak or a canoe.

The world is full of beautiful possibilities.


I wish you lovely ones.
God Bless and goodnight.

A well worn path

Whatever I face in life.

I know others have been where I stand.

Our human situation,

no matter how wonderful or frightening,

is not new.

Like the trails I trod with my dear ones,

life has been traveled many times by other adventurers.

I am focused on picking a good path,

I am trying to keep an eye out for poison ivy.

Rocks and dust...

bumps and dips...

all are part of the experience.

Hiking...

Life...

Neither are always easy.

Always though..

The trek is worth the effort.

Life is beautiful.