Swamp?

This spring when my children and I went to Dawes Arboretum in Newark, we wandered through the breathtakingly beautiful park.

We took the Oak trail
and as we walked
we appreciated the signs of the world awakening
from its winter slumber.

In the forest,
the carpet of lush vegetation
made me dream of the coming warmth.

At the end of our hike,
we reverently walked the boardwalk
through the Cyprus swamp.

Today one of my dearest friends and
I traveled the same path.

To my great astonishment,
the water was gone.

My idle curiosity as to the depth of the murky water
teeming with tadpoles was at long last solved.

In its place,
new questions...

Is it normal for the swamp to dry up?
Where did all those bitty frogs go?

Life is always an adventure.
Everything we learn leads to more questions.

Each day is gift,
a chance to enjoy the wonder of the world.

Some days we face hard questions...
the sad "whys" of the word...

Other moments we may feel outraged at the "why" questions...

But, always we are alive when we ask for answers...
seeking and walking the path before us.

I think most of you,
like me,
have experienced the range of emotions I speak of.

Tonight,
I give thanks that I can feel.

If I have to know what it means to feel sadness,
so that I can appreciate blessings...

If I must walk through valleys to make it to the top of the mountains...

Let me then learn a few of the answers along the way...

Even if they only concern swamps and tadpoles.
I will be blessed.
I pray that we learn from the good,
the bad
and the sad
we meet in life.
... And that,
in the end,
we walk on with peace in our hearts
and the knowledge
that we are loved by the One who holds all truth.
Today and always,
I wish you what you need...
and then...
the extra measure of grace
to bring a smile to your face.

Can't stop smiling!

In my driveway,

there is a car.

It's mine.

It is beautiful.

I squealed when I was handed the title.

I think I did a happy dance.

I may not stop smiling for quite a while.

The car...

the reason I am bouncing and silly...

would not be sitting there...
without the help of a friend.

Words will never be able to express my gratitude.

My kiddos and I can go to our favorite Metro Parks again.
I can go to work without waking up my dear father.
I can run to the store without actually "running"!

I am giddy.

I actually kissed the car.

...not fibbing!...

I am so....

happy...

grateful...

blessed.

May the prayers on your heart...
may your needs...
even the unspoken ones...
that seem too big...
that seem too impossible...
I pray that they will be met.

Rejoice with me today!

Sometimes a blessing is so wonderful,

you must shout it from the proverbial mountaintop!

We found it!

Under a bush,

sitting on top of the pine needles and other leaf litter....

not under a piece of slate as it was suggested,

My dear friend and I found our first letter box!

Only one car slowed in the parking lot when I initially sat down to stick my hand under a bush.

Thankfully my buddy and I look harmless and though the woman in the car looked a little puzzled, she kept going and our quest was safe!

I ended up half way under the bushes before I found the box.

With a hushed cry of triumph and a giggle at how silly I must have looked, my friend and I quickly headed a distance away to open our treasure and discover its secrets.

Inside the box was an amazing hand created stamp featuring an amazing likeness of the famous Seurat painting the park's bushes bear resemblance to.

The logbook was a lovely discovery as well. The happy stamps from other adventurers made me smile and at the same time wish I could meet the interesting people who were there before me!

Most of the stamps were from people around Ohio and some dated back several years!

How fun to become part of such an interesting pastime.

My dear friend and I are already planning our next adventurous hunt.

She's heard of a set of seven boxes that we just must find!

Can you hear my happy sigh and feel my smile?

The wonderful break from the real world was so welcome that I seem to be unable to find words to convey the sheer joy of it all adequately.

I hope for you today,

that you are able to find a break when you need one.

I pray your days are filled with the adventures you need

and the peace we all crave.

May you be blessed!