Month: April 2020 (Page 1 of 3)

Give to the Winds Your Fears

April 30, 2020 / kristen / 1 Comment

Mammatus Clouds in Black Hills National Forest, South Dakota

Wren picked this out of my old Baptist Hymnal. I didn’t know this, but the tune is beautiful. I couldn’t find this version anywhere online, so here are the words:

Give to the winds your fears
In hope be undismayed
God hears your sighs and counts your tears
God shall lift up your head
To him commit your griefs
Your ways put in his hands
To his sure truth and tender care
Who earth and heav’n commands
Who earth and heav’n commands

O put your trust in God
In duty’s path go on
Walk in his strength with faith and hope
So shall your work be done
Leave to his sovereign sway
To choose and to command
So you shall faithful seek his way
How wise, how strong his hand
How wise, how strong his hand

When Morning Guilds the Sky

April 29, 2020 / kristen / 1 Comment

Here is the hymn of comfort….

When Morning Guilds the Sky

Sweet Hour of Prayer

April 28, 2020 / kristen / 1 Comment

Wren learned a “new” old hymn for the hymn of comfort today! Enjoy the lightning show going on in the background!!

Sweet Hour of Prayer

An Afternoon Gigue!

April 27, 2020 / kristen / 1 Comment

It’s a gloomy afternoon here, so why not a little ditty to get you up and moving! Wren wanted to compose something for today’s “hymn of comfort”. We have been watching the baby squirrels clown around in the backyard, and this is what her inspiration was for this piece. It’s pretty short, and I can hear her composition teacher now… you need to make this longer!! For now, just listen a couple of times 🙂

Afternoon Gigue

Like a River

April 26, 2020 / kristen / 1 Comment

I found the most amazing place today. It was just me and the creatures! While this post is named for the Hymn of comfort, when I finished my hike it did look “Like” I had tried to cross “a River”… And the Hike was “Glorious!” This place has no developed trails – this may be why I was alone!

I am definitely going to have to come back to this place to follow the seasons! Of course, I was excited to see the birds, but it was equally exciting to see all of the green coming up throughout the prairie and many things starting to bloom!

some kind of Hawthorn? This definitely has thorns

Swamp Sparrow or Chipping Sparrow…I can’t tell them apart!
Leave a comment if you can!!!

Like a River Glorious
arranged by Anna Laura (Nonnie) Page

We Aren’t Alone!

April 25, 2020 / kristen / 0 Comments

The Hymn of Comfort for today is In Christ Alone. We hope you are finding peace and joy in these days…

In Christ Alone

There are so many reasons for hope!

God is Love

April 24, 2020 / kristen / 1 Comment

The hymn of comfort today is God is Love; His Mercy Brightens. I went back to visit the owls today. One way I know God is Love is by the way he provides for his creation. I was able to watch all 3 owls. The mother was flying between trees because another couple was walking too close to the owlet (I think this is why), so I was able to get some “in flight” photos. The pictures aren’t the best, but you can see the amazing feet/claws, and the gorgeous wings. Owl flight is totally silent! This makes them amazing hunters and providers for their young.

God is Love His Mercy Brightens

Wonderful World

April 23, 2020 / kristen / 1 Comment

I want to keep celebrating Earth Day (Week) by sharing some photos of this beautiful world with you! There is beauty everywhere you look, including your backyard, but I want to share some photos from some amazing places I’ve been, and of some amazing creatures! Wren’s “hymn of comfort” is not a hymn today…but we thought Louis Armstrong’s Wonderful World was appropriate!

Wonderful World

Grand Prismatic Spring – Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming

Thunderhead at Sunset- Black Hills National Forest, South Dakota

Sunrise – Gulf of Mexico – S. Padre Island, TX

Red-fronted Macaws- foothills of Andes in Bolivia

Mountain Gorillas – Bwindi Impenetrable Forest – border of Uganda and Rwanda

Black-tailed Jackrabbit – S. Padre Island, Texas

Lilac-breasted Roller – Tarangire National Park – Tanzania

Bald Eagle – Yellowstone National Park – Wyoming

Turaco – Mt. Kilimanjaro National Park – Tanzania

African Elephants – Mt. Kilimanjaro National Park – Tanzania

Mountain Goats on Bighorn Pass – Montana

Near Mussoorie India – foothills of Himalayas

Happy Earth Day!

April 22, 2020 / kristen / 2 Comments

Today is the 50th anniversary of Earth Day. I wish we didn’t have to have a day that reminded people that we need to care for the earth. I wish it was just what we did because it was the right thing to do!! We chose the name Wren for our amazing kid because we wanted her to know that she can play a special role in caring for God’s creation! We wanted to acknowledge that God loves wrens of all kinds and that caring for creation was a way to love our neighbors (human and non-human). Right after she was born, her Nonnie was holding her and singing about the birds in our yard…and the song, Wren’s Song, came to be.

The hymn of comfort is our Wren, playing Wren’s Song with her Nonnie (on piano) 11 years later! The text to the song will follow the video.

Wren’s Song by Anna Laura Page

I see a bird up in the tree, I know it’s singing a song for me. Tweedle-deedle-dee, high up in the tree, thank you God for making birds to see! Tweedle-deedle-dee, high up in the tree, thank you God for loving me!

I see the lilies of the field, soft and white and my heart is filled. Joy and Peace, never cease. Thank you God for making flowers to see. Joy and Peace, never cease. Thank you God for loving me!

Tweedle-deedle-dee. High up in the tree. Thank you God for making birds to see. Joy and Peace, never cease. Thank you God for loving me!

How Great!!

April 21, 2020 / kristen / 1 Comment

The hymn of comfort tonight is How Great Thou Art. We love how the words of this hymn describes the majesty of God! Seemed fitting for Earth Week

How Great Thou Art

We also have some GREAT news!!! The GREAT horned owlet is fine! We saw it tonight (and mamma owl). I underestimated the age of the owl, and so I was worried when it wasn’t in the nest. I’m thinking this owlet must be around 4-5 weeks. It’s starting to get some of its adult feathers, and is moving away from the nest. The mom owl is still around keeping a close watch!!! Just so you know, I have a long lens on my camera, and It try to keep a good distance from the owls. We don’t walk between the mom and the baby either!