Every morning, rain or shine, he sings. The day’s weather might be foggy, frosty, or fine, but still he sings and his song is somehow uplifting to me.

So far I have never been able to see him, but I know from reading about him that he lives in the marshy reeds of the meadow near me. I have seen pictures of him, but have never yet been able to capture him with my own camera.

His daily consistency encourages me. As I listen to his song I often believe he is speaking to me to awaken and enjoy another day that the Lord has made. Whatever the weather, I imagine that I should rejoice and be glad for another day of life!

Thank You God, for giving me this unseen daily visitor who inspires me with his song.  I pray I can do the same for others through this blog post today.  

Western Meadowlark

The Western Meadowlark was chosen as the State Bird of Oregon in 1927. It is known for it’s distinctive and beautiful song.
It is truly one of God’s wondrous works.

For more information visit this link: http://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/western_meadowlark/id

Listen to a video recording of the Western Meadowlark’s  beautiful song at this link:
youtube=http://youtu.be/lvAUgFb1cLY

The WordPress.com stats helper monkeys prepared a 2012 annual report for this blog.

Here’s an excerpt:

600 people reached the top of Mt. Everest in 2012. This blog got about 1,900 views in 2012. If every person who reached the top of Mt. Everest viewed this blog, it would have taken 3 years to get that many views.

Click here to see the complete report.

During this season of thankfulness, I am so grateful for the magnificent, glorious, creation of God in my area of His world—the great Pacific Northwest!

This video “Visit Your Pacific Northwest National Forest “shows the wondrous works of God in the Pacific Northwest. The beauty of the mountains, trees, oceans, rivers, forests, and skies. I hope you enjoy watching it and are blessed as you view His Handiwork.

Marram Grass Cross Section

Perhaps you recall walking on the beach through areas of Beach Grass and not thinking too fondly of it, for it was rough and scratchy on your bare feet.  However, Beach Grass or Marram Grass is a very important plant to our beaches and sand dunes.  It has the ability to adapt and grow fast under difficult conditions, as  it’s long reaching roots bind the sands together, helping to stop erosion.[i]

Marram Grass is quite an interesting plant. It’s scientific name is  Ammophila, which in Greek means “sand loving”.  Its purpose is to prevent erosion, increase stability, repair damages, and encourage new growth in sand covered areas.   A microscopic cross section photo of this sand loving plant shows what seems to be many little happy faces within it, causing one to think perhaps this plant is very happy doing what it was created to do on the beaches each day.

It has been said that “The plant’s strategy to deal with life where the collection and retention of fresh water is problematic is to roll up in times of stress and hold on to what it has acquired.”[ii]  That is quite an admirable statement and one which causes me to think that Marram Grass is quite a marvelous and fascinating work of God.  It actually could represent what we Christians should be doing in our world today. 

As Christians we should be making a difference in the world around us.  In this constantly shifting, swirling, changing world we live in, our presence should bring stability.  We should be rooted and grounded so firmly in God’s word that no erosion can take place where we are located, and if somehow the enemy or the world does cause damages to faith, hope or belief we should be actively repairing those damages and encouraging new growth by clinging to what we have been given in Christ and sharing it with others as needed. 

Let’s think upon this, and perhaps begin to model our lives after the Marram Grass, that often overlooked plant that continues to happily do what it was created to do, even though no one may notice.

Happy Face Spider

My 13 year old grand-daughter, Vivian, was spending the night with me last weekend and since her two brothers were also, a slight sleeping problem arose.  Which one of them was going to have to spend a night sleeping on the floor?  Well, the second night the lot fell to Vivian.
I made up a nice comfy bed for her in front of the fireplace with some extra couch cushions and comforters that I had on hand and then I suggested everyone settle in for the night.  As soon as I switched off the light Vivian began to wail  “But what if there is a spider down here!”   
She was convinced that a spider was out to get her and was sure if she could sleep up higher none would be able to reach her.  All my reasoning that spiders could climb up or on anything or anywhere didn’t convince her.  She was sure a spider was lurking right nearby her, just because she was sleeping on the floor.  
So, to ease her mind I decided to tell her about the Happy Face Spider and said if any spider was around in my house it was probably a Happy Face who wouldn’t harm her, but might decide to tickle her to make her laugh.

When you see a picture of a Happy Face Spider you just can’t help but smile and be amazed at God’s handiwork.  This spider has markings on its abdomen that look just like a smiling face.

On the Fifth day of Creation when God created cattle, beasts and everything that creeps on the earth, He saw that it was all good, and perhaps as He was looking over all His new creations He was smiling, as His hands were forming the tiny Happy Face Spider.  The Happy Face only lives in the rainforests of Hawaii.  They are very shy and usually hunt for small insects at night.  Scientists think that their unusual markings could somehow be a deterrent that keeps them from being eaten by birds, after all what self respecting bird would be caught feasting on something that was smiling at him.  Personally, I think it is just some of God’s humor showing forth in His creation, for there is also such a thing as Smiling Grass—but….that is a subject for another time…

Not a lot of information can be found on Happy Face Spiders, however I will include a couple of interesting links you might want to check out for further information.

Oh, and back to my grand-daughter and the rest of the story….well, of course she didn’t believe me, not because she knew Happy Faces were only found in Hawaii, but because she did indeed really see a
common black spider lurking in the corner of the room,  perhaps just waiting for his chance to pounce on her when the lights went out.  Go figure! 

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/newstopics/howaboutthat/5199409/British-scientists-study-Hawaiian-happy-face-spider.html

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-1172804/Meet-happy-faced-spider-sure-make-smile.html

Water is one of God’s  wonderful works. It is our most precious natural resource.

Here in Portland we see more than our share of liquid water and sometimes even solid water in the form of snow appears.  We visit our beaches and enjoy the beautiful Pacific Ocean’s water.  We are fortunate to have the Williamette River right downtown and the Columbia River close by.  Our parks have pools, ponds, sprinklers, and fountains.  We have water parks, lakes and indoor skating rinks.  We enjoy our running water indoors from our faucets.  They supply us with drinking water, water for showers and baths, washing and toilets.
There is an abundance of wonderful water all around us daily, so much so that we might tend to take it for granted. Sometimes we might even complain about all the rain, snow or ice.

Yet, approximately one billion people in the world still lack access to safe water for drinking and over 2.5 billion don’t have access to adequate sanitation. (Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Water)

Today, March 22nd,  is World Water Day 2012.  Let’s Celebrate by learning more about what we can do to help bring some wonderful water to those one billion people who have none.
According to the water.org website there are three things most of the world can’t do.  
Those three things are:  Take a Hot Shower—Get Clean Water from the Tap—Flush Away Yesterday’s Dinner.

Perhaps today, on World Water Day 2012, we can make a difference in someone’s life by doing something about that.  Visiting www.water.org would be one way to start.

Also, this Saturday, March 24th, Portland is celebrating World Water Day by hosting a 2012 Walk for Water & Fun Run.  This will be the fourth year where participants check in at OMSI and collect their water-gathering containers to haul water on the 3.1 mile walk around the Williamette River. This is meant to be a model of the water gathering that some women and children must do in some parts of Africa just to get water for their daily use.
For more information or to Register to Walk visit this link:  Walk for Water–-http://www.worldwaterdaypdx.com/

Mary Holmes

Meeting Mary Holmes was quite a blessing, tangibly and intangibly.  

I first met Mary via a Facebook post regarding Coconut Oil.  Since I had recently written an article on Coconut Oil titled “The Tree of Life” , Mary’s post about it intrigued me.  
One post led to another and when I learned Mary had her own local natural soap-making business, which was a garage-grown, woman-owned business, I knew I just had to meet her, check out her soaps and find out more.

Upon arriving at her home in Hillsboro, OR. last week ,I was greeted by a very friendly lady who welcomed me in and proceeded to show me all the wonderful things she makes in her “factory”.
Mary not only makes a multitude of various natural bar soaps, but also makes wonderful liquid soaps, lotions and lip balms. She is very knowledgeable about all the different ingredients she uses in her products and what each does.  She has been making soaps for 13 years and has obviously done a lot of research on natural oils and fragrances.    As she proceeded to show me her creations she would also give me samples. I left with my head full of very helpful information and my hands full of various samples to try.  It was the middle of January but it felt like it was Christmas all over again !

Mary makes all her soaps and lotions by hand in small batches and she is always working on coming up with a new recipe that might be helpful for someone’s skin.  Mary’s first soap was created for herself to solve a problem she had with her hands being dry and cracked while she was working as an RN in an Intensive Care Unit.  That product led her to continue trying more ideas for herself and others in hope of coming up with a natural healing solution via soaps and lotions.  She has made soaps and lotions for all kinds of skin problems and every ingredient she puts in her products is good for the skin.

Mary has quite an extensive list of handmade products which she sells online, and at various local shops.  She also makes up delightful gift baskets for all occasions with regular and novelty soaps.
Plus, 10 percent of all her sales is donated to charities supporting children and families worldwide.

I am still trying out some of the samples Mary gave me but I can already say that that I absolutely love love the Lavender Lemon Chamomile Lip Balm!  It is moist, creamy and has the wonderful taste of Lavender Lemon cookies !  Also, her “Bare Naked” soap and lotion which is un-scented and full of all kinds of natural ingredients really meets my skin needs at this time.

I invite you to visit Mary via her web site titled “Holmes Natural Bath and Body Care”  to learn more about Mary and her products and to order them online at http://www.holmesnaturalbathandbody.com

You can also connect to her on Facebook

Mary, in my opinion, is a blessing and truly one of God’s Marvelous works. 

Thank you Mary for all you do to make life better for so many people!

Here in the Pacific Northwest evergreen trees are abundant and around Christmas time Christmas Tree Farms seem to spring up all over.  I love the look and smell of fresh evergreen trees and I have lovely childhood memories of many a Christmas where we would set up a fresh tree to decorate with lots of lights, ornaments and tinsel.  The smell of pine would scent everyone’s house for many days for back in those days artifical trees were hardly heard of.   

But…times have since changed and my apartment now has a small artifical tree in the corner and I spray pine air freshner or burn a pine-scented candle to get my fresh pine smell.  However, I do get to enjoy Christmas at my daughter’s home where there is always a freshly cut evergreen tree decorated by excited grand-children who are making Christmas memories of their own.

My love of evergreen trees would of course lead me to say that they have to be one of God;s wonderful works.  As much as I love the beauty of the fall colors and  wondrous turning of the leaves in Autumn trees, I would have to say that the evergreen tree is highest on my list of trees and living in Oregon I am glad that the Douglas Fir was designated our state tree in 1939.  

The Douglas-fir was so named in honor of David Douglas, a Scottish botanist visited the Pacific Northwest In 1824.  
He has been quoted as saying  “A forest of these trees is a spectacle too much for one man to see.”  He could have been speaking about a forest of evergreen trees,  for he introduced several  North American native conifers to Europe.and among them was the Douglas-fir which he introduced to Scotland cultivation in 1827.  

The Douglas-fir is also called Douglas tree or Oregon Pine and nationally,it is one of the most popular for Christmas trees. However, the trees are not just grown for Christmas.  They are actually the source of more lumber than any other species of tree in North America.  They are prized as one of the most valuable timber trees in the world,  for the timber from Douglas firs is said to be stronger than concrete.   

If you are fortunate to have a sturdy beautiful Douglas-fir as your Christmas tree this year I hope you will take a moment to just sit and look at it.  Enjoy it’s green beauty and lovely pine scent.  Realize it’s value and give thanks to God for creating such a wonderful tree for us to enjoy.  

Plant a Douglas-fir, or gift one to someone visit “Tree Beginnings” to order this “Green Gift”  
They have Douglas Fir Holiday Tree Gifts in Eco Boxes so you can plant a your own Christmas Tree

Seaside Museum exhibits World’s Biggest Douglas Fir Tree

Autumn's Bountiful Colors-10-31-11

This is such a beautiful day I thought as I drove towards home after dropping my grandson off at school. 

The sun was shining brightly. The clouds were putting on a wondrous display in the blue sky and the vibrant colors of fall shone all around me  What a wonderful day to be alive!  

It’s the last day of October I thought. Yes, most call this day Halloween but it is more than that.  This is a day the Lord has made.  The world has labeled it “Halloween” but the Lord has given it to be so much more than just a day for tricks or treats.  He has set before me a day full of beauty and color.  What shall I do with it?  I must make a choice I thought, for October 31, 2011 will never be again after today.

My homework is done, I have no immediate plans, the day is laid out before me, a canvas of color to make mine.           I can’t help myself–I decide to enjoy it!  

 As each fall scene came across my path on the drive home,  I stopped to take a photograph of it.  Then, once home I chose to take a walk to further enjoy the day.  This created an opportunity to take some more photographs of colorful displays in my neighborhood.  

The experience was rewarding.  The crunch of colorful leaves under my shoes, the sound of birds chattering in the trees, a leaf covered with dew on the green grass, a bee enjoying his day visiting a lonely dandelion, mushrooms hidden beneath the stairs, summer’s colorful flowers slowly submitting to fall, and colorful fall yard displays all made for a delightful walk.  All this, I thought in one tiny area of my small part of this wide world.  What a treasure I would have missed had I chosen not to participate in all this day beheld.   I didn’t want it to end, but as the sun went into hiding and the clouds turned gray, I realized the time had come to head for home and record the memories.  

The sunshine, marshmallow clouds and trees dressed in their colors of fall on October 31, 2011 may not come again, but the photos I took will  preserve this day for me and others to enjoy whenever we might choose to do so.

If you were not able for some reason to be outside to enjoy this day or if you chose to but didn’t have a camera with you to record it, I hope you will take the time to enjoy my day with me.

Just sit back and take a moment to view the slideshow  Autumn’s Bountiful Colors Web Gallery that captures the wondrous works of God. 

Push the pause button to read the inspirational quotes if you need to.  Take your time and enjoy!  The works of His hands are on display!  Rejoice  and be glad !

This is the day the LORD has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it.  Psalm 118:24 (NIV)

I held the book in my hands.  There it was, my creation in print!  Two years ago it was just a thought.  Now, after many days and nights of hard work it was a reality.  I was excited.!          

Actually, the whole process seemed to be quite similar as it is a process of creation.  So much is put into writing a book that it becomes a part of you.  You spend many days thinking, researching, writing and putting it all together. Editing, rewriting, editing until you think you can’t bear to do it anymore.  Then it’s sent to the publisher and you wait and wait for the proof to come which you have to read over and edit again.  Finally that day comes,that it’s done!  The birthing process is over!  Your creation is complete and ready to be shared with the world!

As I thought about this, I wondered if that might be how God feels about each thing He has created.  People, animals, birds, trees, oceans, flowers, etc. they are all the work of His hands.  How pleased He must be when a baby is born or a flower grows and blooms.  I imagine He wants all creation to rejoice.  It’s here!  He shouts when a baby bird is hatched.  Look!  Mama kitty just had her kittens, aren’t they beautiful creations?  Come and see the my power in the ocean I created, listen to it roar, feel its strength.  Aren’t you excited!   Don’t you just love my beautiful trees and majestic mountains?   Look at everything I created !   It is all the work of My hands and wonderfully made.  I want to share it all with you!   

I would think maybe God could feel that way don’t you?  And, probably most especially about His human creations, for He said He created us in His image and that means we are surely even more special. to Him   Yes, each one of us are His workmanship and I am sure He is very pleased with what He created and He wants us to be also.  So, next time you look at yourself in the mirror think upon that.  Or next time you meet another person, look at them as a creation of God and rejoice over His workmanship.  Share in His excitement everyday by taking time to notice and enjoy all of His creation and then praise Him for the great works He has done.  I am sure He will be so glad to have you do that.  Just try it and see! 

Then God looked over all he had made, and He saw that it was very good!  Genesis 1:31 [NLT]

(My devotional book titled “54 Spiritual Blessings in Christ”  will be available soon. )