Wonderful Water

It covers  70.9% of the Earth’s surface, and is vital for all known forms of life
It is a colorless, transparent, odorless, tasteless liquid that forms the seas, lakes, rivers, and rain.
It is a basic molecule made up of two hydrogen atoms, and one oxygen atom.
It is a liquid, but can also be a solid or an invisible gas.
What is it?   Water of course!  

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/

The Wonderful Douglas-Fir

“Free Trees”  the sign said.   
During this time of year, especially in a bad economy, that sign should be a welcome sight.  However, it’s posting on the day before Christmas Eve might not attract too great a crowd.  

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