Dear Reader:

I think the word “nature” should be a verb, as well as, a noun. We should all take time to “nature” each day…for our body, heart, and soul. Especially for healing…

I am typing with a “crick” in my neck….massaging with one hand while typing with the other….but it is a wonderful “crick.”I literally fell asleep on the deck this afternoon in a chair with no place to rest one’s neck and head.

But that gorgeous sun beating down on my face around 1:00 yesterday afternoon felt so good…. I couldn’t keep my eyes open. I kept justifying to myself that we are supposed to get at least 20 minutes of sunshine each day …instead I got about 45 minutes and woke up with the crooked neck. It was definitely worth it.

All God’s creatures seemed to be so happy…living in the moment before Old Man Winter returns….the birds were chattering away, one mother wren is building a nest in a bush by the deck, the yellow jessamine got its first bloom, three oriental solar lanterns arrived today (for the children’s trees) and they soaked up the solar energy along with me.

The pansies all perked up with their little smiling face…and then the strangest thing…as I woke up and got myself oriented again on the deck…(amazed I had slept so long)…I started hearing a “popping” sound. It seemed to be coming from the back section of my back yard where only the tall pines are located.

“Pop”! Pop”! I got up and strolled back where the trees were…searching for a pesky squirrel chewing on pine cones, perhaps, and throwing them down or maybe the noise was coming from some kind of bird high up in the trees…but I saw nothing…”Pop”! “Pop”!

I came in and searched the internet for “Popping Pines” and then I found it. “Pine cones make that noise as they open.” Apparently a lot of pine cones were opening at the same time. That was a new experience for me…or perhaps I just never stayed in one place long enough to hear it before.

Just as I was about to leave the internet and “Popping Pines”…a link to a Easter Story about Pine Trees showed up. Another “aha” wonder of nature….

Ever noticed the Pine tree crosses on Easter Sunday?

Pine trees start their new growth in the weeks before Easter.
If you look at the tops of the Pine trees two weeks before,
you’ll see the yellow shoots. As the days get close to Easter Sunday,
the tallest shoot will branch off and form a cross.
By the time Easter Sunday comes around, you will see that most of the
Pine trees will have small yellow crosses on all of the tallest shoots.

I love legends about roses helping cushion Christ on the cross or daisies showing the Wise Men where the manger with the Christ baby is located…and now yellow crosses forming on pine trees for Easter. The mysteries of nature and imagination of man coming together to spiritually renew our faith.

The pictures of nature restored mine yesterday….filling me with smiles and gratitude.

So until tomorrow…get outside today before Old Man Winter returns and just go “nature” around….it will help keep your faith and disposition in check during the chilly days ahead…again.

“Today is my favorite day”  Winnie the Pooh

Libby emailed yesterday to say that Betsy had another “episode” while picking up one of her daughters yesterday from school. Betsy has been assured that her condition is not life threatening…but she has discovered it is certainly life-altering. Please continue to keep Betsy in your prayers and thoughts…as doctors continue to work finding the right levels of medication for her.

Today is Rudy’s big day….he has surgery in Chattanooga…I know Kaitlyn and Tommy will be glad when it is over…and then, of course, will come the waiting game for biopsy results. Thank you for your heartfelt concerns….so many people have gone through what Kaitlyn and Tommy are going through now… and have expressed their sympathy …it’s tough. Thanks to all of you.

Rudy graduated from law school right along with Kaitlyn and Tommy!