Off on More Adventures

Earlier this week, Andy and I met Christy and the kids at Morris Arboretum. It was another gorgeous spring day. I had been expecting that we would see a lot of the spring flowers and I was right. I took a few pictures but no picture does justice to simply being there. It was fun sharing the experience, though, with Christy and the kids.



 

 This picture cracks me up. Do you see Claire sticking out her tongue?




 
 

We had a very nice weekend and took advantage of it to fit in 3 hikes in 2 days! Oh - exploring we will go!

According to the brochure we are referencing, there was one more park along the Delaware River that we still hadn't check out. This was the Taylor Wildlife Preserve, described in the brochure as:  "a preserved gem along the Delaware River and a popular resting spot for birds using the river as a migration corridor..." We also found out that eleven generations of Taylors and their ancestors have farmed this land since 1720. It is now the only operating farm fronting the Delaware River between Trenton and Camden. The Taylors donated 89 acres in 1975 to the New Jersey Natural Lands Trust. 

We drove through Cinnaminson, (very suburban), across some railroad tracks, through a red light and onto a gravel road that led through very rural looking country. The road led past several homes before coming to a small parking area across from a farmhouse and barn, with some out buildings. We walked past some gardens that are available for people to plant and harvest. Goats were roaming free along the lane and in the yards, and children were running and playing. We saw a man who may have been a Taylor, who was very friendly, waving to us and seemingly happy we were there. There is a 1.5 mile marked interpretive loop trail that takes you along the river and through the woods. We're happy to be seeing more green as the spring progresses.

The sign on this tree (No trash) is obviously ignored. The trash along the river and in the coves is appalling with tires, bottles, and all kinds of unimaginable objects. Ugh. What a shame - detracting from the beauty of the spot.

Fresh water marsh

This tree was up on the edge of a pretty high cliff. I'm bravely standing on the edge, but holding on and hoping the wind doesn't blow me over.

Do you see the egret?

 This tree is supposedly 250 years old. It was immense but doesn't look too healthy.

The sun was shining but the wind was chilly. That was ok, though. It's such a joy to be outside in nature.

So in perusing our brochure, I realized we had been to all but two parks in the River's Edge and Ecotones section. Those two were fairly close and I thought we could probably explore them both today.  We went to the 9:15 service at church, then drove over to Strawbridge Lake Park in Moorestown. What a surprise that was. We had driven by it plenty of times on Route 38, but never realized what a treasure this park is. There is a street that winds along the Lake with a wide walking trail that is part of the shoulder of the road. We walked an estimated mile along the lake. What a beautiful spot. We just have to go back and explore further. There were all kinds of flowering trees along the lake as well as in people's yards across the street.

I don't know what kind of bird this is - maybe a kind of heron? It was sitting there as patient as can be on his perch just enjoying the day, waiting for his breakfast to swim to him.

As suburban as this park is, believe it or not, a black bear was spotted in this park last spring. It caused quite a sensation, even making the Philadelphia evening news! I was glad he didn't show up while we were there today.

After this little walk along the lake, we went home and had our lunch, then decided to check out the Medford Wildlife Management Area. The description for this site reads: "Medford WMA offers leisurely hiking and walking trails that meander through a patchwork of shrubby fields and mixed deciduous and coniferous forest." And we're also told in the brochure that "it is a WMA, so it's WILD." There weren't really trails, per se, just somewhat faint tracks where 4 wheel vehicles had driven some time ago. It's also an area where horses are ridden. There wasn't really much to see and the going was somewhat rough in spots, wet and marshy in other spots. It was interesting, though, lots of open space, framed by woods.

 

In the welcome section of our brochure, we are told that "the idea is to get out of the car and stay awhile. Seek out wildlife and connect with nature. You will be glad you did." We are very glad for these opportunities to connect with nature.

Psalm 19 tells us about two ways God reveals himself to us:
1) through nature
2) through His Word

God created the world for his pleasure and to share it with us so we could enjoy it, too. Romans 1:20 says that "since the creation of the world, God's invisible qualities - his eternal power and diving nature - have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that men are without excuse." 

I recently began reading a new book by Timothy Keller, Prayer. It is really stretching me and ministering to my heart.




 I've been so aware of the inadequacy of my own ability to care for Andy and his illnesses. I become impatient, fearful of the future, sad for the loss of what we had (health, income from his job, give and take conversation with my life partner, dependence on his leadership, etc.). But in the chapter I'm currently reading where Keller describes prayer as conversation:  meditating on His Word, he quotes from John Owen, a Puritan pastor. Owen says we need to engage the mind in our prayers but we also need to incline our hearts. Engaging the mind helps us to clearly see what we are being taught about God, Christ, salvation, eternity and our own state. Then we must seek to incline our hearts until its hope and joy more fully rests in those things. Another Puritan pastor, Richard Baxter, calls this "soliloquy." "It means seeing how God's truth should be affecting you, your life, and all your relationships - and then pleading and preaching to your heart until it connects to the truth and begins to turn away from its false hopes and to change its attitudes, feelings and commitments." Baxter speaks of "self-exhortation, by which he means to 'plead thyself from a clod to a flame; from a forgetful sinner and a lover of the world, to an ardent lover of God; from a fearful coward to a resolved Christian; from an unfruitful sadness to a joyful life; in a word till thou has pleaded thy heart from earth to heaven'."

In a recent conversation with the Lord, I resolved that, God helping me, I would go forward in joy and hope. No matter what my circumstances, there is always something to be thankful for, God is always with me, always faithful, always loving, always gracious. I need to remind myself continually that he delights to show mercy and love toward his children. And I am his child!

Activity Director

Every day Andy asks me what we're doing that day. So I give him the agenda. Either we're going to work or we're working around the house and trying to fit in a hike. So another hat I'm wearing now includes Activity Director.

Yesterday's activities included:

1.  meeting a friend for coffee - just me
2. doing laundry - just me
3. doing exercises - Andy
4. vacuum - just me
5. work on a new puzzle - both of us
6. do yard work - both of us
7. go for a hike - both of us

etc. etc. etc. - you get the idea

We actually fit in a lot yesterday and it was so beautifully spring-like. Everything is blooming and it happened so suddenly - forsythia, magnolia, lilies, hyacinth, daffodils, the weeping cherry, with more in the next couple of days.

We hadn't been to the Brendan T Byrne State Forest in a long time. Well, actually, we had been there this winter but the trails were snow and ice covered so we couldn't do any hiking. So back we went yesterday and were able to walk an estimated 4-5 miles. 

 
The first thing I noticed yesterday as we started down the trail is how good it smelled. Fresh outdoor balsam smell...mmm!

We have hiked this path a number of times before and I am always so impressed by the giant Atlantic white cedars growing in a section of the forest. The brochure we picked up at the Ranger Station says that "Atlantic white cedar once covered vast areas of the Brendan T. Byrne State Forest, but competition from other species and increased deer population have reduced regeneration of this species."

They are impressive trees, aren't they?


It was actually quite warm while we were hiking. It felt more like summer than spring in April. There wasn't much of a breeze and the sun was quite warm. And because there were still no leaves on the trees, there was minimal shade.

I admit I was a bit nervous about the tick possibility. I read online before we left that the spring is the season when ticks are most looking for a host. To avoid the possibility of picking one up, stick to the middle of the trail and don't brush up against vegetation along the side of the trail. So we kept the rules!

 I was tired yesterday so I told Andy we wouldn't be hiking today. He was disappointed but I stuck to my guns! I need a day of rest. Being Activity Director can be tiring. This is a stretch for me because I don't consider myself an idea person. I suppose in some ways, it could be worse. At least I know what he likes to do. Hike, hike, hike and hike. Fortunately, I like to do it, too. But I do have other responsibilities that need to be attended to. Well, somehow it all works out.

I've referenced Elyse Fitzpatrick before. I've been working through her book Comforts from Romans, reading a devotional each morning. I love the way she thinks and writes. Here are some of the things I wrote in my journal of what ministered to me.

Rules won't make sin lovers obey because the real problem is not outward behavior but inward loves.

The gospel is about Jesus, not about me. Paul's command in Romans 6:11 is not to DO, but REMEMBER what Jesus did for me. Even a simple thing like remembering can be difficult because we are so prone to wander and forget.

The ultimate secret to freedom from sin: revealed in Romans 6:14 - "you are not under law but under grace." We are no longer under God's condemning eyes looking to destroy. Instead, his smile rests upon us and all the blessings of grace, favor and merit.

I am no longer a slave to sin and should not even want to sin because I am fully satisfied at the banquet table of God's grace.

The law has no power over me - I have died to sin - I am gloriously deceased! But alive to God.

Our attitude toward the law? We love it and pray that we'll obey it. We long to reflect the marvelous character of our Father and we rest wholly in the imputed righteousness of the only One who ever fulfilled it.

Jesus lived a perfect life in every way, not only outwardly, but his every thought and motive were pure and pleasing to the Father. He obeyed the spirit, as well as the letter of the law. This perfection is imputed to me because of his death and resurrection.

There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus! Woo hoo!!!

I am a great sinner but I have a great Savior. Even though I don't understand how all things can work together for good, I do understand at least one thing: he is working in my character to change me. He's making me aware of the idols in my heart, of unbelief and ungodly character. He's doing a deep and painful yet beneficial work in my life. We do not see how deceived we still are but he does, so he works all things for good, that I will become what he has already declared: justified and righteous.

When you think about it, it's gracious of God to allow us to go through trials. It's a sign that he cares about us and our behavior. He's at work to make us more like Jesus.

He's the real Activity Director! Oh, that I would be as patient, kind and gentle as He is with me.

It's Spring!

The weather is finally turning nice and we are taking advantage of it. Two hikes in two days! Yesterday was cool, but the sun was shining so as soon as I got my grocery shopping and laundry done, off we went exploring. 

The last time we had been to Palmyra Cove, the woman at the Nature Center told us about the Cove Trail that meanders along the river. She advised us to take the hike early in the spring because later in the summer, it's not enjoyable because of all the bugs. After being there yesterday, it was easy to see they would be a problem because of the marshiness of the area. We didn't see any deer this time, but we were on the alert for nesting Canadian geese. We actually had to detour around the path at one point because a female was sitting on a nest right on the trail and her mate was on guard. They can be vicious when they're protecting their nest so we picked up sticks and circled far around them.

The tide was out.

Bridge across the Pennsauken Creek

Looking across to the Betsy Ross Bridge

This was a very enjoyable hike - 1.9 miles one way that dead ended so you had to go back the way you came. I think we'll try to get here at high tide next time. It probably looks a lot different with more water.

Today was even more beautiful: warmer and not as windy. Even though we had been to Rancocas State Park last week, Andy wanted to go there again. It is really a big park and there were areas we hadn't investigated and even after today, there are still more trails to explore. Years ago we had taken the family on one of our holiday hikes to the "Indian reservation" at Rancocas Park. We found out that the Indians actually had leased the land from the state of NJ. Originally, this tribe moved up from Virginia. The chief was Roy Crazy Horse and held things together with Indian festivals and all kinds of activities until he died in 2004. Then things pretty much fell apart. Those who were left couldn't agree on how things should be run. The state required them to upgrade their facilities according to fire code and building codes. And apparently, the Indians misspent the money that was allotted to them and they just abandoned the land they had been using. While they had been there, they used the land like it was their private property, paving roads and doing things on state land that they didn't get permits for. 

Rancocas State Park itself is 1,252 acres and there are many trails available for hiking. They are pretty clearly marked and some are through very scenic woods or along the Rancocas Creek.

The sky was so blue today.

We found this huge stand of immense pines.

I have to include one more picture as proof that occasionally there is a hill in south Jersey!

I know it doesn't look like much. Ok, it isn't really. I have to admit that the hikes we take don't have us huffing and puffing. But it is still exercise and that counts, doesn't it? 3.8 miles yesterday and close to 3 miles today.

It is such a blessing to live where we do. Andy and I are both thankful that he is able to get out and enjoy the hiking. We both feel that as long as he is physically able, we need to get out and take advantage of the parks that are available to us. The amazing thing is that Rancocas State Park is almost in our back yard. It only takes us 10 minutes to drive there.

It was a long, hard, cold winter but it looks like spring is finally here. The grass is greening up, the forsythia is blossoming and the magnolia tree is close to full bloom. 

Another evidence of the faithfulness of our God.

Summer and winter and springtime and harvest, 
Sun, moon and stars in their courses above.
Join with all nature in manifold witness
To Thy great faithfulness, mercy and love.