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!