Flowers from God: Fall Slideshow 2007

Song:  Nicole Nordeman’s “Every Season”

(as celebrated here through the lens of Fall)

Photos:  “Maggie”  11.15.2007

Tuesday, the rains were coming.  I’d been sick and under the weather the last week and was about to miss their grand finale.  So, I drove around with my camera in hand four about 40 minutes, just a few miles from my house, just enjoying, soaking it in.  When I got home, I realized what my Dad often did trying to take pictures of deer he’d spotted from the car…the exhilaration of spotting them and having the camera to prove it was fun, but the deer look microscopic in the pictures.  They often blurred, and a disappointment compared to the real thing.

So, I determined to go back out the next day, weather permitting, for a “walk-about“.  I dropped the kids off at school and saw an orange glory begging for my camera not far from the school.  And then the leaves on the sidewalk just down from that called, and then, a pretty gate not far from there, leaves as carpet.  On and on I went.  Come, look, enjoy, capture, treasure.

For three hours, my feet carried me, and time flew.  I had no idea it had been that long when I looked at my watch.  There are lovely places of peace and rest and worship to enjoy.  Your pumpkins thrilled me with joy.  Your flags caused me to celebrate, smile, and pause, many of them at the homes of veterans, I’m sure.  Rockers and swings all caught my attention, calling out: “You’re welcome to rest here–enjoy life slowly!”

Broken down places and building made beautiful with shawls of fall.  Houses with mattresses on the porch, I don’t know your story, but today, you were unnoticed for the glory around you.  Everything was lovely.

I hope these “‘flowers’ from God” cheer you and give you a meandering walk if you don’t have the time or strength or place.

I met the couple pictured in the slide-show.  They walked a long time together, and I crossed paths with them three times.  I said laughingly after shooting many leaves, “Well, I don’t guess I can have a picture of them all, can I?”  They said, “Oh, we thought you were taking a picture of us.”  I replied, “Well, YOU are a beautiful thing, too!?” I left it at that.  It would have made them uncomfortable, I’m sure, to know that I had.  They are some grandparents of a child in Red’s class–I’ll see if I can get them a pictures of their walk.

I walked until my battery, storage disc, and feel ran out, all within minutes of each other.

About that time, Bro. Rob G. drove up in his church van rolling down the window to ask , “Still enjoying your walk today, or are you ready for a ride back to wherever you started?”  I said, “It’s a beautiful sidewalk to miss, but I am wishing for a Claritin about now!  I think I will take a ride if you don’t mind too much.” “Oh, I don’t mind.  Hop in here.”  So, I did for the 3/4 of the block I had left uphill to the school.

I’ve known Bro. Rob forever.  He was best friends with Mike Brady–I was always with their families growing up, listening to their funny youth pastor stories.  Rob told me some friends from here once shipped he and his family a box of leaves to Florida when they’d moved there!  His wife sprinkled them all over the yard and the kids played in them!  Isn’t that great?  Everyone loves the leaves here.

Our own Bro. Ray asked last week what we did to refresh.  This is my time. Once a season, to capture some of it in my heart.