How Deep The Father's Love To Us
How deep the Father’s love for us,
How vast beyond all measure
That He should give His only Son,
To make a wretch His treasure.
How great the pain of searing loss,
The Father turns His face away
As wounds which mar the chosen One,
Bring many sons to glory.
Behold the Man upon a cross,
My sin upon His shoulders
Ashamed I hear my mocking voice,
Call out among the scoffers.
It was my sin that held Him there,
Until it was accomplished
His dying breath has brought me life,
I know that it is finished.
I will not boast in anything,
No gifts, no power, no wisdom
But I will boast in Jesus Christ,
His death and resurrection.
Why should I gain from His reward?
I cannot give an answer
But this I know with all my heart,
His wounds have paid my ransom.
Why should I gain from His reward?
I cannot give an answer
But this I know with all my heart,
His wounds have paid my ransom.
Reports of cars in ditches were abundant, as were of branches snapping under the burdening pressure of a winter come too soon.
By 6:30, plows rumbled through our country subdivision, ridding our road of a slushy mess. What will tomorrow bring? --LKR
We saw two live babies in the woods on trails, and I gently scooted them off to safety. Unfortunately, a beautiful smooth green snake we found was half dead. Thankfully, this little hognose snake did not get run over when earlier, I pulled our van into the driveway! --LKR
Shortly after the bus picked the kids up for school, dawn started breaking. Thought this was worth sharing with you all. --LKR
The trails were both mud and snow
Fall color everywhere!!!
This year, at least in our neck of the woods, fall has been less than spectacular. Unfortunately, there are still a lot of leaves that haven't even begun to change color. And lately, we're having temps in the 30's which is unseasonably cold for this time of year! While this may not harm the trees, it's dampened many a hope for a warmer autumn! --LKR
We woke up, and the kids ran out into this to wait for the bus, this morning!!! It's only October 12th, and we've already had snow twice in the past two days!!! Thankfully this will melt--once the snow stops flying--before the day is over! --LKR
Most of this white stuff had melted by the time I got this picture, but here's what we woke up to this morning. I am so not ready for snow or winter! It's 29F as of 9am... . --LKR
This is a baby hognose snake playing dead. Two hours earlier, my friend and I found him in the middle of a narrow bike path. Something compelled me to go back and check for it. You know how it is when you get that nagging feeling. So after picking my son up from soccer two hours later, we drove on over to Lowes Creek County Park. Carefully, I retraced my steps. 
The snake was almost in the same spot I had left him after moving him off of the narrow pine trail. I could tell now it had been bleeding as I carefully placed his tiny body onto a paper towel and brought him back to the van. 
Sadly, every year we find several young snakes that have perished in their youth. Thankfully, this one has a fighting chance! --LKR 
Got bit up big time by mosquitoes while bees of all sorts flew all about us. But it was well worth it! These sweet, juicy, delectable berries were devoured in no time at all! 
Later, while walking with my neighbor that same afternoon, I spied two little wooly bears as they took off in a mad crawl across the hot, black pavement. Since these were not yet road kill..., I scooped them up and brought them home. Since then, these two have been eating my yard out of dandelion leaves--there just aren't that many left to pick due to the lack of rain in our area. Everything, including weeds, are drying up!
Duplicating a dish I've made isn't easy since I improvise, often using recipes only as guidelines. By the way, this is a crustless version, so it is gluten-free. 
It's that time of the year, once again. Back to (very early) mornings! I'm not a morning person, so this can be quite an ordeal. Fortunately, the sun is up by the time the bus arrives at the beginning (and end) of the school year. Not true for the rest of the year!
The bus was early, today, which was expected since they are only picking up middle schoolers. Tomorrow, high schoolers will be joining them on their early morning journey.
One nice thing about getting up before dawn is the chance to witness beauty in early morning light.
Dew, mist, and fog are awesome, too!
There's something really cool about dew that can't quite compare with rain. If the kids didn't have to get up so early, this is something I would have missed! --LKR
Never before had we ever found sand dollars at the Jersey shore. The regulars at Manasquan all agreed. The tides, quite literally, have changed. Riptides are more frequent and more powerful than they were when we were growing up. Unfortunately, that's what happens when you try to change the "landscape" of the sea.
Little clams that had washed ashore that I revived in water before releasing.
A little girl caught an interesting fish and showed it to us.
Sand crab!
We used to body surf. Not any more! --LKR
Cabbage White with Cleome
Hydrangia
Red Hibiscus
Mom with Purple Coneflower
Tiger Swallowtail (and bee!) on Butterfly Bush
Pink Marsh MallowsBattle Hymn of the Republic
Mine eyes have seen the glory of the coming of the Lord;
He is trampling out the vintage where the grapes of wrath are stored;
He hath loosed the fateful lightning of His terrible swift sword;
His truth is marching on.
Glory! Glory! Hallelujah! Glory! Glory! Hallelujah!
Glory! Glory! Hallelujah! His truth is marching on.
I have seen Him in the watch fires of a hundred circling camps
They have builded Him an altar in the evening dews and damps;
I can read His righteous sentence by the dim and flaring lamps;
His day is marching on.
Glory! Glory! Hallelujah! Glory! Glory! Hallelujah!
Glory! Glory! Hallelujah! His day is marching on.
I have read a fiery Gospel writ in burnished rows of steel;
“As ye deal with My contemners, so with you My grace shall deal”;
Let the Hero, born of woman, crush the serpent with His heel,
Since God is marching on.
Glory! Glory! Hallelujah! Glory! Glory! Hallelujah!
Glory! Glory! Hallelujah! Since God is marching on.
He has sounded forth the trumpet that shall never call retreat;
He is sifting out the hearts of men before His judgment seat;
Oh, be swift, my soul, to answer Him! be jubilant, my feet;
Our God is marching on.
Glory! Glory! Hallelujah! Glory! Glory! Hallelujah!
Glory! Glory! Hallelujah! Our God is marching on.
In the beauty of the lilies Christ was born across the sea,
With a glory in His bosom that transfigures you and me:
As He died to make men holy, let us live to make men free;
[originally …let us die to make men free]
While God is marching on.
Glory! Glory! Hallelujah! Glory! Glory! Hallelujah!
Glory! Glory! Hallelujah! While God is marching on.
He is coming like the glory of the morning on the wave,
He is wisdom to the mighty, He is honor to the brave;
So the world shall be His footstool, and the soul of wrong His slave,
Our God is marching on.
Glory! Glory! Hallelujah! Glory! Glory! Hallelujah!
Glory! Glory! Hallelujah! Our God is marching on.
--Julia Howe, 1861
Scary looking, isn't he? That's what I thought when I almost stepped on him with bare feet while out in our yard! Out of desperation, I called 911 when I realized it was too late to call the nature center for an ID on this creature. We have lots of young children in our neighborhood, and I wanted to make sure it wasn't an exotic snake escapee!
He didn't seem threatening at all when he deflated his head and body. He and I soon came to realize neither one of us was going to hurt the other. Later, he let me follow him to his underground den in our yard.
We learned these snakes are one of the best animal actors around. If puffing up its body doesn't scare you and he continues to feel threatened, he may strike at you--with his mouth closed. In spite of his appearance, this snake's species is known to be the least likely to bite! While working out in my gardens, I've often felt a "tap" at one of my legs and now wonder if we've ever encountered each other before!
Another trick he will perform is to roll over onto his back and play dead. He'll open his mouth and hang his forked tongue out to try and convince you of his death. The dead giveaway (pun intended!) is if you pick up his limp body and place him on his belly, he'll roll onto his back, again!
This beneficial fellow has rid of us mice, moles, and sadly frogs, toads, and crickets. They may also eat birds, bird eggs, smaller snakes, and dead animals. He has become an honored guest taking up residence in our yard. --LKR
This is our time at the Science Museum of Minnesota.
The past few times we've been here, they've all spent most of their time on the bottom floor playing with light and weather-related hands-on activities.
Eldest child doing a non-museum techie thing--texting!!!
Not many people were there, so it was easier for the kids to do what they wanted to do, and much easier to find them!!!
A creative way of advertising for the movie coming out, later this month! We came to see the Titanic, but saw the Grand Canyon, again, which was worth it!
Spherical Lens--you look through it with a friend--or sibling--and observe the magnification. 
This is my son magnified. Step away from the sphere, and images turn upside down.
The cherubs sometimes drag their feet about the hour long trip, but once there, it's hard to drag them away! --LKR
Yesterday was the first day of summer vacation for our three cherubs. We celebrated by visiting Willow River State Park, the Science Museum of Minnesota, and friends in Bloomington. This was our relaxing time at the falls:
My youngest found several of these caterpillars that had fallen into the water and asked if I'd rescue them. About a dozen were scooped out of pools of water and revived. 
Two of these Mourning Cloak butterflies greeted us, but my (older) camera wasn't quick enough to capture them fluttering around until one finally landed.
A Garter snake was sunning itself on the side of the path, but quickly slithered away when it became the center of attention! --LKR
The last time I saw him by the window, Mister Poochie and Kitten Poo were watching him go at it. I think he saw them 'cuz after that, he stopped slamming into his reflection.
Hopefully he continues to refrain from this potentially destructive practice!!! --LKR 
Well, last night, my oldest daughter and I were coming up with songs she could use for an English project to show rhythms, rhymes, and patterns (or lack of!). One song we both came up with was "Stand in the Rain" by Superchick. So this morning when I found myself still listening to this song in my head..., while watching the hummingbirds braving the rain out our patio door..., I just had to post!!!
This is the first in the almost five years we've lived here that our hummers have learned to "play nice" and actually share. I'm glad we've (finally!) "accomplished" comradery!!! --LKRLife’s too short. Too short to hold grudges. Too short to hold back on the things we really want to do with our lives. Too short to put off making the right choices when we can do them right now.
In the Psalms, Moses asks the Lord to, “Teach us to number our days.” Here's a song that may help put life in perspective.The video has been made by a school for a project, using some footage from Superchick's website. --LKR
What a wonderous time is spring,
When all the tress are budding
The birds begin to sing, the flowers start their blooming;
That's how it is with God's love,
Once you've experienced it.
You want to sing, it's fresh like spring,
You want to pass it on.
I wish for you my friend
This happiness that I've found;
You can depend on God
It matters not where you're bound,
I'll shout it from the mountain top - PRAISE GOD!
I want the world to know
The Lord of love has come to me
I want to pass it on.
I'll shout it from the mountain top - PRAISE GOD!
I want the world to know
The Lord of love has come to me
I want to pass it on.
Aren't they adorable? Ever since I knew these creatures existed, I've wanted one--or two!--for a pet. 
My daughter and I stopped in at Petco and were delighted to find 12 very friendly, playful ferrets! 
They climbed up our arms as a means of escape, but they enjoyed being held, too! --LKR
I was out testing my camera when I captured this shot. It's not quite a full moon, but pretty close. The date for this month's full moon, according to Moon Phase, is Saturday, May 9th. --LKR 
Okay, so has this picture of my back yard made you very glad I'm not your neighbor? Well, I'll have you know that my yard is incredibly popular with the insect population! Various bees, butterflies, and ants are flocking on over for a feast. Yup, so that means these dandelions will be pollinated and their seeds viable. ...
Um, a note to my neighbors: I will make every effort to get these flowers picked before they go to seed!!! --LKR
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