Scripture – Page 2 – Valerie's Voice

Marjorie McNeely Conservatory

Last week I thought to myself, I sure would like to see some blooming flowers…where can I go in Minnesota this time of year? Como Park Conservatory came to mind.

Sweet buttery yellow with a touch of lavender.

We have gone to the Marjorie McNeely Conservatory in previous winters, to catch a glimpse of colorful flowers, and be surrounded by greenery and warm, moist air. The sunken garden is always a bright and beautiful.

White orchids…with sprinkles of purple dust…

It is a lovely oasis in Minnesota’s winters.

Blue skies and sun shone through the glass walls and ceiling which adds a lot to the ambiance of the sunken garden.

Stunning burgundy lilies, outlined with a fine white line, were growing throughout much of the sunken garden.

Foxgloves were blooming in the sunken garden, along with cyclamen and other annuals.

I checked the website and discovered an annual orchid show was happening, during St. Paul’s winter carnival. I talked to a woman over the phone and she said it’s a great exhibit, but warned me it does get crowded. I bought tickets anyways…

A amazing array of color. Tables of orchids were set throughout the sunken garden.

We did get in to see the beautiful orchids even though we had to wait in long lines. It was not what I had planned when I first thought of the idea, but it was an enjoyable change in plans.

I can’t begin to name all the different types of orchids there are. It was enough to drink in all their beauty.

One can see a face on these orchids…natural…two eyes, a nose, a mouth…

We saw many incredibly beautiful and interesting and unique orchids…in all different shapes and sizes and colors.

It was hard to discern which photos to post. As it is hard to pick a favorite orchid.

“Consider how the flowers grow. They do not labor or spin. Yet I tell you, not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these.” Luke 12:27

Merry Christmas

The children’s Christmas pageant at our church, includes shepherd and angels and cows etc.
Our wonderful children – telling and singing the Christmas story.

Luke 2: 8-12
And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified.

But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord. This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.”

The full set design…the stable and a living room se,t complete with fireplace, for a grandmother and grandchild to reflect on the Christmas story. A new member of our church created this elaborate set.

Merry Christmas.

Happy Thanksgiving

Enter his gates with thanksgiving
    and his courts with praise;
    give thanks to him and praise his name.
For the Lord is good and his love endures forever;
    his faithfulness continues through all generations.

Psalm 100:4-5

Decorating leaf cookies with the grandchildren.

…through all generations …

Grateful!

The North Shore 2022

Our trip to the north shore proved to be a lot more colorful than we were expecting.

We had already started seeing pockets of beautiful fall colors on our drive up, so I started to get a little excited…and then the colors began to pop out everywhere…with wonderful contrasts to the evergreen trees.

The weather also turned out better than I had hoped for, with warmer temperatures and some nice sunshine and blue skies (and one cloudy day). We had packed clothes for colder weather.

Looking inland from the Tofte overlook, on a spur trial off the Carlton Peak trail. (1)

Looking inland from the Tofte overlook, on a spur trial off the Carlton Peak trail. (2)

We followed our annual routine of balancing cabin time and lake time with hiking and local drives.

We watched the sun rise over the big lake and had a camp fire on the rocks. We stopped in Hinckley and Duluth on the way up, and stopped in Grand Marais one day. It’s all so familiar, yet all so refreshing, relaxing, and restorative… and so much fun!

A leaf-covered hiking trail through the forest.

The colors were breathtaking…everywhere we went. It was spectacular to see and hard to photograph with my iPhone.

But it was enough to witness the colors and breath in the fresh air, smell the different whiffs of pine scents, lake water, decomposing leaves, feel the crisp air and to “taste and see that the Lord is good” (Psalm 34:8a).

I stand in awe of the Creator of these incredible autumn colors.

And the colors were not only up north…we saw them driving home, and right here in Northfield, and outside our front and back doors!

Our neighbor’s burning bush, where our mailbox is tucked in.

A Morning Walk

On my morning walk this morning, along the ponds in my neighborhood, I looked for nature photo ops, and found many signs of fall.

Sumac – soon the foliage will turn bright red-orange.

More sun flowers…or maybe yellow cone flowers.

A curious cat. Animals always are worth a photo…

Psalm 23: 1-4

The Lord is my shepherd, I lack nothing.
He makes me lie down in green pastures,
       he leads me beside quiet waters,
       he refreshes my soul.
He guides me along the right paths
       for his name’s sake.
 Even though I walk
      through the darkest valley,
      I will fear no evil,
     for you are with me;
     your rod and your staff,
    they comfort me

But summer is not over yet…my hibiscus in bloom, this week.

Happy Easter

He is risen. He is risen, indeed!

May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit. Romans 15:13

Merry Christmas

Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord. This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.” Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying, “Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests.”
Luke 2: 11-14

God Bless us one and all!

Happy Thanksgiving 2021

Autumn gel stickers put on our patio door by grandchildren.

It is good to give thanks to the Lord,
to sing praises to the Most High.
It is good to proclaim His unfailing love in the morning,
His faithfulness in the evening…

Psalm 92:1-2

An Assignment

I’ve posted some short essays from my writing sessions before. I’m amazed where writing prompts lead, and I’m often surprised. For this assignment, the question was: “What object in your home have you been surprised to love more and more over the years?”

It took a little while before something shimmered to the top for me. And then it did. It is a photo of my two boys running through a farm field when they were younger. I had to look up date the photo was taken. It was 1988, and the boys would have been 6 and 4. I framed this photo back then, and have had it hanging in my house since. A few years ago, I went up to St. Olaf’s print center and had another color copy (8”x10”) made of the original because the first picture I had in the frame started to fade over the years.

I have the photo hanging in a hallway and I see it often. To me it represents some of the best years of my life, when my two wonderful young sons were little boys, healthy and happy, and growing and loving. I’m nostalgic for those times, those hugs, those gone-by-too-fast days when we were all together. I’m so thankful for the memories we made together as a family, and for photos I have of those times.

This picture was taken on the family farm in Pennsylvania. The boys are full of energy, runny and healthy, carefree, and so happy together. I think that best describes their childhood.

The photo is precious and makes me smile, time after time, and has become a treasured belonging in my home.

How good and pleasant it is when brothers live together in unity. Psalm 133:1 (NASB)

Sunrise Over Lake Superior

One of my favorite things to do on our annual trek to the north shore is to watch the sunrise over Lake Superior. I set my alarm – just in case – so I don’t miss it.

I love sitting silently, waiting for the sun to come up. It is such a tranquil and quiet time…a beautiful time of enjoying God’s magnificent creation, a wonderful gift. There is a unique sunrise for each unique day…and it can change within minutes.

Then Friday’s early morning light filling the sky. (6:53)

We don’t see sunsets from the location of our cabin, although sometimes we can see some color in the western skies at sunset, creating silhouettes of the trees and rocky shoreline near-by.