Tag Archives: hiking

A Picture of Survival

Posted on August 23, 2010 | Comments Off

Yesterday, we took this photo on a cell phone at Duff Park in Murrysville, PA. [I apologize for the low quality.]

I really wanted to share this because the image is a fantastic visual example of survival. Look carefully. The red square shows where the tree started. Perhaps some rocks gave way underneath it. Has that ever happened to you?

It seems that for some time the tree was pointed down, away from live-giving sunlight.

But what happened after years of struggle and persistence?

Growth. Survival. Resilience. Vigor. A Healthy (though precariously placed) Tree.

How can you survive when the bottom drops out? Grow up. 🙂

"I will survive," said the tree.

My prayer of thanksgiving: God, thank you for this example and inspiration from your created world.

What are your reflections, thoughts, or comments?

Comments Off on A Picture of Survival

Posted in Life As Prayer update

Tagged amazing photo, Christianity, comfort, depression, determination, Duff Park, family fun, family hike, God, green, grit, hanging in there, hiking, hiking trail, hope, inspiration, inspirational photo, lesson from nature, Murrysville PA, Nature, never give up, perseverance, persistence, photo, Photography, Spirituality, stress, struggle, suffering, survival, survivor, tree, trials

28.5 scenic miles

Posted on May 2, 2010 | 2 comments

I had the chance to bike ride sl-ow-ly with my husband yesterday in the valleys near Hawk Mountain. One stop included a delicious fresh spring, next to Stoudt’s Mill (1750) Here are some photos from our trip.

: me and my spouse/biking buddy

: Sign descriptive of both intellectual and cycling prowess

: A house church (a old country church building that became a house)

: Tree farm on the hills

: fields of pines

: J. C. Hill’s Tree Farm

: View of conifer crops

: reptilian roadkill

: Tim (husband) next to informative sign. At least they didn’t use the term “redskin savages.”

: waterfalls leading to mill

: Pure and delicious mountain spring water

: inside the mill

: at the mouth of the mill

Your responses are welcome.

2 Comments

Posted in Art, blogging, church, Humor, Integrating Spirituality, Nature, Photography, Recommendations, Spirituality, superstition, Walking with God, Worship

Tagged 1750, biking club, blooming trees, cycling, Deer Lake, Dough Rollers, flowers, Fresh Spring water, Hawk Mountain, Hawk Mountain Sanctuary, hiking, Indian raids, Indians, mountain spring water, Native Americans, Nature, pennsylvania, pennsylvania nature, Photography, pioneers, road trip date, road-biking, roadkill, savages, scenery, Schuylkill County, settlers, snakes, stoudt's mill

Speaking in Frystown, Camp Swatara

Posted on March 25, 2010 | 3 comments

Really excited to post that I’ll be the speaker, at chapel time in the morning- May 30th, on Memorial Wkd. at Camp Swatara. This is a wonderful camp for families.

May 29, Saturday a.m. Kid’s Carnival

May 29, Saturday p.m. Dreamakers-Family Show

And again July 25th.

benefit car show

Come on out and visit. It’s beautiful at Camp Swatara. Plus, I’ll be building my famous Lasagna Campfire Formation. I’ll bring the marshmallows, you bring the chocolate bars.