Category Nature

Burning Desire

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Burning Desire

Like all kids, mine love camping and campfires. Any time the weather is nice (especially in mid-February), they beg to have a fire and roast marshmallows.

We almost always say, “No,” however last night was an exception. For whatever reason (probably because hubby and I were just as eager to be outside), we converted the charcoal grill into a fit pit and we had our very own campfire.

This winter has been very dry and warm so the grill was necessary to keep the fire from consuming our lawn, house, and fields.

As I watched my children tend the fire and roast their hotdogs and marshmallows, my heart was warmed. 20170212_180047After eating we sat there in the quite twilight watching the flames dance.

Here came my burning desire…

My family at peace together enjoying one of life’s simple pleasures stoked a burning desire inside me. My burning desire was to hold my babies tight. My burning desire was to always be my husband’s side. It was a burning desire to never forget the sights, smells, sounds, and feelings of that moment. Those moments were burned into my heart and memory because of the simplicity of the evening and love for my family. More than anything my burning desire was for happy moments like this one to never end.

As all desires and fires do, the heat died away and the callings of life cooled our enthusiasm and pulled us back into the reality of daily tasks. The fire pit had to be doused, the trash had to be collected, baths were needed, clothes picked out for tomorrow, and bedtime prayers had to be said.

The passion of this lesson cannot be diminished by time though. The desires created in these moments added to the love I already had for my family. I now have a cherished moment to keep safe in my heart and a spark of love that will continue to be lit when we think of that one Sunday in February when we built a fire.

By: Melanie A. Peters

P.S. Sorry this wasn’t a hot and steamy romance story. It was kind of romantic though.

 

 

Truly Golden Fish

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Truly Golden Fish via Daily Prompt: Fish

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Jesus carried out one of his greatest miracles when he divided the 2 fish and 5 loaves feeding over 5000 hungry followers. Can you imagine the wonderment of the those he fed that day?

In modern times, these Gold Fish crackers provide their own kind of miracle. Contentment.

Nothing keeps my kids quieter in church or the car than Gold Fish. We use Gold Fish crackers for math homework and art projects. They make terrific Valentine, Easter, and Halloween treats because kids love them and Moms know the magical powers those cheesy crackers possess.

For a while our local grocery store did not carry Gold Fish. I am pretty sure Moms across the county were crying in anguish over this shortage. Fortunately the crackers have miraculously reappeared on the shelves in a multitude of flavors. Thank goodness!

While they may not provide the best nutrition, Gold Fish crackers provide contentment and stimulate imagination. Rarely do my kids eat them without making at least one swim into their mouths or having two of the fishy faces kiss one another. It is deliciously sweet.

There are many things in our lives that bring simple contentment. You don’t have to fish too hard to find them.

I encourage you to bait your focus for finding satisfaction in the simple pleasures of the day. Reel in the warmth of the sun as you make your way to work or class. Fill your net with compliments and kind words that have been tossed your way by those you meet. Hook onto people who are positive and swim in the positive encounters.

Contentment floods us with calm and allows us to wash away our worries. Set sail with your Intentergy poised to latch onto the good in life and may your energy be cast far and wide. Let your positive attitude flow and influence those who need some simple pleasure in their lives. Cast away!

By: Melanie A. Peters

P.S. I am not a spokesperson for Gold Fish crackers.

 

 

Autumn Shine

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Autumn Shine via Photo Challenge: Shine

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The turning of the leaves is undoubtedly the greatest wonder of the autumn season. The multitude of crimsons, greens, and golds transition us from the long days and hot temps of summer. Leafy piles form in our yards and roadsides providing fall fun. The uniqueness of each leaf’s new color could be symbolic of our own special traits as we encounter changes in life.

Our uniqueness is defined by the way we let our talents shine. No matter what you are going through in life, there is something about you that is beautiful. Show the world just how special you are in this stage of life and embrace the constant change.

By: Melanie A. Peters

P.S. Happy fall!

 

Woolly Worms and Wives’ Tales

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Woolly Worms and Wives’ Tales

We found this fast little fellow on our sidewalk and had to share!

I have always heard it said that if the woolly worms in the fall are solid black, it will be a long, cold winter.

Who am I to argue with the wisdom of wives’ tales?

We have spotted quite a few of these solidly colored, fuzzy fellows lately and (along with the Farmer’s Almanac) it has me curious.

Last fall the woolly worms all seemed to have three stripes. They were black, then brown, then black again. This pattern was actually a pretty accurate reflection of the winter. It started out cold and wet, was dry and mild, and then really wet and cold before early spring.

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2015 Woolly Worm

 

The idea of Mother Nature providing us hints as to what is to come (weather wise) has always fascinated me, so I did some research. Here is a brief synopsis of the cool stuff I learned.

In the 1940’s and 1950’s the curator of insects from the American Museum of Natural History in New York City, Dr. C. H. Curran, conducted a study of the Woolly Bear Caterpillars to see if the size of their brown band was an accurate predictor of the type of winter that would follow their autumn appearance. His research did support the wives’ tale, but he knew it was too small a sampling to legitimately support the fanciful idea fully. It would take a much more serious and larger scale investigation to prove those old wives (whomever they may be) correct. While unable to deliver a definitive answer, Dr. Curran, his wife, and a close group of friends enjoyed these studies so much they called themselves The Original Society of the Friends of the Woolly Bear.  Continue reading “Woolly Worms and Wives’ Tales” →

Dirt Don’t Hurt

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Dirt Don’t Hurt

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The expression, “God made the dirt and dirt don’t hurt,” is one that I have heard a lot since childhood. Now that I am doing my darndest to provide my children with a quality upbringing, I have to let the dirt fly sometimes.

This spot of loose sand and dirt brought so much joy to my three kiddos (and the puppy), while hubby and I took care of a water and weeds problem. Too many weeds, too little water for the cows.

They loved making mountains out of the powdery gravel and watching it filter through their fingers and toes. Pretending to cast spells and watching their sandy smoke fall was another magical practice. Seeing how dusty they could get our poor dog was another favorite challenge. While the dirt was flying, so were their imaginations and laughter. It felt so good to watch them be KIDS. Continue reading “Dirt Don’t Hurt” →

Advice From Cavers

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Advice From Cavers

cave-advice

This sign hangs in the Visitors’ Center at Onondaga Cave State Park near the entrance of the Onondaga Cave.

The message is simple. It asks those that visit the cave to make memories there and not destroy future opportunities for others.

I love this message!

It is a terrific reminder that when we slow down, capture moments in our hearts, and appreciate what is in front of us, we leave opportunity for the future.

When we treat opportunities, like the ones provided by the caves with respect and appreciation, we present ourselves with greater understanding of what miracles are available to us. By dedicating time to experience what is beautiful in our world, we make our lives more beautiful. queens-throne-room

The memories we made visiting that cave are so special to me. My children and husband love talking about what we saw and did.It was a fantastic experience. I am excited to visit more caves so that we can compare and reminisce on what we  have seen and done. I like to think that these explorations will leave happy and memorable footprints on the hearts of my family.

Today take time to reminisce on fond memories of your own or make new ones with someone you love. Leave a positive footprint where you tread and make sure the time you kill is well spent.

 

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My son checking out the newest formations in the Lilly Pad Room at Onondaga Cave

By: Melanie A. Peters

 

Pop Up Showers

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Pop Up Showers

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As I drove home today, it was obvious that rain was making its way to us. When the rain came, it fell hard and fast, making it difficult to drive. I slowed down, turned up the wiper speed, turned down the radio, and kept moving forward.

As my garage door closed behind me, I gave thanks for safety and shelter. After carrying in all my bags from the car, I noticed the rain had stopped and the sun was peaking through. I love the weather!

That pop up shower was a lot like our daily encounters. Sometimes a storm of trouble will come out of nowhere, but we hunker down and work through it. Other times we see it coming and can do nothing until is rains down on us. Those downpours strengthen us and actually refresh us for what life has in store.

Today I hope you do not experience too many unexpected whirlwinds or dampened plans. If you do find yourself facing a storm of sorrow or tribulation, stay strong. Slow down. Focus on moving forward. Turn down the distractions. Turn up the decision-making tools that will allow you to see clearly. Listen for the peace that follows the thunder and rain and know that you are a survivor.

By: Melanie A. Peters

Meet the Locks

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Meet the Locks – Funny Friday

Meet the Locks.jpg

On our recent camping trip, we experienced some embarrassing but funny mishaps. We arrived at the state park on a Thursday. There were very few campers at the park, so we quickly earned the devoted attention of our camp hosts.

We were greeted promptly and provided doggy bags for the puppy, a park map, activities for the kids, fast fire wood delivery, and a wonderfully friendly history of our hosts’ entire lives. It was nice.

Upon returning with the aforementioned firewood, our hosts talked to us about the different types of fire building techniques. As they critiqued our fire building, shouting and banging started inside our camper. The three-year-old had locked himself in and could not get out. Of course we didn’t have a key, so my husband and I tried to talk him through the unlocking process with no luck. Our camp hosts patiently sat in their golf cart and called out advice and offers to go get their camper keys.

The three-year-old soon grew tired of our coaching and climbed up on our bed in the camper, stuck his face out to the window screen, and sang, “Nah, nan, nah, boo, boo.” This received tremendous laughter from our other two children and the camp hosts, but hubby and I were not as amused. The hosts then said they would go get their key for us. In their absence my husband got the idea to send our daughter through the hole under the fold-up couch. He was able to hold the seat up long enough for her to climb through and unlock the door (just in time for the camp hosts’ return.) We thanked them and assured them we were set for the night. We were wrong. Continue reading “Meet the Locks” →

Light through the trees

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Light through the trees

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There has always been something that I love about sunlight shining through leaves. It’s like a ray of sunshine found its way through just for me.

As the heat of summer starts to make its way into the crispness of fall, I am excited to see flourishes of green leaves still weighing down the branches of trees. The last few summers have been pretty dry and by August some of our leafy friends have started to give up on their greenery.

Today is Monday and Mondays can be tough. Please use this message as a bright spot in your day. If you can, take time to find your own sunlight in the leaves or be a ray that brightens someone else’s day.

Energy is encouraged when a positive perspective is shared. Make sure your intent is to create energy from gratitude and positivity and the light you share will flourish.

By: Melanie A. Peters

 

 

 

 

Stand Tall (even when you’re drowning)

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Stand Tall (even when you’re drowning)

Above water

When man-made lakes are formed, trees, fields, plains, and old homesteads are all covered with the collecting waters. What was once a forest or a small civilization becomes sights unseen. In spite of the hundreds of years put into growing those trees, we now only see a small tip of what made its way past the 30 or 50 or even 75 foot mark. The treetops are the only reminder of that tree’s grandeur for us.

Yes, there are still things we value in this tree. For example, tying your boat to the tree’s tallest boughs provides a successful spot for fishing, because now fish make their nests in its branches, instead of birds.We know that the roots still run deep, holding the foundation for the lake in place, and continuing to provide shelter for the animals that call the lake “home.”

The clusters of once mighty leaf-bearers are now skeletons reaching for the sky, proving they are still standing strong, leafless, broken, and drowning, but strong. Continue reading “Stand Tall (even when you’re drowning)” →