"Here is calm so deep, grasses cease waving. . . . Wonderful how completely everything in wild nature fits into us, as if truly part and parent of us.

The sun shines not on us but in us. The rivers flow not past, but through us, thrilling, tingling, vibrating every fiber and cell of the substance of our bodies, making them glide and sing.

The trees wave and the flowers bloom in our bodies as well as our souls, and every bird song, wind song, and; tremendous storm song of the rocks in the heart of the mountains is our song, our very own, and sings our love."

- John Muir

I love that passage from John Muir. I first read his writings as a freshman in college as part of my environment and natural resources degree. From a very young age playing in our creek in the backyard, running through the woods on my grandparents farm, and exploring as an adult - I have loved the quiet stillness, the colors, the smells, everything the earth has to offer.

Last week as Sprout and I were hiking, she must have said one hundred times, "What's that?! What's that?!". I lovingly obliged by pointing out all of the new sprouts; mayapples, cut leaf toothwort, spring beauties, garlic mustard, bluebirds and cardinals and chickadees. We talked about the song that the rufous sided tohee was singing as he followed us, "drink your tttteeeeaaa". She repeated everything I said and even the next day as we entered the woods said, "Momma, Momma, Momma! Apple! Apple!" as she pointed to the mayapples. Sharing all of God's creation with my kids is as much a joy for me as a Mom as it was for me as a kid to share it with my father and my grandfather.

Go outside and share some of the splendor around you with someone you love - Happy Earth Day.

xoxo,

Trish