Month: September 2014

The Beginning of Fall!

Fall is starting to arrive here in Michigan. This is the first time in a few years that I have been really excited for fall, really anticipating fall; usually the upcoming start of school has somewhat soured the season. But, being home schooled, I don’t feel the same nervousness, so the love of fall has been revived in me.

That being the case, autumn is just around the corner. A few trees are starting to crisp around the edges. There are red and orange leaves sprinkled throughout the domes of green.

Do you know why leaves turn colors? Why does the foliage turn bright and warm? Well, as summer days shorten, trees “know” (God put this system into their DNA!) that during fall and winter they will have less daylight and water to create food through photosynthesis. They begin to shut down the food-making process in the leaves.

Chlorophyll is the green pigment responsible for photosynthesis; thus, since it is no longer needed, it disappears. The oranges and yellows that you see were, to an extent, already in the leaves. They were just covered up.

Is it not amazing how God can do this? It beyond human knowledge; we can do nothing close to it. We cannot somehow make natural things “know” what to do, but God, the greatest chemist, biologist, scientist, can. 1 Corinthians 10:26: “For the earth is the Lord’s, and the fulness thereof. ” (KJV)

In the fall, the sun seems more golden. It is the same color as wheat. It’s so warm; I love to sit in the early morning autumn sun and present my face to it, my eyes closed. It’s a gentle smile from the heavens.

There’s a crispness to the autumn air, a nip. You know that feeling– it’s great, revitalizing. It wakes you up. Your cheeks become rosy. You have to bring out the sweaters and sweatshirts, stick your hands in your pockets.

The moon is full; the harvest moon, the harbinger of fresh produce. Pumpkins, squash, corn and beans. Don’t you just love to see pumpkins growing in a field? All of the fresh vegetables make autumn foods a special treat.

I could go on and on, because fall truly is a blessing. It makes me so happy!

Autumn… The year’s last, loveliest smile.
– William Cullen Bryant

Tent Camping

I say “tent camping” because I have never in my remembrance gone camping in an RV. But; now that we are done with the clarifications, I want to say that I love camping.

My family goes tent camping, and we bring hamburgers and chips for lunch and oatmeal with scrambled eggs for breakfast. The four of us sleep in one tent, a tent that has steadily gotten more cramped as Ana and I have grown. We bring our bicycles and hiking boots and the dog, taking walks and bike rides and letting the fresh air fill our lungs. The smell of the forest wakes us up and enlivens us.

When we come back from camping, our clothes smell like woodsmoke and we take deeper breaths. We miss being out in nature, basking in God’s creation. Truthfully, we are glad to get home to real beds and familiar showers and the fridge. But camping is always a good vacation.

We went camping this past weekend at P.J. Hoffmaster State Park, near Lake Michigan. We got to get out on the beach of Lake Michigan– absolutely gorgeous sand and water. It’s nearing fall now, so it was much too cold to get in the water, but we enjoyed running along the beach.

The firewood we bought was damp, so the first night we didn’t have a fire. It took Dad two hours to get it going the next morning.

As it turns out, it started to rain the second afternoon of our stay. And it rained… and rained… and rained… Twelve hours straight, all night and into the morning. So then of course our tent had to start leaking. Ana’s pillow and the foot of my sleeping bag were soaked.

Because of the rain, we never did use our bicycles that we had strapped onto the back of the car. As we were packing back up, we got water and sand all in our car.

But despite all that, we had a really great time. We laughed hard to keep from getting frustrated at our little difficulties. We played a lot of games, read books. Got to go to the Muskegon Museum of Art and their 9/11 exhibit.

So yes, tent camping in the rain is not something I would like to do again. But it was just an overall good trip, praising God for the beauty and making do when things didn’t go to plan. Camping with my family makes me very happy.

Ana and I on the beach of Lake Michigan.

Michigan Skies

Photo credit: copyright Janelle Coffey 2012, Project 365. All rights reserved. janellecoffey.com

It’s very odd, I’ve got to tell you, how when we first tried out in Michigan I noticed that the skies seemed more open here than anywhere I had ever been before. They are wide and peeled open like a grin! Maybe it’s just the flat land, where you can see the soybean and corn fields tapering into points on the horizon and the clumps of trees and the red barns and little farm houses.

Or maybe it is mental, the re-wiring of my philosophy. A new look, fresh as rain.

Speaking of rain, it has been raining for a few hours now, here in Swartz Creek. The sky is all greys and pearly whites swirled together while fat, syrupy raindrops melt lazily across my bedroom window. Can you picture that? How beautiful it is! I hope I have conveyed it properly.

But it has not been one static sky while we have been here. One morning was simply gorgeous: the sky then was full of cobwebs, showing through blue in places, but mostly covered with soft grey clouds. The moon shone white in a pool of light; the sun was hidden in the east. The air was cool and fresh and made you want to dive into it, dive into the grass swimming with dew.

And another example. Mere days ago it was about 70º with a good breeze blowing, and if you looked up all you could see was blue and sunshine forever. Only wispy clouds at the edge of your vision, but the expanse was so wide that you had to crane your head to get in a whole view of it. Panoramic.

One evening after worship the sunset took my heart and shook it around. It looked like heaven. There were tangerine clouds and hot pink clouds and mauve in a dance around the sun while the deep blue strove to join. All the colors held hands and I could almost hear them laughing. It was a symphony.

The beauty of the skies has always touched me a certain way. The sky’s versatility is proof of God’s creativity. I have noticed beautiful skies everywhere– Romania, Kentucky, now Michigan. But Michigan is unique in that it seems infinite, endless, effortless. I love my Michigan skies.

High School

Tomorrow is my first day of high school.

I’m going to be home schooled, so I’m a lot less nervous than I would have been had I been starting public school. In fact, I’m not nervous at all. Sure, I’ll be taking Chemistry and Algebra II and World History, which would have scared me a couple of years ago. But I can handle it, I can do it. I have really internalized Phillipians 4:13: “I can do all things through Him who strengthens me.”

High school, though, symbolizes major changes. I only have four years left at home. In Michigan, I can legally begin taking Driver’s Ed classes by now. My brain is ready for harder courses; I can take on more homework. And let’s not forget the change that most teens are quick to point out, more freedom.

All of these things are natural and good. They come with more responsibilities: responsibilities toward my schooling, toward those with whom I may soon be sharing the road, toward my future. But maybe the biggest responsibility is toward God.

Because I am being home schooled, I am fortunate to not have to deal with the immorality of many kids my age, and I get to take a Bible class and focus during the day on my spirituality. I have heard that these years can be trying and conflicting. But I now have obligations toward God to grow in him, to “set the believers an example in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith, in purity.” (1Timothy 4:12)

Setting an example is a big responsibility. You have to constantly be the best you can be, and help those around you. But it is also a privilege to get to serve as myself alongside other Christians, contributing things only I as an individual can contribute.

High school is starting tomorrow. It comes with more freedoms, but also weightier responsibilities. In some ways, I’m sad to see that fourteen years have already passed. So quickly! I wish sometimes that I could be little again and relive having no responsibilities and being carefree.

On the other hand, my future is beginning. I can hardly wait for these changes, can hardly wait to grow up and experience things I’ve never experienced before. I want to drive, and date, and wear makeup and be on my own. But I have learned to enjoy being the age I am now, at this moment, beacuse I will never be right here, right now, ever again. Every day is so precious. I thank God for this step, these changes. They are truly blessings.