Westerville; A City Within A Park

I've been in my new home for a month now.  I thought it was time I checked out the bike/ walking trail that passes right by my home.  One of the things I've missed since leaving Middleville, was the beautiful walk along the West Canada Creek.  Walking there was not a chore, but an enjoyable experience in nature! 

So, I decided to see what this trail across the street was about.  I was thinking that I'd walk for about 30 minutes, then head back home, making it an hour round trip.  Within minutes I found myself feeling very HAPPY!  The trail runs along Alum Creek and is surrounded by trees and nature!  Even now, with most of the leaves gone and the colors muted by the oncoming Winter, it was beautiful.  There were many varieties of birds to see and I noticed wren houses placed throughout the trail.

Another fun thing is all the choices!!  I won't have to take the same path every time I walk.  There are many directions to choose from and even some "pedestrian only" paths which I did check out today.  It seemed that each time I came around a bend, I wanted to walk just a bit further to see what was up ahead!  The trail went under overpasses, over water, through woods and fields and led to various parks, streets and even gardens.  I just wanted to keep going!  Of course, I realized that the further I went, the more walking it would take to get home.  I forced myself to turn around and go back.  About a mile from home, my hips began to complain... when I arrived, they were screaming at me!  It's funny how a little pain is worth it when you're having so much fun!

With 26 miles of trails in Westerville alone, I may need to get a bike!

Black walnuts that I don't have to clean up!

My entrance to the path.

Stone "benches" if I need to rest.

Paths go under and over bridges!

There are a lot of white birch trees.

Rest in Peace, Sweet Jessie

My sweet Jessie passed away on Thursday, June 9, 2011.  I was able to be there with her as she slipped peacefully through the veil leaving behind her frailty, pain and suffering.  I will always count Jessie as one of the greatest blessings ever bestowed upon my family.

She came to us at a very sad time, when my children needed someone to love and someone to love them as well as fill a void.  My wonderful mother arrived at our home in Ohio with two adorable puppies!  She said she bought them both and wanted us to have one.  They were a boy and a girl from the same litter of boxer/pit puppies.  The children chose the girl and named her Jessie.

Caught on the bed!

In her youth, Jessie was a playful and energetic puppy.  I know she gave my children many hours of playfulness and so very much love.  I had strict rules for her:  No table food.  No jumping up on the furniture.  No sleeping on the beds.  I know that Jessie convinced the children to allow all of those things when I wasn't looking!

Camping

Hiking in the Adirondacks

Even as she grew older, Jessie loved to play and romp, especially outside.  We used to go for long walks along the West Canada Creek.  She enjoyed running through the trees and tall grass and sniffing the ground as any good dog does.  She always left cats alone and completely ignored other dogs.  But, when it came to birds.... they were a temptation beyond resistance!  One time, on a walk, we passed a small farm.  Jessie took off running toward a flock of chickens.  Before she could be caught, she made it into the hen house where she was dragged out with feathers in her mouth!  Thereafter, she was dubbed the "Chicken-Chaser!"

Jessie and Ben

Jessie with her best pal, Butter.

She was also loyal and loving.  Jessie absolutely HATED water!  Bathing her was a huge challenge.  She never, ever went swimming.  She even walked around puddles.  She loved a wild, rambunctious pup named Butter.  Being a Lab, Butter loved water and often jumped in the West Canada for a swim.  Jessie would not even get close to the edge.  One day, the current was too strong and Butter was having a difficult time getting back to shore.  Jessie saw her struggling and actually came down to the water and stood with both front paws in while we tried to reach out and pull Butter to safety.  Once on dry ground, Jessie ran after Butter growling and barking at her in such a way that we just knew she was giving Butter a good scolding!

In the sweater I made her.

She REALLY hated her picture taken!

Although she didn't have puppies of her own, she was a nurturing and protective mother.  One night, my teenage children decided to sneak out for an adventure in the middle of the night.  Jessie stood at my bedside whining until I got up to let her out.  Once I opened the door, she refused to go out.  She just looked at me and whined.  I finally woke up enough to realize she was trying to tell me something was wrong.  I went to check on the children and... well, they were gone.... BUSTED!

In our favorite place on the West Canada.

In our last days together, she was my only companion, faithful and loyal.  She slept by my bed, laid at my feet and walked by my side.  Although she became weak and tired easily, she made every effort to continue to be the loving companion she's always been.  She's been sick for a long time now, but just kept going.  Finally, she just could not continue... she stopped eating and I knew that I had to do a most difficult thing.  Because I love her, because she does not deserve to suffer even for a second, because she would not choose it on her own.... I made the choice to give her peace and rest.  I think that my mother, who gave her to us and my father, who was a dog lover, met her on the other side.  Now, she has a Heavenly home with them where she once again romps and plays in the grass and chases chickens to her heart's content.

Rest in peace, my sweet Jessie.  You have perfectly fulfilled the great measure of your creation.  I will see you on the other side.....

April 14, 1996 - June 9, 2011

All Things Yellow...

Finally, Spring has arrived!  At dusk, this evening, I went for a long walk and couldn't help noticing all the wonderful yellow adding brightness to my new little town!

Loved watching the firemen during an exercise!  The fact they were in yellow made me smile.

 I had today off and enjoyed the warmth.  My mood is so much brighter!  There is hope for Summer after all!

Growing Things...

I've spent a few minutes reading some of my own posts on all 3 of my blogs!  I've decided that blogging is a really good thing.  It's very much like journalling.  It's good for the soul, I think.  I can look back and see where I've been and how far I've come.

My last post on this blog was about how I would not be having a garden this year.  I didn't.  I was in Indonesia and Timor Leste all Summer!  Wow!  That was a fantastic experience!  Does that mean I did not grow anything?  NOPE!

I grew healing, in my heart.  Getting away from the one causing the harm was key.  The first thing you do with a wound is stop the bleeding.  Being completely away from my usual environment was such a good thing, in so many ways... it's hard to explain, but it got me out of myself.  The world suddenly seemed bigger and more vast, which gave me hope and a desire to explore it!  Then, add service to the mix and the healing power increases exponentially!  I'm pretty sure that the power of service does not need to be explained to anyone who has served another.  Immersing myself, for an entire Summer, in service was the most healing thing I could have done and I will never regret it.

I grew faith.  Funny thing about faith... you have to use it to have it.  You must exercise it to grow it.  I had no idea why I was going on my "mini mission" but I knew I was meant to go.  It was hard to leave my family for so long, live with a 1000 complete strangers, and travel to a place where I did not understand the language or the culture to do a job that I had no idea what it would be before I got there.  I sensed that my purpose in going was for my own healing, but I did not understand how that would happen.  I trusted.  It worked!  I can't even tell you now, how that healing happened.  There was not one moment of epiphany, not one great witness of a miracle, not one big spiritual revelation.....  Instead, there were hundreds of tiny moments of joy, awe, humility, surprise and witnesses of the Spirit.  Little by little, Heavenly Father whittled away the hard shell of anger and bitterness I had developed as a protection.  Then, he drizzled on me, love and kindness, like the salty mist of the sea cools the heat in a Pacific storm.

I took this from the ship, on the way to Guam.

I grew my testimony.  I was privileged to work and live with the most amazing Latter-Day Saints!  Every night, we gathered for a devotional where I was honored to listen to their strong testimonies and the inspiring thoughts that had come to them while serving on the USNS Mercy.  As I learned of their lives of struggle and hardship, I realized that the trials of life are not any easier on some than others.  We all must endure things that are tailored to try us where we need strength.  It is in the choosing that determines what happens to us.  Two people can have the same struggle and one end up bitter and miserable, while the other ends up stronger and enlightened.  It is not the trial that did it... it is how we chose to deal with that trial.  I met so many who were choosing to become like God, following His example.  I saw the results of those choices and I want to be like them.

A few of my examples....

I grew friends.  I grew love.  I grew compassion.  I grew thankfulness.

I grew closer to my Savior..... to Him, I give thanks.

Growing Strawberry/Rhubarb Pie!

I didn't plant anything in my yard this year.  I'm not going to have a garden.  The wonderful thing is that I still get to enjoy some things I've planted in the past.... asparagus, chives, mint, onions, etc.  Soon, I'll be enjoying the strawberries and rhubarb, together, in a pie! YUM!

Strawberries are blooming nicely!

My rhubarb has gone wild!

Isn't it beautiful?  I love how big it is!

I cut the leaves off outside so they don't overrun my kitchen!  Did you know the leaves are poisonous?

I had enough to make 7 pies!  I still have more rhubarb coming! 

......now, waiting on the strawberries.....

Just Ducky!

I decided to try a bit of sewing.  It's a pastime I used to really love, but it had gone by the way side for various reasons over the years.  I used to find it very relaxing and comforting in stressful situations.  I'd say my life fits that description now, so I thought, "What have I got to lose?"  I already had a pattern and some material so I dug it out and this is what came of it!

           

Isn't she cute!?  I decided that it was almost Easter so I would give it as a gift to my newest niece, Nora.  I gave my ducky light blue eyes to match hers....

On Easter, I had so much fun watching her open her gift!

She really, really loved her new duck!

Then, her mom reminded me that she had dressed up as a duck for Halloween!  Boy!  We had some fun with that!!!!

 

Happy Easter!