Tag Archives: nature

Visiting California’s Yosemite National Park

If your days are spent juggling the stress that comes with getting everything ready for the holidays and the everyday stress that comes with raising a family then I’m sure you there is a least a part of each day that you long for a Calgon moment. The rigors of getting your home ready for the holidays is enough for anyone to want to escape… and take a nice long vacation. When I am being run ragged I think back to my trip to one of the most peaceful places on Earth– California’s Yosemite National Park. It is one of … Continue reading →

Night Tree – Eve Bunting

The radio stations are already playing Christmas carols and the stores have had their Yuletide merchandise up for weeks. The season is definitely drawing near, and with that in mind, I offer “Night Tree” by Eve Bunting to help usher in the spirit of this wonderful time of year. On Christmas Eve, a family of four climbs into their father’s truck and heads out to the edge of town, where a thick stand of trees grows. With a lantern, carrying a big box and a blanket, they make their way deeper into the grove. They startle a deer, and stare … Continue reading →

Nurture vs. Nature Debate

The age old debate of nurture vs. nature was about to play an important part in my life. In fact, it became such a big part of defining who I was, that I spent countless hours researching it. Really, I didn’t have to research far. I was living it. I was the product of both a nurturing mother, and a mother by nature. So which one is the scientific way? I really believe it depends on the person, but for me – it was most definitely nature. Without going into great detail, it might be harder for me to convey … Continue reading →

Evidence: The World Around Us

What types of evidence exist that point to the Lord and to His Word? I believe a strong evidence for the Lord is described in Romans 1:20 which states: “For His invisible attributes, namely, His eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly perceived, ever since the creation of the world, in the things that have been made.” The creation – the world around us – clearly points to an Almighty Creator. Just today I was watching one of those nature shows. You know the ones I’m talking about – where the man is fearlessly hunting snakes that are longer … Continue reading →

Activist Julia “Butterfly” Hill

“Those things of real worth in life are worth going to any length in love and respect to safeguard.” – Julia Butterfly Hill I did not know who Julia “Butterfly” Hill was until I saw the documentary Butterfly. Recently, she has been in the news with actress Daryl Hannah and singer Joan Baez for tree sitting. They were tree sitting to protest the sale of the 14-acre South Central Community Garden, which would then be torn down and replaced with a warehouse. Sheriff Deputies recently evicted all activists from the trees. Julie “Butterfly” Hill is most famous for another tree-sitting … Continue reading →

Nature – deficit Disorder Plaguing Our Children

In a world where media use is on the rise causing children to spend time indoors and many children live in places where their backyard consists of a concrete slab author Richard Louv says a new disorder is affecting our children – nature deficit disorder. In his new book Last Child in the Woods, Richard Louv claims that children are losing their connection with the natural world. Although not an official diagnosis, Richard Louv describes nature deficit disorder as an effect of withdrawing nature from childhood experiences. It increases stress and inattention and causes feelings of not being rooted in … Continue reading →

Nature Crafts

Take your kids outdoors for an adventure. Explore your surroundings and collect intriguing items found in nature to use when creating artwork. Your children may have made objects from pinecones at school, but nature offers lots of other fun stuff as well. Leaves make excellent pieces for creating works of art. Dip them in paint and use them as stamps, or cover them with a coat of clear spray paint or glue mixed with water to preserve them and give them a nice sheen. Glue lots of different shapes and colors of leaves to a background for beautiful botanic artwork. … Continue reading →

Activities That Teach #9 Nature Walk Bracelets!

Spring is here, and it’s the perfect time to take a nature walk with your child. These bracelets are super easy; they give you and your child an activity to do while you’re exploring, and they make terrific souvenirs of the outing! (Boys like them, too.) They’re so fun, your child might want to make more than one! What you will need: Masking tape (A wider band is better, and it should be nice and sticky.) Nature and a beautiful day What to do: Using the masking tape, make a bracelet around your child’s wrist, where the sticky part of … Continue reading →

Nature Safari

The words nature safari brings to mind the wilds of Africa. However, you can take your family on a nature safari right here at home. All you need to get started is a notebook, a pen and a camera if you have one handy. What kind of nature safari can you take your children on? An amazing one of the world that exists right where they are; you start by taking your supplies and your kidlets and head out the front door. Available in most suburban areas for capture on film are birds, squirrels, rabbits and the occasional groundhog. The … Continue reading →

The Independent Baby

Have you met this baby? She’s smart, she’s sassy and she doesn’t want your help. Oh, she wasn’t born independent – though she started exhibiting signs pretty soon. She didn’t want a pacifier; in fact she was probably pretty insulted when she figured out that it was empty and a really poor substitute for the real thing. As time went on, she began to exhibit other symptoms of her independent nature. She refused food after she discovered a new flavor. She didn’t want to sleep in her bed, even after she learned how. She preferred to sleep in your bed … Continue reading →