2017 Week 16: The earth is the Lord's

 His invisible attributes, His eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly seen since the creation of the world, being understood through what He has made.           (Romans 1:20)

 Divine Cycle

The acorn fell into the soil

Slowly, surely and without toil

Became one with the earth

Eventually giving birth

To a small sturdy sapling

Stretching, grappling

Branches reaching high

Ever toward the sky.

Seasons came and went

The oak tree groaned and bent

At last like weary arms

Tired limbs gave way

To battering storms and scorching sun

Then fell and gently lay.

Cupped hands cradle

The hope of life to come

Moist leaves welcome

The tender green acorn

Till new life is born.

Rita Koch, April 10, 2017

In honor of Earth Day, I asked my friend Georgia if I could include her photo along with my poem in the blog. 

It was the art I chose to write about at the opening evening of the Barton Rees Pogue Poetry and Arts festival a couple weeks ago.

[No copying allowed, both are copyrighted, but Georgia sells her cards.]

One afternoon I walked around the path through our woods to see how many different spring flowers I could find.

Wednesday afternoon Rebecca was here for a couple hours and we had fun visiting and playing with the neighbors. 

Mother had not been well, so Thursday I made another overnight visit. Again we enjoyed reading more of Aunt Margaret's letters from December 18, 1950 through February 8, 1951--their first Christmas in Argentina, Lynny-boy's 3rd birthday--so many interesting comments and anecdotes.

We invited Margaret to go to dinner with us. Afterwards I showed them many photos from the early days in Argentina, my album titled Fotos Antiguas. We found one picture from the time when her letters were written.

Aunt Margaret and Uncle Jim

The next day, April 21, was Uncle Dan's 99th birthday--my mother's only living brother. I had just received a copy of a book his granddaughter created some years ago about the Daniel Hirschy family. I was glad to have it and be able to leave it there for Mother to peruse.

Throughout the week, whenever Mike is at the shop, I can watch live streaming and maybe catch some action, or see when they turn out the light and know he'll be home soon.
In this frame, they were probably on the playing field testing the latest improvement to the robot.

The mechanical and programming students (and mentors!) have been working hard preparing for the FRC World Championship in St. Louis, April 26-29. Most of the team will travel Wesdnesday. I leave Thursday with a couple others.

Indiana Weekend with John Strauss, aired an interview with two of the girls--Robot Fighters.
"A group of talented Muncie-area teen-agers is headed to the world robotics championships. The students of Team 1720, the PhyXTGears, talk about their passion for technology - and their determination to bring home another victory."

A big week ahead, indeed! Added to the excitement of Worlds, a very serious event is coming up Tuesday the 25th--Kristie's major surgery (median arcuate ligament release and partial celiac ganglionectomy) to correct MALS, a rare congenital anomaly.