take flight

The birds have migrated for a season and it’s only making me happy and excited! Not because I think that they are noisy or messy. But because I know that they’re coming back!

Our property here at Sparrow Way is always so full of birds! So many different kinds of them too. They love our trees next to the house, in the back yard, and when I plan it just perfectly I can have my morning coffee out on the deck as they sing such beautiful songs. What a beautiful way to wake up!

I really don’t think that there is a bird I don’t care for. We have beautiful love doves out here. They’re so cute and there are always two together. Blue jays that sit atop of the horses’ fence posts just to peek out as if they’re saying hello. Friendly robins that are the curious ones. They let you walk right up to them. I love their auburn bellies. Hawks and bald eagles that soar at crazy heights. And my favorite, magpies.
They have the sweetest and cutest little call, almost laugh like. They are gorgeous and I collect their feathers.
When I’m lucky.

Willie will come back from a hike and have a surprise for me and pull out a magpie feather that he found while out with Crosley.
They are beautiful!
I’m waiting until I have enough to make a fun wall hanging with them to show them off, but until then, I’ll wait patiently for their return to have my morning coffee with them outside!

While growing up we lived out in the hills like we do now and I was always so grateful for that! Because I loved nature and was always so aware of it. The chipmunks, the big fat squirrels, rabbits, the birds, the doe’s and bucks, the owls and horses and, you wouldn’t believe me… but the wild chinchillas!

I was aware of which animals were here for the seasons. I loved spring and summer because I think every animal stuck around for those seasons! Fall was beautiful, the animals all scurried under our wood piles and flew up in the highest trees. Finding what was left to harvest. But then came winter. My favorite season of the year because I love the gorgeous white blanket that God lays on top of everything. And the way He can form frost in the most beautiful way! Winter is simply the best because it’s the coziest.

But the birds. Most of them leave for a season. Obviously, because it’s too cold for them to live here. It’s too much of a shock.
I’ve always wondered about the babies. God really has a way with Creation because He must plan things out so perfectly that the babies are big and strong enough to withstand a journey to dry and warmer areas. It’s just amazing when you sit and think about God’s Creation!

That was me when I was growing up. Out wondering our property, usually with my dog and exploring. I wanted to see what newness I could find! Yet finding comfort in the animals and places that I knew would be around the bend. I may have been a flower child in my early teens, and I think that’s what shaped me into who I am today. I can appreciate nature, animals and seasons. I believe that is what helped me have a love for art and seeing Gods beauty in even the simplest things. Even now I’m reminded to appreciate the seasons we go through.

Like the birds, maybe in life we just need to step back from the busyness or the chaos. Step back and give us time to breathe. Maybe it’s for an entire season, possibly a week? Maybe it’s one day and God does a supernatural speedy number on you! However long, if you’re willing to “take flight” and go where God is leading you, it will be all the more worth it. Take flight, then walk into that season of rest. Find comfort in what you know will be around the bend. Then, when it’s time to come back, let yourself explore to find something new!

The birds always come back and it truly is beautiful!

A. Bell