DRIED LEAVES AND SUCH - A clear message

I love teaching my grandchildren the little that I know about nature.
For the most part, what I know, I learned it from the elders in my life.

The first and foremost of my teachers was my father. He was raised on a farm and had an immense respect for nature. He grew up helping with the hogs, cows, chickens, rabbits, horses, the vegetable garden and the vineyard. During WWI, his father was gone to the Prussian front so it was up to the kids to help my grandmother keep up with all the chores. My father remained a farmer at heart all his life, even after living in the city and working a job that demanded wearing a suit and tie.

We took walks as a family almost everyday. Long ones always on Sunday, unless the snow fell too thick or it rained too hard.
I learned so much during those walks. My father knew the name of every kind of tree, he could recognize any leaves, any seed or grain, even tell me about types of rocks and stones and their origins. He loved everything in nature, even the soil.

My parents and I picked wild berries in the summer, wild mushrooms in the fall, wild greens in the springs. With our harvest, my mother would prepare delicious evening meals to round up the day. Afterwards we'd go over our findings and decide on the ones "for keeps". My dad would tell stories and talks about his childhood. We'd place tender twigs, buds, flowers, leaves, seeds or any other gift from nature found that day between blotting papers with a weight on top, usually one of the many volumes from our well stocked book shelves.
Several weeks later, after these treasures dried up enough, came the part of affixing them in my 'Nature Scrapbook'. My mother always helped me write the captions under each of these botanical beauties. I loved it.

It was clear to me, that love for nature. The message stayed with me. It was backed up by a lifestyle.

Let me check and make sure that the message I give is clear and that my lifestyle says the same thing.

I know... I represent the King and His Word, and the Church.