Earth Day

Reflecting on Earth Day, a few thoughts come to mind. First off, camp! I have always loved camp. I had the opportunity (thanks, mom and dad) to attend summer camp every summer since I was 6 years old. Nothing is much better than getting away to nature to focus on God, focus on friendships, and appreciate the Earth. As a 5th grade teacher in Plano, I spent many weeks at Camp Classen with my students and fellow teachers. The backdrop of Oklahoma mountains created so many teachable moments. I learned so much and it "stuck". Hopefully it "stuck" with the students, too. Secondly, Who can think of Earth Day without thinking of trees. When we moved East in Texas, our first observation was that they have "real trees" here. We have many in our backyard, and two huge ones in front of our house. When you live in the brand new neighborhoods in Suburbia, USA, as we always have, you just don't see "real trees" anymore. I have two tree memories to share. One, is at my Dad's childhood home in Clio, Michigan. In the backyard of my grandparents' house there is a tree that my dad told us he remembered planting as a kid with my grandfather. My grandparents are gone now, and the house isn't in the family anymore and for me, those kind of memories made it hardest to let go. In turn, at our first house, Dan and Bryce planted a Sycamore tree when Bryce was about 2. Again, when we sold that house, one of the sentimentalities felt by us was leaving "our tree." Mushy, I know, but I'm just kinda' that way. Finally, I can't think about trees without noting one of my favorite stories, The Giving Tree by Shel Silverstein. The boy and the tree who loved him... what wisdom and simplicity. If you haven't read it in a while, give it a once-over, you'll be glad you did.