Birds and Pinnacles and Easter

Poems and photos and reflections because camping holidays are fodder for inspiration!

Please note that because of the photos this post is too long for email. Please click through for the whole thing. Enjoy!

We're in the middle of the Easter school holidays and last week we went camping. We'd been to this spot two and a half years ago and it was so lovely to go back as a family of five. It was so fun to experience the same place in a different time. No tent this time, but our trusty caravan. A little one and half year old to chase around everywhere. The campground was a lot busier than the last time we were here because of the school holidays and how close it was to the Easter weekend.

I love family holidays because I always feel so inspired. I enjoyed taking lots of photos and wrote two poems. I had the topics in mind that I wanted to write about - all the birds I’d seen while camping and visiting The Pinnacles again - but needed some structure. In January I wrote an abecedarian, which is pretty much an alphabet acrostic, so I decided to try out some acrostic poems.

The ending of this first acrostic was inspired by this article:

If you think about it, bird-watching is a hobby with biblical warrant. After all, our Lord Jesus said, “Look at the birds of the air…” (Matt. 6:26). Watch the birds, he says. We’re to consider how our heavenly Father cares for them so we’d recognize how much he cares for us.

Practicing Ornithology While Camping

Overhead, the swallows flit in and out of the bathroom, no fear of getting stuck inside, looking for the light as their gateway.
Right through our campsite, ducks waddle, gently picking at crumbs, then darting away when we come too close. 
Nature mixing with humanity right at our doorstep.

Isaac is distracted from his people watching anytime he notices a Willy Wagtail hopping by,
trailing along behind the little black bird who is chittering and pecking,
his finger pointed, his eyes trying to keep sight of it, until it flutters away when he gets too close.

On the river mouth beach, sea gulls cry and fly, and a 
large group of elegant black swans doze, balanced 
on one leg, crimson beak tucked into soft wing feathers. They hiss at anyone who dares come too close.
Grand white pelicans slowly drift in the shallows, gobbling up a fish or two, their beaks billowing.

Yes, indeed, I am a bird watcher. My Lord Jesus taught me to be. 

The Pinnacles 

Parked in this alien landscape,
I look at the sand stretching before me, limestone sentries standing all around in this
no man's land. Isaac has plopped down, snotty nose and all, running grains between his fingers. Greta is sharing her theories about how this came to be.
None of us know for sure, but God sure is creative, isn't He? She traces my long shadow with a stick.

Annie is collecting curled up seed pods, 
Chris helping her, distracting her from her wariness of the whipping wind. I think of the first time I visited, seven years ago, swollen belly halfway to motherhood. Five years 
later we came with two girls and spent hours here, eating a picnic lunch and playing hide and seek. 

Enthusiastically, they asked to come here again this holiday. The hide and seek didn't last as long, Isaac got hungry and needed a lot of corralling, and sand got into eyes. But now,
satiated, there is a moment of contentment for everyone, as we appreciate the small details in this awe-inspiring landscape. 

---

Sharing is Caring Vol. 6

The soundtrack for our holiday and this Easter weekend was Ellie Holcomb’s new kids album and I'm not mad about it. I love great sounding kids songs that also teach them Biblical truths.

We always listen to Andrew Peterson’s Resurrection Letters Anthology at Easter time. I love listening to Jesus’ Last Words on Good Friday and starting Easter Sunday with His Heart Beats as we eat a special breakfast before going to church.

I didn’t get very far into my Lent devotional this year, but I have really enjoyed meditating on Jesus’ sacrifice and resurrection through poetry. These are the ones that have stuck with me: Lent #37 by E.M. Welcher // Andrew Peterson’s Lenten Sonnets, particularly XXII, XXXIX and XL // Megan Hogg’s This Is Glory // “Why This Waste?” about the woman who anointed Jesus’ feet by Anna A. Friedrich // Margaret wrote Doubting Thomas last year but I still think about it // Gethsemane by Mary Oliver // Scrolling in Gethsemane by Julia McMullen

Other lovely things I’ve read recently: Christ's Last Words Were a Poem // Like in a world when God took a breath // The Words that He gave. // On Patience // Ghazal: A love song for friends (lost and found) // in defense of sad stories. // You're Beautiful // An internal debate about the shape of spoons while spooning // As Good as Hemingway

NaPoWriMo is going on this April and it did inspire me a couple of times. I posted the drafts on Notes but thought I’d also link them here. Berceuse and Watermelon.

I made these chocolate muffins on the weekend and they are such a favourite in this household of chocoholics. I sub greek yoghurt for sour cream and make 18 smaller muffins, rather than 12 massive ones.

I’m really glad I listened to this podcast episode from Coffee and Crumbs. Such an important topic to cover with our children!

And for your viewing enjoyment, so more photos from our time away:

(Oh, my beautiful boy, his hair gets me everytime! How long is too long on a little boy?)

If you enjoy poetry and photos about the every day and enjoy some link love from an Australian mum, then I’m your girl:

Thanks so much for reading! I’d love to know if you’re a bird watcher too and what Easter poems encouraged you this season!