Everyday Miracles

Maybe it's living in an area that has an ample winter experience but when Spring rolls around our spirits are instantly lifted! Neighbours come out of hibernation and the local park is filled again. Moms are awed by how much each other's kids have grown over the winter. We dig out our sand toys, search for buried sun hats and take in some fresh air! 
One afternoon found us at a local nature trail that allowed us to notice the signs of spring surrounding us. We observed the buds appearing on the surrounding trees, closed our eyes to listen for the different bird sounds and carefully choose a few "souvenirs" to bring back to our spring nature table. 
After our fiasco last spring of encouraging nature to "come to us" by hanging bird feeders and then being ATTACKED by nature, this year we've been beyond blessed. I am so excited to announce (drum roll please) that we are expecting - baby robins!!!!

Mama Robin has chosen our humble play structure to build her nest! Appearing seemingly overnight, the kids were thrilled to discover this everyday miracle!!!! We originally found only 1 egg but mama worked hard and produced a total of 3.

What an amazing color! I had to work fast to take this picture because mama was not amused - she let me know by chirping at me from the nearby fence. Unfortunately for her, choosing a play structure to nest her brood would not be a serene environment she would soon realize - too late! And so we patiently (or not) await the hatching of "our" babies. And I'm thinking - after mama's done with her handcrafted nest, it would be the perfect addition to the nature table! 
But we continue to be awed by God's great creation.  We recently went on a bird banding field trip with local home schoolers. I can not say enough about this amazing experience! Bird banding is the process of catching birds in nets and attaching a tracking band to their leg and taking down information about it - age, weight, wing span, etc. and keeping track of the migration of birds. 

We got to see several different species of birds close up and observe the process of bird banding along with other neat tidbits of information from the workers who are intimately familiar with these little guys. Did you know that a bird can play dead?

It was hilarious! This one even opened an eye to see if we were "buying his performance". 

I continue to be amazed at God's creativity and design, in providing for their needs and am blessed beyond words to share these moments with the little souls he's put in my care. 
I am reminded in my reading for today: 
And he said to his disciples, "Therefore I tell you, do not be anxious about your life, what you will eat, nor about your body, what you will put on. For life is more than food, and the body more than clothing. Consider the ravens: they do not reap, they have neither storehouse nor barn, and yet God feeds them. Of how much more value are you than the birds!" Luke 12