A tradition in our family for more than 55 years, requires the father and son team of Paul & Bob to return to Wisconsin for the one week deer hunt. This special week of male bonding and fellowship started today, when Bob helped his dad load all his gear into his truck. I’ve grown used to this time of regeneration for both of these guys and all the others who participate. In the past, this week was used to work on a project or do a complete clean of the house, or redecorate a room. This past week has been a season of recovery which seems to be going on too long, so it looks like any big plans are out of the question.

Paul simply loves being in the outdoors,  For many years, after his career in advertising, he worked as a naturalist in one of our county parks.  He is a walking dictionary when it comes to nature and knows so much about things, it’s natural for him to share every ounce of knowledge he’s compiled over the years.  Being an artist, it also gives him the opportunity to transfer his love for wildlife, wildflowers and all things that grow and thrive in the forest onto a canvas.

The painting I’m showing today is one of those experiences he’s felt.  Each brush stroke shows how much he loves the outdoors.  The poem is one written, perhaps when he was off on another hunt.  It also seems appropriate for Thanksgiving.

ART & POETRY BY PAUL & KATHY BOECHER©

Give thanks to the Lord for His creation,
In His hands all things came into existence,
The trees perfectly designed and crafted to bring shade, comfort, and shelter,
The seas in all their majesty, blown into place by His breath,
Abundant with life, food for our stomachs and beauty to behold,
The sky is filled with the voice and color of His paintbrush,
A glimmering sunset, a rainbow of promise, clouds to gather the tears of man,
The secret places are His also, He formed great mountains from formless clay,
He carved the crevices from steely granite, penciled in the lines,
Washed the canvas with water, tweaked, punched, chiseled,
He created every living thing,
Formed from nothing into intricately executed works of art,
Giving the first man a likeness of Himself,
And the first woman taken from the ribs of the man,
To forever be a part of him,
God is the Creator of all things,
Let us praise Him and thank Him for His wondrous gifts,
And remind us that He created us to be the caretakers of His creation.