ORIGINAL ART & POETRY BY PAUL & KATHY BOECHER©

This lovely Sandhill Crane is a sure sign of the entrance of spring. Their noisy call can be heard throughout the woodlands and near wetlands. These birds almost became extinct due to habitat loss, but with the help of volunteers and wildlife nature centers, their numbers have increased to the thousands in Minnesota. These bird migrate from Florida to our state in late March through early April. Paul loved painting these unique creatures. Our many road trips in the last year of his life, brought some of these magnificent birds into our view. It seems they often walk in pairs, much like we did through our many journeys together.

God’s perfection is so evident in nature,

Each flower is endowed with delicate beauty,

Masterfully crafted by the One who dropped the stars into the heavens,

Who filled the sea with life,

Who brought fruit for man’s pleasure and nourishment,

Where were we when these things were created?

Did we have anything to do with them?

Only God can so intricately create such majesty,

His breath covers every living thing,

Giving life,

Giving nourishment,

Giving promise and hope,

Yet even in that elegance of nature,

We have caused the weeds to grow,

Suffocating and destroying everything in their path,

Our behavior,

Our sin,

Our disobedience,

Our wandering,

Is the cause of all the ugliness in this world,

The only One who can make it right again,

Is the Son of God,

Who takes away the sin of the world,

On Him, we must rely,

For fruitfulness,

Faithfulness,

Nurturing,

Comfort,

Peace,

Everlasting life.