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Recently, my husband (Ian) asked me where I wanted to go for our Saturday morning walk.
Usually we stroll around our neighborhood on weekends,
but I wanted to visit Melda’s Marsh,
since we hadn’t been there for a few years.
This time we walked the entire loop around it–so lovely.
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Melda’s Marsh was named in remembrance of Melda Buchanan (1924-2004).
In 1994 the Province honored her with the Minister’s Environmental Award
for her conservation work throughout British Columbia.
She was known for her enthusiastic efforts
on behalf of nature conservation and animal rights.
Melda was witty, intelligent, and generous.
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I’m grateful for her contribution in making sure this beautiful place was preserved.
Each of us can play a part in leaving behind beauty in nature, in art, or inspiration.
A first step may be to ask for Divine guidance and strength.
I don’t know if Melda was a woman of faith,
but I definitely saw a glimpse of eternity as I walked alongside Melda’s Marsh.
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Blessings of Beautiful Inspiration ~ Wendy ❀
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What legacy do you hope to leave behind?
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Surely you have granted him eternal blessings
and made him glad
with the joy of your presence.
Psalm 21:6
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Oh what beautiful, peaceful photos, Wendy. Glad you were able to take these on your walk. And “Melda’s Marsh” sounds like it would make for a great book title. Have a blessed day! Tracy 🙂
Thank you, Tracy. Your suggestion reminds me of the book, The Girl of the Limberlost. Our family adored that book–you’ve got my wheels turning on that idea. ❀
Glad I got your wheels turning, Wendy. 🙂
To have a place like that named for me would be incredible. I’ll settle for this, and it’s a plan in place, anyway: My girls are to take my ashes to someplace beautiful they’ll visit often. Right now, it’s the hiking trail near where I sometimes play disc golf. I want to be part of that place after I’m done in this life – and I want my girls to come be with me there.
Eli, you’re a wise father to let your daughters know what to do with your ashes. Grief is made more bearable when the family has discussed these things beforehand. I’ve already told my kids what song I’d like played for me. May we live long enough to hug our grandchildren. ❀
Wendy, thank you for sharing this beautiful, peaceful place of nature and solitude! What a treasure ‘Melda’ has left behind for all the world to see and enjoy forevermore. So lovely!
Thank you, Kim. Melda has blessed so many people because of her diligence. She never had her own offspring–but many children are enjoying this special place. ❀
It’s beautiful, Wendy. ❤️
Thank you for the beautiful glimpses. It inspired me to get outside today with my granddaughter.
Karen, I hope you both have a lovely time with creation. When my kids were younger we would bring sketching books with us. Drawing was optional–but they usually did. ❀
Stunning 🙂 thank you for sharing, dearest Wendy!
Thank you, Heidi. I always enjoy the peaceful perfection you share with us, dear poet friend. ❀
Marshes, backwaters, and swamps—they are my preferred setting for withdrawal. There’s a peace there that I cannot seem to find anywhere else. Your photos have me longing for the river backwater.
Gene, I stopped in the middle of our walk and listened to the woods. My husband asked me what was wrong because I had teared up. I told him I’d had a glimpse of Heaven. Yes, there’s something special about the back country. I loved the part in your book where you met a father and son fishing near your river spot. It was very kind of you to share your secret. ❀
Beautiful
Thank you, dear Mary. ❀
Good question to ponder. Strategically placed seed!
Diane, you have already helped nurture a memoir seed in my heart. And I’m not even finished reading your book yet. ❀ Cynthia’s book got me started, and then she posted about your book. I love the blogging family.
Such a lovely place to have near you, Wendy, and a special woman to remember. I admire anyone who champions conservation and animal rights.
I agree, dear Jennifer. Those that speak up for the voiceless are heroes. ❀
Lovely. Legacy? Faith, love, compassion, and the ability to overcome. 🙂
Wonderful legacy vision, Marisa. Mothers and writers have the best opportunities to do this–a powerful combination when infused with the Spirit of Love. Go girl. ❀
Must be great to visit that amazing place.
Yes, you’d love it, Marylou. ❀
Such a beautiful place to be able to walk around and smell and see God’s beauty and grace. I once lived in the Northwest of the US and loved it there as there are so many places to walk and hike in the kind of beauty you captures in your photos. I lived near and in Portland, OR where Mount Hood and other peaks lend to these walks. Thanks for coming by my place for you drew me here and I needed to remember.
Caring through Christ, ~ linda
Thank you for visiting back, Linda. Each part of the world has its own beauty, just as each believer has their own gifts given by God. ❀
What a tribute to a wise woman Wendy! I think I used to know what Legacy I want to leave behind haha. I guess I would hope that others would be encouraged by things I might have said, or exemplified in life. <3
Diana xo
Diana, I’m encouraged each time I visit your blog and when you visit mine. <3 You help me think outside the box of my own little world. Plus you make me smile. 🙂
Hi Wendy, I too loved Girl of the Limberlost. Did you ever read “Freckles” by Gene Stratton Porter? Another good book by that author. What would we do without books? I love to sit and read outdoors (when the bugs aren’t biting). Thank you for your post and the photos. You take wonderful pictures. God Bless!
Mollie
Thank you, dear Mollie. Yes, I’ve read both of them aloud to my kids when they were younger. One of my sons ended up rereading Freckles because he loved it, and my daughter has lost count of the times she’s read Girl of the Limberlost. The beautiful old hardcover is falling apart now–but I’m so glad she likes to read. Gene Stratton Porter knows how to create a beautiful and believable place. I agree, “What would we do without books?” ❀
I discovered those two books, among others, in my grandfather’s book case. I love to read.
Oh, I love to explore Melda’s Marsh. Thank for sharing this info about it. Hugs, N 🙂 <3
<3 Natalie, all I could hear there was birdsong, a babbling brook, and the wind in the trees. ❀
Sounds divine! 🙂
Beautiful, Wendy. Oh … what do I hope to leave to my girls? That I loved.
Dear Shelli, love’s the greatest legacy of all–you’ve chosen well. ❀
I so feel His pleasure more intensely in places like that.
There’s a reason why God called creation good. It’s good to get out in the woods and away from technology. ❀
A beautiful place to be and reflect Wendy. Stunning photos, thank you for sharing x
Thank you, dear Christine. <3 I appreciated how clean the air was at Melda's Marsh. ❀
Wendy what a beautiful sanctuary I adore stories such as this. This would be the place to go to… away from the noisy world and to meditate.
Indeed, Kath, it was so serene, and there were strategically placed benches every so often. ❀
Beautiful photos, Wendy! Melda’s Marsh looks like a peaceful place. How fortunate you are to live near enough to walk around it. 🙂
I hope to leave a legacy of grace to my family and those who know me.
Jeanne, grace is a wonderful legacy to live within and leave behind. It’s the sweet aroma of a crushed and risen Rose–Christ.
I think my reflection would be that faith takes many forms, that creation is a broad church wherein all who have a mind to worship may find a place. For the enlightened, nature is a beneficent and worthy god and Melda’s altar is a very special one. I can sense the serenity from just a picture. A lovely place to be.
Serenity. Yes. Frederick, I appreciate the freedom our Creator has given us to choose what we believe. But we must keep in mind that every choice has consequences. I worship the Creator rather than creation as to avoid doing what Romans 1:25 warns me not to do: They exchanged the truth of God for a lie, and worshiped and served created things rather than the Creator—who is forever praised. Amen.
I need to know that what I believe will lead me safely home. Blessings on your weekend. ❀
Just gorgeous!
Thank you, Cindy. ❀