Early birthday present to me

All I wanted for my birthday this year was a day out with my family. My kids are growing up so fast, and during the school year sometimes it feels like I barely see my husband. I don't need more STUFF (except stampin' stuff, which I buy myself!) so I asked for a day instead. Saturday was the day, since I am ridiculously busy all the way through the end of March between Sale A Bration shows and events, scrapbooking and church retreats, valentine parties and banquets, etc! We had a fantastic time at the beautiful Mitchell Park Domes botannical gardens in Milwaukee. 

First stop, the desert dome, Daddy's favorite. It was not quite as warm in there as the poor man was hoping,alas! But this was the first visit that the kids had ever really been interested in reading the signs and looking at the plants, not just racing around the twisting pathways at top speed. So it was extremely enjoyable to actually be able to marvel at the amazing varieties of cactus and the creative names they had been given and not just continually trying to prevent the children from careening into random strangers.

After the Desert Dome came the Show Dome, where they change out the displays seasonally. The last time we went they had a whole fairy world decked out with hydrangeas. This time the focus was on azaleas and cyclamen (thank you for teaching me about plant names, Mom!). Dan hit the jackpot with this one, because they had several garden-scale trains, too!


Next we slipped into the Rainforest Dome and had fun looking at all the koi under the waterfall and the live birds up in the trees, plus all the astoundingly weird and wonderful orchids and other bizarre flowers.

We marvelled at the modern opportunity and privilege of seeing amazing things from all over the world, and at the creativity of our God! When I am surrounded by such magnificent creations it is not hard to believe the verse that says all creation sings His praise, that the whole universe shows us His handwork. WOW.

And we HAD to get a picture of the coffee tree, to inspire our poor struggling coffee houseplant back home. Go figure, it does not seem to like Wisconsin as much as Hawaii. First it got a fungus, which we killed off with a fruit and veggie wash, and then its companion died, and now it is not looking so good, although I believe we pulled it back from the brink one more time. We'll see if it ever makes it to the next pot size up.
 

What a great day…. I am so blessed.