– The Blog

Notes From Home

These are stories I lived and still carry: reflections on growing up on a farm, on what it means to leave and return, and on the urgency of preserving land, legacies, and a rural way of life.

Rhonda J. Ray 4/21/26 Rhonda J. Ray 4/21/26

Earth Day and Thoreau: Celebrating Nature!

On Earth Day, millions across the globe urge us to be mindful of nature, our atmosphere, and environment. Long before Earth Day began in 1970, Henry David Thoreau proclaimed the need to know and honor nature and acknowledge our connection to it.

Rhonda J. Ray 8/26/25 Rhonda J. Ray 8/26/25

Nature as Healer, Teacher, and Refuge

Nature has always been my refuge—a quiet healer and teacher. From childhood days watching trees sway outside my window to adult walks in the woods or along the sea, I’ve found comfort, clarity, and a sense of God’s presence in the natural world. Even the smallest glimpse of nature reminds me to slow down, breathe, and trust that renewal is always possible.