For the Beauty of the Earth

For the beauty of the earth,

for the glory of the skies,

for the love which from our birth

over and around us lies;

Lord of all, to Thee we raise

this our hymn of grateful praise.

Great River Road- Wisconsin side

For the wonder of each hour,

of the day and of the night,

hill and vale and tree and flower,

sun and moon and stars of light:

Lord of all, to Thee we raise

this our hymn of grateful praise.

 For the joy of human love,

brother, sister, parent, child;

friends on earth and friends above;

for all gentle thoughts and mild:

Lord of all, to Thee we raise

this our hymn of grateful praise.

Effigy Mounds hiking trail

 For Thy Church that evermore

lifteth holy hands above,

offering up on every shore

her pure sacrifice of love:

Lord of all, to Thee we raise

this our hymn of grateful praise.

Effigy Mounds lookout

 For Thyself, best gift divine,

to our race so freely given;

for that great, great love of Thine,

peace on earth and joy in Heaven:

Lord of all, to Thee we raise

this our hymn of grateful praise.

Great River Road- Iowa side

Marshall and I took a little trip along the Great River Road to admire the autumn splendor.  It was incredible!  Only God could make death and dying look so beautiful.  We stopped at Effigy Mounds and hiked up to a couple of the lookouts.  The view was breathtaking!  And for those of you who think that Iowa is just a bunch of corn... Think again!