Ellen Chauvin | Soaked & Sprouting

Soaked in God's Word, Sprouting Seeds of Faith

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Are Mushrooms Growing in the Soil of Your Heart?

November 21, 2019 by Ellen 2 Comments

Restless, that’s what I was. It was so hot outside this past summer, that even the mosquitoes weren’t moving. But I needed to get out of the house. I grabbed the camera, and went on a field trip in my own yard. Funny, the things you see when you open your eyes!

This first thing that caught my eye was a lot of mushrooms growing in the yard. The mushrooms had sprouted after a recent rainfall. But there were TONS of them!

Did you know that mushrooms are the tip of a fungus that lies buried under the soil? A fungus grows by breaking down organic matter. In a lawn, that organic material could be buried timber, a stump, or tree or shrub roots that remain underground after plants have been removed. Who knew?

We had cut down a very large pin oak. It was sucking all the moisture out of the ground, possibly causing foundation damage to our house. After a time, the mushrooms even sprouted on the stump. 

Think about it. A nasty fungus, breaking down something that shouldn’t be there, and making it more useful. 

It reminds me of what James said:

“Consider it all joy, my brethren, when you encounter various trials…” James 1:2 (NASB)

James knew nasty, stanky, fungus-filled trials can produce endurance. The bad, producing good; the mushrooms of life, making the soil of our heart more productive. 

Grace be with you,

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Scenes from the South: Rip’s Rookery

June 1, 2017 by Ellen 6 Comments

Happy June, y’all! This month is traditionally very busy for me – from taking the grands to Vacation Bible School, weekend trips and all the other miscellaneous things that go on! So I thought, I’d fill the blog with pictures!

John and I decided to invest in a new camera, and all of you get to see first fruits of the test shots. We went out to Rip Van Winkle Gardens to get a few bird pictures from Rip’s Rookery. If you’re ever down this way, you really should plan a trip to the Gardens. They are beautiful!

Many thanks to my sweet hubby John for these beautiful pictures.


This is a Roseate Spoonbill that John caught soaring through the air.
but those who trust in the LORD
will renew their strength;
they will soar on wings like eagles;
they will run and not grow weary;
they will walk and not faint. Isaiah 40:31 HCSB



I believe this bird is a Great Blue Heron. He seems to have his feathers ruffled a bit, doesn’t he?
A fool gives full vent to his anger,
but a wise man holds it in check. Proverb 29:11 HCSB



I’m not sure what this guy is. He resembles a snowy egret, but doesn’t have the yellow feet. We call him “The Donald” because he has a “swoop” of yellow atop his head, similar to our president! Which reminds me of this:
I urge you, first of all, to pray for all people. Ask God to help them; intercede on their behalf, and give thanks for them. Pray this way for kings and all who are in authority so that we can live peaceful and quiet lives marked by godliness and dignity.
This is good and pleases God our Savior. 1 Timothy 2:1-3 NLT

I hope you have enjoyed these pictures! We certainly enjoyed the adventure of Rip’s Rookery, and all the birds there!

Grace be with you,

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Welcome!

Torrential rains had been pelting us for weeks. With the rains came weeds growing tall in the flower beds. But I noticed other new growth, too. It wasn’t colorful flowers. It was teeny, tiny little oak trees! Squirrels had been working hard, burying food for later. The rains had soaked and softened … Read More...

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