Weekly Photo Challenge: Merge

Posted on August 18, 2012 by Joy

red, brown, yellow, black and white, they are precious in His sight…

You can see more interpretations of this week’s challenge by clicking here

Travel theme: Sunset

Posted on August 18, 2012 by Joy

I love this week’s travel theme. A sunset for me means closure. The end of a day. Bad or good, it’s coming to a close. The possibility for rest and rejuvenation.

It is my reassurance, when the sky explodes in color and beauty just before nightfall, that there are better days ahead.

“Dusk is just an illusion because the sun is either above the horizon or below it.
And that means that day and night are linked in a way that few things are.
There cannot be one without the other yet they cannot exist at the same time.”
~ Nicholas Sparks ~

“Clouds come floating into my life,
no longer to carry rain or usher storm,
but to add color to my sunset sky.”
~ Rabindranath Tagore ~

Five Minute Friday: Stretch

Posted on August 17, 2012 by Joy

It’s #FiveMinuteFriday!
Where a beautiful crowd spends five minutes all writing on the same topic and then sharing ‘em over here.

Are you ready?

When reading this week’s prompt, I immediately thought of a set of pictures I had taken recently. This one of licorice is at the top of my current favorites. In fact, it’s my screen saver.

It acts as a reminder that being “stretched” doesn’t have to be stressful or negative. It can be quite beautiful, appearing as bright colors and meaning different things to those affected by my disposition.

I have prayed that God would shape me into what He created me to be so that I would not miss a single blessing or opportunity relating to my overall purpose in His plan.

He is showing me more and more how to stretch myself in a good way, revealing His handiwork in my current circumstances. Proving that, though there was a time when stretching myself would have been represented by black licorice, today, it is beautiful, vivid and intertwined with His grace.

STOP

Wanna play? Here’s how:
1. Write for 5 minutes flat – no editing, no over thinking, no backtracking.
2. Link back here and invite others to join in.
3. And then absolutely, no ifs, ands or buts about it, you need to visit the person who linked up before you & encourage them in their comments.

No more pain

Posted on August 16, 2012 by Joy

“She went to be with Jesus and her earthly father, my grandpa Ed at 9:46. It was peaceful and I was with her.”

This was the text I received from my friend whose mother has been battling an aggressive form of cancer that just recently spread to her brain.

A few short months ago I had the incredibly privilege of capturing four generations of women through the lens of my camera. I was honored when Erin asked me to come to her family home and record precious moments with her mother, daughter and grandmother. What a gift.

I would love to honor Krista by sharing a few photos of her with her favorite girls.

Thank you Erin for introducing me to your amazing mama who, in spite of the disease ravaging her body, never lost sight of the bigger picture.

“And I saw a new heaven and a new earth: for the first heaven and the first earth were passed away; …And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away. And He that sat upon the throne said, Behold, I make all things new. …These words are true and faithful. And He said unto me, It is done. I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end.” ~Revelation 21

Prayer for the removal of all things that hinder

Posted on August 14, 2012 by Joy

This prayer is found on page 76 in the Big Book of Alcoholics Anonymous.
I have found time and time again that when I am struggling with something that is difficult to figure out, if I will look inward, the answer is usually waiting. Whether it is one that I want to hear or not.

Wednesday Wonderment

Image

“Youth is happy because it has the capacity to see beauty.
Anyone who keeps the ability to see beauty never grows old.”
~ Franz Kafka ~

Weekly Photo Challenge: Growth

Posted on August 4, 2012 by Joy

Growth is something I’m going through now, only I don’t have a picture of my insides to show you. (Thankfully, right?!) I do have a few examples that involve tangible objects.

“The best remedy for those who are afraid, lonely or unhappy is to go outside,
somewhere where they can be quite alone with the heavens, nature and God.
Because only then does one feel that all is as it should be
and that God wishes to see people happy, amidst the simple beauty of nature.
As long as this exists, and it certainly always will,
I know that there will always be comfort for every sorrow,
whatever the circumstances may be.
And I firmly believe that nature brings solace in all troubles.”
~ Anne Frank ~