Weekly Photo Challenge: Fleeting Moments

Posted on June 29, 2012 by Joy

The photo challenge this week is to share a captured moment…that is fleeting…in the street. The following five pictures capture memories. The ones that make me feel lucky to have a camera in my hands at that exact moment in time.

“Yes. Live today. Not yesterday. Not tomorrow. Just today. Inhabit your moments.
Don’t rent them out to tomorrow. Do you know what you’re doing when you spend a moment wondering how things are going to turn out…?
…You’re cheating yourself out of today. Today is calling to you, trying to get your attention, but you’re stuck on tomorrow, and today trickles away like water down a drain. You wake up the next morning and that today that you wasted is gone forever. It’s now yesterday. Some of those moments may have had wonderful things in store for you, but now you’ll never know.” ~Jerry Spinelli

“Who came up with minutes, anyway?
Who needs them?
Name one good thing a minute’s ever done.
They shorten fun and measure misery.
Get rid of them, I say.
Down with minutes!
And while you’re at it–take hours with you too.
Don’t get me started on them.”
~Jerry Spinelli, Love, Stargirl

Weekly Photo Challenge: Create

Posted on June 23, 2012 by Joy

“The only reason for making a buzzing-noise that I know of is because you’re a bee…
The only reason for being a bee that I know of is making honey….
and the only reason for making honey is so I can eat it.”
~ Winnie the Pooh ~
‘The House at Pooh Corner’

There is some serious talent out there. Check it out:
Jeff Sinon Photography ~ Nature through a lens
Lucid Gypsy ~ Writer and photographer loving life
The Great Escape ~ Life from behind a lens
3rd Culture Children
Images by Madelaine Cappuccio
A Word In Your Ear
This Man’s Journey

Wanna play? Click here

Live like Austin

Posted on June 20, 2012 by Joy

There’s this brave little boy.
His name is Austin.
He has an undiagnosed seizure disorder.
Though he is small, his faith is big.

This is his story…
Austin is a 12 year old boy who’s parents serve at Central Christian Church in Las Vegas, NV. For the past 5 years Austin has suffered from life threatening seizures, and has as many as 80 – 100 a day.

On May 4, 2012 he faced his third brain surgery to try and stop these fatal seizures. He is recovering well.

This foundation is created for him and other children like him who suffer from a seizure disorder.

He never complains, always smiles, and laughs all the time. Despite having SO many seizures a day his spirit stays sweet. That is why people started saying “live like Austin”, as a challenge for us to live life with the same attitude even when faced with adversity.

Watch him and his dad talk about their journey.

You can follow Austin’s progress on the facebook page dedicated to his journey. Make sure to “like” his page and visit often.

How You Can Help

Show your support by purchasing a ”Live Like Austin” T-shirt like the one my Bella is wearing in this picture.

She suffered from undiagnosed seizures for years. We were fortunate to finally receive clear scans and wean her off the medication several years ago. When asked why she wanted a t-shirt, her response was, “I wear it to remember… I remember how scary seizures were. Thankfully I didn’t have any surgeries on my brain, but I could have. I like telling people what the shirt means. It reminds me to pray for Austin. PLUS it’s the coolest fundraiser t-shirt I’ve seen!”

This t-shirt will not only remind you
to live life to the fullest, but it will give you the opportunity to talk about this amazing boy and his incredible passion for life.

Thank you to Jud and Lori Wilhite for raising awareness by posting their picture on Twitter wearing this shirt. I have to admit, when I saw it I thought, “That’s a cool shirt. Where can I get one?!” It wasn’t until I visited the website that I learned of Austin’s story. Everyone in my house has a “Live like Austin” t-shirt now and every time we wear it people ask what it means and where they can get one. We have yet to wear them all at the same time, but I wouldn’t put it past us.

Learn more about Austin by visiting his website Austin Ervin Foundation and make sure to share his journey with others.

Five Minute Friday: Path

Posted on June 15, 2012 by Joy

“As a single footstep will not make a path on the earth,
so a single thought will not make a pathway in the mind.
To make a deep physical path, we walk again and again.
To make a deep mental path, we must think
over and over the kind of thoughts we wish to dominate our lives.”
~Henry David Thoreau~

While out in the gardens this morning, we came across several beautiful paths. I wanted to share them with you. They are all different…beautifully unique…full of potential. What do you see when you look down these paths? Where do you think they go?
Where would they take you?

It’s a #FiveMinuteFriday flash mob! <—click to tweet this!

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. Seriously. That is, like, the rule. And the fun. And the heart of this community..

Weekly Photo Challenge: Close

Posted on June 15, 2012 by Joy

“Somewhere we know that without silence words lose their meaning,
that without listening speaking no longer heals,
that without distance closeness cannot cure”
~Henri Nouwen~

Wordless Wednesday: Natural Beauty

Posted on June 13, 2012 by Joy

And then there was Grace

Image

When I’m feeling hurried and stressed by the demands that I think the world is projecting onto me and I think I will explode if I’m slowed down by one more obstacle…
…He opens up the heavens and reminds me that He knows and He cares…
this is not my home…and red lights aren’t always a bad thing.