The Journey

Walking and taking photos. That has become one of my favorite things to do. My family is my most favorite thing that pushes me to do better everyday. But when I am out and focusing in on the tiniest of details or trying to take the “perfect” landscape the rest of life’s noise fades away to nothing. Just me, my camera and the thing in the center of my lens. It is calming and rewarding. A beautiful gift.

Pristine

She is called Pristine. I have a friend that was digging up her yard and she wanted a place for her roses. We had just bought our house 20 years ago and needed some plants. So here we were, in early March with this giant rose bush and root ball in a black garbage bag. It started getting oddly cold when we got it home and I knew it had to be planted or suffer being frozen and dying. My dear husband and I after dark were out in the front yard digging a huge hole in the yard as it starts to snow! I was sure the new neighbors thought we were trying to bury a body or something. I was one of our first crazy things we did in our new house. But here she is, year after year. rewarding us with her magnificent blooms. She is truly Pristine. Her only draw back is that she keep trying to expose her wild side. She keeps shooting out fast growing wild sprouts every year. Even the most beautiful have their secrets. I adore her in all her facets. Precious gifts.

Work that Satisfies the Soul

Much of our lives we go through our days working. Working to pay the bills, to feed the family, to make our lives more secure. Some work tirelessly and find there is little to show for it. This drains us of our joy and hope. Then there is work that brings life to our souls. Work that inspires and helps others, in turn helping us. The worker bee, for example, oh what a life it leads. Tirelessly collecting pollen every day, flying miles to keep the hive alive and well day after day. But look at the places the bee gets to work. Stunning works of art we call flowers. Flowers that reflect the very fingerprints of God. Not only is this its office but it also has a part in making these miracles happen. Buzzing from flower to flower passing on the beauty as it goes. This is the life I want to lead, the life of a bee. Dahlia Festival, August 2019

Weeds

Out in a corner of our weed filled back lot daisies grow. Full of gravel, unkept and left over parts from my husbands odds and end of projects, a forgotten space. Daisies flourish. It draws us in and makes our hearts glad with its beauty and life. Much like life, often overgrown with worries and fears, vines of pain threaten to take over. But the surprising blessings that push through, hope and healing making us see hope and beauty. Reminding us that we are a miracle in the making. Turning weeds into beautiful blessings.

Stunning Details

One of our many, many drizzly days. Everything is the same…but everything is different. If I go out and take a photo of the same leaf day after day, one might think the most boring job in the world. But every single day it would be different. Even in the slightest bit. It’s own kind of beauty and subtle changes. Even just in growth it would change. And taking the time to capture that would become its own amazing journey. Appreciate those things we see daily. Be thankful and take in its worth for that moment. Things are so often fleeting and fragile in our lives, do not take them for granted.

The Painted Lady

We bought butterfly caterpillars for our daughter to observe as they grew and made chrysalis, then miraculously emerging as butterflies. It makes one consider the incredible process of it all. I have also thought about butterflies themselves. Why would God make an insect that transforms so and becomes something so beautiful that flutters about on the wind pollinating our food sources? The whole mysterious unveiling leaves me in awe. They are all tiny masterpieces floating around in the sunshine. They have purpose and beauty, filling in a facet of our world that is not filled by anything else. Why would God make something like a delicate butterfly? There are many reasons, most of which I am sure I am not educated enough to list. But the reason that touches my soul is that God knew we…that I would be enthralled by such a creature. That I would find joy in their existence. That alone would have been enough.

The Forest Dwellers

The beauty of the the forest lily. Delicate and fleeting. I once found one of these Trilliums picked and laying on the side of a trail. I was sad because it probably killed the plant or at least delayed its growth by years. But I couldn’t leave it to just go to waste. We took it home and put in in a vase. I had never noticed their smell before, maybe because I am so careful not to disturb them if at all possible. They smell incredible, no wonder walking in the woods is such an experience for all the senses. This compounded by the hundreds of other things blooming, growing and spreading. Go take time to enjoy the subtle and beautiful world around you. Make the time. It renews the soul. A side note, I keep thinking this looks like a 90’s band cover. 😀

Lifted Up

During difficult times like what we are having in our world today. Experiencing things we have never experienced before, we have to dig deep to find our place to stand. Time is short too for me to spend on my art, to get outside and revel in the world God has given us. But God keeps giving me hope and setting me on firm footing right where I am at. When I lose my focus and get frustrated or sad at our situation, He reminds me of where I need to stand. The rest of the circumstances just don’t matter as much anymore. It is tender mercies. I am being dug out of the mud and mire daily. My heart is truly thankful. My prayer is that you too can find this in the midst of such troubles.

The Unfolding

Unfolding of blooms, unfolding of spring, unfolding growth and warmth and beauty. All such miraculous things to witness, to be a part of. Our wood lily, the Trillium with droplets clinging to every surface. Brings me to my knees…mostly because it is right on the forest floor where I need to get the best photo of it. But also it is just so delicate in its own way but fierce in its purpose to bloom. So beautiful and treasured. “There are only two ways to live your life. One is as though nothing is a miracle. The other is as though everything is a miracle.” – Albert Einstein.
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