An Honored Guest

Being in a location such as this and witnessing the magnificence all around me, I think “How do I get to see something like this? I must be an honored guest in this house to get such treatment.” I was thinking on that and it is true. An honored guest in God’s sanctuary. This is a place to see God’s handy work and worship Him, in places like this I feel closest to Him. He does see me as an honored guest and wants the very best for me. Sometimes it is hard for me to see that, live like it is truth. After all we are limited human beings. Like little kids not understanding why they cannot have candy for dinner. In between the hard learning parts of life, there these moments that stand out. Reminders of our Great Creator and His endless love that is beyond measure.

Surprises

When I go out with my camera I will ask God to show me what I need to see and and keep me from seeing what I do not need to see. Even if I do a photo shoot with people I do this. It always blesses me more than you could imagine in the end. My day job required me to go to the pumpkin patch with our preschool class, I took photos for the school and the parents while there. When getting in my car to leave after our trip this Cooper’s Hawk landed on the fence post a few cars down from me and just sat there hunting. It was so close and just sat there posing for me for several minutes then jumped off in a dive to go after its prey. What a surprise gift. Tender mercies my friends, tender mercies.

Walking for Years

Out in the woods, walking peacefully. One foot after another, and another…breathing deeply. After all it is very steep and he has been walking for years. This is a picture of my almost 82 year old dad walking through the towering giants in Yamhill Oregon. I follow his footsteps often and then sometimes not at all. But in this I pray I get to keep following and keep walking for years too. Each step being a gift and treasured as such. Our lives can be fleeting and being thankful even for this. An interesting side note, the beautiful yell leaves growing up the very large Douglas firs is…wait for it…Poison Oak. I didn’t know it could be so lovely.

Looking Closer

  • Taking time to enjoy the precious gifts all around us. Settling in to take it all in and really appreciate what we are looking at. A leaf. Why doesn’t it stay green and fall off in the winter? Why would God make it so it changes to vibrant, beautiful colors? I am no scientist, but I cannot think of a logical reason. I think God loves to surprise us, amaze us, make us stand in awe even for a moment. Take the time to enjoy the miracles at our fingertips.

Feathers and Fluff

"He has made everything beautiful in its time. He has also set eternity in the hearts of men; yet they cannot fathom what God has done from beginning to end." Ecclesiastes 3:11-12. My favorite verse right now. My life seems to be just like this, what may have seemed like a horrible mess of choices and circumstances has somehow, miraculously, been turning into something beautiful. This feather belonged to our silly hen called Jack is molting. It is a miserable, ugly experience for chickens. They lose their feather and have to grow a whole new set in a very short time. Like chicken menopause. But when the ugly mess is done, they are beautiful, fluffy and warm. It kick starts their laying and begins a new season for them. What a wonderful metaphor for what our lives are like. We have to go through the hard miserable parts to get to the wisdom and joy that is waiting for us to be in the right place spiritually. God has given us opportunities to grow, will we take them?
“He has made everything beautiful in its time. He has also set eternity in the hearts of men; yet they cannot fathom what God has done from beginning to end.” Ecclesiastes 3:11-12. My favorite verse right now. My life seems to be just like this, what may have seemed like a horrible mess of choices and circumstances has somehow, miraculously, been turning into something beautiful. This feather belonged to our silly hen called Jack is molting. It is a miserable, ugly experience for chickens. They lose their feather and have to grow a whole new set in a very short time. Like chicken menopause. But when the ugly mess is done, they are beautiful, fluffy and warm. It kick starts their laying and begins a new season for them. What a wonderful metaphor for what our lives are like. We have to go through the hard miserable parts to get to the wisdom and joy that is waiting for us to be in the right place spiritually. God has given us opportunities to grow, will we take them?

The Journey

Going out walking and taking photos of what God shares with me. It has become one of my favorite things, my most favorite is family. They push me to be better everyday and fill my life with laughter and love. With good days and bad. Such is life. But photography, I get out into my own little world. Just me, the camera and that which I am photographing. The noise of real life shuts off for a time. It is a beautiful, rewarding gift. The morning of this photo was damp, yet sunny. The last of the Dandelion wishes by the road side making life more miraculous if we just take time to notice.
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