Wide Open Spaces

junipers & wind blown grass

rim rocks & puffy clouds

a sunset & a thunder storm

farm land & a mountain range

painted hills & high desert

painted hills & farm land

painted hills & sage brush

{of note: the "paint" on the hills matches the sage brush}

crystal clear mountain lake & a crystal blue sky

mountain lake & ponderosa pines

foot hills & a sunrise

the scenic route

{oh, and mount hood, of course!}

Folks, these are some of my vacation iPhone pics.

Haven't even begun to wade through what's on the big girl camera yet.

Most of these were taken out a car window.

It's pretty hard to take a bad photo 'round these parts.

Each and every Oregon visit reminds me

that our Creator is, indeed, extremely creative....

that truly my life consists of blessing heaped upon blessing...

and 

that most anything is possible.

Joining Tamar

Be Still

thoughts swirl

head full 

chasing details, chasing shadows

feelings churn

heart full

gripping worries, catching fears

i seek solace

to empty the vessel

surface drops spilling easily

buckets left

deeper waters

the light

the air

the wind

the quiet

alone

raising my voice

taking shelter

until i am surrendered and

still

Linking up with
Texture Tuesday, Just Write and dVerse Poets

Brave?

"Everybody's been there,

Everybody's been stared down by the enemy,

Fallen for the fear,

And done some disappearing.

Bow down to the mighty

Don't run.

Just stop holding your tongue.

Maybe there's a way out of the cage where you live

Maybe one of these days you can let the light in

Show me how big your brave is."

Sara Bareilles

I think some people are born braver than others.

At least, I'm going to let myself think that.

Because I have never been naturally brave.

No.

I weigh my words, gauge my audience and aim to please.

I was born cautious. Emotionally cautious.

And I was raised to be extreeeeeeeemely polite.

So...

I've done my share of tongue holding. 

And disappearing.

I need people in my life who call the brave out of me.

Who shine the light, let me know I'm safe

and open the cage door

so I'll come out and show them my brave.

As an adult I've found those people.

Or they've found me.

When I think back to my childhood,

I don't remember much bravery at all.

But I do remember Sue.

Sue Freeman

was one of my first safe places.

She was the mom of the kids next door.

Her door was always open.

She trusted me to babysit her brood.

I got to hold her baby girl when she was very first home from the hospital.

She listened to me.

Heard me.

Supported me.

Traveled to my wedding...

Truth is...it's way less about what she did and more about who she was. 

For me, she was an early call to be brave.

She called the brave out of me, 

because she provided a safe place for me to be me.

We lost her yesterday.

Brave, tenacious, maternal, funny and wise...

through a painful battle with cancer...

She showed us her brave right to the end.

Her daughter posted this sweet childhood photo of her this week

as so many of us were praying for her

and for her family.

Thank you, Sue.

I love you. 

I promise to do my best to show you my brave.

Joining my friends for

Song-ography

More than...

"Like the sun through the trees you came to love me."

{Forever Autumn, Moody Blues}

Sometimes,

when you take a five minute break

Sometimes,

when you walk towards the water to grab a quick picture of 

the sunlight shining through pretty yellow leaves

Sometimes,

in the middle of a ho-hum, ordinary day...

...a swan swims right into your shot

Sometimes,

when you ask for a tiny bit of refreshment

Sometimes,

when you imagine a peaceful five minutes with the sun on your face

Sometimes,

when you least expect it...

...you receive immeasurably more than you ask or imagine

Joining Kathy for

Song-ography

Dawn

Morning has broken, like the first morning.

Blackbird has spoken, like the first bird.

Praise for the singing!
Praise for the morning!

Praise for them springing fresh from the Word!

Mine is the sunlight, mine is the morning,
Born of the one light Eden saw play.
Praise with elation!
Praise every morning,
God's recreation of the new day.
{Cat Stevens}


Rising early this weekend,
I was able to witness the dawning of two new days.
There was quiet.
And reflection.
And renewal.


Linking up with
Project 52

No Law, No Limit!

"The fruit of God's Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control.

Against such things there is no law."

Galatians 5:22-23

I don't write often about the Bible.

But I love the Bible.

The reason I don't often directly quote or refer to passages in the Bible is because I understand that it can be hard for some, who aren't specifically drawn to scriptures or to Christianity, to not immediately discount what's being said. Or to dismiss my voice. Or to just stop reading. Just because it's the Bible.

And that's ok. I totally get this. There are a lot of things about Christianity - and the "Christian" communities that we see around us, that are hard for me to take. There are reasons that I'm not a member of any church right now. To be honest, lately....the more religious things get, the less I'm drawn to them.

But - no matter what else I see of religion - I love the Bible.

And I often take time to meditate on these fruits of the Spirit - 

{love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control.}

Funny thing - it's the 'catch phrase' at the end of this little morsel of scripture that gets me every time....

Against such things there is no law.

No limit. No resistance. No boundary.

Doesn't really matter what {or who} we believe to be the source, the giver of life and hope...it's hard to argue with this list of virtues. Or to imagine laws that would limit the amount of love or kindness we can show to others. 

Is it just me, or do we spend so much time chasing the demons, stifling the darkness, avoiding weakness and fearing evil....that we forget to nourish the spirit? If my 50 (cough) plus (cough, cough) years have taught me anything...it's the profound value of these simple virtues. 

So I'm going to take my little blog link up {Six Word Fridays} and devote the next few weeks to these fruits of the Spirit - one each week. If you'd like to join in {and I really, totally, completely hope that you will!} please check in here and link up on Friday! Let's celebrate {together} these wonderful qualities, all of which make our lives so much richer! 

Six Word Fridays is easy - it's just blogging in phrases that only contain six words! {The tab in the menu bar at the top of my page will fill you in on the details} 

This Friday - we'll be sharing about LOVE!

Linking up with

Just Write

Goat Island ~ Newport, MA

"True love doesn't happen right away; 

it's an ever growing process. 

It develops after you've gone through many ups and downs,

when you've suffered together,

cried together

and laughed together."

Ricardo Montalban

Blue

This weekend Brian and I headed to Newport for a marriage retreat. 

We've been to many over the years ~ all a part of taking time for us. Making us a priority.

I love weekend get-aways!

Saturday I got up and took a nice long walk. 

There weren't many boats in the harbor, but this old weathered gal caught my eyes...

just think of all the ups and downs she's weathered. 

Beautiful old thing.

Orange

Along the water's edge there were thorny stems.

No leaves, flowers or obvious beauty. 

I'm like this stem sometimes. Prickly. In the ol' sweats. Not at my best.

But the seasons of life come and go,

and I've been well loved through them all.

Yellow 

Time shared with good friends is always a great part of these retreats.

Time to laugh...laugh at ourselves...

and share what we're learning about marriage...about life...about love.

And there was some really good food too!

Red

Here's our pretty hotel.

On Saturday afternoon,

Brian and I took a {doesn't-matter-how-long-it-takes} walk. 

Nothing like no schedule for a few days!

Aren't we cute?

Green

We're getting close to thirty years of marriage. To be able to say that we're more truly in love now than we've ever been is no small thing. Our guiding lights have been God, His words, our friends....good sense...and {thanks to my husband} LOTS of laughter!

Linking up with 

Scavenger Hunt Sunday

and sharing quotes over at

Fresh Mommy
and sharing scenes from my weekend at
Bigger Picture Blogs

Angels

I started to really believe in angels when my son was learning to crawl walk run jump...well, let's just say that during his very active baby-toddler-childhood years I'm certain there was some force beyond any of us mere mortals protecting him from harm. I used to joke {secretly really believe} that there were coffee table angels stationed in our living room. One at each corner of the table. Because somehow those corners and edges managed to miss the head of my flying/falling child every single time.

And then there was the freckle on my daughter's eyelid. As she was snuggled in bed each night, I would gently kiss her forehead. She'd close her eyes, and I'd tell her that her angels were kissing her special freckle. Her angels were gentle, protective and aware - just like she was. His angels were just...well...very busy.

As they grew, I wanted them to believe that they were a part of something much bigger than their little lives and our little world. I longed for them to know that they were connected. Never alone. Held dear and held on to by a presence, a force much greater than a mother or father's love. As they ventured off to school and into their own lives, I knew that as my eyes lost sight of them, they were still being watched over. I knew that, though bumps and bruises - both physical and emotional - would come, they were being guided and led far beyond any place that my dreams or vision could take them. And I absolutely knew that they were never, ever alone.

Last week I had a close call with something that really scared me. After I had calmed down I was flooded with memories of all the chats I'd had with those angels for years and years while raising my kids. Now that my nest is "empty" I don't seem to think about them as much as I once did. I certainly don't call on them with any regularity ~ just the occasional request to fly with and ahead of a certain driver that I love. Or to watch over air flights.

Truth is, I think it's just the vocabulary that's changed. My awareness of belonging to and being connected to a being, a force much greater than myself has only grown more certain, more powerful the older I get. And there's no shortage of gratitude in my heart and gratitude expressed for the simple blessings of every day....for the grand blessing of a guiding force. Now, I don't know if  "angels" have wings or how the one I call Father shows himself to you...but I know that this week I was reminded {yet again} to pay attention. To stay alert. To look for those millions of manifestations of that grace and power.

Because when my heart and my mind are open, it is then that I see.

Sharing thoughts from Project 52 week 7 here
and linking to Just Write here

His Words, Not Mine {Bigger Picture Moment}

This we're linking up at Sarah's

Please join me tomorrow for Six Word Fridays. We're linking up right here on my blog and this week's word is FIRST. {click on the tab at the top for details!}

After the Rain {Bigger Picture Moment}

Light.

And a cool breeze.

Crisp, fresh air teased the sheers as they danced easily in the morning sunlight.

Yes, sunlight.

Before my head left the pillow the light had worked its magic.

It seems trite, but oh how this dose of morning sun lifted my spirits!

Walking, breathing in fresh, dry, crisp air...and turning my face to the sky...

Perfect way to start the day!

This week's moodiness, that had perfectly mirrored our gray, rainy days, disappeared.

My perspective changed.

Suddenly the beauty that I'd strained to find on rain drenched leaves seemed even more beautiful.

And important.

There'd be no green, no leaves {no life!} without this rain....

Now that it was gone - had done its work - I appreciated it. Admired it, even.

And I had to laugh a little at myself.

Because we've seen it written - there are poems and quotes and {I'm sure} lots of blog posts about this.

There are such well known, spiritual truths here.

Obvious truths.

Repeated truths.

I mean...there's "nothing new under the sun"...right?

Yet I had, once again, bemoaned the rain. Wallowed in the gloominess of it.

Until there was sun. 

Until there was light to show me, to illuminate, all the good work that the rain had done.

Our darker days.
Our harder days.
When there is work being done.
When our souls are troubled, our characters are shaped, our minds are changed.
When anger grips us, or sadness overtakes us...or we are confused by all that life throws our way.
When there is work being done to us, or around us.
We forget. I forget. I forget how good it will be when the light shines again.
And my perspective changes.
And I understand.

So, today - I am grateful for the light.
The sun light, and His light.
And vow, again, to always strive to seek out His light.

Whatever the weather.

Sharing the simple moments that 

give us a glimpse of the bigger picture

as we navigate the day to day.

Today we are linking up at

Alita Jewels Treasures

Blessing

"May the raindrops fall lightly on your brow.

May the soft winds freshen your spirit.

May the sunshine brighten your heart.

May the burdens of the day rest lightly upon you,

and may God enfold you in the mantle of His love."

Irish Blessing


Planning to drink up my blessings
as the earth has been drinking up the rain.

Joining Tabitha to share quotes

at

Fresh Mommy Blog