Go. Be. Do.

Sometimes the quietness of snow is exactly what one needs... To embrace life as it happens. To find joy. To release negative energy. To laugh so hard after getting thrown from a sled and face-planting in the snow that it is impossible to get up for a few minutes.

Last night as I laid my head on my pillow, I smiled at the beautiful day with which I had been blessed. Slightly annoyed at myself for not taking pictures, I quickly let that go so it would not spoil the memories of time with my friends on a sunshine-filled, warm winter day. Having no new pictures to share, I have gone to the archives to retrieve photos from the times and experiences in which our friendships were first being formed.  There is really nothing like those moments anyway...the good, the bad, and the ugly moments as you learn how to work with one another and to pray for one another.  At the end of the day, one sees how God has once again orchestrated a beautiful thing in allowing your paths to cross. The laughter and the tears make the trip down memory lane one to cherish for a lifetime.

Arizona sunset summer moonrise over Tybee Island, GA Dante's View over Badwater Basin, Death Valley 4th of July in Michigan  Arches National Park: Moab, UT

Sometimes I wished I lived in a snow globe Where the wind blows It's wonderful And every single time that You shake it You'll make it So beautiful ~Matt Wertz lyrics, "Snow Globe" I heard this song over the holidays and it resonated with my soul.  Today, as I watched the snow swirling around me, this song came to mind again.  Along with it, came a message to my heart. A snow globe is at its most beautiful moment when it has been shaken.   The snow falling, settling down again in a new design, is the result of the shaker's dutiful act. Similarly, I find beauty in my life when God shakes things up a bit, or a little more than a bit, in order to make a new pattern emerge as a result. It is not always easy to have things rearranged in my life, however.  I like the way things are at times.  A nice, neat pattern...a logical way of doing things...simplicity at its best.  For His glory and my own good, however, God rearranges my life for...

But I will sing of Your strength and will joyfully proclaim Your faithful love in the morning. For You have been a stronghold for me, a refuge in my day of trouble. Psalm 59:16 Early this morning, I read the above verse.  It spoke volumes to me.  I should know by now in this journey called life, that when one specific verse leaps off the page at me and is heard as if being spoken by God's own voice into my heart, there is a reason.  A specific reason. I had an appointment with my radiologist this morning for my CT Simulation .  I had my first consult with my radiologist back before Christmas and had an interesting reaction to the appointment.  The words are hard to come by for an explanation.  The first word that comes to mind is overwhelmed.  My nurse and doctor both kept repeating phrases that set me apart from most of their patients.  Phrases such as, "Most of my patients are post-menopausal."  "I'm not used to seeing someon...

On vacation. In the rain, even. Every morning but two...and out of seven that is not too shabby for me, a non-runner. Remember this run ?   These runs were not so much out of necessity to work off steam or steady my mind, but more to keep the calm, I have been experiencing as of late, going.  Spurring myself on, giving this New Year a great start while the going is good. The tough days lay in wait.  I know they are coming.  Out of the blue they will hit. Maybe these morning runs were my own preparation, of sorts, for those days coming where my energy is non-existent.  Or for the days of overwhelmedness (I consider that a word, thank you .) that will try to steal my joy about where I am today in comparison of where I was a year ago...7 months ago...3 weeks ago, even.  Perhaps, even, I ran for the days ahead when running is not an option.  Time, circumstance, health...they war against getting out and moving.     I ran for those days...

Finally. My only photo from December 31st that I took personally. Don't laugh...at least I found one when I uploaded photos from my camera...even if it is of a lamp.  I was playing around with some settings on my new camera while lying in bed.  So what else is there to take a photo of on the last day of the year? I give you my knocked-over-one-so-many-times-that-it's-crooked, bedside table lamp: So much for a grand finale for december photo project 2013...at least I accomplished my goal of at least one photo a day for the entire month. That's something. :)