Slow Down and Smell The Roses

Last year, I placed everything that kept me busy aside. Except for my family of course.   I realized that I've been missing so much by signing up for every community service effort, making promises to other people that actually kept me extremely busy and working overtime.

During my 2010 year-end reflection, I realized that I like being busy.  So, for 2011, I will carve out time to enjoy the things I love to do.  Photography, canvas painting and traveling. I will even learn how to swim this spring. This is my year to creatively gift myself to my community.  Stay tuned!

Wounded Glory

A few days ago, I was roaming around the community in search of  a waving flag in the deep of the night.  I belong to a photography club and thought it would be great to enter Old Glory in a photo contest.  After shooting several shots, I downloaded the pictures to my computer.  All of the photos, this one caught my eye.  I didn't notice the rip until later.  My sister thought it was symbolic and my father blurted "Wounded Glory".  I thought about our history: our native Indian brothers and sisters, slavery, all the wars, economic depressions and 9/11...after all of these momentous occurrences, we still STAND!  Bless, oh Lord, Our Country. 

God's Canvas

Oh What Joy! I decided to meet a few people in the photography club for a sunrise on the beach photo shoot. At first, I was a little hesitant. Who in their right mind would get up early on a Saturday to take pictures? Not only was it early but it was so COLD!!!! However, for some strange reason, I was very excited to attend this meetup. While talking to other photographers at our location and getting in a couple of shots, I began to fall into a trance. For a moment, it was just me and my surroundings--the clashing of the waves, the seagulls and beautiful blues, reds and oranges. It was enough to overwhelm my senses; however, at the same time the view and the presence of God was very serene. God, the artist that He is, has blessed me tremendously. I can see, hear, smell and touch. I refuse to take any good thing for granted.

Unconditional Love

Jade

The love a pet has for its caretaker is baffling.  I can leave the house for ten minutes and return to dancing dogs with tails wagging and tongues licking.  Why is that? I won't question it.  I"ll just enjoy it while I can.  One thing for sure...life is short. So I'll take the unconditional love from whomever or whatever wants to gift it to me.