7/365...Putting Practice

I'm not sure if it's the longing for green fairways...

or the eager anticipation of the slowly approaching Farm Links golf trip....

but this is one way we are beating the winter blues...

a putting green in my bedroom.

6/365...A Valentine in My Skillet

 Happy Valentines Day!  

May your awareness of The True Love be acute today.

And what would any Valentine be without chocolate?

5/365..."Shadows - hold their breath - "

There's a Certain Slant of Light, (320)

by Emily Dickinson

There's a certain Slant of light,

Winter Afternoons –

That oppresses, like the Heft

Of Cathedral Tunes –

Heavenly Hurt, it gives us –

We can find no scar,

But internal difference –

Where the Meanings, are –

None may teach it – Any –

'Tis the seal Despair –

An imperial affliction

Sent us of the Air –

When it comes, the Landscape listens –

Shadows – hold their breath –

When it goes, 'tis like the Distance

On the look of Death –

4/365...Waiting for Daddy

He still counts down the minutes until Daddy gets home.

In all honesty, I do too.

3/365...Legos Interrupted

Legos Interrupted

2/365...Hair Reminders

It's no secret that the baby Monkey, though full of life and personality and charm, is lacking in the hair department.  

 Sweet little thing was born bald and bald she has remained for the first 2 years of her life.  Over the past 6 months she has been getting a few sprouts here and there.  Even enough to warrant a DIY haircut a while back.  Mullet, anyone?

 We were sitting in the dining room eating lunch the other day and as I was enjoying the midday sun streaming in through the windows and the beautiful play of light, I noticed this one long lock of hair on her forehead.

 And it struck me...though seemingly bald from birth, she has always had this one long, random hair growing right out of the top of her head.  Always.  And there it is.  The same hair.

As much as she has changed and blossomed and grown, that lock of hair was representative of the little baby formed in my womb, born into my arms.  And it got me thinking...what representations do I have of who I was born to be?  Sure, I've changed lots.  But there are pieces that remain, unadulterated by life, the world, influences.  The purest sense of who I am.  An interesting thought.  

We will cut her hair and it will no longer look like the sweet baby of mine that she is today.  But these pictures will remind me that He who began a good work in her, He is completing it.  There will always be pieces of who she is today, regardless of who she will be.

365

I so enjoyed my 30 Day Photo Challenge, I came back for more!  Only this time I'm one-upping myself a bit.  In 2013 I will be attempting a 365 Photo Journey.  Go big or go home, right?

I listened to "Just Showed Up for My Own Life" by Sara Groves this afternoon and felt like it really captures my intent with my photos...and this blog.  An opportunity to "open the windows and feel all that's honest and real until I'm truly amazed."  Writing it down, capturing it in a picture...it all helps me to remember and to be fully awake, alert to the wonders of God all around me.

There are so many ways to hide
There are so many ways not to feel

There are so many ways to deny what is real

And I just showed up for my own life

And I'm standing here taking it in and it sure looks bright

I'm going to live my life inspired

Look for the holy in the common place
Open the windows and feel all that's honest and real until I'm truly amazed
I'm going to feel all my emotions
I'm going to look you in the eyes
I'm going to listen and hear until it's finally clear and it changes our lives

There are so many ways to hide

There are so many ways not to feel
There are so many ways to deny what is real

And I just showed up for my own life

And I'm standing here taking it in and it sure looks bright

Oh the glory of God is man fully alive

Oh the glory of God is man fully alive

If there is one human being I know that is truly, fully alive, the baby Monkey takes the cake!

In a tutu.  Eating a popsicle.  In the laundry basket.  Just how we roll.