Sunset at Tybee Island

Tybee Island is one of my favorite places!

Here's a picture of the sunset on the "back river".  How blessed I was to be able to spend a few days there this summer!  I was able to see the sunrise over the ocean, and then, after a day of soaking up the sun, reading, walking on the beach, and, in general, feeling absolutely RELAXED, finish the day watching this beautiful sunset.

Here are a couple more of my favorite pictures from that trip.

The sea grass is beautiful.......... even if my camera was not quite in focus!

If you look VERY closely in the bottom right of this picture, you'll see a fiddler crab digging his way back under the sand.  This fellow actually looked right at me for a good 30 seconds, until I moved to snap the picture.

Lastly, the beauty of the sunset relfected in the water.   Ahhhhhhhhhh, no that is the way to end an evening!

dreams

dream, a photo by jillallyn on Flickr.

Who knows where their dreams will take them?

I haven't been blogging in a while, but I've been finding a long-ago lost dream of mine awakening within me.

What a surprise!

For too many reasons to mention here, my dreams of attending college fizzled and disappeared a long, long time ago.

All of a sudden, I find a voice whispering inside of me, saying "why don't I try?"

Why not? Well, I can think of lots of reasons! But, an insistent voice keeps whispering..... "maybe you can!"

It'll be a long road to travel before I can (maybe?!) step into a classroom again as a student.

Meanwhile, I plan to cherish the journey to a childhood dream........ one step at a time.

It IS OK to dream!

"You are my parachute. . ."

Skydiving, a photo by aria anthony on Flickr.

I invite you to follow me to VELVETEEN RABBI to read an amazing poem, based in part on Psalm 23.  (Just click on the link!)

I've been so energized by this poem. It's called "PSALM OF THE SKY for those who dwell in uncertainty".   I so appreciate the sense of joyful trust in God that I find in this poem.  It's just what I needed this week. 
Thank you, Rachel, for your permission to post this link!

Choose Life........

No, this is not a post about the "pro-life vs. pro-choice" debate!

This is about CHOOSING the thoughts, attitudes, and actions that will bring LIFE to my little corner of the world.

I received these little "Live, Love, Laugh" vases as a Christmas gift. Today I finally took a few moments to buy silk flowers for the vases, and display them on my kitchen table.

Every once in a while a phrase in a Sunday sermon reaches out and grabs me, and stays with me all week. This was one of those Sundays. "Choose life" was the phrase that has captured my imagination. If my thoughts, words, and actions reflect love....... love for God, for MYSELF (why is that often so hard?), and for others...... then I'm making a choice for life..... abundant life. No, not the abundance of money and THINGS, but an abundance of inner joy, peace, and yes..... laughter.

Just for today, I'll choose life.

Color my world with hope

Colours
Originally uploaded by Jinu Martin (Busy)

Have I ever mentioned on this blog that I've found much hope in life through the 12 Steps?

Someone shared that their recovery program "colored her world with hope". That little sentence has been bouncing around in my head ever since. And, to go with that, there's the Chicago song (I know, I'm showing my age!) "Colour my World".

I've heard it said that addictions of all kinds are a way of shutting out the pain of life. I'm so grateful that I've been enabled to face the pain, learn what I did to cause it, and learn a new way to live my life.

Faith has always been a part of my life, and for that I'm so grateful. The 12 Steps have shown me how to put that faith into action. What a difference!

This little light of mine........

bright lights
Originally uploaded by DM 909

Today is Epiphany, and I'm so grateful for light in my life today.

"This little light of mine,
I'm gonna let it shine.........."

I just LOVE to watch children sing that song!

Over the years, I've come to realize that God's light shines brightest through the broken places in our lives. Yes, even (or maybe ESPECIALLY!) through the brokenness, "let it shine, let it shine, let it shine".

Snowflakes!

Snowflakes!
Originally uploaded by nutmeg66

I actually had the pleasure of being outside and enjoying some snow flurries today! I live in the South, so snowflakes are indeed a treat! Nothing stuck, but oh what magic to step out of the shopping mall (yes, I braved the crowds to get my half-price calendars!) into the joyful dancing snow flurries, big flakes that stayed on the car for a bit before melting away. Pure magic, and what a lift to my spirit after spending too much time in the mall. Ah, if only I had my camera with me........ by the time I got home, the snow had stopped. What's the next best thing to my own photo? This wonderful photo-share from Flickr, of course! :)