Lovely mornings

Spring and summer are by far my favorite times of year. Flowers are blooming and everything looks lovely.  I love to wake up to the soft morning sunshine coming in through the window.  This was my view this morning at the breakfast table.  I am so blessed!

Beautiful Sunrise

This morning I woke up to a beautiful sunrise... it reminded me of what a wonderful Creator we have!

"Let us acknowledge the Lord;

    let us press on to acknowledge him.
As surely as the sun rises,
    he will appear;
he will come to us like the winter rains,
    like the spring rains that water the earth.”

Hosea 6:3 (NIV)

Nature's diamond necklace

Sometimes I can get so busy and I don't take a moment to look around and take in some of nature's beauty. We can miss out on seeing some beautiful little reminders of what a wonderful Creator we have!  This morning as I was rushing out to work I almost ran into this little beauty.  I stopped short and just took it all in... it reminded me of a delicate diamond necklace.

Don't forget to take a little time today to look for and see those little unexpected things God sends our way!

After the rain...

When the cold, dreary, gray skies start to clear 

a wonderful sight begins to appear.

Like the soft touch of your hand wiping away my tears

along comes the sun and soon the sky clears.

What is left is a beautiful sight to behold.  

Snow covered mountains dressed all white in the cold.

The garden is blooming with colors untold.

Roses and flowers adorned in pink, red and gold.

And again, like the soft touch of your kiss on my skin
The sun warms my heart and tells spring to begin.

~ RL

Sometimes it's a long lonely road I travel

"O Joy that seekest me through pain,
I cannot close my heart to thee;
I trace the rainbow through the rain,
And feel the promise is not vain,
That morn shall tearless be."
~ George Matheson, 1882

Beautiful sun!

"Love comforteth like the sunshine after the rain"
-  William Shakespeare

Happy Leap Day!

"Thirty days hath September,

April, June and November;

All the rest have thirty-one

Save February, she alone

Hath eight days and a score

Til leap year gives her one day more."

Think of someone you could encourage today.  You have an extra twenty four hours in your year to do something special and let them know how much you care!  

Blog interrupted...

I have been struggling with keeping up with my blog since the end of last summer. I could blame a myriad of things for being the cause of my blog block but in all reality all the blame must be placed upon Facebook. I think of something to post and find it easier to just update my status... sad, I know. So today I am making a conscious effort to get back on the blogging saddle and keep it current. Ok, so I know that just a few people see this versus FB but regardless I will do it for me.

So here's to spending Sunday evening with a hot cup of tea, the logs in the fireplace crackling and Jude Law in The Holiday (2006). I'm actually trying hard not to think about my least favorite holiday of the year which is coming up in a few days... blech!

Here is one of my favorite quotes from one of my favorite scenes the movie...

Amanda: "Who cut out all of those beautiful stars?" 
Sophie: "We did." 
Olivia: "The three musketeers." 

Be still sad heart and cease repining;
Behind the clouds the sun is shining,
Thy fate is the common fate of all,
Into each life a little rain must fall,
Some days must be dark and dreary.

-Longfellow

Goodbye Summer... Hello Fall...

Fall has finally arrived.  Even though I don't live in a part of the country where the leaves change and display a beautiful palette of colors, there are different sorts of Fall colors I enjoy this time of year...

Sunrise in Costa Mesa last week

From sunrise to sunset

Sunset at Creek Park last week

The colors of the season are brilliant and beautiful!

Sunset from up on the hill

The shadows in the afternoon are long and the breeze is brisk.

 At the end of each day it's a wonderful sight to behold.

City lights from up on the hill

It's hard to believe that I started this blog five years ago on September 6, 2006. It really doesn't seem that long ago! Through the years I found it to be a great place where I could share thoughts, memories and photos with family and friends near and far.

This summer I took a brief hiatus from posting and spent lots of time enjoying family, friends and the great outdoors. So as summer comes to an end I am ready to get back into the groove.

My Summer

Sunny days at the beach

warm sand

excited kids splashing in the waves

Trips to the city

exploring monuments of concrete and steel

beautiful ceramic fountain

Serene countryside

majestic falls

snugly, fluffy kittens to hold

Two birthdays and a wedding

family, food, friends

spending many wonderful hours together

Walks in the park, sharing summer bounty

in colors of red, green, purple

enjoying tasty treats

Summer has come and is almost gone

warm memories will stay forever.

Job 38

Job 38 from Grace EV Free on Vimeo.

Vacation Treasures

I've been on vacation visiting my best friend in Amish country in Pennsylvania. We went out antiquing the other day in Smicksburg. This was the best find of the day. Three teacups for $2.50! I love finding little treasures.

One of my favorite things

Blue Skies and puffy white clouds! I love the sky the day after it rains. It is so clear, crisp, blue and beautiful it makes my heart sing.

Psalm 147:7-9
7 "Sing to the LORD with grateful praise;
make music to our God on the harp.
8 He covers the sky with clouds;
he supplies the earth with rain
and makes grass grow on the hills.
9 He provides food for the cattle
and for the young ravens when they call."