Good Morning Sunshine! February 21, 2010

Good Morning Sunshine!, originally uploaded by pictureapromise.

Little sweetie greeted the day with her face to the sun. There was heavy frost on the trees and the early sun turned some of them pink and orange.

I do not always greet the day with my tace turned toward the sun. Often I try to push back the beginning of another day, waiting another 5, 10 or 15 minutes before crawling out of my warm bed and beginning another day. Oh that I would greet this blessing with excitement, anticipation, and gratefulness, turning my face to the SON!

Find Blessings in each day~

Keep Looking Up! February 10, 2010

Keep Looking Up!, originally uploaded by pictureapromise.

Woke up to another frosty morning but it was shrouded in heavy fog. Gray dismal day or so it seemed. By 10 am the sun was shining and we were treated to the beautiful contrast of the pure white frost against the gorgeous winter blue sky. I found my self walking about with my nose in the air, gazing up at the gorgeous frosted treetops.

I need to walk about with my eyes looking upward in a spiritual sense as well. Looking up not at the sky but up to God. Looking up to Him for direction, guidance, instruction, wisdom, and even discipline. Keeping my eyes on Him keeps my eyes off the world, off my neighbor, off myself! Turning my eyes heavenward, brings peace and removes fear. Join me in keeping our eyes fixed on Jesus the author and finisher of our faith.

Blessings~

One of a kind! February 2, 2010

One of a kind!, originally uploaded by picturethepromises.

"How full of the creative genius is the air in which these are generated!
I should hardly admire more if real stars fell
and lodged on my coat."
--Henry David Thoreau, 1856

Moonscape January 28, 2010

Moonscape, originally uploaded by picturethepromises.

Here in ND when you get a winter storm with blizzard conditions, that wind can be blowing at 50 miles an hour or more. It amazes me that little bitty birds aren't blown across the state. The creator has given them an amazing ability to ride out the storm. The wind can do terrible damage sometimes. Uprooting trees, carrying debris great distance and other damage can be expected. The wind also has the capability of creating beauty. Sometimes it piles up snow in lovely soft pillows as it fills in ones back yard. The strong wind blows tiny snowflakes into the trunks and bark of trees and in the sunlight they look to be wearing frosting. As a kid it would fill in our huge roadside ditches giving us a great place to slide and on the prairie it creates beautiful sculptures, each a unique, one of a kind masterpiece.

Sometimes in the midst of a winter blizzard you can't see what's a few feet away because of the snow being blown about. Yesterday a strong wind blew thru my life, my day. It was destructive, in part because I allowed it. I did and said things I regret but can't take back. I couldn't see the truth because of the fear, resentment, anger, frustration, fatigue and other factors swirling about. Later apologies were made, but damage had been done. I pray that God will heal the hurts I caused others to feel. It is my prayer too, that God will use this destructive wind to bring about something beautiful. I pray He uses it to teach me, to change me, to sculpt and mold me into the woman He would have me to be. In the meantime, I will draw ever nearer to Him whose love endures forever and whose mercies are new every morning.

Blessings

Wild Rice River in Winter January 27, 2010

Wild Rice River in Winter, originally uploaded by picturethepromises.

Another sunshiny day here in North Dakota and quite cold. I took a run to town and on my way home I stopped to shoot this beautiful barn: http://www.flickr.com/photos/9199449@N08/4309902879/ I also took some of the Wild Rice River that the farmstead sits next to. As I was going thru the photos and playing with the black and white on some I got to thinking about how the river and the barn would look in spring. That thought led to planning to shoot both in each season. There are other ordinary spots, fantastic trees,old barns, buildings, parks and so on that could be photographed each season. I'm going to start a list and if I need inspiration for my pic one day I can just check my list.

This pic a day project has been great so far, early into it yet I know. I always have my camera and both lenses with me. If I hadn't today, I would not have driven back to the old barn and the river bank. It's a peaceful, quaint spot to visit and today, just what I needed. Shooting in manual has become much more comfortable. I even figured out the little meter in the viewfinder and I can change my settings without taking my eye away from the viewfinder! I have much to learn and for me doing is the best teacher.

Blessings~

Waiting to Drop

Waiting to Drop, originally uploaded by picturethepromises.

The trees in our front yard are full of these seeds. The leaves all fall off before winter hits but these seeds hang on tight! They're pretty hanging on the tree in clusters and contrast beautifully against a bright blue winter sky. I know however that once the snow is gone, the grass turns green, new leaves and new seeds appear on the tree, the old seeds will finally fall to the ground. And then, I will be pulling up baby trees all summer long from my flower beds, the curb, the sidewalk, even the rain gutters. Anywhere the seeds may land!

As a Christian, I am kinda like this tree, I have seeds of faith to share with the world around me. For a season I may hold on to them, sometimes tightly, stubbornly. It's my prayer that I would release those seeds of faith, of encouragement and blessings. I pray they are more plentiful than those on my trees and that they land everywhere in hearts and lives that need a touch of heaven. May they find soil where they can put down roots and grow and in due season, repeat the process!

Blessings~

Little Red Shed January 19, 2010

Little Red Shed, originally uploaded by picturethepromises.

Another frosty day in the neighbor hood! Usually the frost we have in the am is gone by noon. About 4pm this afternoon, I went for a drive in the country just looking for things to photograph. I had fun and got quite a few fun winter pics. I found an old house hidden amidst the frost laden trees. My favorite ancient cottonwood tree that stands guard over the prairie was covered with the heavy frost. Our little country road on the way to church was lined with trees whose branches were heavy with the frost. Beauty everywhere I looked, maybe because I was looking for it.

To some, this old weathered shed and its rundown peers is an eyesore. Something outdated, useless and ugly that should be removed, perhaps replaced. Without the contrast of the red of the little shed, this scene would be far less interesting. I'm glad it's still there, hope it stays there for a long time so that I can photograph it again and again as the seasons change.

If you'd like to see some of my other winter pics you can find them on Flickr

Blessings!

Frost strings January 18, 2010

Frost strings, originally uploaded by picturethepromises.

Job 37:10
By the breath of God frost is given (KJV)

I don't quite know what it is about frost but it is such a delight to me to see. I love how it's beauty covers everything, how it sparkles in the sunlight, how it pops against a bright blue sky, how it falls from the trees and dusts the ground beneath. God's breath covering everything. He has been here, this close to me decorating my world for a brief moment knowing it delights me! He is always here, near me, with me. His breath whispering "I Love You, Child".

He's whispering to you too, in the sunrise, a flower, the giggle of a child, a breeze, a snowflake, the call of a bird, the rustling of the grass, the smile of a stranger, the touch of a friend, the waves of the ocean, the stars, a sunset, some delight, big or small He whispers and He thunders "I Love YOU child".

Blessings~

The table is Set~January 16, 2010

The table is Set~, originally uploaded by picturethepromises.

Last week I shoveled a path thru two feet of snow to my bird feeders out back. I wanted to bring them to the front of the house hoping to entice some of my feathered friends back to my yard. I rescued my best feeders and filled them, hung them in the tree out front and waited. And waited. The feeders are still full after several days. Not even a squirrel has ventured near. I will continue to wait, to hope that the birds will slowly find their way to the feeders.

I can be like the birds at times. There is a banquet set for me. Psalm 23 says God prepares a table for us in the presence of our enemies! Yet I am too busy, too comfortable or too proud to come and feast at the Kings table. The Lord has promised to provide for my every need. We ask Him for our daily bread and then break our back trying to provide for our selves. We live in loneliness, fear, despair, grief, poverty and defeat when God has fellowship, peace, hope, joy, abundance and victory waiting for us. His table is set, would that I go to His table, to His Word, to Him for all that I need this day, everyday.

Blessings~

Fog Magic January 13, 2010

Fog Settles January 13, 2010, originally uploaded by picturethepromises.

When I was in elementary school (a very long time ago!) I read a book called Fog Magic. It was a story of a girl who would walk into the fog and find herself in history. She was befriended by a family and learned about their way of life, the joys and struggles of a pilgrim family. I have
since loved the fog. It is mysterious, beautiful, magic!

Today's fog came midday, unusual for us. It didn't take long to accumulate on the trees in delicate frost After running a few errands, I grabbed my camera and went for a little drive. I had an old barn and this cemetery with the adjacent church in mind. I had fun this afternoon running around in the fog, snapping pictures and capturing some of that Fog Magic!

I'll have more fog magic pics on my flickr page

Blessings~

sun on the snow January 7, 2010

sun on the snow, originally uploaded by picturethepromises.

Yesterday we had snow, snow, snow, falling, falling, falling. Today the wind was still blowing but the sky was clear of clouds and it was the temps that were falling, falling, falling. We are well below zero here, add some wind and you have "quick freeze your skin" conditions! The older I get the more I dislike the cold and the more I feel it in my bones.

So on this very cold day, what do I do? I head outdoors with my camera! And not just once but three times I went chasing sun dogs! That's what a good cold clear day is good for. The last walk took me to the edge of town where across the field I could view the sun dogs and the sunset. The wind still blew snow across the drifts and the setting sun kissed the snow with pinks and orange. Such a beautiful goodbye to the day! I'm glad I didn't sit indoors bemoaning the cold and wishing for warm temps. Instead I opened my eyes and found surprises!

You can see more sun dog and winter pics on my flickr acct. Just click the link!
Blessings

The End December 31, 2009

The End, originally uploaded by picturethepromises.

Here it is, the very last sunset of 2009. The last sunset I will see, experience, enjoy, and photograph this year. It represents so much more. Not only is this the end of the day, it is the end of the year, the end of a decade, maybe the end of an era. In our ever changing world we can count on one thing; change. Two things actually, change and an unchanging God. I'm glad that no matter what tomorrow holds or what the year ahead holds, My Father God who has loved me these 52 years with an unending, unchanging and unconditional love will continue to Hold me safely yet tenderly in the palm of his mighty hand.
Welcome 2010!
Blessings~

Somethings Missing December 29, 2009

Late December Day, originally uploaded by picturethepromises.

After a Christmas Blizzard we were finally able to drive to northern MN to celebrate Christmas with my mom, dad, sister and her family. We arrived before lunch and that afternoon I needed to go for a little walk. (Mom always feeds us very well!) It was cold, but a beautiful afternoon. A couple years ago I took a similar photo but this year there were a couple things missing. The beautiful barn that had been there finally lost it's battle with gravity. Here is a shot taken on a blustery day. http://www.flickr.com/photos/9199449@N08/2144179488/in/set-72157603198719734/ and this is a closer look http://www.flickr.com/photos/9199449@N08/2162139649/in/set-72157603198719734/. Also missing is this wonderful old pickup http://www.flickr.com/photos/9199449@N08/2039768268/in/set-72157603212215570/.

Looking towards a new year you may notice some things that just aren't there anymore. Children off to college, a job no longer yours. Broken relationships or loved ones passed on. Our stuff gets old or we have too much so we sell it, throw it or give it away. Sometimes it can be a good thing to remove "clutter", sometimes loss is just plain painful. When I look at this scene, I know what is missing and there is sadness for what's been lost but I also see beauty and potential for the future. Sometimes we can work to restore what's missing, like a broken relationship. Sometimes we have to accept the reality of loss and move forward. It is my prayer for you that as you let the past year slip away you'll find beauty and potential in the year to come.
Blessings~