The Princess and the Frog
Daily Prompt: Picture Challenge
Location: Courtyard, just outside the American Girl store in Columbus.
Shot with Sony Cyber-Shot
Posts Categorized: photography
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- My flower
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- Kiss the frog and he might squirt you
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- Birthday wishes . . . Own entire American Doll store
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- Some girly girl time!
Natalie is teaching  me so much about being a daughter of the King! He is extravagant with his love and calls us his bride. Treasure your daughters, and being served as daughters of our Father in heaven. Many of us struggle with being loved by God. I resisted for a long time, but oh the first time I climbed into his lap and let him hold me, he has shown me such kindness, and given me over the top blessings that could have only come from him.
When I was pregnant with Jonathan I did not expect much in the way of gifts. I was content with second-hand clothes and the simple things. The one extravagant thing I longed for was a cradle, but I told no one. A few days before Jonathan’s arrival, my Lamaze partner and her husband showed up at the home I was staying, In their arms was handmade a cherry wood cradle, crafted by my friend’s husband. I knew that it was a gift from God.
My husband was an amazing and unexpected gift from God. More recently this necklace under the Jonathan tree.
Continue your story!
My children, Daniel’s music, and my daughter’s love for animals are an inspiration and delight. These are all parts of one great big love note from God. His consistent comfort, at just the moments I need them are testaments to his presence in my life.
This morning He surprised me with the lilies in a part of the park I don’t normally explore.
Don’t be afraid of your longings. Expect good things from God no matter what battle you may be in the middle of.
James 1:16 Don’t be deceived, my dear brothers and sisters. 17Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows. 18He chose to give us birth through the word of truth, that we might be a kind of firstfruits of all he created.
The house shivers and sighs, naked bones exposed.
Groaning against gentle breezes, wishing to collapse,
but the skeleton stubbornly holds.
Sunken eyes devoid
of life stare out, judging the
world who so cruelly neglected intended purpose.
White picket fence, the last defense from
decay, remains locked tight,
taunting passersby’s with KEEP OUT
-as if anyone wants to COME IN.
But, the weary WELCOMEÂ mat still invites
us in . . . if we triple-dog-dare
to know the ghost of who you once could be.
Walking through nature is like climbing into the
lap of God for story time.
When I listen, I am reborn.
Provision!
Sunshine helps me to grow.
Oh ya, that is my bulls-eye!
2nd Annual Mother’s Day Walk at cemetery.
Sunshine helps me to grow.
Two of the best reasons for Mother’s Day!
The Jonathan Tree Gift.
2 Samuel 7:4 But in the same night the word of the LORD came to Nathan, saying, 5“Go and say to My servant David, ‘Thus says the LORD, “Are you the one who should build Me a house to dwell in? 6“For I have not dwelt in a house since the day I brought up the sons of Israel from Egypt, even to this day; but I have been moving about in a tent, even in a tabernacle.…
I have struggled with “catch a one-way-bus” syndrome for the past few weeks and today it reached fever pitch. I sat at my dinning room table, staring at houses listings, feeling like I was going to implode if I didn’t open the release valve. So I began mowing our yard.
God brought to mind the overwhelming longing I felt 14 years ago, to share my life with someone after being totally content with being single for 6 years was confusing. I felt stirred up. In those days, friends and family moved away, and I asked God to either make me content with Him alone again, or if this stirring was from Him, to provide a husband. He did both. I had such a joy in the journey and, because I opened myself to new possibilities, I met Brian. As I mowed my rows today, I finally  became quiet enough to listen.
Me:Lord I want a change. I want a one story house in the country.
God: You take yourself wherever you go.
Me: So that’s a no?
God: Contentment is in me, not a location. If you do not learn to have a joy in your work here, then expanding your tent pegs isn’t going create lasting peace.
Me: Yes, Lord. Teach me to love being present with you here in my home. Reveal the sin in me that rebels against your will and direction.
The tension left my shoulders and I let the bus leave without me.
Shallow roots of entwined
community. Disciples sturdy
with faith,
raise branches
Sunward in worship.
There have been several relief avenues that have emerged from my walking through this journey of grief. Some of them where childhood things left in the dust of adulthood, rediscovered. Others are completely new.
- Art: A friend invited me to join art class. I find myself growing still and quiet as my fingers discover and work the paints into new images.
- Walks: From the fragrance of leaves to the critters playing through the trees I am reminded of God’s provision for me. I have a heightened awareness of the union of life and death in nature.
- Photography: A new love and discovery. I delight in capturing new perspective through my lens.
- Blogging: Discipline, discipline, discipline! I am learning that writing through grief keeps me opening myself to God’s provision and joy daily.
As you walk through challenges, what new avenues of input and expression are you finding? Feel free to share; you may help others to discover ways of persevering.
Graves, ripe with blossoms,
always freshly planted in
our minds.
National Suicide Hotline
If you or a loved one are in immediate danger, call the National Suicide Lifeline at 988 or go to the website at https://988lifeline.org/