HOPE IN THE DARKNESS...

“A black night seems to make the moon brighter. Purple irises brighten yellow daffodils. And a dark gray Kansas sky makes the wheat look truly golden. So it is with us. It seems that God best displays the brilliance of His grace against the backdrop of our darkest and even blackest moments.” —Joni Eareckson Tada

MAY FLIGHTS OF ANGELS GUIDE THEE TO THY REST...

in memory of my friend Jan...

A DISTANT MEMORY AND I CHANGE WITH THE SEASONS...

THE COMFORT OF YESTERYEARS...

Dear Jesus, you prayed to God in agony. Let us never forget that we can come to you with every pain, every burden, every secret angst. We can pour ourselves at your feet and we can be reborn, thank God. Amen.

DER JAHRESKREIS...

“Der Wind weht rauh, die Blatter fallen,

der Herbst bringt uns die Farbenpracht.

Verweht die Spuren eines Sommers,

der Winter kommt bald, uber Nacht.

Und endlich fallen erste Flocken,

ein Schneegestober, ganz in weiss.

Der Fruhling weckt die Erde wieder,

der Sommer schliesst den Jahreskreis.”

LET US BE KIND...

SHE IS PURRRRFECTION WITH EMERALD EYES

" My sorrow, when she's with me, thinks these dark days of autumn rain are beautiful as days can be; she loves the bare, the withered tree, she walks the sodden pasture lane."  by Robert Frost

ISN'T SHE LOVELY!

HEY GIRL!!!

I just could not resist adding this caption inspired by my husband!

SEASONS OF TIME...

"There is a time for love and laughter
The days will pass like summer storms
The winter wind will follow after
But there is love and love is warm

There is a time for us to wander
When time is young and so are we
The woods are greener over yonder
The path is new the world is free

There is a time when leaves are fallin'
The woods are gray the paths are old
The snow will come when geese are callin'
You need a fire against the cold

So do your roaming in the springtime
And you'll find your love in the summer sun
The frost will come and bring the harvest
And you can sleep when day is done"

COW CAT FAERIE...

THE GARDEN FAERIE...

BLACK & WHITE...ARE YOU A GOOD OR BAD WITCH?

HELLO HANDSOME....COME SEE ME SOMETIME!

MAGIC BENEATH THE SEA...

Erte's mermaid just delights all of my summer senses!

LUNA...

The magical art of Jim Haynie...

INCATNEATO...

THE LITTLE MERMAID...

this is my favorite mermaid picture...she is enchanting! she was used below in a seashore scrapbook page...I also love the delicate design she is surrounded with.

AUTUMN DREAMS...

This free slideshow personalized with Smilebox

MERMAID AND PURRMAID FAES

1849...A PILGRIM WITCHY

A beautiful girl from 1849...are you a Pilgrim from Thanksgiving?  Are you the good witch from Halloween?

SEASONS DRIFT INTO ONE ANOTHER...

If I could...I would find autumn in each corner of the world and capture it forever...

A DAY BY THE SEA SO LONG AGO...TAKE ME THERE

A MIDSUMMER'S NIGHT DREAM

This reminds me of Titania and Oberon...wish I knew who this really is

HANDSOME MYSTERY ANCESTOR

I REMEMBER MY MOTHER

For those who are lucky to still be blessed with your Mom this is beautiful. For those who aren't, this is even more beautiful.

A young mother set her foot on the path of life. "Is this the long way?" she asked. And the guide said, "Yes, and the way is hard. And you will be old before you reach the end of it. But the end will be better than the beginning.” But the young mother was happy, and she would not believe that anything could be better than these years.

So she played with her children, she fed them and bathed them, and taught them how to tie their shoes and ride a bike and reminded them to feed the dog and do their homework and brush their teeth. The sun shone on them, and the young Mother cried, "Nothing will ever be lovelier than this."

Then the nights came, and the storms, and the path was sometimes dark, and the children shook with fear and cold, and the mother drew them close and covered them with her arms, and the children said, "Mother, we are not afraid, for you are near, and no harm can come."

And the morning came, and there was a hill ahead, and the children climbed and grew weary, and the mother was weary. But at all times she said to the children, “A little patience and we are there." So the children climbed, and as they climbed they learned to weather the storms. And with this, she gave them strength to face the world. Year after year, she showed them compassion, understanding, hope, but most of all, unconditional love. And when they reached the top they said, "Mother, we would not have done it without you."

The days went on, and the weeks and the months and the years, and the mother grew old and she became little and bent. But her children were tall and strong, and walked with courage. And the mother, when she lay down at night, looked up at the stars and said, "This is a better day than the last, for my children have learned so much and are now passing these traits on to their children." And when the way became rough for her, they lifted her, and gave her their strength, just as she had given them hers.

One day they came to a hill, and beyond the hill, they could see a shining road and golden gates flung wide. And mother said, "I have reached the end of my journey. And now I know the end is better than the beginning, for my children can walk with dignity and pride, with their heads held high, and so can their children after them." And the children said, " You will always walk with us, Mother, even when you have gone through the gates." And they stood and watched her as she went on alone, and the gates closed after her. And they said, "We cannot see her, but she is with us still. A Mother like ours is more than a memory. She is a living presence."

Your Mother is always with you. She's the whisper of the leaves as you walk down the street, she's the smell of certain foods you remember, flowers you pick and perfume that she wore, she's the cool hand on your brow when you're not feeling well, she's your breath in the air on a cold winter's day. She is the sound of the rain that lulls you to sleep, the colors of a rainbow, she is Christmas morning. Your Mother lives inside your laughter. And she's crystallized in every teardrop. A mother shows every emotion...happiness, sadness, fear, jealousy, love, hate, anger, helplessness, excitement, joy, sorrow.... and all the while, hoping and praying you will only know the good feelings in life.

She's the place you came from, your first home, and she's the map you follow with every step you take. She's your first love, your first friend, even your first enemy, but nothing on earth can separate you. Not time, not space...not even death!