Thomas Merton has a hope quote that I love. I could remember part of it, but not the whole quote. It was driving me crazy. I knew it was in No Man Is an Island, but I could not remember where. I searched the Hope chapter again and again, without any luck. I gave up…
simple prayers
At the beginning and end of my personal prayer time, my time with directees, and when I am facilitating group spiritual direction, I pray the same two prayers. I am sure I have posted them on my blog before, but they seem to be just the prayers my heart is needing these days. They are…
gift of freedom
Walter Brueggemann is an incredible theologian and writer. My teacher gave me this poem last weekend and I keep going back to it. May it bless you as it has blessed me. We would as soon you were stable and reliable. We would as soon you were predictable and always the same toward us. We…
5 on 5: July
I have been in a major photography funk. I missed last month’s 5 on 5 and am barely making it this month. The only reason I have picked up my camera is a weekly blog I do with my friend, Meg. To be honest, I have been so deep into the funk, I haven’t even…
5 on 5: May
Life has been full. It has been full of good things, but it the business of it all can still be overwhelming at times. We have had so many BIG life moments in my home, it has had my head spinning a bit. I haven’t picked up my camera much lately, but I do have…
underneath the mess
Cleaning out my closet is not one of my favorite things to do. It seems overwhelming and takes me days to find the gumption to do it. But, when I am done, there is nothing like the clean floor, easy to find coats and scarves, and the neat line of matched shoes. One of my…
5 on 5: March
I am totally breaking my own rules for this month’s 5 on 5. I usually post my favorites from the previous month, but these photos were taken in April. On April 2nd, my daughter became engaged. It was a big day for all of us. We love her beau so much and are so excited to…
my hope tree
Each year the Japanese Magnolia blooms in late January or early February and each year I document it with both my digital and film cameras. I love my hope tree, who right in the middle of winter and while empty of leaves, blooms the most glorious large white flowers. The symbolism isn’t lost on me….
5 on 5: February
I have just returned from an epic trip to Iceland. Real life has me running and I haven’t been able to scan my film or get the images off my camera yet. I do, however, have some iPhone images from the trip that hold some of my favorite memories from the trip. For more…
tree of hope
My tree is blooming and is covered in pink and white. I am not sure I have seen her so full. She must be loving all this rain. I am reminded each year, as she blooms in the middle of winter, that when life is at its darkest the most growth can be done. Hope…
quiet beginnings
This morning I went out to check on my tree. She is beginning to bloom and in the soft pink light of the morning, she is beautiful. As I was outside capturing her first blooms, I reveled in the quiet and the stillness of the morning. I took deep, healing breaths. I inhaled the new…
5 on 5: january
I can’t believe we have sailed through January so quickly. I hope this isn’t a sign for how quickly 2017 plans on going. One thing I noticed about my favorite five images this month is that they are all film images. I hope that means there will be more film in 2017. When I have…
