Picture a Month (July)

For this month's photo...I took advantage of having family together for the fourth and took a group photo using the timer on my camera. Cheese!

(Yes I did crop a head, per request by the owner of said head. I thought it would look better than a blurry spot. :)

Picture a Month (June)

Late...again...but this was taken in June! The fields are finally planted after a very cold, wet spring and the brown landscape is turning green (hooray!). This is a reflection photo of myself with the farm land in the background.

I would love ideas for future months...what are your favorite self-photographed ideas?

Personal Memorials

When I face loss (of things, people, relationships, dreams) sometimes the emotions, the grief, are overwhelming. Sometimes I don't have the words to express what I need or the understanding to move on. Some loss is easier. Some are hard. Some are just confusing.

This past week our family faced the loss of an estranged family member. Having never met him and really knowing very little, I wasn't sure how I should feel at this loss. Sad seemed appropriate, but not easy. I wanted to remember him in some way, but attending the funeral was simply not an option. Sometimes I frame artwork or purchase a special piece of jewelry, write a letter or plant a tree, I've even written messages on a helium latex balloon and released it at a location of significance.

Together the family decided to have a memorial where those with memories could share and everyone could place flowers in the river. We remembered the loss and how important our relationships are to each other. We had dinner and created new memories.

How do you grieve or remember what is lost?

Remnants

Today has been an emotional day for me. Maybe because I didn't expect it to be or maybe because everything seems to be reminding me of loss and recovery and survival. It seems every time I mow the yard or work outside on a project, I find another piece from the house. A key, plastic spoon, penny, handle from a mug, piece from a toy, remnants of what used to be.

I keep thinking how much this is like me...the parts of me that are not of God, that He has torn out and taken apart still leave pieces to be worked through and removed, even years later. When the initial work is done my emotions are raw as I have let go and let God. I know it is best for me, but change is hard and loss still has to be grieved. But I am disappointed to find the work not done and pieces of the initial work that need more work and more grieving.

But, that is the process of demolition and clean up and rebuilding. As I've walked through those steps with our home, I understand a bit more the process of God working and rebuilding in my life. These remnants are reminders of where I've been, the work that has been done and the very real fact that I'm done finished yet.


This song is really touching me today, so I'd like to share it: Lift My Life Up by Unspoken. If the link does not work for you, here are the lyrics:

You brought me this far
So why would I question you now
You have provided
So why would I start to doubt
I’ve never been stranded
Abandoned or left here to fight alone
So I’m giving you control
I lift my life, lift my life up
I give it all in surrender
I lift my heart, lift my heart up
You can have it forever
All my dreams, all my plans
Lord I leave it in your hands
I lift my life, lift my life up
Have your way in me
Have your way in me
If peace is a river
Then let it sweep over me
I’m under fire
I know it’s refining me
When I hear you calling out
I follow now wherever the road may go
I know you’re leading me home
I lift my life, lift my life up
I give it all in surrender
I lift my heart, lift my heart up
Find More lyrics at www.sweetslyrics.com
You can have it forever
All my dreams, all my plans
Lord I leave it in your hands
I lift my life, lift my life up
Have your way in me
Have your way in me
Take my life and let it be all for you
Take my life and let it be all for you
I lift my life, lift my life up
I give it all in surrender
I lift my heart, lift my heart up
You can have it forever
I lift my life, lift my life up
I give it all in surrender
I lift my heart, lift my heart up
You can have it forever
All my dreams, all my plans
Lord I leave it in your hands
I lift my life, lift my life up
Have your way with me
Have your way with me
Take my life and let it be all for you

Spring/Summer Fun

We had quite a large variety of birds that enjoyed our property and our feeders all year in the corn crib, but last summer we didn't see many of them and I was concerned we had lost them. So I was very excited this spring when I spotted a cardinal couple and a handful of gold finches. We made sure the feeders were filled and have enjoyed watching them eat (although, they've brought friends with them, so we have lots to watch).

We took an afternoon trip to Davenport to see the Mississippi River and the locks. Mommy however, got us on the wrong side of the dam, so we couldn't see the locks. Oh, well, maybe another time.

 R videotaping the river. Two years ago the kids got to play in the headwaters of the Mississippi River in MN at Lake Itasca, so it was fun for them to take in the size of it here.