Bloglovin

So... in order to give my legions (ha ha) of readers an opportunity to follow me in another format since Google Reader is disappearing, I've set up an account with Bloglovin. If you follow more than one of my blogs you'll probably see this post again since in order to "claim" my blog I need to create a post. Bear with me... :) I figure giving people options is good, right? :)

If you want to follow using Bloglovin click on the link below. :)
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And thanks for reading...

Media of the Week - Brave - Sara Bareilles

When it comes to facing the world with it's choices and challenges it can be daunting to open up and put yourself out there. Often it seems so much easier to stay in the background, take a step back, and blend in with the scenery. Still, there comes a time when we all need to see "how big [our] brave is..." 

You can be amazing

You can turn a phrase into a weapon or a drug

You can be the outcast

Or be the backlash of somebody’s lack of love

Or you can start speaking up

Nothing’s gonna hurt you the way that words do

When they settle ‘neath your skin

Kept on the inside and no sunlight

Sometimes a shadow wins

But I wonder what would happen if you

Say what you wanna say

And let the words fall out

Honestly, I wanna see you be brave

With what you want to say

And let the words fall out

Honestly, I wanna see you be brave

I just wanna see you

I just wanna see you

I just wanna see you

I wanna see you be brave

Everybody’s been there, everybody’s been stared down

By the enemy

Fallen for the fear and done some disappearing

Bowed down to the mighty

Don’t run, stop holding your tongue

Maybe there’s a way out of the cage where you live

Maybe one of these days you can let the light in

Show me how big your brave is

Say what you wanna say

And let the words fall out

Honestly, I wanna see you be brave

With what you want to say

And let the words fall out

Honestly, I wanna see you be brave

And since your history of silence

Won’t do you any good

Did you think it would?

Let your words be anything but empty

Why don’t you tell them the truth?

Say what you wanna say

And let the words fall out

Honestly, I wanna see you be brave

With what you want to say

And let the words fall out

Honestly, I wanna see you be brave

I just wanna see you

I just wanna see you

I just wanna see you

I wanna see you be brave

Life Through My Lens - Forgotten road...

Took a drive yesterday along a forgotten road... 

Along the way I found other deserted pathways...

Where they lead, I do not know...

Those discoveries must wait for another day...

As I traveled on I wondered...

What secrets would I hear if I listened to this forgotten highway...?

*By the way, for the first time in a VERY long time, I decided to link up to a couple of photo memes. You'll find them here at Sweet Shot Tuesday, Tuesday Muse, and Friday Finds.

Fathers...

The greatest gift I ever had

Came from God; I call him Dad!

~Author Unknown

Thanks to all the wonderful men in my life both here and gone who have been the examples of kindness and compassion, who are and were powerful influences for good regardless of whether or not they have children of their own.

I hope right now you'll take a moment right now to think of those who fill the important role of a father in your own lives.

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

On Father's Day -

To dad - Thank you for giving me both roots and wings, for teaching me correct principles and setting me on the right path.  Thanks for the late nights and early mornings, the sleepless hours spent worrying and praying. Thanks for all you continue to do.

To my brothers both by birth and marriage - Thanks for being the men you are and raising your children with love and compassion in a challenging and sometimes scary world.

To my uncles and grandfathers - Thank you for your examples of care and devotion.

To friends both old and new - Thank you for your kindness and example, for "sharing" your families with me.

To all those who may not be fathers in the strict sense of the word - Thank you for sharing your time, talent, energies, and love with all those around you.

Happy Father's Day!

If you've gotten this far and you want to read on, I thought I'd share a poem I wrote last year as part of a talk I gave on Father's Day. It's not Shakespeare, but hopefully it'll do... :-)

Fathers

We honor you upon this day

For actions small and great

For courage to stand up and fight

And lead on the path that’s straight.

We thank you for your sacrifice

Your gentle, constant love

Your example to your family

With guidance from above

May our Heavenly Father bless you

As you lead with love and care

May you rely upon him always

As you go to Him in prayer

 - M. Durrant, June 17, 2012