Life Through My Lens - Castles in the sky....

"He dreams of castles in the sky

High above us all..." MLD

A view I captured while wandering through the rugged landscape surrounding my home. 

Life Through My Lens - Golden Twilight...

As evening falls

Golden twilight

Veils the sky

Life Through My Lens - Pillar of light ...

As I looked to the west I saw a column of light reaching into the heavens. A gentle reminder of the beauty that surrounds us...

Perhaps, too, it's a message from those whose care reaches beyond the veil, reminding us where all beauty and love truly come from...

Silhouette... Life Through My Lens/Media of the Week

There are moments when an image speaks to you...
or
A song strikes you...
Lyrics capturing moments and emotions you weren't even aware were there..

Sometimes image and song combine to create a snapshot of time...

As I was listening to music and looking through photos I had taken while gathering rocks for a friend a song played....one I hadn't heard before.

I paused what I was doing and just listened.

Seeming to capture so many of the emotions of the past several months,
the melody and lyrics were hauntingly beautiful... 

Silhouette
Owl City (Adam Young)

I'm tired of waking up in tears

'Cause I can't put to bed these phobias and fears

I'm new to this grief I can't explain

But I'm no stranger to the heartache and the pain

The fire I began is burning me alive

But I know better than to leave and let it die

I'm a silhouette asking every now and then

"Is it over yet? Will I ever feel again?"

I'm a silhouette chasing rainbows on my own

But the more I try to move on, the more I feel alone

So I watch the summer stars to lead me home

I'm sick of the past I can't erase

A jumble of footprints and hasty steps I can't retrace

The mountain of things I still regret

Is a vile reminder that I would rather just forget (no matter where I go)

The fire I began is burning me alive

But I know better than to leave and let it die

I'm a silhouette asking every now and then (now and then)

"Is it over yet? Will I ever smile again?" 

I'm a silhouette chasing rainbows on my own

But the more I try to move on, the more I feel alone

So I watch the summer stars to lead me home

'Cause I walk alone

No matter where I go

'Cause I walk alone

No matter where I go

'Cause I walk alone

No matter where I go

I'm a silhouette asking every now and then (now and then)

"Is it over yet? Will I ever love again?" 

I'm a silhouette chasing rainbows on my own

But the more I try to move on, the more I feel alone

So I watch the summer stars to lead me home

I watch the summer stars to lead me home.

All in the family...

This is the time of year when family seems to come to the forefront of our thoughts. Oh... it's not that we don't think about our families any other time of the year or that we don't love and care for them all year round. But it seems as the holiday season arrives we think more about those people with whom we share that special bond. We strive to give thanks to all those we love and care for.

Sometimes, however it seems that the moments that should bring the most joy and happiness can instead bring unintended feelings of hurt or misunderstanding. We are human after all and therefore fallible. Sometimes we make choices with the best of intentions that may unwittingly cause others to feel left out or less important to us.

Perhaps one of the most important things to remember is that family is not about a date on a calendar or a fancy meal. It's not about being perfectly in agreement all of the time. Family is about loving and caring even when we may not fully understand the reasons for others actions. It is about feeling gratitude for both "roots" and "wings."

I know that I am grateful for all of my family... for our strengths and our weaknesses... for our successes and failures. I am grateful that the journey we are on is not one we take alone. I hope that all of us remember to show a little more kindness and understanding to those we love, both those with whom we share an actual family bond and those who may not technically be family but who hold a place in our hearts nonetheless.