Day 18:Eyes

If only our

 eyes saw souls 

instead of bodies,

 how very different 

our ideals of beauty would be.

 

I don't know what more to say.  Take the time to really look at others and see there souls.  Then you will know what true beauty really is.  It is the way our Heavenly Father see all of us.  Maybe we need to follow his example. 

Day 17:Peaceful

The quieter you become,

 the more you can hear.

 

What does it take for you to be quiet?  Perhaps it is a walk on a worn path.  Do you listen to the chirp of birds?  Do you look around and notice your surroundings and ponder on your life? Maybe you have noticed an old worn stump and thought about its story.  Then wondered what you can learn from that. Better yet maybe you ponder in your heart the blessing you have in your life.  It doesn't really matter what you are thinking but more importantly that you are taking the time to listen.  Step outside your hectic, crazy, busy life and just listen to whatever it is you need to hear.

Day 16:Shadow

Don't be afraid of your shadow; 

it's really just a constant reminder 

that there's light all around you.

-Rachel Wolchin

 

Look at the deer.  She is all alone in the shadows yet surround by light.  I think we all feel that way at times.  The dark seems to overwhelm us.  However if we will just take the time to look around we will see that there is light and goodness all around us.  We just have to step out of the shadows.  

Day 15:Water

Life is simple.

Just add water.

 

I love to see water moving.  It seems to have a soothing effect on my.  It doesn't matter if its a huge lake or a small stream, it is just beautiful.  When I feel stressed all I need to do is listen to the water moving or even just watching the ripples in the lake.  When things get difficult just remember: Life is simple, just add water!

Day 14:Open

The doors will be opened to those who are bold enough to knock.

There are few few things as appealing as wide open space, especially up in the mountains.  I have always loved this meadow.  It seems to go on forever.  You never know what wildlife you will see in this meadow.  Are you bold enough to go found your own wide open space?

Day 13:Garden

To plant a garden is to believe in tomorrow.

-Audrey Hepburn

 

It's amazing to me how beautiful the world is.  This is definitely not something from my garden but from our Heavenly Father's.  He made sure we had a beautiful place to live.  I love to see wild flowers because it reminds me of that.  If our Heavenly Father believes that there is a tomorrow, maybe we should also.

Day 12:Silly

Be Silly.

 Be Honest.

 Be Kind.

-Ralph Waldo Emerson

 So why is this silly?  Well I had this great idea to make my own yard Yahtzee.  I went a little bit overboard!!  This is half of the ones I finished, and I still have more cut out.  Maybe next time I will figure how much wood to buy beforehand instead of after the fact.  Oh well, at least we have a few games to play, give away, etc.

Day 11:Homemade

Happiness

 is

 homemade.

So my son told me that we need to make this super cool game called "Woodchuck."  I tried to tell him that we already had it but he wasn't about to listen to me.  So after a good 15 minute discussion on the matter he decided to go look where I said and see if we really had this game.  Lo and behold it was in the garage right where I told him.  Imagine that??  Anyway it is a game my dad made for us and it is really just a game about throwing wood, thus the name.  I am terrible at it!! No exaggeration there either.  I don't think I ever even hit one of the blocks.  But in this picture my little guy is aiming for the king in the center.  Yea, he kicked my butt. However, it was a blast playing it with him.  Homemade games tend to be our favorite to play.  What's a game your family loves to play?

Sorry!!

Please forgive me for not posting like I should.  This month has been super crazy as we have been trying to get prepared to send my son on his mission.  I will try to do better but who knows.  What a crazy life I live!!

Day 10:Relaxing

Being busy is 

seriously overrated. 

Slow down and 

RELAX

 I am in love with this picture. It reminds that even clouds need to rest and relax.  So do we!  We all need to take the time to enjoy the simple things.  Maybe that means to just lay down as these clouds have done.  Or maybe it means we need to change our course and do something a little less hectic.  Or possible we need just to stop and enjoy the beauty around us.  I hope that is how you feel as you look at this picture.  I also hope that you can relax in your own surroundings, doing whatever it is you love.  May we all just relax a little more often.

Day 9:Fresh

Some old-fashioned things like 

fresh air 

and 

sunshine 

are hard to beat.

-Laura Ingalls Wilder
 

There are very few things that look as fresh and beautiful to me as a bunch of flowers.  The are just beautiful!  There is something about them that just makes me smile.  No I don't have a green thumb and no I don't have many flowers at my house. However, that doesn't mean that I don't appreciate them.  So go find you some beautiful flowers and enjoy the freshness they bring!!

Day 8:Sunset

Every sunset brings the promise of a new dawn.

-Ralph Waldo Emerson

 

Ok so I know that I am a little behind schedule, surprise, surprise!  However, I have been sick and didn't even get out of bed to take pictures.  That being said, here is what I saw tonight!! It was gorgeous to watch. My husband took me for a ride just to get some pictures.  We seriously parked in a dirt field on a country road and watched the sunset for over an hour.  It was so great because not only did I get these amazing pictures, more importantly I got to spend an hour of uninterrupted time with him.  What could be better than that?  So now I challenge you take you significant other, go someplace beautiful, take a few pictures (that I would love you to share), and just enjoy yourselves!

Day 7:High Angle

Look at things differently.

 

Now this picture really isn't a high angle, yep I cheated just a little.  However, it is something that I don't normally see.  I have always loved watching these creature.  They kind of creep me out a little bit though. They qualify as looking at things differently because how often to you get to see jellyfish?  I think they are beautiful!  and even though this picture is a little bit out of focus, I still love it!

Day 6:Love

What we love determines what we seek.  

What we seek determines what we think and do.  

What we think and do determines what we become.

-Uchtdorf

 This is a perfect example of the saying.  My son is getting ready to go on a mission and here he is at the temple?!  Not maybe the picture is a little silly but of course that is who he is.  The fact of the matter is that he is preparing himself to become something better.  I wish him the best of luck!!

Day 5:Friends

Best friends are 

people who make

 your problems

 their problems,

 just so you don't

 have to go through
them alone.

Of course there are no better friends than sister, or cousins.  Here are these three girls that share everything, including their problems with each other.  And heck who doesn't look rockin' in 3-D glasses?

 

Day 4:Clouds

For one minute walk outside.

 Stand there in silence. 

Look up at the sky and contemplate how 

amazing life is.

I snapped these this morning.  I love the beauty of the sky.  It is always changing and fascinating to watch.

Day 3:Family

Being a family 

means you are a part of something 

wonderful.

  It means you will love and be loved for the rest of your life. 

No matter what.

Family can be a lot of different people.  I think we mostly think of family as those that are our blood relatives, but family is all encompassing.  Maybe your family is those that are your neighbors, or those that are in the same church as you.  Maybe your family is those from the same state or country.  Or maybe you think of everyone as your family.  Ideally that is what I would like to think, that everyone is my family and truly they all are.  Aren't we all children of a loving Father in Heaven? Here is a picture of my ward family honoring a young man headed to basic training. He is on his way to protect our United States Family.  How grateful I am for everyone who has made that same choice and given us the freedom we have.  They loved us and some even gave their lives for us.

 "No Matter What." 

Day 2:Nature

Get lost in nature and you will find yourself.

 

As we were driving to pick up my son from science camp, we decided to just pull off the road and see if we could find something to take a picture of.  Well this is what I got!  I love the beauty of a waterfall no matter the size.  There is just something peaceful and refreshing about them.  

 

Day 1:Joy

Joy:
 is what happens to us when we allow ourselves to recognize how good things really are. 

                                                                                                     -Marianne Williamson.

What greater joy can there be than that of a child?  We had some really serious rain the past week and here is what this cute girl was doing at the park.  The puddles were big but the smiles and the joy was even bigger.  How much greater can it be than to be a child and have a puddle to run through? Do we all take time to enjoy the little things like puddles?  Wouldn't it be great to have the eyes of a child if only for a day?  May we all take the time to notice how good things really are is my prayer. I hope that you can all find you own puddle to run through and experience the joy of a child doing it!!