NOT JUST ONE DAY A YEAR....

We should remember to be thankful each day of our lives. Usually the small gifts in our world--a butterfly flitting by, the harmony of a dozen finches in the trees, the whisper of the wind to the trees, the delicate lacework of the bare branches against the sky--these things touch my life each day.
Sometimes it may be challenging to find something to give thanks for, especially when our lives are filled with uncertainty, loss, sadness, difficulty and fear. I know I have faced those days and know that in these times, I am not alone.

Just today I had an emotional beginning to my day that left me feeling despondent and tearful. I went to work feeling that turmoil inside. About a half hour after arriving, I had to deliver paperwork to the business office. As I was returning to my building, I glanced up and was fortunate to behold a massive arc of a rainbow. But this rainbow was uncommon. It was mostly a silvery glow, with tinges of pink. There was no rain, only sunshine!

I was stirred by this miraculous vista, and almost felt as if God was urging me to SMILE. Unfortunately I did not have my camera with me today to capture this amazing scene and share it. As I entered the building, a smile across my face, I spied a young girl who has become a friend (and reminds me of me at her age). I told her she must come see, and took her outside to share this remarkable vision. She was also in awe and we smiled and hugged. It felt delightful! I am not sure if any of you witnessed this poignant sight, but hope a few did. I will share a photograph that I took over the weekend, and I hope you enjoy the scene as much as I did!

God bless you all, and may little moments delight and stir your soul.

Happy Thanksgiving and happy days to you all!

I share my "thankful" poem below.

SO THANKFUL

Thank you, Lord, for the gifts you’ve given to us all,
from the smallest grain of sand to majestic mountains tall.
We do not always thank you as often as we should,
for providing a world of substance, both beautiful and good.

Aromatic flowers that tremble in the breeze,
oxygen and oasis bestowed by lofty trees;
Soft green grass tickling tiny toes,
the delicate aroma of a graceful rose.

Cool gentle rain on a warm summer day,
the brilliant azure color of a spirited blue jay;
Ivory clouds drifting by, soft and billowy,
creating shapes within them for everyone to see.

The radiance of the stars flickering in the night,
soft illumination of the moons tranquil light.
The crickets chirrup drifting through the night air,
echoes of croaking frogs in the distance off somewhere.

The sound of autumn leaves crunching ‘neath our feet,
a shy little lamb responding to its mama’s bleat;
The mystery of the fog softening the day,
mirthful laughter of children frolicking at play.

Colorful hues of the rainbow in the endless sky,
the vision of the eagle soaring gracefully on high.
Crimson and golden colors of the autumn’s crispy leaves,
like a striking costume that brightens up the trees.

The pink glow of a baby’s cheek sleeping peacefully,
a toddler’s laughter as she bounces on her daddy’s knee.
The caressing embrace of the gentle wind upon your cheek,
trickling water gurgling down a lazy creek.

Shimmering reflections of the sky on a placid lake,
the splendor of a dawn as the world begins to wake.
This is but a paltry list of what I am thankful for,
for every day my ‘thank you’ count grows more and more.

EYE OF THE BEHOLDER

I love autumn. The world around me is draped in such brilliant color that it fills me with inspiration to capture its beauty with my camera. I seek texture, contrast, color and shape. Even the dying plant life provides beauty with its stark contrast. The shock of the luminous gold or vibrant orange amazes me and fills me with awe. I want to shout, "Isn't it remarkable!"

Open your eyes and witness it!

The dazzling multi-hued scenery convinces me that God is an artist! Who else but a gifted artist would create such magnificence!
And I am so very thankful that he shares his astounding gift of creation us all. So, when you are battling traffic and feeling frustrated, glance out your window, notice the vibrant beauty splashed along the way, smile, and say thank you!

Thank you Lord!

WHAT COSTUME DID ROSE WEAR TO WORK?

It was pointed out that I did not post photographs of me in the costume I wore to work on October 30th. Now, my original plan to wear the black robe of my sons old Scream costume and be a witch, only to discover on October 29th that it no longer resided in our house. So that night after work I headed out to Value Village Thrift store to try and find something to throw together.

My first thought was to get a tacky bridal gown and be a zombie, but much to my surprise, they were all gone! So I searched for a wild colored skirt to maybe be a gypsy...no luck! Then I found a black wig with deep pink stripes in it and decided to find a black dress and be a vampiress!! I managed to find a long black dress with the perfect long dangling sleeves, but its only drawback was the flowers across the front. So who says a vampiress cannot be colorful???

Next I found a cape with a spiderweb design on it, black eyeshadow, fake eyelashes, deep red lipstick, and fake blood.

Now since I had to be at work at 8 a.m. on Friday, Oct. 30th, I was up at 6:30 a.m. to undergo my transformation (something I will never do again--I am not an earlybird!). I used baby powder to give my skin a paler look than normal! I received rave reviews on my attire, caused a couple people to do double-takes as they did not recognize me, and was told that I should dye my hair black with pink streaks (NOT gonna happen!) as it was a good look for me. And I had fun acting like a teenager again!!

So here she is, Vampiress Rose.