365 Project - Day 201

I spent the day in NYC as a chaperone for the choral / theatre group of 50 teenagers. The kids were good, but I am exhausted and so many muscles ache. When my recovering broken leg was at its end and the pain quite intense, I had to make a decision: focus on the pain or the purpose. I loved the idea of being in the city, experiencing the frenetic energy, helping out the school and spending time with my own teens and several others. There was something important to accomplish and, I could still walk. I chose to focus on my purpose.

We make hundreds of choices every day. The question is always what motivates to make those choices? Too often we are guided by fear and pain. Imagine if we made our choices based on hope, grace and abundance?

This tree remnant has been in our yard since we arrived 10 years ago. I am intrigued by the 3 deep vertical lines and overall shape. It adds character to the beauty in our garden, reminding us that though something may outgrow its initial purpose, it can be reclaimed for a new and beautiful future.

Best wishes!

Today's Photo: Reclaimed Beauty

"What is past is past ... Use wisely your power of choice.
Choose to love ... rather than hate.
Choose to laugh ... rather than cry.
Choose to create ... rather than destroy.
Choose to persevere ... rather than quit.
Choose to praise ... rather than gossip.
Choose to heal ... rather than wound.
Choose to give ... rather than steal.
Choose to act ... rather than procrastinate.
Choose to grow ... rather than rot.
Choose to pray ... rather than curse.
Choose to live ... rather than die."
From Og Mandino's The Greatest Miracle in the World








EXIF: Nikon D7100
ISO 200
50mm
f4
1/350s

365 Project - Day 6

The wind was crazy yesterday. I went out mid-afternoon for my 365 shoot and thought I would have a terrific opportunity to get a few pictures of leaves blowing in the wind. The sun was shining and it was what the British refer to as a "crisp" afternoon (which is cold in my vernacular). Since I cannot venture too far from home, I stepped off the porch into the garden. I took more photos of the Japanese Maple. The tree is huge and beautiful and I do feel somewhat obliged to photograph it daily. For something new, however, I shot photos of the leaves on the ground and this one of the shadows of the large oaks in our neighbor's yard, stretching into ours appeals to me. Perhaps because it resembles strong legs, which I am want of at the moment.

Since the leaves weren't blowing as much as I had hoped, I enlisted the assistance of my son, Brooks, to throw a few into the air after his attempts to run and shuffle through a pile of leaves left the pile virtually undisturbed. It did not seem a complicated task to me, but throwing worked slightly better. Just because it's such fun, I thought I would add his photo.

I know this project is to choose 1 each day and in the first week, I've already broken the rule twice, but so be it. It makes me joyful!

Enjoy and all my best wishes!

Today's Photos: "Autumn Strength 1 and 2"

“Courage isn't having the strength to go on - it is going on when you don't have strength.” Napoleon

"I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me." Philippians 4:13