One Small Voice

Find one beautiful thing every day and take a photo of it.

Philippians 4:8 Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things.

♦

Beauty Day 111 How Family Changes the Face of Locale 

A plain and ordinary hill

a nothing hill

in the middle of nowhere

beside a railroad access

where faceless folk

have built a fire and partied

and the remains of a snowperson

lie melted–carrot, hat, and scarf

the kind of a hill

where a senior woman

would feel quite out

of place and very odd

if she were to visit there alone

such a hill

becomes

a warm and happy

stopping place

filled with laughter

and happy easy talk

a place to share a good time

and all because

it’s my family who is there

and they are with me

and I with them

♦

Find one beautiful thing every day and take a photo of it.

Philippians 4:8 Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things.

♦

Beauty Day 110 The Forest’s Inscrutable Face

Nature still calls

softening politic’s blows

muted tones of green

neither tell nor ask

trees tall and silent

taking no man’s side

neutrality of soul

peaceful dreams at last

♦

Find one beautiful thing every day and take a photo of it.

Philippians 4:8 Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things.

♦

Beauty Day 109 Back to Nature With Family 

Best of two worlds

natural space

and shared family space

community of earth

and community of love 

three generations wrapped

in warmth of hearth

hoping for great times

together 

♦

Find one beautiful thing every day and take a photo of it.

Philippians 4:8 Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things.

♦

Beauty Day 108 Sloppy Blessings 

Often God answers our prayers with sloppy blessings. This is because life itself is sloppy. By sloppy I mean not homogenous.

Blessings are mixed in with trials, and often blessings come through the trials. Blessings of relationship and growth are mixed in with pain and humiliation.

God’s blessings are an upward path of life and love. We just get muddy along the way. If we are humble enough to take the mud with the blessing, we will be greatly rewarded. 

Beauty Day 107 Sloppy Blessings

Muddy blessings

sloppy blessings

in the mix of life

growth is not homogenous

nothing in life is

swimming through a pond of pain

is beauty all around

expectations adjusted

there is peace within

♦

Find one beautiful thing every day and take a photo of it.

Philippians 4:8 Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things.

♦

Beauty Day 107 First Ice Cream

we shared an ice cream cone today

from Maggie’s ice cream shop

we will never forget the walk in the rain

and the sprinkles on the top

the little girl singing all the way home

skipping and hopping down  the block

♦

Find one beautiful thing every day and take a photo of it.

Philippians 4:8 Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things.

♦

Beauty Day 106 Prayer Warriors 

Those daffodils

they won’t give up

prayer warriors

of the spring

they blare their horns

shout loudly

when no other

flowers abound

thank you daffodils

for reminding me

to keep my eyes ahead

to not take no

for an answer

The thermometer

and cloudy skies

discourage

when long times have passed

but your bright countenances

keep prayer and hope alive

♦

Find one beautiful thing every day and take a photo of it.

Philippians 4:8 Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things.

♦

Beauty Day 105 Seattle Western Sunny Side Up 

sunny day

throughout the sum

of all the daylight hours

Seattle’s western sandwich

puts gladness in the bank

early morning walkers

out to catch a brew

joggers strollers

cyclists 

children young adults

laughing shouting

having fun

some playing

with their dogs

rain behind and rain ahead

this day will see us through  

♦

Find one beautiful thing every day and take a photo of it.

Philippians 4:8 Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things.

♦

Beauty Day 104 Developmental Stages

Little girl in tutu

tumbling on the floor

as chaotic as your petticoats

who will you grow to be? 

sometimes yes sometimes no

never in-between

laying out your boundaries

for all the world to see

I as your gramma

just want to squeeze you tight

my days are few yours are many

independence is your right

when I wait with patience

give you all your space

you come around with gentleness

to give a warm embrace

♦

Find one beautiful thing every day and take a photo of it.

Philippians 4:8 Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things.

♦

Beauty Day 103 Roosters Crow in Cold Seattle

silly willy daffodillies 

calling out the dawn

impatient buds, frantic

pushing down the barn

“Wake up! Wake up! You sleepy heads!

The business day has dawned.

All the world will pass you by

as you take your final yawn.”

♦

Find one beautiful thing every day and take a photo of it.

Philippians 4:8 Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things.

♦

Beauty Day 102 Sun in Seattle 

Sun in Seattle

–like shade in Sahara–

more beautiful far

than the dull gray norm

this change brings detail

depth of focus

multiple colors

caffeine for the eyes

So here’s to the sun!

more sun, more brightness

’til hearts now wearied

seek rest again

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