colors of my weekend.

on spirituality and nature: a trip in the woods.

we begin with sunset at big meadows.  my heart was carried to kenya at the same moment my love's was as well.  we were each thinking, feeling kenya.  as i took this photo he named it.  our hearts can be found in similar landscapes.  each time we journey into the woods, our spirits are fed.  our spirits are fed in differing ways, yet in the same space.  we need these times together as a family in the woods.  

our spirits. our hearts. our feet are rooted here.  

you have your own experience of spirituality and nature.  you may have more of a connection with a more polished, manicured garden. the botanical gardens feed me, too.  

for the deeper, more earthly connection.  i travel to the woods.  and i behold.  i step lightly. i follow trails and create paths of my own stepping.  i see the small. the tiny.  i listen. 

enjoy this selection of nature from our recent trip to skyline drive.  we spent four days and three nights camping.  it was wonderful.  the rain soothed our spirits and called us out.  it was good. so good.

what do you see?  what speaks to your spirit? 

a beautiful, beautiful story of nature and spirituality.

so thankful today to jim for sharing this.  thank you, jim!

colors of my day: 3.27.2012. ((in the garden.))

lilac just beginning to bloom.  

a much needed cut for the grass.  green! 

our blooming blueberry. 

the first iris bloom.

our blooming cherry tree in the afternoon sun.  

so many blooms!  

so much to celebrate. 

so much to behold.

to stop & take notice.  

what's growing in your garden?

there are blessings all around.

the world offers so many blessings.  

we just need to look up.  

take notice.  

use our senses.  

receive through our senses.  

name the blessings.  

breathe.  

xo.

images of my day.

noticing beauty that surrounds.  

irises in the windowsill of a friend.

an offering.  an altar in the world.  

the gifts of hospitality and mindfulness.

a shared cup at a table with a sacred soul.

beautiful bubbles in my glass.  

life stories: beauty.

a stream at the end of a solo trail run.  not alone, but with a canine friend.  gathering my resources for the week ahead, there's nothing like the canopy of trees and light that fills my senses with delight.  the stillness & comfort of nature's heartbeat.  i try to start each week in such a way.  

this. 

is. 

a.

gift.

life stories: a trip to the national zoo.

my boys and i played in D.C. for a day last week.  we took great delight in the sights and spaces of the national zoo.  here are a few of those delightful moments beholding a little of what creatures live and move and have their being in this world.  

we had such a great day of walking, talking, and being together.  we loved our day to and from riding the train and getting around town.  such a good day at the zoo & visiting the mall & a museum.  

savoring these final days of summer together.  sharing times of walking, talking, playing, eating, and being together.  may your days be filled with life, color, & laughter! 

life stories: a morning walk.

trails near the james river on the southside of richmond have become a safe space for me.  these trails are filled with trees, vines, branches, leaves, spiders, rocks stacked, turtles, frogs, water, and dirt.  venturing on these trails with a true friend have become a rhythm that my body is eager for.  i listen.  i know that my feet want to return again and again to these trails, running and jumping and sometimes walking.  on this occasion, we walked.  walking brought a depth and length to our sentenses.  we usually chat while running, but running brings quick words.  short sentenses.  walking allowed our words to linger and mingle.  walking allowed a mindfulness to be present to our time together that was sacred and welcome. we had just what we needed on the trails this day. 

often i'm refelcting on breath and words.  before we speak, we must first take a breath.  if we're mindful of our breathing and the life it brings into our body, often the words we speak will take that same mindfulness.  our words have the ability to bring life.  our words also have the ability to hurt others.  

so when i practice writing on this blog, my breathing slows. i am mindful of the words i am speaking to you through the clicking sounds on my keyboard.  i am speaking them in a way that i breathe first.  breathing deeply and giving myself life.  then i write, honoring the wisdom within and allowing her to be present through my hands and through my breath.  

my hope is that i am attuned to myself enough to breathe deeply, to be mindful of my needs and energy so that i have the life and energy to then share with you.  over the summer months my energies are shifted in ways that are life giving.  i know my presence here is also shifted.  as i lean into my call, lean into my truths, i am leaning into what fills me up so that i can continue to pour myself in ways that can be a gift for others.

some life stories are short with photos to tell the story.  imagine me with you on the trail running.  other life stories are shared as we walk and talk together.  in any event, i believe this is a safe space.  i believe that the words that are shared here have the power to bring life.  if you read them in a way that brings hurt or comparison, breathe into yourself and ask what is stirred.  call attention to the spaces that surround you.  sometimes shifting your breath, opening your eyes, and letting go of the breath can reset your thoughts and bring a mindfulness to your moment that's needed. 

i know that i am whole.  i am centered.  when i am thrown off center, i know what i need to do to stay on the path.  here in this space i share as i'm able and invite you to breathe deeply, knowing your own light and truth.  you are a gift.  you are enough.  whether walking or running alongside, may you have exactly what you need this day and in good measure. 

 peace. peace. peace.

in the {traveling} studio: triptych process work.

process photos: a triptych in the works. ((top three in this image.)) 

drawn with charcoal pencil.

materials at hand.

watercolors in each of the flowers.  love these pie color stories.

background colors added  around each flower, 

with additional paint added to the heart leaves. 

and in the drying time, a heart sharing love to another heart.  

design inspired by sarah's amazing heart art!  

although, i do love asymmetrical designs.  

love, love, love.

life stories: weekend camping.

my love and i took the time to create a space for play and rest in nature.  

we camped an evening and rested together, ate well together 

((eating right out of the cast iron skillet!)), 

and savored the sights and sounds of the good earth.  

this overnight camping trip brought good rest and peace to my soul before gathering the energy to move toward a week of sharing + creating at unidiversity youth camp.  

what a joy to have this time and ability to be in nature.