Day Four of Seven

Day Four of Seven Days in Black and White

This is one of my favorite images that’s in my archives. It’s especially sentimental because my Mom gave it to me, and it has an honored place in our garden. She gave it to me several years before she died, and it has moved with me over the years, always adorning the yard.

She said, when she gave it to me, that it reminded her of me as a child. I’ve always loved to read and she would find me curled up in the sofa reading to my stuffed elephant.

I remember doing that. Some memories never fade. Now when I go out to the garden and see this statue, I smile, thinking of Mom and my stuffed elephant. She gave me that, too. I love you, Mom!

Be good to yourself and each other. Namaste’

Southwest Angel

Over the years many of my friends and loved ones have given me angels.  Maybe they think I need all I can get 🙂  Who knows?  But I’ve kept them all.  I mean, who would even think of getting rid of an angel, right?  I believe we all have a legion of angels, God’s emissaries, who surround us 24/7.  Sometimes I even remember to thank mine for always keeping me safe.  I really should do that more often.  There have been many times in my life that I KNOW FOR SURE I was assisted by the angelic realm.  Sometimes in the disguise of human beings.  One time in the body of a sweet, grandfatherly man but that’s a story for another time.  (I promise I’ll tell you later).

Since I plan to have this blog printed and bound into a book at the end of 2012, I thought it would be appropriate to include my angels.  Some are resting (packed away in storage) and some are sprinkled around my house and outside.  Today’s photo is my Southwest Angel, who suspends herself right outside my kitchen window.  Her wings flow with the breeze and she reminds me to be grateful every day.  She’s made of straw and burlap.  I added the red chili peppers.  I think she likes them.  Namaste’

Do you believe in angels?  Were you ever helped by an angel?  I’d love to hear about your experience with angels.

The Twins – Circa 1944

The Twins - circa 1944

Today’s image is of a photo collage I created for my husband and his twin sister, born twenty minutes apart.  They look like little angels, holding hands and all.

All of the photos were taken around 1944 (we think) and I just added a touch of whimsy by embellishing with hats and a bow-tie as I arranged the photos.  Some of the original images were a bit faded but the twins were pleased with the results.  Click to enlarge if you’d like to see their cute little faces up close.  As for me, I think they’re both still pretty cute 🙂  Love you guys!

(It’s difficult to take a picture of a framed picture without some glare.  Ugh!)

Namaste.

 

Behind the Wheel

Normally I don’t just sit around in my car taking pictures of myself, but today there was something appealing about just being in that moment.  Just being me alone in the car with my camera.  I sat there thinking how good the sun felt coming in through the window, how long I had been driving (40+ years), and just how grateful I am to have good transportation that gets me from Point A to Point B.

I like driving; I always have.  The day I turned 16, my mother took me to get my license and the rest is history.  Back in the day, to pass the driving test, you had to know how to parallel park.  Uh-oh, that was the one thing I wasn’t very good at.  It took me nine (yes, nine) tries and the examiner passed me.  Was he supposed to give me nine tries?  I really doubt it.  I only know that I was one ecstatic 16-year old that day.  Got to drive my Mom back to work and I had the car the rest of the day until I picked her up.  I felt like such a big shot.

As I’ve learned over the years, a vehicle can be such a blessing or it can be a dangerous, deadly weapon.  With people texting and cell-phone chattering from behind the wheel these days, it has become increasingly dangerous to be out on the road.  Please be careful out there.  Don’t text and drive.  Your guardian angels work hard enough! Pay attention to what you’re doing … driving.  And really, really look out for the “other guy.”  It’s more important now than ever. Remember, driving is not a right … it’s a privilege.

Namaste.

American Hero

I find it difficult to see a parade honoring football players for winning the Super Bowl, when there are casualties of war taking place on a daily basis.  Where are the parades for the real heroes?  Something to think about.

Today’s pictures are of a true American hero.  Her name is Sam Williams Huff, killed in action in Iraq in April,2005.  I didn’t know Sam personally but have come to be friends with her father, Bob, who was in the grief support group I attended after losing my brother in 2010.  Bob is a retired (after 25 years) police officer and now devotes his time to composing and playing beautiful music.

This image is a collage I created for him in memory of his beautiful daughter and his wife, Maggie, whom he lost not long after Sam:

Huff Family collage

Today as I was leaving a parking lot, I turned to the right to look for oncoming traffic and saw this sign, which is what  inspired me to share this particular post today.  Sam must be looking down on all of us, sending us love and light.  I believe our loved ones, our angels, do that – all we have to do is think of them and they’re instantly in our hearts.

In Honor of Sam

God bless us all … in this dimension and others. Namaste.

 

Angel of the Highway

Our Highway Angel

I’m going to keep this short and sweet.  I’m extremely grateful for all of my blessings today.  For love, family, good friends, my faithful blog readers, protection, abundance … and the list goes on and on.  I am finding myself particularly grateful today for being protected in traffic.

Southern Arizona in the winter time is one of the U.S. locations that draws a lot of winter visitors.  And I’m going to be gentle here and only say that some of them could use some better road etiquette.  So, thank you, dear Angel of the Highways for your protection today and always.

We’ve had this medallion in our car for a long time and it reminds me that there are angels all around, protecting us not just from crazy drivers, but from a myriad of unforeseen mishaps.

Thanks, angels, for all you do.

As always, click the image to enlarge it.  Namaste.