The Viewfinder

It's been a long time...

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Wed, 29 Jun 2022 16:48:00 +0000

I have recently decided to start pursuing my photography business again-more importantly I've decided to get back out there with my camera and pursue something I love so much, but seeing this page really shocked me- I didn't realize how long it's been. So much has happened since way back when these photos were taken. Anyway, after all that, because of all that and even in spite of all that- I'm back, excited and anxious to return to all that this hobby has always rewarded me with- Lol, seeing the last post I made here, the one about vantage points, kind of struck me as ironic- talk about changing vantage points- I changed mine from NY to Missouri back in the end of March of this year. Who would ever have thought I'd actually do that- not me for sure, but I do love it here.

Changing Your Vantage Point

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Wed, 18 Dec 2019 02:30:00 +0000

Sometimes the only way to change our perspective is to take a few steps in a different direction. We could stand and look at what we see, from our current vantage point, as "the whole picture"

but then if we move a few steps this way or that, suddenly we see a whole new picture.

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Thu, 29 Dec 2016 15:16:00 +0000

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Mon, 05 Dec 2016 20:22:00 +0000

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Tue, 15 Nov 2016 15:56:00 +0000

“A positive mind is like a powerful stream of water that is gathering volume and force from hundreds of tributaries all along its course. The further on it goes the greater its power, until when it reaches its goal, that power is simply immense. A negative mind, however, would be something like a stream, that the further it flows the more divisions it makes, until, when it reaches its goal, instead of being one powerful stream, it has become a hundred, small, weak, shallow streams.” ― Christian D. Larson

Color Is A Hymn

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Fri, 11 Nov 2016 14:30:00 +0000

Charles Baudelaire “The sap rises and, itself a mixture of elements, flowers in a mixture of tones; the trees, the rocks, the granites cast their reflections in the mirror of the water; all the transparent objects seize and imprison colour reflections, both close and distant, as the light passes through them. As the star of day moves, the tones change in value, but always they respect their mutual sympathies and natural hatreds, and continue to live in harmony by reciprocal concessions. The shadows move slowly and drive before them or blot out the tones as the light itself, changing position, sets others vibrating. These mingle their reflections, and, modifying their qualities by casting over them transparent and borrowed glazes, multiply to infinity their melodious marriages and make them easier to achieve. When the great ball of fire sinks into the waters, red fanfares fly in all directions, a blood-red harmony spreads over the horizon, green turns to a deep red. But soon vast blue shadows chase rhythmically before them the crowd of orange and soft tones, which are like the distant and muted echoes of the light. This great symphony of today, which is the eternally renewed variation of the symphony of yesterday, this succession of melodies, where the variety comes always from the infinite, this complex hymn is called colour.” ― Charles Baudelaire, Selected Writings on Art and Literature

Reflection

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Thu, 10 Nov 2016 15:09:00 +0000

“There are two ways of spreading light: to be The candle or the mirror that reflects it.” ― Edith Wharton

He Leadeth Me

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Wed, 09 Nov 2016 14:42:00 +0000

He leadeth me, O blessed thought!
O words with heav’nly comfort fraught!
Whate’er I do, where’er I be
Still ’tis God’s hand that leadeth me.
- Refrain:
  He leadeth me, He leadeth me,
  By His own hand He leadeth me;
  His faithful foll’wer I would be,
  For by His hand He leadeth me.
Sometimes ’mid scenes of deepest gloom,
Sometimes where Eden’s bowers bloom,
By waters still, o’er troubled sea,
Still ’tis His hand that leadeth me.
Lord, I would place my hand in Thine,
Nor ever murmur nor repine;
Content, whatever lot I see,
Since ’tis my God that leadeth me.
And when my task on earth is done,
When by Thy grace the vict’ry’s won,
E’en death’s cold wave I will not flee,
Since God through Jordan leadeth me. (Joseph H. Gilmore 1862)

Election 2016 went the way some wanted it to go and not the way others wanted, sort of like life in general I guess. I am thankful, not only for the fact that no matter who leads our country, God is ultimately in control. The same is true for our lives individually, nothing happens that God does not allow. Many times the things that happen don't seem fair from our vantage point and sometimes we might even wonder why a just God would allow them to be. I'm pretty sure God understands that and does not hold it against us when we feel that way but I also know that God alone sees the big picture. He alone knows where the road is going, and if we will let Him, He's there to lead us, by His own hand, every step of the way.

I Don't Know Where The Road Leads, But...

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Tue, 08 Nov 2016 03:08:00 +0000

It seems like lately there is bad or sad news at every turn. I just heard from three different people in the space of about ten minutes who are going though a really difficult time right now. If only words could solve all their problems, but it's not that easy. There are so many things in life that are devastating and the only way through them is through them. It can be a painful and heartbreaking journey but I am so thankful that while I may not know where the road leads, I do know Who holds my hand.

"I don't know about tomorrow; I just live from day to day.
I don't borrow from it's sunshine For it's skies may turn to grey.
I don't worry o'er the future, For I know what Jesus said.
And today I'll walk beside Him, For He knows what is ahead.
Many things about tomorrow I don't seem to understand
But I know who holds tomorrow And I know who holds my hand."

And I am thankful too that,

"Because he lives I can face tomorrow
Because he livesAll fear is gone
Because i know he holds the future
And life is worth the living Just because he lives."

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Mon, 07 Nov 2016 14:39:00 +0000

"When peace, like a river, attendeth my way, When sorrows like sea billows roll; Whatever my lot, Thou hast taught me to say, It is well, it is well with my soul."

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Sun, 06 Nov 2016 14:00:00 +0000

One of my most favorite songs is How Great Thou Art and so many times when I see the beauty is all around me I think of those words, "O Lord, my God, when I in awesome wonder Consider all the worlds Thy Hands have made I see the stars, I hear the rolling thunder Thy power throughout the universe displayed then sings my soul, my Saviour God, to Thee How great Thou art, how great Thou art"

Standing Out

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Sat, 05 Nov 2016 13:00:00 +0000

Yesterday all I wanted to do was to stay home and drown in the sorrow of missing Mom but Libby persuaded me that I needed to get out. It was a beautiful day with a bright blue sky and still some color in the trees. Most of the reds and orange colors are gone, leaving the rich browns and yellows of the later turning trees. I always enjoy this second stage every bit as much as the first and once I got out there, yesterday was no different. As I was looking at the sections of bright color here and there among a lot of already bare trees I was thinking about the fact that while there may not be a lot of trees with color left, those that are still here really stand out. And that got me to thinking, we all know people who really stand out from the crowd- Mom was one of those- always giving, always encouraging...she truly lived the instruction and encouragement given in Romans 12:6-8 "In his grace, God has given us different gifts for doing certain things well. So if God has given you the ability to prophesy, speak out with as much faith as God has given you. If your gift is serving others, serve them well. If you are a teacher, teach well. If your gift is to encourage others, be encouraging. If it is giving, give generously. If God has given you leadership ability, take the responsibility seriously. And if you have a gift for showing kindness to others, do it gladly."

John 1:5 The Light shines in the darkness...

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Fri, 04 Nov 2016 14:59:00 +0000

I was feeling really sad this morning, thinking about Mom and missing her and just feeling very discouraged when I happened to look out the living room window and see the sun shining on these yellow trees. I didn't get outside quite quick enough to capture exactly what I saw but you get the idea. Of course the scene got me to thinking (as I'm sure God intended it to) about different aspects of light in our lives and I looked up a few verses about light. Here is the very first one I came to. Imagine that. John 1:5 "The Light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it."

Old Barns & New Promise

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Tue, 18 Oct 2016 17:14:00 +0000

I love old barns and houses. Some of them look as if they have simply grown weary of standing and are getting ready to lay down and rest, but in some of them I still see pride and remnants of strength and beauty even though their old timbers are sagging. Sometimes when I see an old barn left to fall down or an abandoned house, I can't help but wonder about the lives and dreams of whoever left it behind... C.S. Lewis, "You are never too old to set a new goal or dream a new dream ."

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Tue, 18 Oct 2016 01:37:00 +0000

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Mon, 17 Oct 2016 02:13:00 +0000

Sunset On Hyuck Road

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Sat, 15 Oct 2016 19:52:00 +0000

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Sat, 15 Oct 2016 19:49:00 +0000

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Sat, 15 Oct 2016 19:48:00 +0000

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Sat, 15 Oct 2016 19:46:00 +0000

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Sat, 15 Oct 2016 19:43:00 +0000

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Sat, 15 Oct 2016 19:42:00 +0000

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Sat, 15 Oct 2016 19:40:00 +0000

Three Views

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Sat, 15 Oct 2016 19:39:00 +0000

Same old shed, just three different views. Whenever Mom had a problem, and I have learned from her to do this too, she would seek the views of three different people whose opinions she valued and trusted. She would then consider what each had to say and make her decision from there.

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Sat, 15 Oct 2016 19:36:00 +0000