Rainy Days&Mondays

52 Paradise Valley, AZ 7-31-10

Sadness needs its own time to be.

~Karen Berry

He's Home...

53 Cactus Needles, Paradise Valley, AZ 7-30-10

May you have the two greatest gifts of all...

someone to love and someone who loves you. ~John Sinor

Restless Ready

54 Devils Martini (Photo taken last week), Scottsdale, AZ 7-29-10

Reality is that which, when you stop believing in it, doesn't go away. ~Philip K. Dick

Tutor Me

55 St. Barnabas at Dusk, Paradise Valley, AZ, 7-28-10

Always try to associate yourself closely with those who know more than you, who do better than you, who see more clearly than you. Don't be afraid to reach upward...such associations will make you a better person. ~Dwight D. Eisenhower

Lesson of the day: You are who you associate with :)

Guard Your Tongue

55 Tongue Model, Paradise Valley, AZ 7-27-10

The woman sitting across from me was carefully dressed, monochromatic in beige with just the right drop pearl earrings. Her hair was piled on her head with a coiffed bun and revealed just the tiniest pieces of gray escaping their place. It was a bit unnerving as she looked me straight in the eye and began a series of "reads" she had about me.

Since I've often 'felt' certain things about my friends and loved ones that could be considered "reads", I wasn't afraid of what she might say in as much as I was aware of how my own experiences of doing the same was perceived. As she began with rapid speed accuracies, I began to slowly categorize her words in bullet format. It was an experience to say the very least, but the one lasting epiphany from the moment was when she said, "You have a gift with words"..."Be aware that what you say, people will hear and so guard your tongue". Huh? Guard my tongue?

"Yes." She repeated and then said this, "There is an angel which sits upon your tongue. Watch what you say and how you say it, else this angel will have to leave and only return when it is sure you are speaking with love". :)

I love this imagery...And have HONESTLY changed my cursing to be only at extreme moments of frustration. Hahahahahahaha...Oh, but be sure, I do think about my angel leaving me and it makes me sad. Guard your tongue friends. :)

Future Revealed

56 Scottsdale, AZ, 7-26-10

The future we study and plan for begins today. ~Chester O. Fischer

Scripture Reading

57 Picture taken 02-10 at Chapel Rock, Prescott, AZ, 7-25-10

Luke 10:38-42

While Jesus and his followers were traveling, Jesus went into a town. A woman named Martha let Jesus stay at her house. Martha had a sister named Mary. Mary was sitting at Jesus' feet and listening to him teach. Martha became angry because she had so much work to do. She went in and said, "Lord, don't you care that my sister has left me alone to do all the work? Tell her to help me!"

But the Lord answered her, "Martha, Martha, you are getting worried and upset about too many things. Only one thing is important. Mary has chosen the right thing, and it will never be taken away from her."

All Smiles!

58 Holly R., Scottsdale, AZ, 7-24-10

What sunshine is to flowers, smiles are to humanity. They are but trifles, to be sure, but scattered along life's pathway, the good they do is inconceivable. ~Joseph Addison

Uniquely You

59 Hands, Paradise Valley, AZ, 7-23-10

Don't undermine your worth by comparing yourself with others. It is because we are different that each of us is special. ~Brian Dyson

Spider Ways

60 Model Spider, Anacortes, WA, Photo Taken by Elizabeth Schatz, 7-22-10

Icky...I tried to study up on the spider to give you, my followers, some clever academic information on this hideous creature, but alas, I do not like this creepy crawly thing and my studies rendered my preconceived notions as accurate and without merit for further fact finding.

If you have knowledge that would make me think differently, I would be open and willing to hear your thoughts. Otherwise, consider this insect the same as the loathsome human who crawls around looking for lesser to prey upon. Ugly, dark and even though small in comparison to the environment around them, dangerous to those who dare to encroach on their territory. :) Sounds like some old boyfriends of mine? Hehe...Goodnight friends.

Goal Again

61 Sica Shoes, Taken 5-09, Epiphanized by Manny Fimbres of E2D, Paradise Valley, AZ 7-21-10

I have always been delighted at the prospect of a new day, a fresh try, one more start, with perhaps a bit of magic waiting somewhere behind the morning. ~J.B. Priestly

Don't be afraid to set the 'goal' again. Push on knowing that today, this day, you are starting fresh one more time. It's good to begin anew! :)

Word Value

62 Page from my Grandma's book draft, "A Candle Burns", Paradise Valley, AZ 7-20-10

Have you ever been with someone who sang you a song of false truths? Someone who seemed honest and legitimate with their words, but in reality, just said anything to get what they wanted...

Take note of this simple lesson here: Swallow your dose of bitter medicine on lesson learned and write in your journal of experience the words, "No Repeat". :)

Goodnight my friends...

Travel Woes

63 Seatac Airport Window Art, Seattle WA, 7-19-10

Be still.

Stop thinking.

Feel.

Take action.

Visualize.

Repeat...

My Baby's Birthday

64 Alexa V., Anacortes, WA, 7-18-10

Butterfly Kisses Tutu

65 Marion Lunsford 9-10-12 ~ 9-5-09, Anacortes, WA, 7-17-10

Think not of death as the extinguishing of life, but rather the snuffing out of a candle because dawn has come. ~Anonymous

Family Forever

66 Anacortes, WA, 7-16-10

Family faces are magic mirrors. Looking at people who belong to us, we see the past, present, and future. We make discoveries about ourselves. ~Gail Lumet Buckley

Point Me Home

67 Alexa V., Calgary, Canada-Anacortes,WA, 7-15-10

The past cannot be regained, although we can learn from it; the future is not yet ours even though we must plan for it...Time is now. We have only today. ~Charles Hummell

Calgary Cowboy

68 LexiLoo & Cowboy Brett, Calgary, Canada, 7-14-10

"Isn't it amazing how you never stop loving some people...You just learn to live without them". ~Alexa Vogtritter

Rodeo Ready!

69 Jessica C. @The Stockyard Bull Riding, Calgary, Canada, 7-13-10

Does it ever feel like sometimes you can just try too hard? That no matter what angle you seem to come at to try to reach the pinnacle, you stumble.

So, it is with this rodeo business here in Calgary. The first day Alexa and I arrived, we went to skybox viewing of a 'Penning' event with Jennifer and her daughter, Jessica. Second team in the competition had the female rider thrown from her horse; The very same horse then had a heart attack, fell on her broken body and seized till it's death. :( Both the riders father and brother were in the competition with her and jumped off their horses to run to her side. The horse was covered with a tarp and taken from the arena. The rider was taken by ambulance to the emergency room and was hospitalized with bleeding on the brain. Prayers and blessings for the rider, Amy Carter as she recovers from horrific accident.

We never went to another event for the week we were in Calgary and thought ourselves bad luck pennies indeed. But, the real lesson about all our experiences, was it wasn't the external noise of an event, party and bar that we attended that brought us closer together, but our own personal moments of reflections. Understanding that when something is being pushed and feels hard, allow yourself to be open to the areas of soft. Being rodeo ready for what ever way the bronco bucks. Goodnight friends...

Fragile Friend

70 From Airplane Window, Calgary, Canada, 7-12-10

Grace is God reaching down.

Faith is Man reaching up.

Calgary Communications

71 , Calgary, Canada, Jennifer & Jessica C., Business Card made by E2D, Manny Fimbres, 7-11-10

Cross communications and helping one another be uniquely brilliant is exciting! Meet two up and coming rising stars into the world of virtual internet. Follow along as they take you on weekly adventures that are absolutely more than entertaining!

So proud of my buddy, Jen and her gorgeous daughter, Jessica!

Cruisin'2Calgary

72 Part of Painting by Diane Rogers, Paradise Valley, AZ

If we are ever to enjoy life, now is the time, not tomorrow or next year...Today should always be our most wonderful day. ~Thomas Dreier

Always Sweet

73 Deanna H., Paradise Valley, AZ, 7-9-10

This past week I have had a friend with her family visiting from my home town. She was a classmate in High School and our interactions then were within the confines of a typing and shorthand class, (yes, they did have those types of classes back then) and over the years we have seen each other possibly only a handful of times.

Ask me how then when we meet again, I feel as if we melt our words into synchronized sentences and finish each others thoughts? I wonder if it was our letters over the years that cheered on the successes of life or sustained our difficult family, health and financial times? But, no matter the reasoning, the outcome is I love and cherish her.

I hope that each of you has a special someone who is not in your physical space all the time, but is clearly an emotional balance for you. Life is just so much sweeter in all ways because of my friend, Deanna. Goodnight friends...

See Me

74 Olivia, Paradise Valley, AZ 7-8-10

How many cares one loses when one decides not to be something but to be someone. ~Coco Chanel

Still...

75 Brat1, Paradise Valley, AZ, 7-7-10

Have you ever felt that no matter how far you go in truly achieving a personal goal, there is still this tiny piece of self doubt that wishes you could slump back to the default of what was easier and/or desired because of habit?

Stay true to your personal achievements by always looking at what you've accomplished and not what you haven't completed. You are amazingly focused and strong friends...Keep your eye on the target!

My Heart

76 Olivia, Paradise Valley, AZ 7-6-10

Your vision will become clear only when you can look into your own heart. Who looks outside, dreams; who looks inside, awakes. ~Carl Jung

Life's Lessons

77 Parasailing in MX for Fathers Day 6-20-10, Scottsdale, AZ, 7-5-10

"What is the age of the oldest participant you have ever had who has actually gone up in the air and completed this ride"? The question was posed by Scott's Dad as we were exiting the 1,400 feet in the air parasail ride in Mexico. The man looked at my Father- in-law and responded seriously, "75 years young, Senor".

With his biceps exhausted from muscle fatigue and fingers still white with gripping the chest straps attached to the parachute, Scott's dad could barely contain himself. His eyes were wide open with excitement and his demeanor truly giddy from experiencing something his wife back in the hotel room would have surely forbid him to do, Robert Vogtritter proudly exclaimed, "I'm almost 82"!

All the art of living lies in a fine mingling of letting go and holding on. ~Havelock Ellis

The lesson of the day: Don't be too old in your thoughts to forget how young you are in your heart! Happy day friends...

Happy Fireworks?

78 Passion (Our Dog), Paradise Valley, AZ, 7-4-10

After a few sparklers hit the Arizona skyline and there were bursts of thunderous noises, our poor doggy was all about retrieving into the blanket found in our family room. Safely tucked under its protective lining, I looked over and thought, if only it were that easy?

When there are moments of sheer terror or just an inability to control our circumstances, remember these words:

We cannot choose the things that will happen to us. But we can choose the attitude we will take toward anything that happens. Success OR failure depends on your attitude. ~Alfred A Montapert

Allow a paradigm shift to take place in your mind by allowing your attitude to see the good in your perceived bad. Happy fireworks friends!

Cloudy Conversations

79 Paradise Valley, AZ 7-3-10

When we are no longer able to change a situation...we are challenged to change ourselves. ~Viktor Frankl

"Pair" amore'

80 Modern Steak, Fashion Square Mall, AZ 7-2-10

A little secret to any relationship seems to be in treating the disasters as incidents and none of the incidents as disasters. ~Harold Nicolson

Posing Peace

81 Summit Yoga, Scottsdale, AZ, 7-1-10

Complimenting the yoga instructor on the way out of my first trial class, she leaned in close and whispered, "You are very strong". (This is what I heard; You are a big girl in a tiny girl world and you need to lose weight). :~0

Really...If you want to sweat off your back end and feel muscles you thought had died years ago, I highly recommend a Bikram Yoga class! This particular one included current music choices and a quote for the day, I was instantly a fan! Here is what the teacher spoke as we lay in a "named" (I can't remember) position which is basically on your back looking dead-like:

Gratitude unlocks the fullness of life. It turns what we have into enough and more. It turns denial into acceptance, chaos into order, confusion into clarity...It turns problems into gifts, failures into success, the unexpected into perfect timing and mistakes into important events. Gratitude makes sense of our past, brings peace for today and creates a vision of tomorrow. ~Melody Beattie

Thank you friends for being you and being there. Love you all.