Dazzling Display of Red, White, and Blue

The Statue of Liberty in all her glory. What a marvelous way to spend the fourth of July in celebration of our nation's declaration of independence on that day in 1776. THe banner of stars and stripes shines brilliantly in the moonbeams. Between the spires of her crown and the luminous torch clenched in her fist bursts a dazzling display of red, white, and blue, raining upon the darkened night sky. Colors of fireworks are reflected in the harbor shores beneath and an echoing boom shatters through the air. A live band plays the national anthem on a ferry off the island. The Statue of Liberty. A monument to our freedom. A symbol to our independence. The lady has stood in the harbor of New York City, greeting all those who immigrated to our beautiful country. What a welcoming first sight to those who finally saw land and to know their daring journey abroad was coming to a close. Cooper aged in green, she still stands strong as a reminder of our nation's history. Millions flock here annually to see this emblem for their own eyes. A memory they are sure to never forget. But on this Independence Day it is a extra special event, a specific date to contemplate all that our country has gone through and all the advancements it has made. May freedom forever ring!

Myriad of Colors

The fourth of July, Independence Day! 234 years of freedom. Freedom to speak, write, say, travel, worship, you name it. Freedom of choice. Sparklers, streamers, firecrackers, fireworks. Oh, beloved fireworks, rocketing above Lake Coeur d'Alene, exploding at their zenith to display a myriad of panoramic colors, mirrored in the shining, reflectant waves below. The sky is instantly illuminated and bursts of shots ring through the air, echoing off the surrounding hills. Showers of fireworks rain down as the crowds lined up on the shores ooh and ahh in wonder and awe. What a joyous day for celebration! A day to celebrate freedom. :)

Coming Seasons

The morn before Thanksgiving. All is still and the house is silent as a mouse. But you can't stay quiet that long, so you sneak out the back door for Panera. Cinnamon crunch bagel, a bowl of fresh fruit, and a mug of steamy cocoa. It's a crisp November morning, the leaves have all changed and fallen when a northern storm front blew in. A wet, white winter is promised. After filling your belly you go for a short stroll before returning home. Silently you walk along, exhaling steam into the chilly air. The few remaining autumn leaves crinkle beneath your footsteps and you contemplate what the coming seasons bring.

Random Thoughts

Cotton candy skies – sunset
Be a pure water droplet. For how much influence can one little particle of water have upon a large body of water?

Fresh Beginnings

The sunrise is spectacular. Simply stunning and utterly breath-taking! Words can't begin to describe the beauty of the dawning morning hues that shade the horizon. The sun has yet to make its appearance and shine beams of light into the sky. The air is fresh, carrying the scent of Jasmine blossoms on a soft and gentle breeze. A meadowlark sits atop a leaning fencepost and chirps melodiously. The sky, displayed as navy blue, slowly shifts to a deep violet. As time ticks on, wisps of colors are added, smeared here and there, just as if God were dipping his fingertips into paint and hand-crafting each pixel. The deep colors faintly lighten to pale lavender, pastel pinks, sherbet orange, and sunshine yellow. No two patches are identical, nor ever will be; each is entirely unique. The beauty of the sky could only be created by a higher Power.
There is a God and He cares for you, He loves you so much. Why else would He custom the sunrise every morning, but to cheer your day and warm you heart? Just like the clean sky every morning, God offers you a clean slate each and every day.
"This I recall to my mind, therefore I have hope. Through the Lord's mercies we are not consumed. Because His compassions fail not. They are new every morning; great is Your faithfulness. 'The Lord is my portion,' says my soul, 'Therefore I hope in Him!' The Lord is good to those who wait for Him, to the soul who seeks Him." (Lamentations 3:21-25)
He is faithful to promise us a new beginning every single day. No matter how bad we messed up yesterday. We need to give it our best and make the most of everything. Don't carry the worries of yesterday into today. Let go of your regrets and start anew. Let us not wary of falling, but if we do so, let it be to our knees. For there is One stronger, who is able to carry us through.
We tend to get stuck in our past and faults, that grasping the hope of a fresh start seems out of reach. The past is just a path to your future, don't let it determine your destiny. Your prospect cannot be hindered by even the darkest events in history, if surrendered to God. Let God make your life like a beautiful sunrise, unique and perfect!
Won't you call to Him today and accept His merciful gift? Make today what you wish yesterday had been; give it your all.

Faulty

What a beautiful day! The sun is high in the bright blue, cloudless sky and sunflowers point boldly upwards with their sunny faces. A gentle breeze rushes through the grassy field, yet does little to stiffle the blistering heat. A drive up to Faulty Trail is in store, a quick escape to a hide-away. You can't handle the pressures of the week anymore. Not too far up the path the temperature already begins to decrease. And not much farther along the atmosphere completely changes. The scenery goes from the drab evergreens to the lush vibrant greens. A stream is heard gurgling up ahead, splashing over the rocks.

A Wandering Mind

Sometimes you just need to sit down and write. You have no idea what about. You don't want to ramble on about just anything. But sometimes you have to write even when you're mind blank and at a loss for words. All seems to have left you and you're left lost, wondering. Wondering what in the world to write about. But you overcome your phobia of wasting paper and ink and start to write. About what? Anything that comes to you. But the only thing that you can focus on is how you can't focus or think of something to say. So you rattle away, about nothing, knowing nobody will want to read it. But maybe by just putting your blank thoughts onto paper and out of your mind, something important will replace them. Instead, you just keep going in circles. How you need to write and can't believe you're wasting paper. How you want to go dirt biking so bad. And listening to someone out their on their's has made you loose it and you've been so restless this evening. For no apparent reason. You dream, reliving the memories from the past two weeks. Well the past two weeks, one week ago. But that's how you'll always refer to it. The past two weeks. And a weekend in Paradise. You can't help but smile. The sun has fallen below the horizon now and daylight fades like a rosebud drying up. What a weird illustration. Each day flies by, seconds pass in a heartbeat. Seconds and heartbeats you'll never get back or relive. Seconds you better have made the most of, because when you look back you do want to smile on them. Did you make somebody else smile in that second, or did you let the moment slip by without telling them for much they're cherished and appreciated?