Fingerprints on Friday

A snapping turtle, one of God's wonderful creatures, was discovered last weekend, after a big rainstorm, coming dangerously close to my driveway. So armed with gloves and my camera, I went out to greet it before it could go any further. I have this fear of backing over any of God's creatures so I try to keep them away from my car when I can. There is a pond at my neighbor's house and I'm sure this snapping turtle was displaced from there because of the storm. I tried relocating it, but it ended up biting me through my gloves! My son decided a shovel might be a safer way to relocate this creature and safely placed it back into the water, his home, and we were all happy for it. This snapping turtle is a beautiful fingerprint of God, found in nature (although you can't pet it!) and a good reminder that we can all use a helping hand sometimes to get us back on our own path.

Sunday Art: The Incredulity of St. Thomas

"Blessed are those who have not seen and believed." Ever heard of a doubting Thomas? Most people say at one time or another, "I'll believe it when I see it!" This is just human nature, and faith is something we know in our hearts and can believe without actually seeing with our eyes. St. Thomas is shown in this painting by Caravaggio (1601) touching the wounds of Christ and restoring his faith, finally saying, "My Lord and my God!" I like the dramatic composition and lighting of this painting, and the furled foreheads of the faithful men (looking for proof) while the face of Christ is so serene and set in shadow. A beautiful, peaceful, and personal reflection of faith for all.

Fingerprints on Friday

Horses are some of the most beautiful creatures I've seen and these horses always seem quite content on this little patch of farmland, where they also teach novices horseback riding. I travel by this place every time I'm coming or going to my kids' school, and some days that's quite often! I enjoy watching these horses in action, sometimes there are people training them and other times they are training the people, which is always interesting and entertaining. These beautiful, gentle horses are some of the finest fingerprints of God, found in nature and to be enjoyed and respected by all.

Thankful Thursday: Happy Earth Day!

Butterflies make me think of happy times...watching them flutter around in the summer, visiting all the brightly colored flowers or trying to capture them for a brief moment and feeling connected to nature is always fun. It was a rare and special moment for me to get to capture this butterfly with cocoons and I always enjoy going into butterfly houses (green houses) where they are so friendly, they want to land on you wherever you turn. Today I'm thankful for the butterflies that flutter so gracefully around me and makes my heart fill with joy for these wonderful moments in nature. Happy Earth Day!

Wordless Wednesday

Wordless Wednesday

Easter Sunday Art

Remember the one who always carries us through our days...Happy Easter!

Fingerprints on Good Friday

These beautiful little daffodils seemed to have magically bloomed just for me this year. They haven't had a chance to bloom in 9 years that we have lived at this house (always mowed down too quickly!) So they may not look like anything special to anyone else, but they are definitely special to me and one of my favorite types of flowers since they have always reminded me of my mom. Spring is such a wonderful time of renewal for the earth and our spirits too, and these little daffodils welcome spring (usually much earlier here than now!) A beautiful reminder to be thoughtful of nature and enjoy its beauty while it lasts, and these are truely a lovely fingerprint of God...so I will pray for everyone on this Good Friday, be thankful for these gifts, and remind myself to just breathe today.