moments of grace

gratitude journal . week #9

#57 . new beginnings

thanks to the encouragement, support, and generosity 

of some of my talented, creative, and successful friends,

my new project was kicked off with a bigger BANG than i ever expected.

i am so very, very thankful for their support.

#58 . the great artist 

 i ran inside for my camera to capture this light...

the sunset reflecting off of clouds looked every bit like a painting in the sky.

#59 . what never was 

the woman in this photo is my mom.

the man in this photo is a friend of my parents'. 

he is a kind, soft-spoken, well-mannered Southern gentleman.

i met him this past week at a gift show in vegas.

i was warned before i saw him...... but i had NO idea. 

when he walked up and i looked at him, i started to cry.

he looks exactly like what my sweet uncle, my mom's brother Don Ward,

would have looked like at this age.  

my uncle died suddenly in 1976,

followed exactly six months later by my grandfather,

 and it changed our family forever.

seeing these two standing together just made me ache for my mom,

and for all that we have all missed by not having him here with us. 

#60 . silver (or golden) linings

life can hand us some tough assignments sometimes.

it may take years to do the homework, 

to learn the lessons, to pass the test.

but one day, we'll realize we made it through.

i took this photo on the way to my sister's new house.

congratulations, sis - you've graduated. with honor. 

#61 . awe

i may never see the real statue in NYC, 

but standing and looking up at this one in vegas isn't bad.

#62 . fairy tales

yes, i still believe.

#63 . remembered

thanks to the gracious and giving heart of a friend,

i have been made an honorary member of a group of women

whom i think the world of. 

one of them left us two weeks ago,

but these bracelets are a constant reminder of the gift of friendship

that she is responsible for starting.

Update 2013:
Those bracelets that we all wear now have a second red ribbon,
remembering our Rebel Sister Lori...

and Lori's daughter wears her bracelet now.