SoCS: Birthday Plans, Strange Clouds, and Rainbows

Today’s SoCS prompt from Linda Hill is, “where.” Use it any way you’d like!

Where am I?

In the mountains of NC, but not exactly, because I’m in the city/town of Boone which is in a valley, so I can see the mountains. We are here for my granddaughter’s 10th birthday which was yesterday and my son’s birthday is today. Yep. His birthday is on 9/11. It was his birthday 36 years ago, when 9/11 was just 9/11 and his birthday. So we are having a party at the park this afternoon, mostly for my granddaughter who is 10 years old! Oh, I said that already. But it’s double digits! She’s still into sparkles, rainbows, and unicorns.

Thanks to my husband David driving us here, I got to take pictures of clouds. What do you see in the sky today? What do you see in these pictures? It’s open to interpreation. I hope all you see in the sky today is clouds, birds, butterflies, and maybe a rainbow. Oh, and the sun, but don’t look at it directly or too long.

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  Do you see an angel?

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  Do you see a skeleton?

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  Do you see a dragon?

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  What do you see?

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  This is my favorite. What do you see?

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  Do you see a giant bird?

Clouds along the way.

This is an older photo that I just like.

I spend my fair share of time reading the news and remembering, analyzing, and certainly in gratitude. Sometimes we just need to look at the clouds. I hope you get to be somewhere nice, peaceful, and safe today.

~~~

Where do you go for more streams of consciousness and to find out the rules?

You go to Linda’s blog!

Good News Tuesday: Stories to Lift Your Spirit

Police officer Celeste Ayala was on duty at a hospital in Argentina when a malnourished and neglected baby was brought in by a social worker. Knowing she could help, Celeste asked if she could breastfeed the baby and was given permission.  Later, she was given a promotion. Here’s the story:

https://www.cbsnews.com/news/celeste-ayala-baby-breastfeed-photo-viral-berisso-argentina-buenos-aires/

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Next up: Did you hear about the rainbow that appeared during a moment of silence honoring Aretha Franklin?  She was a powerful lady.

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I can’t resist a good news dog story, especially when there’s a reunion involved.  Bently was lost in an accident far from home. After seeing the lost dog story, a Colorado man went looking.  He knew it was a long shot, but he found Bently who is back now with family.

In other good dog news, England is taking an ethical lead in banning puppy mills where dogs are over-bread in poor conditions.  You can read the details here.

Seeking balance, one Tuesday at a time.

 

A Gift for Every Challenge

May God give you…

For every storm, a rainbow,

For every tear, a smile,

For every care, a promise,

And a blessing in each trial.

For every problem life sends

a faithful friend to share,

For every sigh, a sweet song

and an answer for each prayer.

(“An Irish Blessing”)

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Sometime it takes a while to notice those gifts, but they come.  For every challenge I have been given rainbows to give me hope, smiles to ease the pain, promises to believe in, and blessings bigger than I ever imagined. I’ve been given friends who’ve loved me in spite of myself and songs to sing along the way. The answers seemed slow in coming, but that’s because God was waiting for the perfect time, the time when we were ready.

My book, Trust the Timing, details all of the above and will be available this month.

I’ll keep you posted!

 

 

Signs From the Other Side

Do not stand at my grave and weep
I am not there. I do not sleep.
I am a thousand winds that blow.
I am the diamond glints on snow.
I am the sunlight on ripened grain.
I am the gentle autumn rain.
When you awaken in the morning’s hush
I am the swift uplifting rush
Of quiet birds in circled flight.
I am the soft stars that shine at night.
Do not stand at my grave and cry;
I am not there. I did not die.

Mary Elizabeth Frye

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Since my dad passed away, I’ve seen signs of his light.

The morning after I got the call, this is what I saw in the Tennessee sky

from the passenger side of the car where I rode.

Dad saying, “Hello. It’s me. I’m okay.”

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The morning of Dad’s funeral, I saw this rainbow reflected from an old bottle in my kitchen window. I had never seen this rainbow before.

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As we drove home from the funeral/celebration dinner, I saw this sign in the sky. Dad always liked red.

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Sunday morning morning, a sweet lady, Dad’s contemporary, gave me this card with the poem above about signs.

I imagine these signs were easy feats for the man who taught me, “Nothing is Impossible.”

The timing is interesting, though not surprising – my dad died just a few weeks after I retired from my 30 year career, so now I have more time and energy to grieve, to sort through his stuff, and to see the signs.

I’m curious. Have you ever noticed signs?

PS: Jo’s comment below and repost: https://hellsbellsandcreativetails.wordpress.com/2017/02/03/the-odd-egg-a-repost/ reminded me of the water mark heart that appeared on my mom’s bedroom ceiling some time after she died. They slept in separate rooms, but only because Dad snored so loud. I used to think one was a heart and one was an apple, but maybe they are two hearts. Mom was short and Dad was tall, so these hearts could represent the two of them. Now they’re together again. And I bet he doesn’t snore in heaven, or if he does, it’s like music to her ears.