Thursday June 30 2016  SO SOON THE MONTH IS OVER

Such a beautiful month June has been and now is its last day for the year 2016.  As much as I enjoy the short days of autumn and winter, I also love the month of June for being the month of the longest days.  The longest day of my calendar year has passed here in Wisconsin and the days are already beginning to shorten.

When doing outdoor senior portraits in our yard I had to be much attuned to the appointment times of my clients as the calendar progressed throughout the summer.  In order to have the light exactly as I desired, it was necessary to be extremely aware of the sun’s shifting in order to capture beautiful backgrounds.   Appointment times varied throughout the season in order to take advantage of the sun’s preference in the sky.  And still, even though I am retired, I am ever-aware of the changing light of the evenings.  Wherever I am light enhances the beauty that surrounds me.  It makes me more aware of life.  And it is the light that feeds my insatiable appetite for nature’s astounding beauty.

My encouragement to you today is to stop and smell the roses.  Notice what is around you.  We have such a limited time to enjoy all the creation of God’s handiwork.  Try not to take it for granted.  Enjoy the moment and location of where you live.  Search for the beauty that is waiting to be discovered. 

YOU WILL EXPERIENCE NEW LUXURY

By Kathleen Martens

June 30, 2016

Life has a way of moving too quickly,

Be ever aware of your surrounding beauty.

Take a deep look at what is before you,

For inner peace let it be your duty.

Purposely search for what is unseen

That you will not miss new chance for joy.

Be not timid, but rather be bold.

When searching for splendor, never be coy.

Rather be diligent, anticipating much,

For what you anticipate is what you will find.

And you will become so much more aware

That this moment’s magnificence, is but one of a kind.

So take a closer look, observe what you see.

And discover new life, hidden though it may be.

And the more you realize all that you’ve missed,

You will experience new luxury, and forever it’s free!

Thank You God for Your amazing creation.

Thank You God for allowing my life to be filled with light.

Thank You Jesus that You came to be a light to the world.

Thank You Lord for filling me with the gift of wonder.

And thank You too for all the beauty You show me each day.

GOOD NIGHT AND GOD BLESS YOU.  AND MAY GOD OPEN YOUR EYES TO BE EVER AWARE OF ALL THE BEAUTY THAT SURROUNDS YOU.

P.S.  And just throw your watch and cell phone away and you will be amazed at how wonderful life can be.  (Well, maybe just leave them at home.)

P.S.S.  Just to let you know, each month in which I live, is always my favorite month.

GOODBYE JUNE!  THE YEAR IS HALF OVER!