Foto Friday - Walk this way . . .

A route or track

along which something moves

that is sometimes done by foot.

But always to get from one place to another

that can be taken both physically and spiritually.

Some are found on the side of the road

or through a garden,

and we can even beat one of these to someones door.

At times we will take the one of least resistance

and others the one of war.

There are those that will beg where you are going,

and others that will ask where you have been.

Some have even gone ahead clearing the way,
but don't be fooled by the ones that lead you to no where,
at the end of the day.  

Some of them twist and turn

and while some may take the winding ones,

there are some that stay on the straight and narrow.

Some follow those they cannot see

and they do so by faith alone.

Then there are some that can only be felt

and may lead us straight to the heart of another.

There are times when we will embark on new ones

and in order to move forward we must leave regret behind.

Many times we will be unsure if we have chosen the right one

because they often go unmarked .. .

and sometimes we will just simply change our mind.

But if there is one thing I know to be true,

when we feel we have chosen the wrong one,

when we get lost . . . it's okay,

because I know God allows u-turns,
He is with us every step of the way.

- Kim


[Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path]
Psalm 119:105

{Foto Friday - perspective}

Paths come in different shapes and sizes, some with color...

{Photo Art Friday}

Some that wind . . .

. . . and those where light shines in the darkness.

Some with unexpected visitors . . .

{Shoot, submit, edit}

Some that make you stop and take pause . . .

 . . .  and ones that invite you in.

Some without clear vision ahead, but taken with faith . . .

. . .  and the ultimate path, the one that led to the cross.

{P52-Sacrifice}

In life there are some paths we must walk alone, those we may take together.

And when we choose the right ones they allow us to go the distance.

Wishing you inspiration that will lead you down new paths,
and encouragement to keep you going.

Love, Kim
XO

  

     
                                          

Foto Friday - A few Missions

Ya just gotta love being able to drive a few hours away from home on a mission . . .

and wind up at a Mission! Not just one, but several!!

One of the things I love about Texas is its diverse landscape where you can go from the canyons of the Texas panhandle in the Coastal Plains through the Mountains and basins and end up at the Gulf Coastal Plains. Of course that will take you an eternity of driving to get through it and in all the twenty years of
living here I have yet to have seen even a fraction of it!!

One of my favorite places we have been though is where the Spanish, during the 18th century, built a series of missions along the San Antonio river which later became the foundation they would use to build the city. And it's the largest group of missions in North America, each one with it's own gravity-fed irrigation system.

When I was in school I really, really, disliked history! And now I'm wishing I had paid a bit

more attention to it as I'm finding the history of people and their cultures fascinating. Just to roam about

where others have been, to stand where history was not only made but is still preserved today after more

than 250 years is just exciting! To open and walk through the very same doors, to stand on the very same ground of those that came before us, the ones that layed the foundation for where we are now makes me more aware of the connections we all share. The ones we make now that will affect the foundations we lay for the future, not just our own but for others. 

The first Mission we arrived at was the Mission Concepcion, the oldest unrestored stone church in America and probably because they chose to build it on a foundation of bedrock. Construction began in 1731 and took a little over 20 years to build. There are twin bell towers, outside walls that are 45" thick, and original frescoes that are over 250 years old that can be found in the sacristy. The outside of the mission, well most of the missions, had colorful geometric designs that are now no longer visible and have worn off and faded with time. I was a bit disappointed to not be able to get a full view of the front of this one as they had it blocked off for some reason.

This is part of a courtyard to a side entrance into the Sanctuary.

Next we made our way to the San Juan Mission. Again, the front was blocked off and and the church was closed possibly for repairs? I don't know much about this one other than it was a self-sustaining community where Indian artisans prepared hides and made tools and cloths. They also, outside the walls of the mission had orchards and gardens and in surrounding farmland raised sheep and cattle that allowed them to survive as long as they did in their later years.

Lastly, was the largest of the missions built on the banks of the San Antonio river. It was built only several miles from one of the most famous missions, The Alamo, and as an active parish they hold mass every Sunday. It's known as the "Queen of the Missions" for being the largest and most beautiful of the five missions.

We saw this mission 2 years ago, and it is just as remarkable seeing it for second time as it was the first. And this time as I am not shooting in automatic I was paying more a lot more attention to the light and shadows of things. In fact, it seemed to be another recurring *theme* and one I will share with you soon. ; )

Are these not the most magnificent set of doors, and that carving! I heard one of the park rangers say that

it's one of the finest carvings in all of Colonial North America. One of the reasons is because the stone found in the area is much more pliable and the carvers from Mexico were able to get quite creative in their designs elements. In the collage below is the famous "Rose Window", La Ventana de Rosa, and is found on the outside of the sacristy. On the right is the same window only looking out from the sacristy. The bottom left image is what is left of the colorful geometric patterns that would have been found on the entire exterior of the mission.

This is the breathtaking view through those beautifully carved front doors!

And through doors on the left at the front of the church, that say, "Blessed Sacrament Chapel, Respect and Silence", is the sacristy and where all the lite candles represent someones request for an answered prayer.

{shoot, edit, submit}

The bell tower, that sang every 15 minutes while we were there.

And remember the irrigation system I mentioned earlier? It's a 270 year old system and is what powers this grist mill that can grind up to 600-800 lbs of flour a day if it had to. It wasn't being operated this week, but I have been able to watch the flour fall into the bucket. Talk about technology that withstands the test of time. Makes ya wonder if we are really getting smarter doesn't it?

And this, this is the view as I turned and looked back as I walked to the enormous wooden doors that the park rangers were waiting at - waiting for me so they could close - yes as usual I was the last one out.

Do you ever just feel like ya didn't have enough time somewhere? I know I had been there before, but I just didn't feel like I was able to explore every nook and cranny and that perhaps I missed something.

In thinking about these missions, and how they have been preserved through history some over 250 years, I am reminded of how we all leave our mark or not on this world. Some of the very reason these missions have survived as long as they have is because they were built on solid foundation, on bedrock, but they weren't just built physically strong. They were also built on a spiritual foundation and with faith and not to build a palace but to build a community.

 So in reflecting and thinking about the new year ahead, I'm not starting over, I'm continuing. I'm continuing in that forward motion to hopefully build a foundation for what is to come in the future. Last year as I unpacked my bags in acceptance (here), it became the groundwork for my journey to discovery this year. 

I didn't do it on physical strength alone, but also with faith. And without even knowing it, we all share connections that are important in each other's journeys  - together we are building communities and just maybe someone will stand on the same ground that we have stood and ponder the same questions about those who have gone before them. I don't know about you but this gives me much to think about this next year. And I can't help but be a little excited about that!!

I look forward in this next year to continuing and making new connections.

Wishing you all a safe and Happy New Year!!

Love, Kim

XO

Also sharing with Tuesday Around the World at Communal Global



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Foto Friday - Just Two Days 'Til Christmas . . .

 . . . and all through the house

every creature was stirring, yes even the spouse!

Since we were out yesterday doing last minute shopping

 We found that the malls are still really hopping.

There were cars strung on streets hoping to get there

and some that forgot to use their manners with care.

We had filled our pockets with some of our cash

and knew it wouldn't take long before it was gone in a flash!

I was hoping to get a glimpse of that elusive St. Nick,

and as it turns out I'm just not that quick.

So I whistled and shouted and I called him by name

but all I heard back was, "Thanks just the same."

So off to the register like coursers we flew

with a cart full of stuff and a couple of coffees too.

This shopping thing is just so much work

 as the cashier looked over, he turned with a jerk

and on laying his fingers on the register keys

we knew he had done this before, he did it with ease!

He sprang into action and worked while he whistled

but we needed to dash away, as it was starting to drizzle.

And we heard him exclaim as we walked out of sight,

"Merry Christmas to you, have a good night!" 

Remember

This December,

That love weighs more than gold!

- Josephine Dodge Daskam Bacon

Okay so maybe I'm not quite finished yet, because I got caught up with my camera?

last night I was playing and I asked my son for a paper plate and some aluminum foil, for what else,

a reflector of course! ; )

He walked into the dining room and said, "Ummm, WOW!"

Yes I had made an entire mess in my dining room all over the table, but I did have fun!

And Oh, Oh Christmas Tree, with each tiny light . . . yes, Monday I finally got the tree done!

I decided that the pre-lit 15 year old tree that was no longer lighting was going to have to wait til next year, so we brought out the smaller Charlie Brown tree. There is a reason why I love a pre-lit tree, wrapping lights is way too time consuming, but whew, it's done! The thought of turning around and taking it down in a week is haunting me!

Just about everything in my house at Christmas is adorned with some kind of bird or bird related objects - birds, nests, birdhouses - one of my fav's being the glass ornaments with clips! It makes it easy for them to travel around . . .

I don't know about you, but I do love going for a ride in the car in P.J's drinking my salted carmel mocha and taking pics of all the Christmas lights! Well, as a passenger that is - I'm always so sad when it's time for them to be put away!

As we were driving around we came across this pond with the refections of the trees and being as we were in the car and I couldn't use the tripod, I had to do my best to handhold this one at 1/6s   - yeah, that's tricky! I just had to go with the settings I had and I only got three shots before another car came along and the first two were a bit blurry. The street lights were an orange color and gave off this incredible light in the grass and in the sky. I'm kinda liking this picture!

{Shoot edit submit}

{linked with La-La's Home Daycare}

And what would Christmas be without some really big bokeh!

Now living on the Texas coast, snow is somewhat of a novelty and therefore there will be no Winter Wonderland, so that's when you just have to create your own!

One of my very favorite Christmas boxes to get out each year is that of my fairies - my Mark Roberts fairies!! He now has fairies for all occasions through the year. I think I've been collecting them for about 12 years now, although it's been about 5 years since I have bought one! Far too long...and now he even has elves and pixies, sigh!  I could just string them through my house if my budget allowed. This was my very first one, called the Anniversary fairy and one of his very early ones!! My fairies and birds get along quite nicely!

This one is part of the 12 Days of Christmas collection and because he is the smaller version (9" ornament) he doesn't come with all the accessories of the larger ones . . . He is the Four Calling Birds fairy, and it appears that his calling birds have gone calling somewhere else?

This is one of the larger fairies and I can't remember which one this is, but he loves flying from the chandelier! I met Mark Roberts a few years ago and he actually posed this one for me and signed him along with some of my other ones.  

And this is the Christmas Dreams fairy . . . 

He looks a bit too small to be carrying my Christmas dream of a new lens and from his expression I think I'll have to wait 'til next year!

And this, this is my Sugar Plum Fairy, and he takes his job very seriously!  I PROMISE I'm making cookies tomorrow, REALLY, and just in time for Santa! Of course at our house Santa does love his CHEESE . . .

Of course with all the Christmas shopping, there is one thing we need to remember:

The best Christmas present we can give and the one I think we all want in return- to love and accept one another as we are! It's free, doesn't need wrapping, it's something that multiplies when we give it away, but yet it seems to be one of the most difficult to do? Perhaps if we didn't attach so many strings we wouldn't get so tangled up in it!

So to be on the safe side, I'm not attaching any ribbons or bows on the presents this year!

From my house to yours, I wish you a very Merry Christmas!!

Love to you all,

Kim

XO


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