These photos were taken a few weeks back through the wind shield of our moving car. Neither the rapid motion of the vehicle nor the smudged windows of the car can diminish the loveliness of the sky. So too with the passage of time with all of the "smudges"; the imperfections that somehow serve to enhance the beauty of life. I was up early and sat and meditated on our screened porch. The quiet of my sleeping household was replaced by surprisingly loud bird song, squirrel and chipmunk chatter and the noise of passing cars and airplanes in the distance. At first it was all too much, I felt distracted, even annoyed...I sat still, I stayed, I waited, I listened until it all blended together with my breath, my passing thoughts and emotions to create a symphony unique to this morning. I feel centered now and ready for another busy day of bat mitzvah preparations. Rosewillow is truly ready and filled with youthful excitement, anticipating her special Shabbat, her chance to Shine the Divine witnessed by her community of friends and family. Two more mornings and she will be up on the pulpit leading us all in prayer and called to the Torah for the first time. When I close my eyes, I still see her as the long willowy newborn with the rosebud lips nursing peacefully in my arms. Time is a gift when we remember, when we pay attention, when we allow ourselves to enjoy it's inevitable flow, moment by moment.
Thank you so much to everyone who has stopped by and left heartfelt comments. Please forgive me for not reciprocating as much as I would like, I will be up to visiting your wonderful blogs more after the bat mitzvah and our return from vacation. I feel your love and blessings.
~gentle steps,
Laura
Happy 50th Birthday to my friend on the Isle of Skye Emma Siedle-Collins! Please stop by A Little Bit of Everything today if you get a chance to offer Emma joyful birthday wishes.
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Beautiful skies. Enjoy your vacation Laura and a blessed bat mitzvah.
ReplyDeleteHappy SWF.
" Regina "
Such incredibly beautiful photos! Thank you!
ReplyDelete--aa.
I love the early morning sounds, and find the birds to be so very active right with the rising sun at this time of year! Best wishes with the Bat mitzvah and enjoy your vacation.
ReplyDeletetime is a gift indeed.
ReplyDeleteblessings
a blessed time for you and you certainly need to take the TIME to enjoy it all and savor each moment! we will be here when you can visit! have a memorable and beautiful weekend! ciao bella!
ReplyDeleteHave a lovely weekend, Laura. I know you will enjoy, appreciate, and savour every moment as your daughter takes a huge step in her life's journey.
ReplyDeleteBlessings to Rosewillow on her bat mitzvah! What a wonderful event that will be for everyone, I'm sure (but especially her).
ReplyDeleteBest wishes to your daughter as she takes the next step in her life's journey. I know these are wonderful moments to enjoy and relive as time goes by. Your photos are gorgeous! Such lovely skies! Thank you for sharing it all with us! Have a very lovely weekend!
ReplyDeleteSylvia
Lovely photos, how true too, smudges are all part of our great tapestry of interesting things going on. Enjoy your holiday!
ReplyDeleteThe skies are so beautiful as are your words. The birds wake me up at 4 am this time of year they are so noisy but usually I go back to sleep. I can relate to how it can be too much but then I can usually go with the singing until it becomes a lullaby.
ReplyDeleteI hope the Bat mitzvah and vacation are wonderful.
These are lovely photos :o) I also read your explanation of the bat mitzvah and found it very interesting. I hope your daughter's celebration goes well and hope you enjoy your vacation :o)
ReplyDeleteBeautiful clouds and sky. I am always watching the clouds. Wonderful post. I hope you have a safe and happy vacation. Best wishes to your daughter!
ReplyDeleteI love those wisps of cottony clouds...
ReplyDeleteHi, Laura!
ReplyDeleteGreat sky photos.
Love the cloud formations.
Hope you have a lovely vacation.
Hugs
Fabulous views of the sky.
ReplyDeleteBig, beautiful sky! Mazal tov on the bat-mitzvah.
ReplyDeleteI never tire of looking at the sky. It fills me with amazement. The photos are just great. I appreciate the "smudges" to which you refer. What this tells me is that when our heart is in the right place, the smudges don't impede our inner clarity. Enjoy your special days!!! May the Spirit richly bless all of you. xo
ReplyDeleteLovely sky shots, Laura! Best wishes for your daughter's bat mitzvah and enjoy your time together on vacation. :)
ReplyDeleteGreat shots.
ReplyDeleteSydney - City and Suburbs
Hi Laura, I love watching the world waking up in the early hours of the morning. It is a great time to reflect on the day ahead.
ReplyDeleteBest wishes to your daughter.
And a nice choice of photos
I love waking up to the music of the birds songs! Your sky photos are lovely even with the smudges and motion.
ReplyDeleteEnjoy the celebration and have a happy and safe vacation!
time is such an undervalued gift... a blink and its gone, yet we still keep wishing for this and that in the future, instead of enjoying the moment we have right now. kinda like wishing your life away, isn't it.
ReplyDeletevery lovely photos! i do hope you enjoy your vacation!
ReplyDeletebeautiful skies you show today.
ReplyDeletesimply mesmerizing.
ReplyDeleteBlessings blessings to your beautiful Rosewillow as she steps across the threshold to becoming a woman! And to you, her mother, for nurturing her body and spirit along the way. I feel the love and power of this event fill me, as tears roll down my cheeks for you - crazy love joy being sent your way!!
ReplyDeleteBeautiful, thoughtful photographs.
ReplyDeleteGreat skies, I love how the clouds are so delicate. Best of luck to Rosewillow tomorrow!
ReplyDeleteVery beautiful sky very clear shot and the clouds looks like a tail ^_^. Happy weekend and thanks for the visit!
ReplyDeleteSWF~Tell me~
so serene...
ReplyDeletewish you a wonderful holiday!
:-)
Fantastic captures!
ReplyDeleteWonderful skies, very peaceful and airy, like a deep breath. I find such peace in the skies, they can always sooth my mood.
ReplyDeleteHappy weekend to you and thanks for your visit.
Beautiful skies, and I love the description of your daughter's journey from a tiny nursing baby to a strong and confident young woman.
ReplyDeleteMazal tov to you all on her Bat Mitzvah!
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Those skies are very nice !!!
ReplyDeletehugs, smiles and blessings to you :-)
ReplyDeletesuch wonderful skies.
ReplyDeletewishing you a wonderful celebration, time really does pass on and on and I so agree it is a gift.
Beautiful!
ReplyDeleteI'm sure you and Rosewillow will have a glorious day!
ReplyDeleteYou're right - imperfections are what help us see the beauty of life.
Lovely shots!
Those are beautiful ethereal shots. And I love the picture you paint of your daughter as a newborn. We do tend to forget that time is a gift, life is a gift. We're so busy with goodness knows what. Thanks for the reminder.
ReplyDeleteAnd happy bat mitzvah to Rose Willow.
Beautiful shots.
ReplyDeleteBeautiful skies ! and yes time flies by especially when it comes to our children. They grow up so fast !
ReplyDeleteLove the pictures, and your words, too. I struggle to find those peaceful moments in my day, but when I do, there is nothing like it for restoring the soul.
ReplyDeleteBeautiful sky! Wish you a wonderful weekend :D
ReplyDeleteVery lovely skies :)
ReplyDeleteThanks for dropping by
I have been thinking about you all weekend. I just know everything was wonderful. Have a grand time while you are away.
ReplyDeleteI hope everything went well. It seems all to fast that our little ones pass from childhood into maturity. How wonderful that your daughter is doing it in confidence.
ReplyDeleteHope it all went well for your beautiful daughter's special day...
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