Favorite pictures of the year!

In one of my favorite themes hosted by Carmi at Written Inc. we get to explore our favorite pictures of the year. It's so hard to pick just a few, but how fitting it is to look at the memories of the past year! Here were a few of my highlights:

The above is one of my favorite places on earth. The memories made here with family only adds to the beauty.

This was also at my favorite place on earth. But I chose this picture because this is the weekend our cabin roof caved in, we had to catch rain in anything we could find (and retarp the roof at four a.m.), the t.v. blew up and the brand new toilet overflowed. Above all else, that weekend taught me to laugh at the little things. And it was a fantastic storm.

Road like this always get me. Where do they lead? Where do they come from? To quote Tolkien, "The road goes ever on and on, down from the door where it began. Now far ahead the road has gone, and I must follow it if I can." You never know when these roads lead to adventure!

Hope is not always a lighthouse on the shore. Sometimes it is just a small flickering flame guiding us through the dark.But hope is still there. This picture represents that lesson to me.

And this. A picture of my mother, sister and I embracing life. This is my ultimate favorite of 2014.

Have a wonderful new year everyone!! I'm looking forward to what 2015 will bring!

Favorites....

It's been awhile! Back over at Written Inc., the weekly theme is up: Favorites! I haven't participated in a long time due to a crazy schedule, but when I saw this one, a few photos came to mind!

This has to be my favorite taken in awhile. It may have a lot to do with we where all sick of rain but when you took a moment, you saw the beauty that it could bring. 

Dare to be different? This little flower sure was!

This photo could have been better. It was taken on a mid morning walk before rainfalls (there's that rain again). But I think that's why I like it so much, imperfections and all!

And this....I just thought it was fun!

"I do not know what lies beyond the horizon, only that the road I walk was meant for me. It is enough."- Richard Paul Evans

And last but not least, my absolute favorite of the people I love. This is what our Easter pictures look like.

Of Tolkien and Middle Earth....

                       

Of all the books that have shaped my life and grew my love for books, it would be those by Tolkien. I could name a hundred other books that I have loved, that I have learned something from or I have reread, but none as much as those penned by this man. I'm proud to say (okay, and a little embarrassed!) that I have read the Lord of the Rings Trilogy six times. The Hobbit five, and the Silmarillion twice (his other works a scattered handful). I know, I know, nerd. It's fine. ANYWAYS, anyone that has ever gotten caught up in the world of Middle Earth knows what I'm talking about. 

What do I love about these books so much? It's hard to put into words. The transformation of the characters alone is something that I could write about many blog posts about. But behind it all lies a magic, lies a promise: and that is hope. It's about believing that the journey is important and your story is worth fighting for. It's about love and heartbreak. It's about the fact that even the smallest act can change the world. You have a story, you have a part. No matter how dark things may look and no matter how many orcs seem to be chasing you. Long after you close the cover of this book, the story stays with you. At least it does with me. And that's what good writing does, it leaves a legacy.

Like any good Tolkien reader, I have my favorite quotes. Stashed away, written on my wall, on post it notes. I hope to put more to pictures, but for now, these two pictures remind me of the journey I'm on. Let's hold on to hope.

A book must be....

Books can take us places. They can ignite dreams, wake up souls and cause us to feel again. There are times when souls connect with books, those books that you stumble upon and realize it's so much more than just words written on a page. And every once in awhile you find a book that changes you, the characters and landscapes becoming real to you. Becoming a part of you. And when the world fills us with disappointments and doubts, books can help break open our frozen souls and show us the beauty of life again.

What books have changed your life?

Look way up!

This week's theme over at Written Inc. is look way up! It gives us to chance to change our perspective. Some of my photos:

One of my favorites:

 The things we miss when our perspective is constantly on ourselves!

 Looking up reminds us that there is a greater purpose beyond what we can see.

Made of Steel

This week's theme is "Made of Steel". This was a hard one and I came up with two! For more steel themed photos head over to Written Inc.

Three!

And this week is threesies! I had a hard time with this one, I have a whole lot of pictures involving two: two dogs, two siblings and on and on....but three, now that's a bit harder. But here are a few I've found:

And to top it off, a fun one! Nothing like trying to reach for new heights with your siblings:

And for more thematic fun, check out Carmi's blog over at Written Inc.!

Greyish

This week's theme over at Written Inc. is greyish!Unfortunately, this seems to be the color of everyday life here. So I picked some winter themed grey ones that I could find:

This one isn't actually winter themed.....but it reminded me of grey! A spider's web......

Favorite photos of the year....

This week over at Written Inc. , the theme is favorite photos of the year. This is one of my favorite themes! I enjoy sifting through all the photos I've taken and remembering certain events, or places in the pictures that I may have forgotten. And I love looking at everyone else's. Because favorite pictures often have stories to tell. Here are a few of mine throughout the year:

If I absolutely had to chose only one picture, this would be it. But it doesn't have to do with just the picture itself, it was the meaning behind the picture. This particular day was spent exploring with the family and we found this during our adventures.

This picture because of the memories it holds. Memories of loved ones past, of joyous times spent there together and the hope that more memories will one day be made there.

The next three photos I chose because I tried really hard to slow down and appreciate the little things around me this year. There is so much beauty hidden in our everyday lives. These were a few I came up with.

 The last two were my favorite fun ones. Just fun pictures of my siblings (and it helps that their both gymnasts!)

Praying that everyone has a happy and blessed New Year!!!

In the foreground

This week's theme over at Written Inc. is in the foreground! I had a few in mind.....

And a last reminder from summer!

Reflective

This week's theme over at Written Inc. is reflective. Fantastic theme but I think one we don't often have enough of in everyday life.

Being reflective often comes when I finally sit down and stop rushing around.

 And often, the best way of being reflective is finding myself in a book.....

The window to our souls. Sometimes reflective of the world around us:

 Being reflective with man's best friend.

Sadness....

This week's theme over at Carmi's page Written Inc. , is sadness. I found two that for me, echoed sadness. Both for different reasons:

This broken table echoes sadness every time we pass by. It sits outside of a little cabin that used to be full of joy, nicely taken care of, everything in it's place. Now this table echoes the questions that go along with it. 

But perhaps more than that picture is the next one:

This swing brings back so many memories. Times spent with my grandparents, beautiful memories of when I was a kid. And with the swing always comes the subtle reminder that we are not here forever, and to make the most of the time that we've been given with the people who mean the most to us. 

Thematic-Concretely

This week's theme over at Written Inc. is Concretely. If you want to see some awesome photos of this week's theme, head over to the link!

I'm sure there is a bit of concrete in these photos:

 This wall has seen better days, could do with some fresh paint!

 These morning glories grew like crazy wherever we planted them. Even out onto out sidewalk!