Capturing Cattails, Day 31

The end of October has come (and gone...) and my Capturing Cattails Challenge I would consider more than a success. My goal was to take more pictures and to explore ways to grow in my photography. I feel as though the first at least has been accomplished, and in the process I have rekindled my old passion for poetry that was lying in a dusty corner somewhere underneath my old wake board and my failed crocheting projects.

So, to wrap this challenge up (yes, I know that October 31 was yesterday, and yes, I know I'm late... but I started this challenge late, so I might as well end it late, yeah?;) I thought I'd share a few of my favorites from this past month.

Now I've gotta come up with something new to conquer!

Capturing Cattails, Day 30 / Today. Was Tuesday.

Beautifully cold. Terrific-ly simple. Over-sized sweaters. Tea for one. Icy rain. Pajam pants. Heartfelts. Mascara. SmartWoolz. Glasses. Windows. Scarves. Children giggles. Little noses. Lots and lots of bacon. Winterrrrrrrrr.

Happy Tuesday.

Capturing Cattails, Day 29 / "Beginning's End"

Jaws agape, rigged teeth

The colors would mean nothing now

Bright beginnings fin'ly meet

The ending; the conductor's bow

For with each day, with each breath

Another Death has called home-bound

Everything that one has built

Has come to the break, has been unwound

How can one be joyous still,

When such is every being's fate?

How can one be hopeful still?

With all Death has made this dinner date

Be joyous still, frail heart of mine

Take up your hope; be happy yet

For if beginnings had no end

Never would be the glory of a sunset

Capturing Cattail, Day 28

Capturing Cattails, Day 27 / "Mosey"

Come, take my hand, my Dear

We'll mosey down the lane

Weave daisies through our fingertips

While we walk, and laugh, and sing

Come, take me dancing, my Dear

Like it's the very first day of Spring

We'll celebrate what life has come

And what life has yet to bring

Come, take me closer, my Dear

Bring me into better days

Where we'll be past times of loneliness

Never again have to split ways

Come, take my hand, my Dear

Take me to be your only

Take me to be with you for always

And be the only one to hold me

Capturing Cattails, Day 26 / Divine Life

"Being a Christian in name only is dead, for we must be filled with God's divine life, which is something quite mysterious. Just as we do not fully see how the sap of a tree circulates or by what power it rises and falls in the tree, neither do we fully understand the sacred mystery of the life within us... 

[The believer] is not always at work for God, but his heart is always drawing its life from Him."

- Charles Spurgeon, Morning by Morning

"The trees of the LORD are well-watered..."

Ps. 104:16

"Whoever believes in Me... streams of living water will flow from within him."

John 7:38

"... I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full (or, abundantly)." 

John 10:10

He is so good.

Capturing Cattails, Day 25

Capturing Cattails, Day 24 / "Sailboat for Two"

Won't you take me away

Just steal me away

To a place where there are no tears

Where I can lay there

And simply star-stare

Wash away all the pain of these years

Where all bees are blue

Every day I'm with you

And never again be upset

Where raindrops come down

Without any clouds

And the sky always has a sunset

Oh dear, won't you come

We'll run past the sun

And never come back again

Buy a sailboat for two

Made just for me and you

And forget all the places we've been

Capturing Cattails, Day 23

Capturing Cattails, Day 22

P.S. I've been out of town twice this weekend, so pictures from both trips will be coming soon!:)

Capturing Cattails, Day 21

Capturing Cattails, Day 20

Capturing Cattails, Day 19

Capturing Cattails, Day 18 / Happy Birthday, Mother

Happy 42nd, Mama!

Capturing Cattails, Day 17

Capturing Cattails, Day 16 / Challenges

To so humbly serve, yet never be drained...

To be delicate, yet never break...

To be meek in spirit, yet not afraid...

To be ready to follow, and ready to stay...

Capturing Cattails, Day 15 / "Set Apart"

Like the sunrise brings the promise

Of yet another day

And the day greets us with trials

We meet along the way

Each love demands a sacrifice

If meant to be of worth

For what else sets us apart from

The rest upon this earth

The heartache of a selfless act

Will never go uncured

And tears shed of an breaking heart

Will never go unheard

For His eyes and ears have sought those

Who have sought is heart

And He will hold us closer still

For we have been set apart

To walk along a lonely path

 One barely shoulder-width

Sometimes it is so narrow

Our heavy hearts can hardly fit

So lift your eyes, and cast your gaze

Upon the One who carries us

All sufferings will soon be of naught

So persevere we must

Onward, onward, if but a fight

To drag your tired feet forward

For when we reach the glorious end

FULL will be our reward.

Capturing Cattails, Day 14 / "Cannot Soar"

I can try with every bit of my strength

I can flap every feather of my wings

Yet I still cannot soar with the airplanes

Or embrace the light each day brings

I will still brush the top of the branches

Of the trees I wish to leave far below

I'll stutter, and falter, and fail to forget

Everything I wish I didn't know

Capturing Cattails, Day 13 / Waiting.

"I do know that waiting on God requires the willingness to bear uncertainty, to carry within oneself the unanswered question, lifting the heart to God about it whenever it intrudes upon one's thoughts."

-Elizabeth Elliot

"Steadfastness, that is holding on;

Patience, that is holding back;

Expectancy, that is holding the face up;

Obedience, that is holding one's self in readiness to go or do;

Listening, that is holding quiet and still so as to hear." 

-S.D. Gordon

Oh Lord... give me the grace to walk with steadfastness, patience, expectancy and obedience. Show me how to wait on You, and be ok with not knowing the next step, or the outcome. And grow in me the gift of listening. Give me the golden heart of a listener.

Capturing Cattails, Day 12