Just thought I would close out the year by posting some of my favorite images from 2023. I was hoping to whittle it down to 12, but this was the best I could do. :)
A heartfelt thanks to my WordPress family. Thanks for stopping by, and for your kind comments.
I hope 2024 is filled with enough laughter to get you through the sorrow, and enough hope to help you endure the storms. God bless you, and Happy New Year.
this Christmas
may your soul shine
as you take time
to reflect on God above
and love your family
and see your story
is from His hand
of love
for you are here
and His Light is near
so lay those burdens down
this tiny Child
is here for you
so put away the frowns
and rest in His light
rest in His peace
rest in His joy
may you be free
and not anxious
for you are precious
for you are here
and His Light is near
for you are loved
from above
He came
to be
with
you
as the winter fire sky
gently carries the day away
i allow my eyes
to drink in the beauty
and let the colors
fill my mind
a glorious letting go
a blazing surrendering
to time
are there moments
in those colors
memories in the
winter fire sky
take a photo
maybe this
digital likeness
will connect me
to the weightless
wonder and reflection
deeper connection
to the Artist’s
dazzling affection
for creation
and
all His children
winter fire sky
thank you for
your singular
contribution
to ease the longing
it’s not a solution
or absolution
just a nudge
a reminder
that helps me remember
that there is more
than all our senses tell us
the unseen real
the shadows of glory
an endless story
is whispered in my heart
as i say goodby
to this
winter fire sky
maybe it’s because
the way things are
i’m longing
for what used to be
maybe it’s because
what used to be
is why the way things are
maybe it’s because
i’m remembering
a world that was gentle and true
maybe it’s because
what’s gentle and true
was forsaken and broken
back then too
maybe it’s because
we’re lost wandering souls
that it seems faith is gone
hope and love sailed away
maybe it’s because
we’ve wandered so far
the light seems so dim
we don’t know
who we are
maybe we can turn
and swim upstream
awaken and see the Way
maybe we can hear
the Truth with our ears
and Life can return
to our poor restless souls
let’s surrender
right now
all we think we know
and find His rest and peace
for only if we lose our lives
in His love and light
only then can we rise
pray with me
that we will see
the world we carry inside
mended and healed
by the Way
the Truth
the Life
we got a little brick house in Rockdale
the one with the great big tree
we know it’s not london or paris
and not parsippany
but there’s a real nice park
across the street
where the slides go on for miles
and the girls can climb
and laugh on the swings
right there in front
of our little brick house
the one with the great big tree
it’s not rome
or breckenridge
or schenectady
it’s a home for the girls
and for you and me
here in Rockdale
we’ll make memories
in our little brick house
the one
with the great big tree
let me talk about the
rain rain rain
inside my heart
and all those words
i thought would build
just tore us all part
let me talk about the
rain rain rain
inside my mind
and all the shame
and fighting ways
and all this wasted time
let me talk about the
rain rain rain
inside your pain
and all your tears
all my broken tries
we can’t go back again
let me talk about the
rain rain rain
i threw it all away
don’t go
the skies
inside our lives
will clear one day
please stay
and share this rain
between us
darkness now
there must be a way
through all this
muddy ground
a story must be here
let’s look around
and find one
who knows
maybe it will
keep us sheltered
from all this
rain
rain
rain
so this new day has come
whose will
will be done
in my heart and mind
today
these colors dance and play
they call and say
there is more to you
more to me
than this world often
will let us see
so many lies
so many tries
to measure up
to just keep up
you get tired
worn
cast down
and torn
God help me see
i bear Your image
strong and true
it is ruined
stained
and needs to be
renewed
like this new day
i will rise and sing
with the colors bring
a song of praise
i will raise
my voice
and say
thank you
for who You are
to me
thank you
for all that
makes me
me
the dark
the light
the rest
the fight
i will listen to
these colors sing
life up my eyes
and enter into
Your peace
Your grace
Your will
Your way
my heart
and mind
are yours today
not my way
not my will
but
Yours
be done
always
and in
all ways
I took a picture of the pin oak in our front yard because I felt bad that I was cross with this beautiful tree. Usually, it keeps most of its leaves through winter, but this week it quickly surrendered many of its leaves to the breezes of the day. After a considerably long, reluctant dance with my rake, I looked up and saw this. I took a moment to join this beautiful tree, as we both enjoyed the cold, leaf scented air as the sky showed us how it would close this day. Grateful.
what will happen if i let go stop pretending i have this under control what would happen if i released and ceased from all this striving and trying to make it all go away what if i choose to stay in the waiting in the long and unknown space called faith if i fall will i just be absorbed into the fear and sadness below or will He catch me enfold me come alongside and hold me still it feels so safe right here i’ve got something i can do clinging to my stubborn pride not falling seems like a good use of time but He wants to continue to write this story called my life so i let go and then………
hope bears the longing of returning to the home we’ve never seen for deep within our hearts eternity cries and we see without eyes our true identity in Light in Peace in endless days love beyond imagining like a seed set in our soul eternity calls us to let go of little things where the darkness grows and desires too small to carry the weight of all our sorrow rise and cause us to fall we really must die to the wrong inside things we see and all we hide and live in the unseen for this world is not our home the seed inside cannot thrive in the midst of pride surrendering we cry and pray heal us break us shape us and lead us home
rutakintome pictures 
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