Category: FUJIFILM XF 16-80mm f/4

goodbye friday ransom illinois style

I don’t have any specific stats, but it feels like the cloudiest winter ever to march across this part of the Midwest. This past week the sun was able to out maneuver Mr. Gray Skies and make an appearance.

winter at the river

Here in the Midwest we ended 2023 with an unusually warm November and December. 2024 brought us an unusually cold winter. We experienced over a week of temperatures well below freezing. Cloudy, gray skies have also been a feature for far too many days. So, even thought this morning it was -1 degrees Fahrenheit, I was looking forward to trying to capture a sunrise at the Illinois River. Low clouds on the horizon blocked the sun, but I was more intrigued by the ice formations left on the trees from the receding winter river. Thanks for stopping buy. Hope it’s warmer where you are.

you want some things to stay

your grandchild’s giggle
a warm smile from a stranger
an embrace from the one you love
you just want some things to last
a walk beside the sea
the scent of falling leaves
a comforting glance for your sorrow
you just want some things
not to go too fast
a melody that makes you cry
someone saying i forgive you
sweet vienna fingers with some coffee
you just want some things
to not slip into the past
a frigid cold morning sky
whose design and colors
takes your breath away
couldn't think of a better way
to start and end a day
than losing myself in the beauty
swimming in the artistry
trying to take the whole sky in my arms
you just want some things to stay
you want some things
to never go away
coffee
vienna fingers
embracing the whole sky
i just want some things
to
stay
maybe never have to say
goodbye

happy winter weather event!

Trying to think positive thoughts before I take out my trusty snow shovel and start wrestling with this stuff!

cloudy winter day

so what’s up
cloudy winter day
what have you got to say
you remind me of me today
a little chill
a little gray
the blues are above you
somewhere high in the sky
like the blues
down inside me
where i’m tired
and i don’t want to try
to pretend anymore
that it’s sunny
act like it’s all okay
cloudy morning
i hear what you’re trying
to say

wait
weep
stay
don’t keep
it together
just be
feel
don’t try
to weather the weather
rest
pray
chill
gray
stay
connected
to
your
Creator
on this
cloudy
winter
day

His Light is near

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

winter fire sky

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

rain rain rain

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

i will raise my voice

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

lead us home

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