Week 40 - Tiny [Rebekah]

The first thing that popped into my head when I thought of the word "tiny" is baby toes, the color pink, and soft cuddly blankets. 

However, when I pondered it longer, it occured to me that "tiny" is a relative term, and that it doesn't apply continuously to one object. An object is classified as tiny only when it is compared to something that is much larger than it. For example, a koala bear is indeed tiny if you compare it to an elephant. But if you compare a koala bear to an ant, than the ant is tiny. Something that is tiny in one circumstance may not be tiny in a different circumstance.

Another stereotype of "tiny" is that if it is tiny, it's probably cute and cuddly and happy and warm and contented. But maybe it's not?

Have you ever wondered what being tiny is like? If they feel like all is right with the world? 

The tiny ones look up at the giant obstacles and wonder how they're ever going to climb them. How they can defeat something so big and scary.

Sometimes being tiny...

is terrifying.

Week 42 - Happiness [Rebekah]

I have a confession for you guys: I hate "cheese" pictures.

You know the like. The ones where everyone is smiling because they have to and nobody is showing any happiness at all. In fact, they might be gritting their teeth in agony because their sibling *coughcoughjoshcough* messes up their Christmas pictures for the 184th time that year.

I prefer pictures when they're laughing, and I'm sure you do too. I like pictures where you might not see their whole eyes because they're crinkled up in a genuine joy (or when you can see too much of their eyes as they open them widely in a silly face). Why? Because it shows who they really are.

They're happy.

So here you go....some happiness for you today, brought to you from a few of my happy friends.

Week 39 - Peaceful [Rebekah]

A few dark, cold evenings ago, it snowed.

Beautiful icy-white flakes drifted to the ground and covered the world with bright silence, while the air was filled with the dark silence called night.

Not a sound was made; all things were hushed.

And the earth was peaceful.

Week 43 - Sleepy [Jeannette]

Week 42 - Happiness [Jeannette]

I think that's enough for this one.

Week 41 - Shadow [Jeannette]

I am not sure why this picture works for shadow, but I think it does. Maybe it's because it appears to be an "imperfect imitation" or reflection, or a vague representation, or a phantom. Or maybe it's more like a secret follower. Or, perhaps, a shelter or protection. As if you must get past him to reach the phantom behind.

Hey, I tried. Sometimes feelings cannot be quite explained. Do you think it works?

Week 40 - Tiny [Jeannette]

Week 34 - Distress [Jeannette]

I think these are distress-inducing pictures. Plus, getting eyeliner in your eye might be cause for distress.

Week 39 - Peaceful [Jeannette]

Week 37 - Technology [Jeannette]

Everyone enjoys and uses technology. Some more creatively than others.

Week 36 - Literary [Jeannette]

"So was I speaking and weeping in the most bitter contrition of my heart, when, lo! I heard from a neighbouring house a voice, as of boy or girl, I know not, chanting, and oft repeating. ‘Take up and read; Take up and read.’ [’Tolle, lege! Tolle, lege!’] Instantly, my countenance altered, I began to think most intently whether children were wont in any kind of play to sing such words: nor could I remember ever to have heard the like. So checking the torrent of my tears, I arose; interpreting it to be no other than a command from God to open the book, and read the first chapter I should find…

"Eagerly then I returned to the place where Alypius was sitting; for there had I laid the volume of the Apostle when I arose thence. I seized, opened, and in silence read that section on which my eyes first fell: ‘Not in rioting and drunkenness, not in chambering and wantonness, not in strife and envying; but put ye on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make not provision for the flesh, in concupiscence.’ [Romans 13:14-15] No further would I read; nor needed I: for instantly at the end of this sentence, by a light as it were of serenity infused into my heart, all the darkness of doubt vanished away.”

And you, for a lack of love of the literary, probably skipped that awesome quote from Augustine's Confessions. Sadness. You missed its profundity regarding the power of the written Word.

Whether the Scriptures or some other tome, we should all "take and read" more often.

Week 35 - Sweet [Jeannette]

Concisely defined, sweet means delicately pleasing or dear.

If I were to define it myself, I would say adorable or touching. I love the word sweet, because it makes me think of babies and little girls and tender moments.

Week 33 - Comfort [Jeannette]

These are the sort of scenes that come to mind when I think of comfort.

These are the sorts of things that come to mind when I think of comfort: 

a good book,
my soft blanket,
a pencil (of course, delightful as mechanical pencils are, real pencils are much more comforting than a plastic one-and pencils themselves aren't comforting, but writing can be),
a soft cat (okay, not usually, but...),
a cup of cocoa (yeah, it's an empty mug, but I can imagine),
and my Bible.

"This is my comfort in my affliction,
For Your word has given me life." - Psalm 19:50

Week 32 - Rugged [Jeannette]

Rugged is another awesome word that is terribly underused. (Ironically, awesome is definitely not!) It has a variety of meanings, all referring to strength or sharpness. Having a rough surface, lacking culture, of the wild outdoors, with a weathered look.

Rugged.

Week 36 - Literary [Rebekah]

For all of you who have been getting back to the books over the last couple weeks.

Week 35 - Sweet [Rebekah]

Sweet. 

Kind, gentle, good, pure, lovely.

Week 34 - Distress [Rebekah]

Distress.

When you're sailing on the sea and the clouds suddenly fly in and the waves roll high.

Stranded on the water.

Can't see land- getting too dark. Don't know where where you are.

And there's nowhere to go,

nowhere to escape the storm.

That's distress, that sickening, heavy feeling in your stomach when you're in trouble and can't do anything to save yourself.

But then you see the lighthouse.

And it leads you home.

Week 33 - Comfort [Rebekah]

Comfort is something that is smooth and calm; something that causes an angry heart to be quiet.

It is a warm cup of tea, the soft music of a violin.

Week 32 - Rugged [Rebekah]

Rugged is a lifestyle filled with hard work and perseverance. It's scuffed and chipped fingernails, rusted red metal, frayed rope, cobwebs, dirty shoes.

Week 31 - Wind [Jeannette]

Who Has Seen the Wind?

By Christina Rossetti
 

Who has seen the wind?

Neither I nor you:

But when the leaves hang trembling,

The wind is passing through.

Who has seen the wind?

Neither you nor I:

But when the trees bow down their heads,

The wind is passing by.

Week 30 - Meditation [Rebekah]

I admit that I took this picture a year and a month ago.

But sometimes the fact that it's an old picture doesn't matter. After I chose the work Meditation, I immediately thought of this picture. It fit so well, I thought. I considered trying to redo it- but no, only the original would work.

This picture was just a little perfect for Meditation. I hope you'll agree.

Thanks to my Aunt Kathy, who sat on that rock not noticing all the pictures taken of her.