Wordless Wednesday : Our dog Oso at our favorite beach

Oso at our favorite beach. He has the odd habit of only picking the ball up with one fang. So the ball is always sticking out of the side of his mouth

Malibu & 27 Years : The Sculpture Anniversary

Yesterday was our 27th anniversary. I found out that in the modern gift list, this is our Sculpture Anniversary. (Last year being original pictures? -Really?) I’m not sure if I’m into the modern list (especially since #44 is groceries ) but it’s kind of fun to check them out. Ours was a year of many challenges (Mom’s cancer and life on the road among them). I turned to the Lord many times this year and found several verses that helped me in my time of need. One was Matthew 5:41 “And whosoever shall compel thee to go a mile, go with him twain.” And of course, 1 Corinthians 13:1-13. “Love bears all things.” Not just the things it wants to. Romance is wonderful. Love is eternal. And when life tries to come in between you and the one you love, love can be a battle. But I’ve found, that when true love can overcome what the world has thrown at it, the bond is more beautiful than ever. As we head out to the beach today to renew our vows and to celebrate what we’ve overcome this year, I thought I’d share a few photos.

Beginnings

Happy New Year! 2013 roared in, in many unexpected ways for me. Here’s a picture of the New Year’s Day hike I took with my husband in Big Sur on the Skinner Trail, at Devil’s Peak.

Happy New Year from Big Sur, CA

I have a love of surprises. On the drive down to Big Sur we saw whales spouting in the ocean, a huge pod that seemed to stretch the length of the coast as far as our eyes could see. On the drive to the trail head a bobcat jumped into some bushes at the side of the road. The hike went from an elevation of 2000 ft to 4500 ft. Here in California on the coastal ranges we didn’t expect to be hiking in snow, but that’s what we found. Our dog had never seen snow before and he delighted in it.

Joy!

This year finds me beginning the writing of a new novel and beginning an inward journey as well. I want to share some quotes that inspire me in these promising days of 2013:

“He who bends to himself a joy

Doth the wingèd life destroy.

But he who kisses the joy as it flies

Lives in Eternity’s sunrise.”

- Blake

And Carrie Bradshaw from Sex in the City on relationships:

“There are those that open you up to the exotic. Those that are old and familiar. Those that bring up lots of questions. Those that bring you somewhere unexpected. Those that bring you far from where you started. But the most exciting challenging and significant relationship of all is the one you have with yourself. And if you find someone who loves the you you love––well, that’s just fabulous.”

Are there any quotes that have inspired you in this new year? I’d love to know what they are.

What I’m listening to: Queen’s One Vision