Wednesday, May 27, 2009

My Memorial Day…

How we spend our Memorial Day varies from family to family and from place to place. Many of us living close to the Jersey shore traditionally head to the shore, leaving many areas feeling like a ghost town. Yesterday I was an observer to a Memorial Day family tradition that LJN had experienced as a child. As I watched LJN and other family members tidy up the grave plaque, place flowers and plant flowers at the graves of family members, I realized I was witnessing a very familiar practice on this day.

I listen to the exchange between the siblings, each having a different memory or recollection and for some having no knowledge about “such things” when it came to Aunt so and so and the occasional reply of… oh, I didn’t know that. As I stood there listening to all of these memories I thought about the many soldiers buried in cemeteries across this land who died in service to our country. I visualized those families at their graves, some holding back the tears in their eyes, others gently wiping away a tear and others recalling family memories that could put a smile on your face as they too exchanged memories about their son or daughter, father or mother, niece or nephew, aunt or uncle, cousin or grandchild. It is in these recalled memories on this day and other holidays when they are deeply missed that we, for a few fleeting moments, feel the warmth and touch of their presence once again.

I would like to say thank you to all of the men and women serving in our military today and to those who once served long ago, I lift my voice in praise for your service to our country and especially to the families whose loved ones paid the greatest sacrifice of all… death in service to our nation.

Trish


















I Weep for Those Who Are Not My Own
I weep as any Father, Husband, Mother, Wife, Brother, Sister, Uncle, Aunt, Grandparent or Friend would at the loss of their loved one.
I weep for those who are not my own…
These soldiers Men and Women are all a part of us. The list is very long and growing longer each day.
I weep for those who are not my own…
Our voices on ending this conflict are varied, but our tears and aching hearts are clearly the same all over.
I weep for those who are not my own…
Let our cry be heard from the North to the South from the East to the West.
Weep No More, Weep No More, And Weep No More!
PLEASE STOP THIS WAR!

Inspired when watching This Week with George Stephanopoulos- ‘This Week’ Remembers Those We Have Lost …

2/07
Trish Nicholas
Support Our Troops
"And they who for their country die shall fill an honored grave, for glory lights the soldier's tomb, and beauty weeps the brave." - Joseph Drake
***To Miss Carrie who has been deployed for seven months, my prayers are with you and your fellow soldiers that you all may return safely home to your families… GO NAVY!
Photos by Trish & LJN
Support Our Troops-Photographer Unknown
Through the Viewfinder www.zazzle.com/meia7214N*
GO ARMY!
GO AIRFORCE!
GO MARINES!





***FYI A brand new Photography Website is coming in June!





Tuesday, May 19, 2009

To All Mother’s

Last week I was watching a segment on the Today show about how much is Moms job really worth? I believe this same report has shown up on several other morning shows prior to Mother’s Day. This time the report pointed to a website called salary.com, where a stay at home Mom or working Mom could calculate how much she should be paid for the many “different” hats that she wears for her family.

Well, I am sure that you can see where I am going with all of this. And I don’t think I would be to far off the mark to say that many of us would be interested in finding out how much we would be paid, since curiosity about anything has never been at a loss when it comes to women…it’s in our DNA!

To all mother’s everywhere we hold a common thread and money it is NOT. The first cry of life in the delivery room, a life that you helped to bring into the world, that one and only special smile from your child, that says you mean the world to me, A child’s tight little arms wrapped around your neck when being frighten by a creak or a shadow in the night, your arms rocking them to sleep when their tummy and head is aching from the flu. The list of things that a Mother does for her family and all that she experiences with her children are simply PRICELESS!

No matter how they calculate our worth, there just isn’t any amount of money that you could pay any Mother, for she will always be a Mother and much more!

Trish




A mom's love is like a beautiful garden nurtured with love and caring. (Hallmark)



Mom, the older I get, the more I realize how blessed I am to have a wonderful mother like you.

But how can I put into words how much your love, encouragement, and faith in me have meant? (Hallmark)



Mom you’re an Angel
Just like those above.
Thank you for your
Patience, Protection, and Love.

No person has ever
Been so caring and warm.

Truly, Mom,
You’re an Angel in human form
Rachel Grace
Photos by Trish
Through the Viewfinder www.zazzle.com/meia7214N*
*** FYI A brand new Photography website is coming in June!
Happy Belated Mother's Day to all!


































A Belated Mother’s Day Wish

On Wednesday May 6th our second granddaughter and fifth grandchild arrived approximately three weeks early, weighing in at 5lbs 4oz. Needless to say there was a mad scramble to head to Chesapeake, Virginia to see her, leaving no time for my Mother’s Day posting. Well, I am happy to report that Mother and baby are doing fine! She has her Daddy’s nose and her Mothers signature chin. Her Pop-Pop said she is just GORGEOUS! Just see for your self… this is our little Jazz, short for Jaslynn.















God’s blessings poured out on you
In the gift He has given
Your precious baby daughter
God’s gift sent down from heaven
May God pour out His wisdom
To raise her in His love
So she may become a woman of God
With faith in God above
© By M.S.Lowndes

Proverbs 22:6 (KJV)
Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it.
Photos by LJN & Trish
***New Photography website is coming in June!
Through the Viewfinder www.zazzle.com/meia7214N*








Monday, May 4, 2009

Renewal Time


I have always referred to myself as a “summer time girl” proclaiming that my favorite season is definitely summertime. I must say that as the earth has begun its transformation from winter to spring, I am beginning to feel as though springtime is my favorite season. Everywhere you look you can witness the earth’s clock beginning its renewal. One morning LJN and I found ourselves awakening to a bird chirping outside of our bedroom window… no alarm clock needed that morning. Twice now we have witnessed and unfortunately had to remove two birds nest that were beginning to be built on our home. And as I walked through my garden the other day to see what had made it through the winter, my heart skipped a beat to see and smell my pineapple mint, chocolate mint, Greek oregano, lavender, hosta, and other varieties of flowers pushing their way up out of the ground.

I thought to myself who told the birds to arrive and start chirping again outside my bedroom window and for the flowers and buds on the trees to bloom again… who told you to do that now? As I observed all of this, fully knowing the creator of this process I kept having a sense of everything being brand new, fresh and clean. A tremendous feeling of renewal was hovering in the air and I could not get enough of it. In witnessing the earths magnificent renewal I clearly understood why God gave us springtime, spring gives us a new energy, a new strength and enthusiasm for the warmer months to come. It is what I call a time to really breathe.

While the earth is renewing, may you also take the time to breathe, meditate and renew your life. Take a walk in the sunshine or after an April shower, I am sure you will be surprised at what you see and how different you will feel afterward… go ahead try it and see.


I now believe that spring is my favorite season…

Trish

Romans 1:20 (New International Version)

For since the creation of the world God's invisible qualities—his eternal power and divine nature—have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that men are without excuse.












Think of the number of trees and blades of grass and flowers, the extravagant wealth of beauty no one ever sees! Think of the sunrises and sunsets we never look at! God is lavish in every degree. – Oswald Chambers

Photos by Trish @ Through the Viewfinder
Through the Viewfinder II