Last days of summer

The days have started to get shorter, there is a slight chill in the evening air and more rainy days are a part of the weather forecast. Yes summer is coming to a close. We are now headed back to school, watching football, eating comfort foods, and fall activities on crisp days.

This year our summer has been filled with family visits, beach days, and exploring the local area that we are now residing in. Over all it has been a very nice summer, but I must say that I am looking forward to the fall and winter season.

Our last days of summer will end with a couple’s weekend at our home which will include a barbeque, dinner at a local restaurant and a visit to Assateague Island.

How will you spend your last days of summer? Please let me know and include your favorite summer photo(s) past and present with your story!

I look forward to hearing about your last days of summer events and seeing some of your favorite summer photos!

Trish

Happy fall!

Some of my favorite summer photos past and present

Photos by Trish
Trish Nicholas photography @ www.wix.com/TrishN/Trish-Nicholas-Photography

To Purchase Photos Courtesy of Redbubble @ http://www.redbubble.com/people/tmeian
* Please feel free to contact me with inquiries regarding commercial use of my photographs.

Photography Journey Articles @ HubPages http://phototljn7.hubpages.com/hub/PhotoJourney7

Have a great and safe Labor Day weekend!

Blessings!

We Will Step Up!

“While we may be proud Democrats or proud Republicans, we are prouder to be Americans” – President Barack Obama

I recently watched a report on a popular news magazine show about a well known restaurant chain that was donating unserved foods to local food banks. The report also highlighted their food recycling process which provided additional meals to missions, shelters and after care programs. Each personal story about being hungry and receiving meals was very touching as well as heart wrenching. As I thought about this report and other making a difference stories, these words came to mind… Americans Will Step Up!

During this period of hard economic times and gradual recovery these stories are refreshing, infusing us with a sense of hope and shinning a light on change.  Our normal way of doing business has certainly been challenged. As the restaurant CEO admitted to the reporter it would be cheaper to just throw away the food at the end of the night. But because of the enormous amount of people who face hunger in our country everyday this CEO decided that he needed to do something about this. He soon discovered that some of his restaurant managers had already started donating unserved foods to local food banks as ‘random acts of kindness’. This restaurant chain turned these random acts of kindness into their Harvest Program.

I too believe that for some of us we see ourselves as more than just a Democratic or a Republican but an American. We ultimately believe in change and hope for a better future ahead, not only for ourselves but for others as well. Our convictions and fortitude to help others and make a change or to simply “do what is right” will always guide us as Americans to step up!

Trish

*Everyday more than 50 million Americans are at risk of not having enough to eat.

*Each year in the United States 40% of our edible food is simply thrown away.

*Click on the link to view the Rock Center Video http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/21134540/vp/47182744#47182744

 Feeding America – Give A Meal

Give A Meal: $1 = 8 Meals

Nearly 49 million Americans don’t know where their next meal will come from. Many are working families, children and the elderly. Give hope to families and hope to communities. Give the gift of meals.   http://feedingamerica.org/

Value others above yourself by humbly serving them (Philippians 2:3-4), give generously of your resources to those in need (James 2:14-17)

 

Trish Nicholas photography @ www.wix.com/TrishN/Trish-Nicholas-Photography

To Purchase Photos Courtesy of Redbubble @ http://www.redbubble.com/people/tmeian
* Please feel free to contact me with inquiries regarding commercial use of my photographs.

Photography Journey Articles @ HubPages http://phototljn7.hubpages.com/hub/PhotoJourney7

Happy Mother's Day to All! 

We need one Another

America is hurting and now more so than ever before in the history of our nation, Americans truly need one another. Continuing job losses, foreclosures and limited amounts of food for some, chooses us NOT by our race or social status or by way of some sort of financial guideline. Many of us in the country know that we could also find ourselves jobless, homeless and waiting in a line to obtain the basic food staples. Hearing anyone say “I never thought that something like this could ever happen to me”, is now being replaced with the possibility… could my family be next?

We must put aside the political rhetoric, inside bickering, ideological differences and racial barriers. We must help one another and vow to work together, so that collectively we can put our nation back on track and I am not talking about the same track but a better track. Let us take what is good, fair, just and moral from the past and squelch the attitude of it’s all about me, greed is good, I’ve got mine and I can’t worry about you getting yours.

House Minority Leader John Boehner, R-Ohio, at microphone. (AP Photo)

WASHINGTON - APRIL 01: House Minority Whip Eric Cantor (R-VA) (center top) joins a bicamerial group of Republicans during a news conference on the East Steps of the U.S. Captiol April 1, 2009 in Washington, DC. The bicamerial group of Republicans held a closed-door meeting on the floor of the House to discuss President Barack Obama's proposed budget.
Getty Images

Ask yourself this question can we really afford NOT to think, to behave, to act and to treat one another differently? Do we really want to enter into the 21st century listening to the same old naysayer with their messages of fear, hatred and indifference?

All of us must choose a different path, set new standards for ourselves and our families. And above all we MUST reset our moral compasses to: “yes”; I am my brother’s keeper!

Stewardship is more than setting up soup kitchens and overnight shelters. It is good and right that we reach into the river of despair and rescue people who are drowning. But it is time to move upstream and see who's throwing them in. - Edmond Browning

Photos by Trish

@ Through the Viewfinder

http://www.tljnicholas.com

Stress, Frustration, and Anger

The reports about the state of our economy seem bleaker and bleaker every day with little hope in sight. Be it big businesses or small businesses, construction, housing, auto, retail, hotel, casino, travel you name it, unfortunately the list can go on and on… everyone is effected. And the countless heartbreak stories of this “recession” can go on and on as well. People are becoming extremely frustrated and angry about the state of affairs in this country and abroad, which brings me to an experience that took place several weeks ago.

Before we could even get into a store to do some Christmas shopping, we had a guy who was already parked in a parking space blow his horn at us as we were pulling into another space. We could not figure out why he had blown his horn at us? I then notice that this guy pulled out of his space, which was two spaces away from us and pulled directly behind our vehicle. He then proceeded to get out of his vehicle and approach the driver’s side of our vehicle. LJN put the window down and the guy said “I was parked in a reserved space and I had been waiting for that car to pull out”… WHO KNEW! I heard LJN reply “hey if you want this space I can move, there are plenty of other spaces here." Other people have not been so blessed to have an ending such as this. They have become the story on the evening news, victims of someone’s anger over a mere parking space.

People, please find some other way to reduce the amount of stress, frustration and anger in your life. Ever think about volunteering some of your time at a homeless shelter, soup kitchen, or after school program, or coming up with a way to help someone in need, be it food, clothing, or shelter. I recently heard a story on the news of a woman who hung Christmas wishes from needy children on a Christmas tree outside of her home. People in the neighborhood and surrounding area would come by and take a wish off of the tree and commit to fulfill that particular child’s wish. What a really good idea... I wish I had come up with that one. See what a little thinking can do to help someone else. And whether you realize it or not you are also helping to take your mind off of your problems and the current stresses that we all have been feeling and experiencing lately.

Trust me getting involved outside of your world will make all those little things seem like just that, very small and inconsequential.

Trish

I have shewed you all things, how that so labouring ye ought to support the weak, and to remember the words of the Lord Jesus, how he said, It is more blessed to give than to receive. Acts 20:35

“I have found that among its other benefits, giving liberates the soul of the giver.” Maya Angelou

Photo Poinsettia Light

by LJN @ Through the Viewfinder

http://www.tljnicholas.com/

Photo of Grandson behind the Christmas Tree

by LJN * Courtesy of LJN Archives

Photo Snow Star

by Trish @ Through the Viewfinder

http://www.tljnicholas.com/

Give – to present voluntarily and without expecting compensation.

O taste and see

As I bit into a piece of delicious cheese cake, I thought how wonderfully it tasted,
As I calculated every bite, I savored the moment and it appealed to my appetite,
I thought to myself
O taste and see
And take a bite of God's word and how it appeals to my spiritual appetite
O taste and see
How good it is as we spiritually digest slowly this great delight
To become full of God's word is to stand in the power of HIS might
O taste and see
That the Lord is good
So let us read, praise and pray to Him like we should
Our spiritual food does more than natural could
O taste and see
That the Lord God Almighty is GOOD

Rev. Cheryl Thomas

Copyright © 2008









Psalm 34:8 O taste and see that the Lord is good
Blessed is the man that trusteth in Him













Photos by Trish @ Through the Viewfinder

http://www.tljnicholas.com/

Photo: Food Table by LJN

Thank you to my niece Rev. Cheryl Jackson for another beautiful writing!