Category Archives: Joy

Weekly Photo Challenge: Street Life (The Joy of Art) 2

Hawaii, Joy, photography, Snapshot Saturday • Tags: , , ,

For this week’s challenge, Cheri asks that we, “document the movement (or stillness) of a street: tell a story with your snapshot, capture a scene that reveals a bit about a place, or simply show us where you live — or a path you often take.”

In a post created specifically for this challenge, share a photo that brings a street to life.

– Cheri

Baltimore’s Gaia joined Hawaii artists, Prime, Solomon Enos, and Estria to create a mural of Queen Lili’uokalini and King Kalakaua.

Baltimore’s Gaia joined Hawaii artists, Prime, Solomon Enos, and Estria to create a mural of Queen Lili’uokalini and King Kalākaua for this year’s Pow Wow Hawaii.

Queen Lili’uokalani succeeded her brother King Kalākaua after his death in January 1891. She was overthrown in 1893 by a group of advocates of a Republic for Hawaii led by Sanford B. Dole. This was after she sought to amend the Hawaii constitution to restore some of the power lost during her brother’s reign. Ironically “Aloha ‘Oe” was composed by Queen Lili’uokalani.

Gift from Andrew Schoultz.
A beautiful day for a walk.
Hannah Stouffer’s art.
Not part of Pow Wow. Same street.
They had same idea.
More Pow Wow Art

Pow Wow Hawaii is a week-long event that started in 2011 to celebrate art and culture. I know the event brings life to the neighborhood of Kaka’ako. I think the art that remains continues to give the street life too.

Weekly Photo Challenge: Reflections on Peace 5

Bloggers For Peace, Family, Joy, photography • Tags: , ,

Recently, I found myself reflecting on the passing years and how life continues to evolve for my family as we continue on our journey towards joy and inward peace.

The song, “In My Daughter’s Eyes” immediately came to mind for this challenge, and yes it does make me think of my daughter, but like many others I also think of my son. For, I truly see who I want to be in my children’s eyes. They both inspire me and make me a better person even when I’m having moments where I’m not that person. They are teenagers after all, and sometimes they do drive me crazy. Yet, when all is said and done I do hope they’ll see how happy they’ll made me, for their eyes do reflect who I am.

Author Unknown

Author Unknown

My dear children,

I hope you always remember to:

  • Listen with your heart first.
  • Try to see others’ point of view, but remain true to yourself.
  • Really hang on when your heart has had enough.
  • Keep giving when you feel like giving up.
  • Live your life with integrity regardless of what others do.
  • But, if you do make mistakes, admit them and learn from them, and move forward.
  • Follow your dreams wherever they take you.
  • Know that I am always proud to be your mom.

Much Love Always,

Mom

Weekly Photo Challenge: (Finding Joy) Inside 2

Birds, Joy, photography • Tags: , ,

Common WaxbillReal joy means immediate expansion. If we experience pure joy, immediately our heart expands. We feel that we are flying in the divine freedom-sky. The entire length and breadth of the world becomes ours, not for us to rule over, but as an expansion of our consciousness. We become reality and vastness.
― Sri Chinmoy, The Wings of Joy: Finding Your Path to Inner Peace

Go to Weekly Photo Challenge: Inside to see others’ response to the challenge.

When Angels Cry (Weekly Photo Challenge: Perspective) 2

Joy, photography • Tags: , , , , ,
When Angels Cry
When Angels Cry

Yes, I’ve finally learned
That love is just a four letter word
Hope is a four letter word. — Janis Ian

It’s the last line of Janis Ian’s song, “When Angels Cry.”

When I was trying to decide what to photograph for this week’s WordPress photo challenge, the glimmer of the angel’s tear caught my eye. She watches over the grave of our Welsh Corgi, our true angel. I know he would not want to cause tears unless they were tears of joy.

That is why I spent time looking for songs about angels crying until I found the perfect one to go with this photo. During the process I found other songs about angels crying that I also liked including:

  1. Doro’s Even Angels Cry
  2. Jars of Clay’s song by the same name, Even Angels Cry
  3. Mariah Carey’s Angels Cry

All four songs are excellent, but Janis Ian’s song spoke to me for the purpose of this post because it really describes our angel.

Although I do believe angels can cry, this angel’s tears were simply raindrops as you can see in the second photo below.

Not tears.

Raindrops, not tears.