beauty Archives - Page 11 of 23

Spectacular Sunset

January 26, 2011 jennifer Musings on Life and Beauty

We enjoyed the most incredible sunset last week… the cloudy haze overhead created amazing effects.

The color was everywhere. In fact, the sky was so ablaze with light and color that our driveway and house looked pink. The beauty of it drew our entire family outside to marvel at its wonder.

I often constantly worry about all the things we’re not getting to, all the lessons I’m not teaching well enough, all the ways I’m falling short of being the mother my children deserve to have. As I looked around at my family during this impromptu pause in the evening’s activities, I thought that at least I’m doing this. At least they’re sensitive and appreciative of such beauty. At least we paused to appreciate it together.

As I studied the changes in light and color during the ten minute masterpiece, I couldn’t help but think about how I’ve kind of resisted some of the current color trends (perhaps I see it most in fabric and quilting) including oranges and grays together. But here it was, the very combination I’ve been turned off to, in such gorgeous display that I couldn’t help but love it.

Heavenly Father is so many things. He’s my Father, my God. He’s perfect, omniscient, omnipotent, loving, and on and on. But he’s also the Master Artist, Master of light, color, shape, form, line, symmetry, balance. I never tire of the art lessons I receive in just looking around. I know it may be silly, but I love Him for that. I love Him for nurturing us with such beauty.

Once again, through a sunset, I marvel that He loves us that much. That he loves us enough to send little gifts of thoughtfulness by painting the sky just before dark.

I am so indebted to Him!

Hopeful Homemaker

Autumn’s Rainbow

October 28, 2010 jennifer Musings on Life and Beauty

I snapped these pictures from my car while I waited at a stop sign recently. I love this time of year, the time when leaves are colorful as flowers, and trees become paintings.

Beautiful.

Lift up your eyes…

October 26, 2010 jennifer Musings on Life and Beauty

Saturday I drove down a street lined with trees whose golden leaves had yielded to yesterday’s breeze. Strewn on the ground, they made a golden carpet, their color enhanced by the morning rain.

We climbed the hill to the plateau on top, parked and walked to the sidelines of our soccer game. With the sounds of coaches and parents cheering children on, I took a deep breath and turned full circle. The panorama was breathtaking.

To one side, a mountain dappled with colors of copper, rust and mustard, wispy white clouds creeping down the steep slope. A crisp white church steeple completed the composition. Ahead of me another mountain rose, it’s top wearing the season’s first coat of snow.

Next came a patch of turquoise sky the shape of an hourglass, which gave way to a view of the valley stretched out before me beneath layers of gray and white clouds with a single line of blue cutting horizontally through it all. I studied the nuances in the clouds: bright white, creams, grays and a stormy deep blue all layered together in soft yet majestic pattern.

A gentle breeze brushed my hair across my face as a sudden warmth touched my shoulders, evidence of the sun’s persistent efforts to penetrate the clouds. Many miles south I saw a patch of sunlight. The lake glistened with it, and three small, thin clouds were suddenly bright enough to look as if they were the source, and not recipients, of the rays.

What a gift. I shook my head in awe and wonder at God’s use of color and light.

I am so, so grateful to be alive.

Hopeful Homemaker