Deo Uni Et Trino- St. Louis Missouri

About this image: Taken in St. Louis, this image reminds me of my fascination with the concept of trinity. God the father, God the son, and God the Holy Spirit. I have recently embarked on a new spiritual journey yearning to be closer to God. I am searching for a new church home and visited a church last Sunday (not the one pictured here, obviously, since this one is in St. Louis) that I really liked. I look forward to visiting again in the future to find out if this is the right place for me and my family. I am searching for health and contentment in all aspects of my life, physical, mental, and spiritual. I'm working on the physical continuously, I've recently had a mental health tune up with my favorite therapist, and now am looking for some spiritual growth. I'm learning to let go and let God, which for me, a lifelong control freak, is a huge undertaking requiring lots of faith.

In what areas of your life are you seeking growth and contentment?

Have a wonderful Thursday.

xo

Seven Till Twelve in the Morning- St. Louis

About this image: My mind once again drifts back to St. Louis when I took a trip there back in November. If you recall, my cousin's children were in a terrible car accident in October and were on life support with massive brain injuries.  For those of you who are following their story, they are doing beautifully. They are currently in Florida visiting my aunt and uncle, who are their grandparents, on their first vacation since leaving the hospital. (Believe it or not, my aunt and uncle, who spent majority of the time from October until around February in Missouri helping with the care of their grandkids during their recovery, had a house fire shortly after returning home. They are fine but the house is unlivable until it is completely gutted and rebuilt on the inside.) They are both still in outpatient therapy for speech and physical therapy, but are making excellent progress. Kirsten is wearing hearing aids to help with the hearing loss she suffered as a result of the brain injury. They recently started back part time at their high school as well. It truly is a miracle to see how far they have come. They have such a supportive mother and father as well as extended family. Their friends and community are also unbelievably helpful, which keeps everyone's spirits raised and hope and love the center of their lives.  Both kids have an amazing attitude toward life and they continue to bloom into themselves each and every day. I am very proud of all of them.

Have a wonderful Thursday...tomorrow is Friday, y'all.

xo

St. Louis Zoo- Photography by Tracey Grumbach

About these images: While traveling to visit family in St. Louis, my oldest daughter and I took a few hours one morning away from the hospital while the kids were in therapy. We decided to quickly tour the zoo, which was right across the street from the hospital. I decided to take along my camera and long lens to see what I could capture in the brief time I had there.

The St. Louis Zoo is really beautiful and totally worth going if you are ever in the area. The morning we went most of the animals were out, active, and visible. The enclosures were very natural looking and many of the animas had "pit-style" arenas in which they were kept so viewers didn't have to look through bars to see them. That was the case with the large cats as seen above.

This is one of the strangest creatures Brenna and I have ever come across. It looked kind of like a rodent in the face, a cow/buffallo in the body, a bear in its rear end, and a goat on its feet. According to the zoo's website, the Sichuan Takin is an "antelope-like goat" that is a relative of the musk ox and lives in Western China. Seriously, people, these creatures are so ugly they are cute, and they are HUGE (buffalo size). There were babies in the enclosure as well, and oh my goodness, just no words. Click the link above to see a video of the creatures on the zoo website.

One of my favorite animals to photograph are the zebras. I just love the abstract patterns that are unique to each individual animal, like a thumbprint. And their ears...dear heavens...wish I could rub them they are so cute and furry. I'm pretty sure the zebra wouldn't appreciate it my ear fetish, though.

The camels are always amusing to watch, especially when they are eating. Reminds me of some 9 year old twins I know, lol.

I'm not sure what the next creature's name is, but it sure is majestic with those long, twisting horns and beautiful eyes. Check out that neck beard!

Y'all know I love me some birds, and this one is no exception. It was HUGE! And the bright eye with the red stripe on its head just drew me in. It was quite beautiful.  I still have more bird images to edit and share at another time, but for now this one has the spotlight.

This banteng, a wild cow that is quite shy and lives in the jungle, was too adorable. I caught it taking its bath for the day as it licked itself all over in quite the lazy way. She seemed very flexible for a lady her size...perhaps she does yoga.

I have many more images to go through and edit, but I thought you might enjoy seeing some pure photographs for a change rather than digital art. I will continue to edit the other images and share another time. In the meantime, I hope you all stay safe from the impending snow fall (yes, I know it is predicted to be only a few inches) and have a beautiful day.

xo

Winter's Arch- Gateway Arch in St. Louis, Missouri

About this image: This image was taken on Thanksgiving morning when Brenna and I were "trapped" in the hotel Thanksgiving morning because of the parade in St. Louis. The police had the streets in the city shut down, so we couldn't drive anywhere. We decided to take a walk to the Old Basilica located near the arch to light candles for K and E and say a prayer for their recovery. As we walked around the area, I noticed this tree, void of its leaves after the autumn drop, silhouetted against the Gateway Arch in the background. It was a dreary morning, misty and grey. The quality of light was mysterious and I loved it.

As I sit here in my studio on this gray morning typing this post, my mind drifts back to St. Louis, Missouri where my cousin's children are still rehabbing at the Children's Hospital after suffering traumatic brain injuries from a horrific car accident. Back over Thanksgiving, my oldest daughter and I traveled to St. Louis for a week to visit and help as best we could during this difficult time. They have come so far since then, both E and K, and they are set to be released to outpatient care on Thursday. Just a little over two months ago we didn't even know if they would live. It is truly a miracle that they lived and are recovering so well. It will still be a long road, but the journey of a thousands steps starts with one step forward. I can't wait to see how they progress once they are home.

Each morning, since New Year's Day, I've been reading one entry from my book, 365 Dalai Lama: Daily Advice from the Heart. Today, day 3, I wanted to share the message with you-

"I think human beings are the superior sentient beings on this planet. Humans have the potential not only to create happy lives for themselves, but also to help other beings. We have a natural creative ability and it is very important to realize this."

Have a beautifully blessed day.

xo

St. Louis Old Courthouse Dome

Just like everyone else in the world, I am beginning to think of some new positive habits to form in 2017. I don't do resolutions (as I've said every year), but I usually a choose a word that will help me keep focused on my goals. This year my word will be HABITS. I won't reveal what positive habits I am planning on developing in the new year just yet...I think I will wait to reveal that in my New Year's post, but I've been thinking and preparing very hard so that on day 1 of this new year I can begin.

What resolutions/words/intentions/goals do you have in 2017?

About this image:  This beautiful dome is inside the Old Courthouse in St. Louis, Missouri. My cousins are still recuperating in the hospital there, but they have made amazing, miraculous progress, and we are hoping they will be released January 5th to outpatient therapy. A meeting today with the neuro team at Children's Hospital will reveal whether they are still on track for that date. Please say a prayer they are.

Anyway, this dome is just fabulous. The detail and brilliance with which it was built all those many years ago is mind blowing. The building was completed in 1828. Architecture isn't what it used to be in my non-architect opinion. This courthouse saw history in the making because this is where the Dred Scott case was tried.  All the trials, including the Missouri Supreme Court case, related to the case were held in this building. There are other notable cases that were held here as well.

I hope you stay dry on this wet, gray day. I will be homeschooling the twins today and then attending a house warming later this evening for co-workers of my husband. Make it a great day.

xo

I Sought To Hear the Voice of God- Mobile Photography by Tracey Grumbach

Basilica of St. Louis, King
Also known as Old Cathedral

I sought to hear the voice of God 

and climbed the topmost steeple,

but God declared: "Go down again-

I dwell among the people."

-John Henry Newman

My beautiful mother came into town on Monday, driving herself from Lynchburg to northern Maryland by herself. I am so proud of her because she is not much of a long distance driver and yet she loaded her car up with gifts and necessities and made the trek by herself. After my father passed away, I worried that she would never visit Maryland again unless we drove to get her and bring her back. But, she proved me wrong and I am very proud of her.

I've been enjoying the time with her. The last time I saw her was in October when the twins and I took a trip to see her and combined it with a field trip to see Thomas Jefferson's homes that are located within an hour of her house. We always have a great time visiting her, either at her house or at mine. We've spent much of the time playing various games. We are big into playing games in the evening so we've pulled out dominos to play Chicken Foot; cards to play Nerts (a very fast competitive card game similar solitaire); dice for a game called Left, Center, Right; and cards again for a game called 7Up 7Down. The twins are now old enough to start independently participating in most of the games, so it has been a ton of fun.

Today we are heading out to have lunch with one of my mom's sisters. I haven't seen her in a while and it will be good to spend some time with her. Life is busy this time of season, but I wouldn't have it any other way. I am looking forward to hosting Brian's side of the family on Friday evening, and my brother's family on Christmas Eve. I am not much of a hostess (I HATE to cook) but I will do my best and I am sure everyone knows by now that when I host family it is very laid back and not fancy at all.

I hope you all are finding quiet time to enjoy the season and relax. Have a wonderful Wednesday, y'all.

xo

Through the Looking Glass- Digital Painting Of Children's Hospital in St. Louis

When my oldest daughter and I went to Missouri to visit my cousin's children in St. Louis Children's Hospital, we decided to take a walk one morning. The doctors and nurses were busy with the kids doing rounds, and we needed a bit of fresh air. So, it was suggested we check out the rooftop garden. We rode the elevator down to level 8 (if my memory serves me correctly) and took a few minutes to ourselves, processing everything that was happening with K and E, my cousin's children who both have traumatic brain injuries after a horrific car accident. It was beautiful out on this rooftop garden.

Along the way, my daughter decided to crawl into one of the observation windows and quietly watch the ice skaters who were twirling around a pond in the distance. The hospital is located in the heart of St. Louis, but right across the street is a huge public park that is even bigger than Central Park in New York City. It was mesmerizing there in that window seeing all the ice skaters, all the trees in their autumn glory, all the undeveloped land in this beautiful park. You could almost believe you were somewhere else even for the slightest minute.

Not only is this rooftop garden a wonderful asset to the patients at the hospital, but it is also great for parents, family members, friends, and visitors to grab some air without having to go too far from the loved one who is in the hospital. It helps center you, being out among plants and beauty like that. It can rejuvenate a tired soul, giving a person strength to carry on just one more minute, one more day, one more week, one more month at the hospital.

Personally, I think every hospital should have clean, green spaces to offer the patients and families. Sometimes it is more healing than whatever medicine they could receive.

Hope you have a wonderful week gearing up for Christmas! I am actually a bit ahead of where I normally am this year and that is a blessing.

xo