Garden walk flower photos from this summer that I really love.

I've been taking some time to look back at the photos that I have taken this

year I am starting to try to sort through and figure out which ones I like the best.

Eventually I want to have some of my photos printed out and framed to 

put around my house.

I also make cards and send them to people.

Most of the flowers I have picked this time are Lilies.

The garden had lots of different lilies this year and they were just beautiful.

I'm reading a new book about stopping during your day

and looking for God in your life. 

When I walk in the gardens I come closer to God.

I stop and appreciate all the beauty in the flowers and

insects and animals that are in the garden.

All the beauty and color help me to 

know that there is a God.

I have an instagram page and I now have over 100 followers.

I know for many that isn't much, but for me it makes me happy.

I love instagram because I can see other peoples photography.

It allows me to think about my photos and how I can possibly take better photos.

I never feel bad that there are others that have better photos or more followers.

I'm just happy to be part of a social media platform where you can see

photos from around the world. 

Do you have a favorite photo from this group?

G.G.

Garden Walk Week 23. Slipping into September.

Can you believe that it is September?  

I did not accomplish all the things I wanted to accomplish this

summer.  My new thought is to just get myself set up

so next year I can accomplish things. 

The Humming bird was loving these flowers this week.

I have started to do family history work again. 

I took a year off from it, maybe more and now I am trying 

hard to work on it every day.  I unlike most members of the 

church seem to find new names to the point that

it becomes overwhelming.

I have been thinking a lot about my life this year.  I think mainly this is 

because I have just lost a few too many friends this year.

I heard an interesting thing about death this past week.

Death teaches you as much about the priorities you should have in life

as any other trial.

I have learned from the loss of friends and pets this year.

I have learned to slow down and give more love to my family.

I have learned to be grateful for the things that I have.

I have looked at my life more and really thought about what my purpose in life might be.

Do you believe we all come here with a purpose? 

I think my two big roles in life have been wife and mother. 

I have loved those two roles. I know that not everyone gets to 

have the opportunity to be a wife or mother and 

I am thankful that I was blessed with this opportunity.

I give a lot of my time to my family. I enjoy it.

I feel very blessed to have been able to raise the

two children I have.  They are so different from 

each other and yet our family has a sweet harmony to it.

As I learn about my ancestors and their lives I see

how in a small way my decisions have changed the course of our family tree.

My family tree has a lot of sad tales of poverty, abuse and

broken relationships.

I was able to make good choices and change this

cycle.  My mother and her care for me helped with this also.

We have been able to set a new generation up with

more hope of success and stability and faith in God.

My Church believes that we are all linked together

through the generations and that those living now

need to do work for those who have gone before.

I believe that as you learn and see the trials of your ancestors

you can honor them by making choices that make 

for a stronger family.  

I am very thankful for the opportunities I have

had to make a strong family.  It is such a sweet blessing

to have peace and harmony in my home.  

To have laughter and love.

I so enjoy playing photographer.  I so enjoy wandering 

in a garden and letting time slip slowly by.

This is a Cotton flower.  I had never seen what cotton looks like before.

It's very beautiful.

This is hops. I loved all the different plants in the gardens this year.

I think the secret garden is my favorite spot.

For the rest of the year I'm looking for ways to simplify my life.

I am looking to find ways to slow it all down.

I'm tired of how this world likes to pull you in a million directions.

Do you think we helped in the designing of this world?

Do you think as spirits we helped design the flowers and animals 

that are here with us?

There is so much beauty in this world.  I just love looking

at nature and thinking about our God, the grand designer of this

world.  Are you there God?  Do you know me?  I'm looking for you.

G.G.

Exploring Utah Date. Ogden Nature Center.

We took a break from life a few weeks ago and went to 

the Ogden Nature Center.  It's very nice place,

I think possibly the time to really go is in the spring,

so next spring we will return as I think

perhaps there are migratory birds that nest there in the spring.

They had a little path lined with bird houses.

Would you choose this house if you were a bird?

I think I would.

My son would choose this house as he loves trains.

They have a section with birds of prey.

These birds are here because they

were wounded and can not survive on their own in the wild.

What a beautiful bird.

There were a bunch of paths to wander around

and it was very pretty.

It was a nice little adventure.  I do think that spring might be the best time to visit,

so I will put that on my spring adventure list for next year.

G.G.