Gratitude, in the Year's Best Photos

Though our Thanksgiving this year is vastly different than all Thanksgivings in the past (Tomorrow is just a normal day here in Prague--school, work, etc.), we're still remembering those things for which we are thankful.

I've been blogging a whole year already (this is the 56th week), and out of gratitude, I'm posting, here, my best photos from the past year ...

I'm thankful for:

... my husband, and the daily fun we squeeze out of life ...

... our three precious sons ...

... glimpses of God's art ...

... and power ...

... our new home, in Praha ...

... and the incredible place in which we now live ...

... for life's seasons ...

... the beauty of Summer ...

... the painterly beauty of a simple garden ...

... the great canvas of the Hand that paints the sky ...

... and the monochrome of nature's gifts ...

... for new places to discover ...

... and new spots to refresh ...

... the immensity of Freedom ...

... and finally, the tremendous gift of friendship.

I'm thankful for so many slices of life.

Thank you for sharing in my blog, and the View through My Lens.

Wishing you a wonderful Thanksgiving!

From our home to yours,

Jennifer

The Simple Joys of Summer

“Live Simply, Live Well.”

In our kitchen, we have a sign hanging above the doorway with the quote: “Live Simply, Live Well.” For some reason, those four words strike a harmonious chord down deep within me, and probably in many ways sums up the values I hold close—family, friends, love, laughter—the simple things.

Summer is the season for simplicity, I think. Sun, warmth, barbeques, pool-side conversation, splashing and playing, and, of course, garden flowers and fruits and veggies. There is nothing better than slowing down and soaking up some sun, joining friends for great food, and enjoying the simpler things. Living simply, living well …

We’ve been harvesting our best crop ever of garden raspberries. Maybe the abundant rain mixed with sunshine has done the trick, as opposed to other years with hardly any rainfall, but the boys and I have picked a couple gallons of raspberries this June (which doesn’t include the handfuls we’ve consumed right off the vine!). It’s been a sweet time, a delicious month of enjoying some of life's simpler things.

Also, since I love to photograph the living canvas of blooming art outside our back door, I’m pasting in a few shots that capture some of the beauty I’ve been enjoying.

The Back Border garden coming to life: Pandora’s Box daylilies, lithrum, Russian sage, scabiosa, Becky daisies, Greetings rose, miscansis grasses.

Lavendar Illusion daylily, one of my favorites

Heirloom Tall Garden Phlox, with a fragrance that perfumes the entire yard!

Enjoy your summer, and don’t forget to make time to savor the simplicity of the season ... :)

-Jennifer