On Seeing Miracles

October 7, 2022 / Jessica / 13 Comments

Looky here, we’re half way through this 22 day challenge. So far, I have found that noticing more miracles has helped me see more miracles.

Does that mean they magically appear?

I don’t think so. For me, it’s like there are these amazing miracles all around:

Sunsets
rainbows
a cat laying in the sun
a spider perfectly positioned on a web
an entire street full of green lights
seeing friends on some random Thursday night when schedules are jam packed
the store having bottled water after months of not having it
the moon
a reflection on the pond
deer tracks in the backyard
wildflowers
having dinners with my husband (he works a lot of hours)
a letter from a pen pal
jewelry for art that’s suddenly on sale
food in the freezer
getting invited to supper with a friend I haven’t seen in months
golfing with my dad on a Monday (we live 8 hours apart)

Do I notice them as miracles all-the-time? Um no.

Does that make them any less miraculous? Not really.

What seems mundane from on perspective, can completely change when looking at it from another.

For instance, there are sunsets most days, so what’s the big deal?

Well, for one, it’s pretty darn awesome that our eyes allow us to see sunsets! On top of that? Our eyes can let us see all the colors in that sunset!

Eyes + colors + sunset = miracles

How cool is that?

I’m excited about 11 more days of gratitude and noticing. Hope you’ll join in, too.

Thank you for being here!

Jessica

*golf tees in my pocket after*
*golfi*ng with my dad, now they’re souvenirs

Miracles and Gratitude Day 10

October 5, 2022 / Jessica / 22 Comments

Gratitude:

having a truck that will get us down Forest Service roads that are steep and bumpy
natural springs
turning leaves
waterfalls
history
a fun afternoon stop with my son

On the way home from my dad’s, we stopped at a place I love. We hadn’t been there since we took my parents to see it, four years ago. My gosh, it was so good to go back.

It’s called Falling Springs and I’ve written about it before. It’s nine miles south of Winona, Missouri, on highway 19, then off on some old rickety rock road.

There are a lot of natural springs around here and they are all absolutely stunning. This one is pretty unique because there’s an old log cabin homestead there, too.

*log cabin at Falling Springs,*
*near Winona Missouri*

It’s very peaceful there. Some people came, but after they left, we had the place to ourselves.

I was reminded about why I love photography so much. Varying where we stand, can completely change the picture.

For instance, this first photograph is from the front of the mill’s water wheel. The second one, is from the back of the mill.

Results?

Two cool pictures of the same thing.

*water wheel at Falling Springs*
*from the front of the mill*

*Falling Springs mill’s water wheel*
*from the back of the mill*

Miracle photos:

One of my favorite pictures for the day~

*photo I took at Falling Springs*
*near Winona MO*

And, the waterfall. It’s stunning.

*waterfall at Falling Springs near Winona, MO*

M I R A C L E S

Thank you for reading.

Jessica

** all photos and writing are mine

Miracles and Gratitude Day 9

October 5, 2022October 5, 2022 / Jessica / 13 Comments

Gratitude:

pretty days to drive
2 lane country highways
a day with my boy

Yesterday, we finished the second half of our trip home from my dad’s. We took country roads a lot of the way and saw some old buildings and tiny towns. Love that.

*a stately building with a wagon in some town*

At an intersection, I saw this sign on a building and laughed. I asked my son if there’s a store where we can get A’s too. Ha ha.

Miracle photos:

I had my highest game ever bowling last night!!! I got a 123! A few weeks ago, I had a 49.

I also broke a 100.

What miracles are you seeing? Noticing any big or small ones? Feel free to share, if you’d like. I love reading them. Thank you.

Jessica

** all photos and writing are mine

Miracles and Gratitude Day 8

October 3, 2022October 5, 2022 / Jessica / 21 Comments

Truth?

I’m a sappy mess when I leave my parent’s house. I’ve always been. I’ve cried nearly every time I’ve left their house for, well, most of my life. Wayyyyyy before my momma passed.

For years, they’d stand in the doorway or on the porch, waving and watching as I pulled away and I cried for miles.

This afternoon, my son and I will start making our way south and east. It’s 8 hours up here to my dad’s. We’re going to split the trip and stay overnight half way. Then, home tomorrow for bowling.

Now, don’t get me wrong, I love my home, too. I don’t mind going home, even. It’s just the leaving here that starts the waterworks.

If you’ve lost one parent, you may understand this need to want to see and be with the other one. It’s such a gift to be here. I thought I’d have my momma 20 more years. As they say, ‘time is not promised.’

For my miracles and gratitude today, I’m going to share my momma’s flowers. She LOVED flowers. All kinds- wildflowers, roses, irises, morning glories, and more.

Miracles and Gratitude Day 8:

I’m grateful for these past few days. There’s miracles all around.

Feel free to share your gratitude and miracles if you’d like. What I’m beginning to see is, the more days I do this, the more miracles show up.

Hope you have a great day.

Jessica

Miracles and Gratitude Day 7

October 2, 2022October 2, 2022 / Jessica / 12 Comments

Gratitude:

having a whole Saturday with my dad
going to garage sales with my dad
getting a hug from my dad

Yesterday, Saturday, my son and I spent the day with my dad. We went to garage sales, out to eat, saw a Memorial for veterans, and went to a quilt show in a small town.

It was fun going to garage sales with my dad. I love watching him shop and get bargains. I got a few things for my art and my craft booth. I have a craft show on October 8th.

Dad didn’t go into the quilt show, but I wanted to see what it was about. My goodness, it was amazing!!!!! So many gorgeous quilts made by people in this area.

Next to the Memorial Building is the Veterans Memorial.

*the Memorial Building in Rock Port Missouri*

*a quilt at the quilt show in Rock Port, Missouri*

*Veterans Memorial Rock Port, Missouri, next to the Memorial Building*

Miracle Photos:

lunch out with my dad

*yum! fajitas I had out to eat with my dad*

This beautiful wood trim:

*wood trim on an old building*
*I saw with my dad*

Those may not seem like miracles, but they are to me. Doing anything with my dad, after losing my momma, is a gift that feels like a miracle.

Hope you have a nice Sunday.

Jessica

** all writing and photos are by me

Miracles and Gratitude Day 5

September 30, 2022 / Jessica / 19 Comments

Gratitude:

that I had an extra $10 to hand out my truck window to a family with a sign that said they needed help

My momma was a giver. I didn’t even realize it until after I lost her, but I bet I get part of my giving spirit from her.

we made it to Iowa to see my niece run cross country track
that for about 5 minutes after we arrive at my dad’s, my momma’s animals think I’m her

I think my voice sounds like hers. When I start talking to them, for a split second, I think they think I am her. Which is very sweet. She LOVED them and they loved her! I know they miss her SO much.

Miracle photos:

I’ll have to catch my photos up tomorrow. I’ve been driving all day.

Miracles:

Seeing my dad!

I haven’t seen him since the first week of August! I was so homesick!!!

being home, my parent’s home

Thank you for reading.

Jessica

** all writing is by me

Miracles and Gratitude Day 4

September 28, 2022September 30, 2022 / Jessica / 8 Comments

Gratitude:

sleeping in

Rarely do I sleep in. Today, I slept until 8:45 a.m.

nice hotels

We arrived at the hotel a bit ago. Tomorrow morning, we’ll finish the other half of the 8 hour drive to my dad’s.

improved bowling score!!!

I’ve been practicing my bowling stance and steps in my driveway. Last night at team league, I got a 90, 88, and 91!

You should’ve seen me jumping up and down when I saw that 90! So excited! A couple weeks ago, I got a 49! Big gains!

Miracle photos:

I’ve been having a lot of headaches lately. I think part of it is tied to my really old pillow. I splurged on a handmade wool pillow with the wool from Iowa. It came this morning. I hope it helps.

Oh my gosh, you guys. Last night at bowling, I had the coolest miracle happen to me! Someone asked ME if I wanted to be a substitute for a women’s league team. M-E. I get the lowest score every week and I GOT ASKED!! Confidence boost or what?!

*my highest score yet at that bowling alley*

What about your gratitudes and miracles? Have anything you’d like to share?

I’m posting late. Just got to the hotel a bit ago.

Thanks for reading.

Jessica

Miracles and Gratitude Day 3

September 27, 2022September 30, 2022 / Jessica / 12 Comments

Gratitude:

being on a bowling team
a really great bowling alley to bowl at
a scenic drive to the bowling alley- 110 miles round trip

My dad, who lives 8 hours from me, has bowled on Thursday league nights for over 40 years. Love that! My husband has bowled leagues for 9 years. This is my first league. I am really enjoying it.

Miracle photos:

Miracle number 1:

Having a bowling team to give gifts to! Aren’t these cool? I ordered these from Etsy for our team and my husband’s men’s team.

Miracle number 2:

I bought new bowling shoes for me, but they’re too tight. So, I was renting shoes. One of the bowlers brought me these shoes from home! How kind! They fit and worked really well!

How about you? Seeing any miracles you’d like to share? What 3 things are you grateful for today?

We’re leaving for the bowling alley in about half an hour. Time to have go some fun!

Thank you for reading!

Jessica

** all writing and photos are mine

Miracles and Gratitude Day 2

September 26, 2022September 30, 2022 / Jessica / 19 Comments

Gratitude:

I am absolutely, totally, and completely grateful for my dad!!!!!

He and mom were married 55 years when she passed in March 2022. I’m just SO thankful that I still have my dad. My boy and I are going to see him on Thursday. He lives 8 hours from us.

2. Washer and dryer

Can you imagine having to wash clothes in a creek every single day???

3. Leftovers

My husband made shrimp stir fry on the grill yesterday, so no cooking for me today!

Miracles:

Eyesight that sees color!

I walked 22 more driveway laps this morning and went back out in the pasture. The yellows and purples are so pretty right now.

Please join in, if you’d like. I’d love to hear what you’re grateful for and what miracles are showing up for you.

Hope you have a great Monday!

Jessica

P.S. I’ve only gotten a few chigger bites so far! Woo hoo!

** all writing and photos are mine

Miracles and Gratitude Day One

September 25, 2022September 25, 2022 / Jessica / 21 Comments

Gratitude:

my long driveway

My neighbor walks 30 miles on her driveway. I decided to start walking, too. I just walked 22 laps on mine.

2. 10 acres

Having 10 acres allows me the freedom to sing as loud as I want to Fleetwood Mac and 10,000 Maniacs songs while walking those 22 laps. Ha ha!

3. Taking a chigger risk.

We have a huge back pasture. There’s wildflowers everywhere. Last time I came out here was in June and I got chigger bites soooooo bad. Itch city. Today’s the first day I’ve been back out here.

I’m standing out here right now. It’s rumored that someone my husband knows is going to come brush hog (mow) this pasture in a few weeks.

At first, I freaked out! What about the deer? My husband assured me that there will still be plenty of places for them to eat and bed down.

When I just turned to walk the fence row, I saw a deer run the opposite way. I apologized to her for intruding in on her space on such a lovely day.

There’s a soul lifting breeze out here. Bugs are singing. Leaves are blowing. There goes a monarch butterfly.

Miracle photos:

Millie

Millie is a true miracle. She was born on my front porch in August 2021. She was the last kitten born and she wasn’t breathing. I tried rubbing her, warming her up, etc to see if she’d get a breath. Nothing.

I ran inside to get the phone to search ‘kitten cpr” and when I got back to the porch, she had started breathing. Yay!!! Sweet thing.

2. Art Supplies

Art supplies are pretty miraculous. With some glue and things, some really cool stuff can be made.

Thank you for being here! Feel free to comment with your first day gratitude and/ or miracles you’ve seen.

Jessica

*** all photographs are mine

Noticing Miracles and Gratitude Challenge

September 25, 2022September 30, 2022 / Jessica / 14 Comments

It’s my 7 year blog anniversary, so I’ve been looking through older posts. Man, I’ve got some cool stuff on this blog!

Lots and lots of beautiful nature photos and pictures of places we’ve gone to. We have been to some amazing places.

Two posts in particular caught my eye. One is on noticing miracles and the other is about a gratitude experiment I did once.

I used to do a lot of writing about miracles and lately I’ve had my blinders on a bit in the noticing them part. Grief clouds up many things, it seems.

If you’re in loss/grief, you’ll probably understand.

I decided I’m going to do a completely-made-up-by-me, 22 day Noticing Miracles and Gratitude Challenge based off of those 2 posts.

Why 22 days? It’s my favorite number and it sounds more doable than 30 days. Ha ha.

The premise of The Grateful Brain was something I’d read about how noticing 3 things that we’re grateful for a day for 21 days can help the brain.

Daily, I hope to:

list 3 things I’m grateful for
post 2 ‘noticing miracle’ pictures per day

My momma LOVED my photos. At the hospital even, she introduced me to the nurse, by saying I am a photographer.

I loved that so much. Sometimes I forget that taking pictures is one of the things that I was born to do.

Feel free to join me in this challenge. A notebook for ‘gratefuls’ and a phone camera will work just fine.

The miracle photos are whatever you feel is a miracle. Maybe it’s your dog, or something you see on a walk, or the clouds, or leaves changing, or a craft you made.

Whatever feels like a miracle to you.

I’m starting today.

Thanks for reading.

Jessica

*my momma commented on*
*my miracle post in 2018*

** all writing and photos are mine

Unmeasured Journeys

life without limits, life unmeasured

22 Day Miracles and Gratitude Challenge

On Seeing Miracles

Miracles and Gratitude Day 10

Miracles and Gratitude Day 9

Miracles and Gratitude Day 8

Miracles and Gratitude Day 7

Miracles and Gratitude Day 5

Miracles and Gratitude Day 4

Miracles and Gratitude Day 3

Miracles and Gratitude Day 2

Miracles and Gratitude Day One

Noticing Miracles and Gratitude Challenge