The things a camera can't capture.

One thing I hate about being a photographer is the times I want to capture a glimpse of God's beauty that He is showing me and I don't have a a camera in my hands to document it. But then again, a camera probably couldn't capture the true essence of what I saw in the first place.

I had one of those moments tonight watching the colors of the sunset surround me as the sky turned from blue to pink and reflected in the water back up to Heaven.

Before the stress of Monday morning hits me with my long To Do list, I decided to take Rhett to the beach this evening to simply appreciate being alive. I always feel God's presence the most when there is sand between my toes, the wind through my hair, the salty air in my nose, the waves crashing in slow motion, and the setting sun sinking behind the dunes. To me, that is God is in all His glory. And why I love Florida so much.

This morning in Sunday school, they shared a beautiful New Year's prayer that I wanted to type out and share with you too. I hope this blesses the beginning of your new year as you start fresh with new resolutions, new dreams, and new opportunities of growth in all areas personal, spiritual and professional!


Holy Father,

God of our yesterdays, our today, and our tomorrows.

We praise You for Your unequaled greatness.

Thank You for the year behind us and the for the year ahead.

Help us in Your new year, Father, to fret less and laugh more.

To teach our children to laugh by laughing with them.

To teach others to love by loving them.

Knowing, when Love came to the stable in Bethlehem, He came for us.

So that Love could be with us, and we could know You.

That we could share Love with others.

Help us, Father, to hear Your love song in every sunrise,

in the chirping of sparrows in our backyards,

in the stories of our old folks, and the fantasies of our children.

Help us to stop and listen to Your love songs,

so that we may know You better and better.

We rejoice in the world You loved into being.

Thank You for another new year and for new chances every day.

We pray for peace, for light, and for hope, that we might spread them to others.

Forgive us for falling short this past year.

We leave the irreparable past in Your hands, and step out into the unknown new year knowing You will go with us.

We accept Your gift of a new year and we rejoice in what's ahead, depending on You to help us do exactly what You want...

I say it again, we rejoice!

In Jesus' name,

Amen.