nella's journeys

When I am dead, my dearest,
Sing no sad songs for me;
Plant thou no roses at my head
Nor shady cypress tree:
Be the green grass above me
With flowers and dew drops wet;
And if thou wilt, remember,
And if thou wilt, forget.

I shall not see the shadows,
I shall not feel the rain;
I shall not hear the nightingale
Sing on, as if in pain:
And dreaming through the twilight
That doth not rise nor set,
Haply I may remember,
And haply may forget.

- C.G. Rossetti (1830-1894)
t,

There  will always be colors in nature
that will never be captured by the camera
yet will forever remain in our minds
made perfect in the passing of time.

The Father's Exhortation to His Children

Ye are the temples of the Lord,
for ye are dearly bought;
and they that do defile the same,
shall surely come to nought.

Possess not proud in any wise,
build not your house too high,
but have always before your eyes,
that ye be born to die.

Defraud not him that hired is,
your labor to sustain;
but give him always out of hand,
his penny for his pain.

And as you would that other men
against you should proceed,
do you the same to them again,
when they do stand in need.

And part your portion with the poor,
in money or in meat;
and feed the fainted feeble soul,
with that which ye should eat.

Ask counsel always at the wise,
give ear unto the end;
refuse not you the sweet rebuke
of him that is your friend.

Be thankful always to the Lord,
with prayer and with praise,
Desiring him in all your works
for to direct your ways.

- a poem by Robert Smith

(My first icon paintwork).

I went to a place that felt like home
to learn and discover something new.
I did not realize that the process would challenge me
to face my own fears, limitations and insecurities.
With the fellowship of those others who journeyed with me,
I learned to muster myself
and just did what I had to do.
Thanks, guys.