Time To Be Careful...

I got this photo at the salvage facility. A rusted broken down caboose from an old train.

I loved it..

Time to be careful..

We never realize how fragile we are until something fells us. Until we lay wounded and broken in spirit, and we think beyond repair.

But in our weak and fragile state God is our strength..

Through losses that hurt so bad they should kill us. We survive to our dismay at times..But life is about surviving, About overcoming.

We learn to overcome or we go under.

We have to fight through our pain. I write this today to encourage myself as well as you who are reading it.

I wake up sometimes so sad and full of despair over losing John that it is hard to face the day.

I woke up that way today.. It has been 5 Months today that he has been gone.

It is so hard without him. It is hard because I still need him. I never will stop needing him. He was my best friend.

But we go on. If anyone out there is having a hard time be encouraged today that you can make it.

You will make it.

We all have our own private hells. But you will survive, and turn the sorrow you have into something beautiful.

~Nita~

Today's song, Broken by Lifehouse

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with a broken heart that's still beating...

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These are the flowers of the tobacco tree also known as a cigar tree. The reason they are called cigar trees or tobacco trees is the huge seed pods that come on them in late Summer.

They look like giant cigars. These trees are very common here in the Midwest.

When I was little my cousin and my sister and I tried to smoke the seed pods that looked like cigars. It was awful!

I remember climbing these trees at my aunt's house. She had twin Tobacco trees sitting next to each other and I would pretend I was Tarzan and jump from one to the other. I was the biggest daredevil you ever met. And was as wild as a March hare.

One day, me and my cousin Linnie and my sister were sitting in the Tobacco tree and we were taking the giant leaves and using them to fan ourselves. We were pretty little..And we just sat in that tree for a couple of hours talking about what it was going to be like when we grew up..

I miss times like those. The camaraderie of having close childhood cousins who were also best friends. And I miss how the endless Summer days of our childhood held us close together.

But we grow up and apart..It seems. Forgive my nostalgia..It is just the Summer that does it to me.

P.s i just saw the first fireflies of the season 3 nights ago..I was so excited.

~Nita~

Tonight's song, The Ballad of Billy Jo McKay by Shawn Mullins

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If you have a chance please listen to this. I love it..

Brenda's Photo Challenge...

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I took this photo of a tobacco flower on crushed orange brick.. The tobacco flowers are ethereal in the way the float silently from the trees to the ground.

I stood under the branch of the tobacco tree one day for a few minutes just to watch them fall...


These Lilies are in my yard. I love the bright orange of the lily and the wonderful contrast of the yellow center and the green foliage.

The colors are married to one another in magnificence...

Go to Donna's Made in Heaven for links to the other participants. I am a bad blogger. I don't have the photo challenge links done yet on my favorites. I am doing it this week, I promise. Smile..

I forgot to add that Joni from Morning Coffee is hosting the challenge this week..The theme is orange. Orangecha glad I didn't say banana? Ha! Joni is an absolutely wonderful person, and so creative.. please check her site out.

~Nita~

Song, Beautiful Wreck by Shawn Mullins...
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My story for you tonight is this song...
Sunset Not Forgotten by Shawn Mullins
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I read a quote once that said, "Sometimes the most poignant people in life are the tragic ones." I think it is true.

~Nita~

Blackbird in White...

This is a photo I took today while at the park.

I sat alone, and ate my lunch in the car while it rained.

Sadness overwhelmed me again today, being Sunday and all.

But, I looked over, and there was a Blackbird sitting in the middle of the road. He cocked his head and looked at me. His yellow eyes staring at me.

It was an odd feeling..But it comforted me. I snapped a picture of him and ran it through photo shop.

I really liked the affect..

Hope you like it.

~Nita~

Today's song, Old Man by Neil Young

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I pray for hope and peace today for anyone who needs it. And for you to know you are loved by someone who is greater than us all....I send my prayers on Angel's wings ..