A great read about an amazing woman!

Although The Glass Castle, by Jeannette Walls, came highly recommended to me and it's been sitting on my nightstand forever I never had the courage to read it since I knew the subject matter would be depressing. It deals with her, dare I say, horrible childhood.

Half Broke Horses is almost a prequel because it tells the story of her grandmother in a bio/novel style. It was a very engaging read, and while Lily never had an easy life she took the cards that were dealt to her and made them work, a theme that runs through the book. It's a story of courage, joy, sadness, all the elements of a great book!

I plan to start The Glass Castle today.

DJ Pettitt's Online Photoshop

Class starts on Monday and I'm really looking forward to getting Photoshop right this time.
DJ is a wonderful artist and while I haven't taken a class from her before, I've heard from several people whose opinions I respect that she's an awesome teacher.

I've had great success taking an online class from SuziBlu - see tag at the top right of the page- through the ning network.
It's easy to connect with others taking the same class and see their work.

Here's a link in case you're interested:
DJ'sOnlinePhotoshopClass

Palindromes

I am a big fan of palindromes and today is a doozy!


01022010

Prayer for the new year.

I've been gone for a long time, with some high highs and some low lows in the interim.
Today I think I am back as I share this prayer for the new year:

TOMORROW WE WILL AWAKE
ON A BLEAK NEW YEAR'S MORN,
WITH HOPE THAT TRUE LOVE
IN EACH HEART WILL BE BORN

AND WILL SPREAD TO THE ENDS
OF THE EARTH FAR AWAY,
SO THAT NO ONE NEED QUARREL
'BOUT HOW WE SHOULD PRAY.

LET COMPASSION CREATE US,
MOLD US EACH DAY,
TO A FELLOWSHIP OF NATIONS
LIGHTING THE WAY.

THE WAY HOME TO ONENESS,
TO BATTLE NO MORE,
THE WAY TO ACCEPTANCE
THAT ENDS STRIFE AND WAR.

THE WAY TO A PEACE,
WHERE WE ALL HAVE A VOICE,
WHERE EACH SOUL CAN WORSHIP
AND ALL CAN REJOICE

BE YOU ALLAH, OR YAHWEH,
OR JESUS, THE CHRIST,
GIVE US GRACE FOR THE JOURNEY
THAT LEADS TO INSIGHT.

TO A WORLD THAT WILL TREAT
EVERYONE JUST THE SAME,
SO THAT NO ONE KILLS OTHERS
WHILE INVOKING YOUR NAME.

FOR PEACE IS A SEED
THAT FEAR TRIES TO KILL.
A SEED ALL MUST PLANT
DOWN DEEP IN THEIR WILL.

IT SAYS I'LL CHOOSE LOVE
EACH STEP OF THE WAY --
EVERY MOMENT, EVERY MINUTE,
THEN BECOMES A GRACED DAY

—Carol Ann Conner
NEW YEAR'S WISH

Hopefully I can bring myself back far enough to appreciate and listen to the angels in my life.