// Morning Moments - Peace and Inspiration//

I woke up early this Sunday morning, pulled on some jeans and a light long-sleeve shirt and headed out of the house sans make-up (egad!), and drove to a nearby cemetery that has beautiful statuary and lovely early morning light.  I stopped by the gas station on the way to pick up a giant cinnamon roll for my husband and a banana chocolate chip muffin for me for when I returned home.

Many of the streets where I live have a canopy of trees above them and I was gently showered by yellow and orange leaves as I drove to the cemetery.  It’s just a little cemetery, about the size of a city block, with a single curved road dividing it down gently sloping grounds.  In the morning, the sun breaks through the trees and illuminates the middle o the grounds softly kissing Mary’s sweet face.

It was so quiet ,with the exception of squirrels chasing each other up and down the trees and rustling the leaves, that I got quite lost in thought and purpose and was startled when I heard the sound of someone walking through the leaves behind me.  I turned and found an elderly gentleman walking up a small hill with the assistance of his cane.  We exchanged “good mornings” and resumed our activities.  I thought about the man and stole glances now and then and wondered who he was visiting.  Was it his wife, and brother or sister…maybe even a child?  There is something about the vulnerability of an elderly man that tugs at my heart.

I love the message in the next photo and just had to capture it as a reminder.  It seemed an odd place for it, in the cemetery, but as I thought about it more, what an excellent place to remind those of us still in this world to loosen up and enjoy each moment, find value in the process, not only in the result, and enjoy the life and loved ones we’ve been given.

- Embrace Imperfection -

I have many more photos from this morning’s photo jaunt but I’ll share them with you another time.  It was a beautiful morning and I give thanks for those quiet moments of peace and beauty and I was blessed to experience.  Oh, the banana chocolate chip muffin was pretty yummy so I give thanks for that, too!