Shadows

My nephew discovered his shadow today.  We were on the trampoline in his backyard and he couldn't get over how amazing his shadow was!  He kept looking through the trampoline, trying to see if he could see our shadows.  That got me thinking... There's something to shadows.  Not just light and our bodies blocking out the light in a specific area, but something... Deeper.  

Think about it.  Shadows are flawless.  Shadows are faceless, feature-less, character-less versions of us.  They don't judge people, they don't hurt people with their words, they don't even think.  They are us--wiped clean.  The image that popped into my head was of a blackboard with all the chalk completely erased off of it.  You might be able to see some white residue on it, but couldn't tell what it said or what drawings there were.  Sometimes I wish some people could realize this, and take a lesson from their less-than-verbal shadows.  

Juuuust some food for thought... :)

Sun

Guys, I'll be straight with you.  I love the sun.  My love affair with the sun can't be long contact or else one of us might end up burning the other, but all relationships have their ups and downs, right?  But seriously, the sun is the best thing anyone could ask for.  It provides warmth, light, regulates your body... My mom and I
talked at length about it today.  People have started to blame the sun for health problems like skin cancer, when the facts are that the sun creates vitamin D when our skin is exposed and when we see sunlight.  The sun is a great gift in our lives and we shy away from it.  And don't even get me started on sunscreen... Devil's lotion more like it... ok so anyhoo... Love the sun, guys.  I sure do :)

Water

Rainy day in Colorado:)

Water.  It's around us every day, we see it, we drink it, we run from it when it falls from the sky, but we never really stop to think about it.  Water moisturizes our bodies, makes plants grow, waters the animals we raise, and is used all the time.  Water is beautiful in the way that it is perfectly shaped, perfectly designed, and can carry all different kinds of minerals and vitamins we would hate otherwise.  We cannot live without water.  Some people don't appreciate how wonderful water is!!  I have gone out of my comfort zone today trying to capture the real beauty of water :)

Grace by Design- Photo blog

Canon PowerShot, camera used in the following pictures

Grace by Design is a photo blog meant to display the gifts, both big and small, that God gives us every day and we all take them for granted!  From the beauty of the day to the hairbrush you use in the morning, God gives us gifts that make our lives easier and loves us so much that he gives them for free!  God has designed the world around us to bring us joy and give us something to look at to know how much he loves us.  Everything around us was on purpose.  The least we can do is thank him for these gifts whenever we have the chance.  These photos are the gifts I have started to recognize every day.  Enjoy these and feel free to express your feelings on these gifts that our Lord brings us.