Celebrating Life!

Balloons. They come in many sizes, shapes, and colors. They can include specific messages of happy birthday, congratulations, baby announcements, etc. We use balloons to celebrate events, special occasions, and life!

Celebrating a Life well lived

In February, we buried a daughter. It was under the most tragic of circumstances. After the funeral and graveside service, friends and relatives came together and released purple (her favorite color) and white balloons in honor of her life. Even though Shaniel was only 32 years old, it was a celebration of a life well lived. She was so full of life, fun, energy, love, and compassion. She was a daughter, wife, mother, friend, and nurse. She touched many lives and was loved by all who knew her. I love and miss my beautiful Shaniel.

Celebrating an Accomplishment

Earlier this month, we celebrated our youngest daughter's first Triathlon. She swam, she biked, she ran...in honor of her sister, Shaniel. The triathlon was dedicated to mothers, therefore called "TriathaMom". Balloons were everywhere! They were at the cheering carnival, along the trail, and at the finish line. They were bold and colorful. The triathlon was an event that called for CELEBRATION!

The events were Swim. Bike. Run. Daughter A made us proud! She came in 8th place overall in her age group. She was the 3rd fastest swimmer out of 300 participants. 

finish line

the kiddos join mama on the last 500 yards of the run

the results are in... job well done!

So... we celebrate life in different ways. Balloons, in all their colors and shapes, are the visual reminder of WHO and WHAT we are celebrating. 

And I am very certain that Shaniel was looking down from above celebrating the accomplishment of baby sister A... along with the rest of us. 

Writing prompt #3: Write a post that incorporates the word: balloon

Imagination

When I was young, one of my favorite things to do on a hot summer day was to lay on the grass and look up at the sky. I could easily spend an afternoon soaking up the sun and lettting my imagination run wild as I watched the clouds take on different shapes. My imagination took me on many adventures.

I haven't consciously participated in that activity for many, many years. But, the other day I was taken back when I saw this scene above, staring me in the face. I found my imagination taking over! At first sight, it looked like a top of a ship's deck and I imagined the ship being tossed to and fro in the waves on the sea. Or.. could it be a bridge over a large lake with the mountains in the background? What about ship masts? It surely didn't look like what I was really looking at!

What was I really looking at? The top of the Olympic Skating Rink building in Kearns, Utah. Home to the 2002 Winter Olympic Games. Saturday, August 17, 2013, I was at the Kearns Oquirrh Park Fitness Center to cheer my youngest daughter on in her first triathlon... really called "TriathaMom!" My pride and joy was filled to the brim that day. And, I even got to use my imagination in a way I hadn't since childhood! Good day, I'd say!

Think left and think right and think low and think high.

Oh, the thinks you can think of if you only try!

 Dr. Suess

Butt Crack

Who doesn't love the ZOO! Our state's zoo in Utah is called Hogle Zoo. In April, during Spring Break, I went to the zoo with my oldest daughter and her two children. The weather was perfect! A light jacket kept the morning chill away. The animals were out enjoying the cool Spring weather. When we got to the rhino's, I took this shot. I didn't think much of it until I got home and put it on the computer. 

"Interesting!" Two rhino butt shots. "But wait a minute.... what's that above them?" A great BIG BUTT CRACK shot! Even though it's a rock, it could have passed for another rhino butt... just much bigger! The shape, color, and texture is oddly similar to the rhino. Broad, wrinkly, bubbly, dimply. What was Hogle Zoo thinking!

You can find humor in the most unlikely places!

Writing prompt #3: Open you picture folders, close your eyes and pick a random photo to share and write about.