Speak Life

Speak Life by Toby Mac

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"Do not hesitate 
to love 
and 
to love deeply"

Henri Nouwen

Here's a printable 

of Colossians 4:6
for you

... Cherry trees are about to blossom here 
- it's wonderful to witness the new life budding and blossoming each spring!

 May you receive and give uplifting messages this week,

Nina 

Photo: Nikon D3200, textures by 2 Lil owl Studios

Happy Easter!

Oh Happy Day by Oslo Gospel Choir

   :  :  :

"We are the Resurrection People who know that
hope can rise from the dead places."

Ann Voskamp

Here's a printable 

of 1. Peter 1:3-4
for you

... Sunshine and blessings to your week,

Nina 

Photo: iPhone 5S - Snapseed, Word Swag app, Phonto

Coffee and Spring Flowers

It's Saturday, and the sun is peeking behind the clouds ...

Another week has gone by - one day after another:

Seizing the moments - being present at work ... From 'Good Morning' til 'See you tomorrow!'

Feeling the wind and the air and the fresh scents of the spring on my way home.

Since January I have skipped, after the work, these obligatory "I should's" - and have given space to "Right now I feel like's" ... That is, resting [procrastinating] with a good conscience. We'll eat dinner together and share chores alright, but anything besides that would be a lot. The need of not "doing" anything else, not having things in schedule after 5 pm., is worth taking notice of. 

At the moment I enjoy listening e-books - from the library services like e-reolen, via the Audible -App, or the Kindle audible. The latest audible books have listened / am listening at the moment are: Brené Brown: The Gifts of Imperfection, Alli Worthington: Breaking Busy, Lisa Unger: Die for you and Tami Hoag: The Bitter Season (I need a good crime novel every now and then.) You Version - Bible app has also an audible version, together with many different daily devotions.

Spring flowers - daffodils, tulips and tiny hyacinths - bring about the feeling of spring inside. I look forward of finding the first pussy willows by the lake - that is a clear sign that we're getting close to Easter.

The other weekend I crafted a very simple pot decoration, with linen cloth and simple package thread. The green linen cloth is at least 14 years old - I did sew trousers and anoraks to our boys using this fabric, when they were toddlers ... And I haven't thrown it away - linen is just a wonderful fabric, and I do like the color.

Editing photos and playing with textures and stamps is also something I find inspiring and relaxing. The pretty Spring branch-stamp below is a March present from Leslie Nicole at French Kiss-textures - I receive their news letter, and there by get a lovely present each month.

I made the poster below this morning using texture overlays from both French Kiss and Kim Klassen - who both share from their experience and are of great inspiration to me.

Well, just a little update from my corner of the world. Our sons are setting things up for a LAN-game evening, and my hope for a date night with my hubby later today is high :)

How do you notice your need to unwind, and in what ways do you regain energy, social surplus and mental presence?

Life is available only in the present. 

That is why we should walk in such a way

 that every step can bring us to 

the here and the now.

Thich Nhat Hahn

... Wishing you a peaceful weekend,

Nina

 Friendship Friday Friday Photo Journal
Image-in-ing Weekly photo linkup 

Saturday's share Fest by The Sits Girls

Wordless Wednesday by NC Sue

Bathing in Sunlight [Wordless Wednesday]

.. The withering beauties (from last week), now bathing in sunlight.

Happy Wordless Wednesday,

Nina 

sharing with 

Wordless Wednesday by NC Sue
Wordless Wednesday by Create with Joy 

photos:Nikon D3200, Lightroom Preset Ride the Wind 6 by 2 Lil Owls-studio

Flower Surprise [Wordless Wednesday]

As I came home from swimming on Saturday, these flowers and homemade cookies waited in front of our door with a beautiful card ... Such a lovely surprise from a dear friend!

... With thankful greetings, 

Nina

  

sharing with 

Wordless Wednesday by NC Sue
Wordless Wednesday by Create with Joy 

photos: iPhone 5S, Snapseed, VSCOcam & ImageBlender Apps

Knitting Colours

Every now and then we meet up with creative  friends, and spent a Saturday together.

We met last weekend, where I learned to knit a French Lily- pattern. It was not all that easy - counting the loops and being very attentive - but it was not impossible either. I might knit a pillow to our couch with this pattern - if a suitable recipe will be found (I do not trust my own ability to make a recipe with this design yet!)

 

As I came home, I noticed how the orange yarn matched in colour the Easter flowers ... and I snapped a series of photos - changing the point of focus:

There's great value to knitting or 
digging up your garden or 
chopping up vegetables for soup, 
because you're taking some time away 
from turning the pages, 
answering your emails, 
talking to people on the phone, 
and you're letting your brain process 
whatever is stuck up in there. 

Chellie Pingree

... Wishing you a great week ahead,

Nina 


 sharing with 


Wordless Wednesday by NC Sue
Wordless Wednesday by Create with Joy 
Image-in-ing


Photos: Nikon D3200

Eremitage Forest, Easter 2016

We had a long walk in the Eremitage Forest yesterday, on Maundy Thursday. As the autumn leaves are decaying, you can see the new life is arising, in the form of buds and green shoots of grass.
Such a tangible reminder of the Easter message - Jesus dying on the cross on Good Friday, and rising from the grave on Easter Sunday - so we can have the fullness of life, the weight and bondage of sin being lifted away from our shoulders, and moreover, the gift of eternal life.

Below a beautiful spring poem by Becca Steven:

 Between fleeting and eternal

The space between fleeting and eternal lives
Around unexpected corners, near the turn of the seasons,
In the joyful wonder of the forest.

The background music of leafy trees sharing a melody
With a rushing river, for a chorus, grows louder in our ears.

The old mountain from where comes our strength is, for a moment,
dancing with a misty cloud that is on a dead run to beat the day.

The space between when the water takes a dive
from the mountain and before it lands, looks like a still life.
When we blink it will be over.

The sound will fade, the cloud disperse,
And the water rush towards another shore.

But for this brief, eternal moment, it is lovely.

- Becca Stevens-

...Until next time,

Nina

sharing with

Photo Friday   Friendship Friday Friday Photo Journal

Saturday's share Fest by The Sits Girls

Photos: Nikon D3200 

There is Freedom

Now the Lord is the Spirit, and 

where the Spirit of the Lord is, 

there is freedom.

1. Corinthians 3:17 NIV

Freedom Reigns by Jesus Culture

:   :   :

Resting safely and just being as I am,
in your presence, Lord -
Breathing lightly and feeling
your love  and mercy,
forgiveness
holiness.
Thank you.


:   :   :

Blessings to your week,

Nina 

Here's a printable 

of 1.Corinthians 3:17

for you 

Sharing with 

Give Me Grace 

Scripture & Snapshot
Still Saturday

Photo: iPhone 5S, edited in Lightroom

On Mother's Day

As one whom his mother comforts,

    so I will comfort you.

Isaiah 66:13 (English Standard Version)

Worship Central: Can't Stop Your Love

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The heart of a mother is a deep abyss 
at the bottom of which 
you will always find forgiveness.

Honore de Balzac


:   :   :

Happy Mother's Day
&
Blessings to your week,

Nina 

Here's a printable 

of Isaiah 66:13

for you 

Sharing with 

Give Me Grace 

Scripture & Snapshot
Still Saturday

Photo: iPhone 5S & Camera+, Snapseed, Mextures, VSCOcam applications

Playing & Sweet Late Sunlight-preset

There girls were having fun playing at a party - So was I, both when taking these photos, and afterwards playing in Lightroom with tone curve adjustments, creating a matte LR preset called Sweet Late Sunlight. 

If you want to play along with photo editing and this preset, feel free to download it here.

Wishing you playful & sunny spring days,

Nina

Sharing with

Roses of Inspiration   

Wordless Wednesday Wordless Wednesday
Wordless Wednesday

A Beautiful Day

Spring time is a season for Confirmations. According to the Lutheran tradition, young people at the age of 14-15, will be attending Confirmation classes taught by the local priest. The classes culminate to a public profession of faith in the church, and a dinner party with family and friends afterwards.

Yesterday a very sweet young girl, (almost an adult), the daughter of my friend, had her Confirmation. It was a pleasure to be a part of her day ... I was going back the memory lane: Remembering her being a tiny toddler carrying her teddy bear everywhere ... Her 1st day at the school, now with a schoolbag and a proud smile ... Then came the horses and riding, a hobby she still is very fond of.

There very many opportunities for me to practice taking portraits - above one of my dear husband. 

The dinner with silverware, and the delicious food made with love, with speeches and plays, was a joyous and happy celebration.

She wore the dress, her mother was wearing in her own Confirmation for a decade+ years ago ... How wonderful it is to wear a vintage dress, from your mom's childhood!

Yes, it was a beautiful day!

Nina

Sharing with 

Friday Finds Friendship Friday 

Friday Photo Journal

Photos taken with Nikon D3200, edited in Lightroom and Photoshop. 

I have added photo veils Peach Glow and Rosy Glow from the Illumination Collection by Love that Shot with blending mode Soft Light with 20-30 % opacity.

No eye has seen

That is what the Scriptures mean when they say, 

“No eye has seen, no ear has heard, and no mind has imagined 

what God has prepared for those who love him."

1. Corinthians 2:9

Same love by Paul Baloche

:   :   :

Guiding God

be with us

in our going out

and coming home

in our journeying

and returning

in our decision making

and organising

Guarding God

be with us

through the calm

and through the storm

be our comfort

when we’re hurting

be our helper

when we’re falling

Gracious God

walk with us

every moment

of this new day

Morning Prayers - Faith and Worship

:   :   :

Blessings to your week,

Nina 

Here's a printable 

of 1. Corinthians 2:9

for you 

Sharing with 

Give Me Grace 

Scripture & Snapshot
Still Saturday

Photo: iPhone 5S & Camera+, Snapseed, Mextures, Afterlight, VSCOcam applications

Miracles blossom

Where hope grows,

miracles blossom.

Elma Rae

:   :   :

Spring has awaken the nature's vitality - the bright green leaves are appearing in the trees and bushes.

It is a joy to follow the explosion of flowers up in the trees, their progress from buds to white, rosa and yellow flowers ...

I spotted a bee the other day, and a fly found it's way to my office yesterday ... 

These cheerful finds witness that spring comes year after year!

Let's find pleasure and joy in the little things,

Happy weekend greetings, 

Nina

Sharing with 

Friday Finds Friendship Friday Weekly Top Shot 

Saturday Share Fest Friday Photo Journal

Photos: iPhone 5S, Camera+, Snapseed, Mextures, VSCOcam - the bee with an Olloclip lens

Forestry Botanical Garden, Charlottenlund

... Greetings and signs of spring from Charlottenlund Forestry Botanical Garden, Denmark,

Nina

Sharing with

Roses of Inspiration
Wednesday Around the World

Wordless Wednesday at Create with Joy

Photos taken with iPhone 5S: Camera+, TadaaSLR, VSCOcam, Snapseed - Apps