An Answer To A Universal Secret

Photography: Coming Soon To A Blog Near You!! :P
Poem: Jetta Marie
Gratitude: The Chance I have to make a difference in the lives of others. This blog has made a difference as much in me, as it has to many of my readers. I have found so much joy and purpose from it, and the difference it makes to many of you is simply a beautiful thing. Thank you everyone.

An Answer To A Universal  Secret

In a world such as ours

It is all to easy to become consumed

By the rush of the dawn

And the exhaustion of the dusk;

It is all to common 

To not see those miracles in ones life

As you wonder how you will make rent

And fret about due dates at work.

It is all to simple, 

To not see the hand of a greater purpose

A greater being, a greater power

That reminds us of its omnipotent nature

each and every day

In the quite ways we sometimes dub

Coincidence.

But if you learn to open your eyes

To see those not as coincidence

But as the miracles and reminders

That they truly are

You begin to see opportunity

To make a difference for you

And for others.

It is programmed within each soul

To seek happiness true and pure

And in in accepting those chances

To serve and make a difference,

To be a light in a dark humanity

To someone who needed you;

In this there is a joy 

No currency can buy you,

Nothing society can offer.

In a sincere and surprised thank you,

From someone who needed you

And you answered their call,

They is a value that no worldly object

Could ever mimic or equal.

There is a complete and uncompromising joy

For both of you,

And in this shall your soul can find joy,

In serving your fellow human beings

You shall find the cure for emptiness

In your heart

And a long sought end to the journey

Of peace in this life. 

I know this to be true,

And share with you the secret I have learned

That you may fill your hearts with joy

As I have had the opportunity to do.

Go now into the world, 

Armed with the greatest secret of man, 

Knowing full well,

Even if not understanding completely,

The answer for which we all search;

The key to true happiness,

Is in forgetting yourself,

And allowing yourself the joy,

To help another. 

Legacy

Legacy

Photography: Boren family archives
Poetry: Jetta Marie
Gratitude Of The Day: Being adopted into my husbands family, and having the chance to watch each of them form their own legacy, despite the hardships of their pasts. You are all amazing, and thank you for letting me be a part of your lives.

Legacy

To become a legend,

One must be stronger than the common man;

This you were.

One must be passionate about their cause,

And uphold their passion to the bitter end;

This you accomplished.

One must be a leader to those in need,

A champion in all that they strive for;

This you excelled in.

One must never compromise ones self,

And one must give it all they have to overcome,

And perhaps a bit more;

This you did. 

Even in losing a battle,

A legend must inspire their followers

To continue the fight

Long after the hero has come and gone;

They are still fighting today.

Most of all, 

A legend leaves a legacy, 

That no one can ever forget;

And an example for the generations

To look up to for futures to come.

In this, a hero is born, 

And in this, a hero never dies.

In this criteria, 

A true champion can never die

For the legacy they leave 

Cannot be forgotten.

In this they conquer

In this they will always inspire

And always live on. 

So take your place among champions

For in this family, 

And in the lives you touched each day,

Your legacy will never be forgotten. 

Welcome To The Family

Welcome To The Family

Photography: Jetta Marie

Poetry: Jetta Marie

Gratitude Of The Day: My future sister-in-law, And the up and coming new Jessica Cannon. Welcome to the herd, Jess. 

Welcome To The Family

For all these years you've been with him, 

What a mystery you have been!

So quiet and reserved its true

It was hard to see the you.

Shy and silent you remained

For all these years you posed the same.

And I waited quietly

For you as well, to see the me,

And now my new found sister,dear

What a joy to have you here! 

Finally you and I can see

I see you and you see me!

And now that a new member we have gained, 

"Welcome to our little crazy train!"

Not one of our fold 

Has the same color or shade

But we are all so proud of what we are made!

A herd of sheep never white or dull cream

We are pink, we are purple, we are blue and we're green!

So whatever your color

Welcome to our family zoo

We are so happy to have and to get to know you!

Childhood Winter Memories

Childhood Winter Memories

Photography: Jetta Marie
Poetry: Jetta Marie
Gratitude Of The Day: The wonderful holiday season with my family and friends, and the time I had to reflect on all those happy childhood memories and winter adventures from holidays past.

Childhood Winter Memories

Though now, I am grown

And a bit wrinkled to say the least,

I look forward to those quiet moments

Where I can remember a simpler time,

From the days of childhood imagination.

Where the chill in the winter air

Was not a cause of complaint,

But a time of excitement and wonder

Of frozen worlds and wonders

I now cannot see as clearly now.

A time long ago, 

When snow was not a thought of frostbite

Or a chance to complain of weather,

But a time of explorations and creativity

And endless possibilities

A time when snowmen 

Where not frozen balls of water,

But soldiers to guard your winter tower

As you prepare another attack 

At the tower on the other side of the yard. 

Frozen ammunition is in no short,

And you prepare large stockpiles

Of  frozen weapons

For the battle 

That has been raging since this morning

And shall not end until one is name

Victorious champion for today!

Ho-rah!

The frozen ice on the trees 

Was the spark for an adventure 

To explore a frozen lost world

Where the  princess needing rescuing

From the ice troll,

Who hide among the glistening forest trees.

A single rose 

Buried in the snow

Was our reminder of the treacherous mission at hand,

And conquer we will,

But first the dear Queen insisted 

Upon a hot beverage of sweet chocolate

And a small break in the mission,

For moral purposes 

Of course. 

Tracks in the snow,

From feet far smaller than my own,

Remind me of those days 

Long ago when I was joyed 

With the falling of the snow.

Now I sit with loved ones,

By a warm fire 

With that sweet chocolate beverage

Offered to the warriors of long ago,

And I smile at the memories

Shared by the fire.

Though now I do not battle winter trolls

Or defend my castle with frozen ammunition,

Those memories of  childhood winters

Warm my heart even now,

As I sit with the other winter curmudgeons.

There is such a peace in reminiscing

Of days much simpler than today

And such a reminder in those memories

To stop once in a while

And breath the winter air

With that little childhood spark. 

It is nice to remember simple

Untainted childhood joy.

And so nice to remember what true happiness

Feels like. 

My Christmas Letter

My Dearest Readers;

It has been a whirlwind of excitement this year in the Boren Household. Chaz is still working hard at the call center on the Ticket To Work project, and as always, is excelling in all that he does. I am so proud of all the progress he has made this year and admire him beyond words.

There has been a lot of self reflection during 2013 for both of us, and through a dear friend and counselor, Ms. Carrie Wrigley, our marriage and sense of self has been given a new light and understanding. We have learned so much about ourselves this year, and in learning to understand ourselves, we have come to appreciate each other so much more. It can be so hard to admit when you need a referee in life,whether it be for yourself or your marriage or just someone you love. But sometimes you need to swallow your pride and admit  that you need another perspective on things once and a while. Good lesson, people, whether you need to go the therapy route or not; sometimes you need to put your feelings aside and get a different set of perception filters. Never be afraid to ask for help when you are stuck. I learned the hard way why pride is such a toxic trait, but I have come out the other side and we are doing great. Just needed a tune up, I guess. ;)

Through the self exploration in therapy this year, Chaz has realized a dream of his that he has been putting on the back burner. He has decided to take a leap of faith during 2014, and begin an amazing path for his life. He wants to be a Psychologist. He has been scared of the notion because of the price tag and the intensity of the schooling involved, but he has found the courage to follow his heart in what he wants and I am so proud of him! He is going to make an AMAZING doctor, and I know that with all the experience he already has in that subject and the natural ability to coach people and get them to put their brains in place, he is going to make a huge difference for people. Its funny to me that about the same time he finally decided to shoot for his star, his sister Mysti started a similar goal and enrolled in a class to get started. Not sure if she is going to go the Doctor route or not, but it's crazy how similar they are. They could have been twins with the way they share brain waves. :D

As most of you know, I have embarked on a journey of my own. Through the encouragement of my sweet husband, I have found my own courage to start a career as a photographer and poet. There is a lot of work to do in 2014, but I am so excited to be involved in a career I am so passionate about. I work for Lifetouch doing school photos, and am starting to gain a rapport with my own work as well. I have my own small set of clients, and have done a few shoots with great success. I have a few more lined up for the coming year, and am learning new techniques every day. Chaz allowed me to make a studio out of our guest bedroom, and though the space is limited things are going great. I have a lot of projects planned for the coming year, and have finally found my niche in the world.

I have also stared a gratitude blog, which many of you are already following. During the holiday things have been kind of tough on the upkeep, but I have a few new tricks up my sleeve that are taking a bit longer than my usually daily posts.Go big or go home, right? The new year is going to bring lots of changes to my efforts to spread gratitude, and I hope and pray that my ventures make a difference to my reader. I have been so humbled by the response that my work has gotten. I have had it up since Nov 2013 and have hit 600 viewers. I have several from Europe, a few from Asia and hundreds from the good old USA. I am so grateful for each and every one of you and hope you will continue to follow along.

I was called as a ward missionary this last month. I have been given the task to be the ward photographer and will be working on a project to get pictures of our members and the activities we do for the year. The goal is to bring some unity to the ward, and help  members know who people are so that we can get to know watch other. I pray that what I have been set apart to do can make a difference to those I work with, and I am very excited for this calling.

There have been some very tough challenges in our family during this year, but as a family we have and currently are meeting each one with love, support, and courage. My amazing uncle, Kyle Cannon, passed away this past year after a 30 year struggle with MS. But there has been so much to be grateful for during this hard time in our family. His wife is truly one of the most beautiful woman I know, and an example to me of strength and the pure love of Christ. She stated recently that though his passing was difficult, it was also a truly beautiful 10 days. I am not going to go into all the amazing things that happened during that time, but hearing her acknowledge the beauty of that difficult time is remarkable to me, and I am so grateful for her and her wonderful family.

I am so grateful for the holiday season, and the chance to publicly  acknowledge the wonderful life I have. I have been so blessed with the family I was born into, and the one I have been "adopted" into by my husbands side. I am grateful for the opportunities that are before me for the coming year, and for all those who have made it possible. I am grateful to be on the path to going back to church and overcoming the social anxiety I have been crippled with for so long. I am thankful for the talents I have, and the chance I have to use them to better the world. May your holiday season be a time to reflect on the wonders of the world around you, and may your days in the coming years truly be merry and bright. I love you all and hope you have a great New Year.

Sincerley,

Jett, Chaz, and the puppies

My Sweet Anomaly

My Sweet Anomaly

Photography: Jetta Marie

Poem: Jetta Marie

Gratitude of the day: Having the honor of watching my Chaz defy all odds with a strength, grace, and kindness that I have never seen in any other man. I must have done something right in my life to have such an amazing , unique and wonderful person not only in my life, but by my side. He is truly an anomaly among the men in our world today. A gentleman, a loyal and dedicated husband and friend, wise beyond his years, and truly one of a kind. AND HE CHOSE ME!! !:D

My Sweet Anomaly

Unlike any other champion that I  know

A strange and  beautiful being and entity

My sweet anomaly is my  saving serenity,

With a strength he often will not show

But like a flame it only continues to grow.

Unmatched in passion for those he loves

He is like a guardian sent from above

Sent to remind me what humans should be

And to give me the chance to be happy and free

To remind me what it takes to be better than norm

To remind me of how to get through a black storm

A reminder that not all in this world is dark

And that with a dose courage, steadfastness and love

I can rise from the dust like a heaven bound  dove

And follow his lead and surpass human marks.

Letter: Hard a work

I have been hard at work today, rest assured readers! The holiday season is upon us all, and before I set on my grand journey for this year, I am working on getting copies of my photography over the past year and copies of my upcoming  book to the family that has loved and supported me over the many years. It has taken a long time for me to get my publications in order, get copyrights, create watermarks for my photos, but this year I am ready to launch and prepare for the success and failures that are a part of my future. It is a truly humbling point in my life, but my family is going to get the first taste of what this year entails for us all. Thank you to all of you for your support and faith in me and as things begin to flow, be sure that I shall never forget those that were with me in the beginning. My dear readers, friends, colleges and family; Thank you and wish me luck! This year is going to be awesome.

Artfully Yours,

Jetta Marie

Letter: A mentor, friend and amazing artist

Shout Out To A Fellow Artist And Friend

Gratitude Of The day: MRS. CARRIE ANN HOWLETT-ALLEN.

I am so grateful for The opportunity to have such an amazing artist to look up to in my passion for photography excellence. If you have not had the opportunity to see her work, visit her website at http://www.carriehowlettphotography.blogspot.com. AMAZING  lady. I had the honor of being invited to a exposition in which she and other like artists displayed their work in a very vibrant and modern expo. It was called the RAW; Natural Born Artist expo, and it was a lot of fun to be there supporting such an amazing role model and enjoying the company of some of my some of my wonderful co-workers. If I can obtain  half of the skill that Carrie has, I will consider myself an accomplished artist.  I do not have any great photos of her yet, but when I get  a few I will post them. I try to strive for my own work, (and a few pieces of those involved with this blog...*cough* MY HUSBAND*)  to be the premise of what I  do, so I will have to be patient in getting a good shot of her for this post. But she so much deserves the thank you for all she does, RIGHT NOW. Here is to you Ms.Howlett-Allen; Thank you for letting me watch you, tag along,  and giving me a chance to grow in my own work. I would not be excelling as quickly as I am if I did not have you and your beautiful, meticulous images to look up.

Sweet Childhood Simipicity

Sweet, sweet, Children

Photography: Jetta Marie

Poem: Jetta Marie

Gratitude of the day: Being able to remember the less complicated ethics and purity of a well raised child. 

Sweet Childhood Simplicity 

How much cuter can you be

Than a kid with great creativity?

This lonely pup without a bed

And with some nearby to lay his head!

So a child no taller than 3 ft 3'

Quickly came up with the remedy;

Just move the pup up to pile

And let him rest comfy for a while.

It makes sense when you truly see

Things in a child's simplicity,

Right and wrong just seem so clear

When you still maintain your younger years.

So, sweet child, thank you much

For saving this poor uncomfortable pup.

Duct Tape Failure

Duct Tape Failure

Photography: Jetta Marie

Poem: Jetta Marie

Gratitude Of The Day: Moments you can do nothing but laugh and be speechless

Duct Tape Failure

Rare as the moment is

There are those few and far between

Where the almighty glory of the tape

No longer reigns supreme

Moments where you try so hard

To utilize its name

But stand back to see your crafty hands

And must hang your head in shame!

It mends some auto ails its true,

It makes dresses, belts and shirts

But even the mighty have moments, indeed

Were there power just wont work

So though glorious true, the tape remains

Take heed in this tragic tale

And know my friend that though powerful, yes

Even duct tape has moments of FAIL.

Angel In A Bottle

Angel In A Bottle

Photography: Jetta Marie

Poem: Jetta Marie

Gratitude of the day: Moments of humility; like wondering about your future and having an angel form in your water bottle. Not much you can do but remain speechless and be grateful for life at times like this. 

Angel In A Bottle

In A world full of of moments of doubt

God has a way of reminding us all

That no matter how uncertain things may be

Hope is never lost.

Never cease to search 

For the desires of your purpose

And the questions which impress on your heart

For it is moments of confusion,

In the questions we fight to answer

When no one, save God himself seems to have insight,

In moments where you have done all you can

And searched with your whole heart,

In these quiet moments love will flow

And you will be granted clarity.

It is humbling to know

That in the moments where you think you are lost

He will make you found,

If only you have insight

To see the signs he sends you

That you have never been forgotten.

Darkness and adversity 

Can weigh upon you each day

But the power of hope

To subdue it totally 

In just one single moment 

Cannot be ignored or denied 

If you set aside the notion of coincidence

And see with eyes truly open.

And so I pray to each wanderer 

As you fight your way through darker times

And question from the very heart of who you are

Fear not the unknown,

For in moments of doubt

A wiser more perfect being

Has ways of granting hope

When you believe you have no more to give.

It may not need be as drastic

As an angel in the very water you were drinking

Only moments before,

But the signs of Gods love are all around us, 

If we but choose to see them

And be humbled.

Through The WInding Woodwork

Through The Winding Woodwork

Photography: Chaz Boren

Poetry: Jetta Marie

Gratitude Of The Day: Finally being able to speak and breath again! Bronchitis and Laryngitis at the same time with a sever lung condition already present; boy, that is a humbling experience. Helps you be grateful for things you truly don't notice until you don't have them anymore. GOOD TO BE BACK!

Through The Winding Woodwork

Though the road was dark at  times

The way a mystery

Though a challenge great was placed en-route

I was granted eyes to see

Past the darkness and wary moments

Into perceptions Kinder

Knowing that although I struggled

There was a soft reminder

"Yours breaths are shallow, child

Your voice gone for a time

But in this rare serenity 

 You must be still and use your mind

You don't have to chatter so

To speak the things you may

You simply have to use your head now

And find another way

To use your voice creatively

And give your message wings

No matter what the challenge is

See all the grateful things

In those moments that you struggled

To take a single breath

You knew that though it hurt so

This plague would not warrant death

Though your words in verbiage, taken

By means of  mouth and tongue

It was a moment rare in time

To see that your work has just begun

Sometimes you need a moment

When you cannot cease the chatter

To sit and see the world anew

And a take a look at things that matter

As I traveled through my days

No idle chatter passed my lips

And in the  message I preach each day

I noticed things even I would miss

Through a windy, winding road

I continue on my quest

To remind us all, including me

To be grateful to our best

Give thanks for things you notice

Be they big or small

For in this grand perception

We can overcome it all.

I am through the winding woodwork

Coming out the other side

And I am so grateful for my time

Where in silence I did abide.

Letter to readers: Thankful for modern medicine

Dearest Readers;

So over the last few weeks, I am sure you have all noticed a bit of a lag in the posts; I ended up going back to my Doctor yesterday and he told me I had bronchitis and Laryngitis. I know, FUN, right? :|  Those of you how know me probably understand how serious this is for me, because of  the severity of my asthma. Some of you may not, but lets just say there was a point in my life that getting the flu or bronchitis would mean a good chance of a hospital visit for me.

But looking back on the things I have been through, it may be hard to believe it but I am grateful for a lot right now, and though some things may get poetry, I want them all to be acknowledged.

I am grateful for being born in a time and place where medical treatment gave me a chance to fight the disabilities I have and beat them. I know that without the wonderful Doctors who monitor my challenging health conditions like hawk, and take such good care of me every single time I come in with something, I would no be standing here today, much less living the wonderful life I do. Because of the era in which I was born, I was able to fight and I can testify to everyone who reads this I am stronger because of what I have been through. I have also learned how powerful optimism is when you are sick.

When you get very sick, it is so easy to just lay there and stare at the ceiling thinking "no way, not now. I have things to do for Heavens sake! I cannot be sick right now and this is stupid. I don't want to stay in bed and this is not fair. WHY ME?"  We have all been there, and the longer you are sick, the more restless and cynical you become. I know that is a pattern all to familiar to even myself. But looking back on my wonderful, sarky little attitude I  realize why I was sick so long. Rather than seeing all the wonderful things to find a way to get out of bed for; like the sunshine on my face, my husband coming home from a long day at work and asking about my day first, my AMAZING Service/Therapy dog who never left my side, my husband INSISTING on high speed internet even though we were next to broke just so that I had a window into the outside world...for some reason that baffles me now I chose to lay in that dark little one apartment bedroom and think about reasons why life was unfair. Just saying it now; That was a mistake.

The wonderful thing about this life though, is that I grew from all that. I understand how important it is to be optimistic and grateful, especially in times when it does not come easy. I understand the power of a journal or blog or SOMETHING to help you remember gratitude when times like this arise. I understand forgiving yourself when you may slack on things, and having the courage to take your place where you left off. I understand what a blessing it is to live in a world where you can learn from your mistakes and grow from them. And I am so grateful to be allowed to have the courage to lead others the way I do. That is ACTUALLY a miracle in and of itself because I  have this thing called severe social anxiety. :)  I have learned to overcome it with optimism and never giving up. ( I believe when it comes to me that  the latter is refereed to as "divinely directed stubbornness.") 

I love you all, and no matter how hard it is to be grateful some days do not give up. You do not have to do this alone. I am here and praying for each one of you and I know that once you get this ball rolling, you are going to be ok.

Poem To My Followers

Somehow you'll get through today

Gratitude will lead your way

Don't give up to dark and blue

Cause the strength to be grateful 

IS INSIDE YOU!

Love and am grateful for all of you. Thank you so much for all your support and love. Have a wonderful day everyone.

Artfully Yours,

Jetta Marie

The Love Of The Master

Photography: Jetta Marie
Poetry: Jetta Marie
Gratitude: Understanding the love that my Lord, older brother and Master has for a little spec of a human like me.
Understanding that no matter how sad I may be, I am never alone; with the strength my Father in Heaven has given me and the love and support of a brother willing to give his life for me, I understand that no matter how dark I feel right now I know that I can get through this. With his grace I have done it many times before, and I get stronger every time I have bare this burden. He is teaching me to stand on my own, and I am grateful for the knowledge in my sorrow, that he will never leave me alone. He won't take it away, because he loves me too much to do that, but he will never stop reaching for me when I lose my way. Perhaps in what I am learning,each time I beat this, I can give hope to those who have or will come to bare the dark world of depression. There is STILL beauty around me in every step I take. I am STILL worth it to him no matter how alone or numb I feel. I am STILL grateful for the life I am living and I trust him that I have the power to handle this, so long as he is with me.I can truly testify of this. I love you all and as I continue my battle through the dark, I will continue my mission to show this world that no matter what you are going through, there is STILL beauty all around us, We just have to look a bit harder sometimes. :D Have a great day everyone.

The Love Of The Master

When life bears its weight

And I feel lost in the dark;

Though the storm may be gathering

With no sight of its part,

Though I feel like the world

Is bruising my bones

I know in my heart

That I am never alone

I have wavered this storm

Many times in my life

And I know that I'm loved

By my lord, Jesus Christ

Though I cannot seem to stand 

On my own feet at this time

I know that he's with me

And he is not judging or blind

He knows what I'm feeling

For he's perfect comfort you see

He bled tears and accepted it

In efforts to for  me

For each of the hardships

That I have to bare

Its humbling to know

That such a man has been there

And though I am lost 

I have not lost my sight

Of the man who is standing 

Right there by my side

I can feel his love

No matter how dark things seem

I know I'll get through this

And find pastures green

Though tears I must weep now

As I fight again to find light

I will never deni

The man here by my side

I feel like I'm held now

With a peace through this storm

And in his embrace 

Though life's cold, I am warm

I've made it before

Through the trials I face

And been able to conquer

Because of his grace

Somehow, He loves me

Though I could not guess why

But this I know certain,

He will stand by my side

Though I am human

And as low as the earth

He believes in my talents

And my purpose in birth

Knowing that Christ,

Will always help me to stand

I know I can conquer

Depression again

Wonderful Winter

Photography: Jetta Marie

Potery: Jetta Marie

Gratitude Of The Day: There is still amazing beauty all around me, even in well below freezing weather. I love this shot! It is like the bird has this fascination with the little pile of snow; its as big as he is, but it is definitively NOT a bird... He cracks me up! 

Wonderful Winter

When the sun starts to set

At an earlier hour

And the chill from the air

Makes you shiver and cower

When everything dies

And flies away south

Its all to easy for bitter

To stream from your mouth.

"Jack frost is a Jerk!"

One might be tempted to mutter,

As the wind blows and howls

And you shiver and shutter.

But oh, yea poor blinded

You foolish young thing!

Why there is so much wonder

In this absence of spring!

For frosty the snowman 

Could not wear his hat of felt

If the weather is balmy 

The poor guy would melt!

Snow angels in summer?

Why that cannot be;

For the wonderful snow 

Needs that wind chill you see!

And what could be greater

Than after playtime your warn

And you run on inside where its toasty

And warm

And out comes the Coco,

Or cider for me,

And by the fire you get toast

The warm  flames dancing with glee

And Santa's attire

Would be down right preposterous

If there was no winter,

Well you can make a hypothesis!

The snow as it glitters

On its way to the earth

A time to give thanks 

For our dear saviors birth

A time for one's family

In a world full of haste,

A time to rejoice!

A time to just celebrate!

Winter for some 

Is a time to be sad,

But I see it simply,

As a time to be glad.

Spring will come shortly

And the chill disappear,

So why not be grateful 

While winter is hear?

Why be a scrooge

Full of winter-time hate?

Why be a grump 

When winter's so great?

Sure it is chilly,

Sure the flowers are few,

But there is abundance

Of things you can do.

To make the cold months

Pass with holiday cheer

And set yourself up 

For a fantastic year.

So whine if you will

Have a holiday grunge

But I've an igloo to build

And I choose to have fun

And when I am through,

I have warm cookies to munch; 

So have fun being sour

You poor Winter grump!

Growing through the rocks: Nelson Madela

Photography: Jetta Marie
Poem: Jetta Marie
Gratitude Of The Day: The selfless leaders who are examples of peace and courage, and to whom we can look up to. In today's world full of corruption in politics and selfish idols, its is hopeful to me that there are still some of us who are willing to fight for goodness. Thank you, Mr Mandela, for the example and legacy of overcoming your past, and fighting for what is right. Thank you for standing for those who did not know how to stand for themselves. Thank you for having the courage to preach forgiveness, and show us what peace means. Thank you for being an example for the rest of us.

From the rocks he grew 

And from the hardships of his life,

He understood pain;

He understood the struggles 

That were facing the nation he loved,

And he not only saw,

But took to heart 

The suffering of his brothers.

 Like many of us,

He was given a choice;

To complain of the hardships,

Or to overcome,

And lead the march

To finding peace for a country

Still trapped in patterns of inequality.

But perhaps the greatest legacy

In all the teachings of his life,

Was his example of forgiveness.

He did not waste time hating

Those who wronged him and his nation,

But rolled up his sleeves 

And set to work 

To make a change 

Like so many legends before him.

John Lennon spoke to the souls of men

Through lyrics and songs inspired,

And helped us to remember

To give peace a chance.

He confronted the leaders of a nation

Engulfed in war and blinded of light,

And sang to them of what they had forgotten

For he loved without measure,

And he had the courage to sing uninhibited;

Mother Teresa,

Saw the suffering around her,

And Knew there was work to be done.

She made a vow to devote her life,

To bringing comfort and care

To those who needed it most;

To those who were shunned by society,

She not only saw, 

But she had the courage to stand

For those who could not stand on their own

Martin Luther King Jr.

A man with a dream,

For hatred to stop.

An example for us all, 

 that no one,

No matter their past,

No matter their transgressions,

Can claim they cannot chose,

To change themselves

Abondond their sin

And lead a life inspired.

each man, woman and child

Can find peace in themselves

And accept a calling

To be the courage for others, 

And inspire change,

As Martin Luther chose

 To inspire his fellow men

To speak out against the hatred

Contained within the conceptions of segregation.

He stood tall

Knowing full well he was challenging fire,

And that he risked his life

Each day that he stood tall

And led his marches for a better life.

He never preached war

He never encouraged retaliation,

For he knew better than to give

Into the temptation to hate.

He  loved without measure,

And Will be an example of peaceful change

For all generations.

And so, now Madela, rest;

Know that you can now take your place

Among the heroes in history books,

And the promoters of peace

Who came before you,

And worked beside you

In efforts to change the world.

You made your mark,

And your battle was won,

And through your example

Your peaceful warriors can continue 

The legacy you started.

Rest well now, hero, 

For in a great leader,

Hope can be restored,

And those who looked up to you

Can follow your example of courage

And lead the way to a new dawn

And continue the path to peace.

Rest well beside your comrades,

And know that you shall never be forgotten.

From the rocks you grew

Into a strong and peaceful oak,

That shall spring new seeds of peace 

Long after you are gone.

For a new hope has begun,

In the land you called home.

And a new cry for peace has been heard

Across the world we know.

What you have done

And the life you lived,

Can never be forgotten. 

  

down but not out

So I have been feeling really crummy these last weeks, and somehow I have been granted the strength to keep going. I was sure it was the flu but I broke down today and went to the doctor; so NOT the flu! Apparently, I would have made a really horrid Doctor because he told me I have a nasty sinus infection.

 But despite the lack of a voice and the pounding migraine, I am still just as grateful as ever. No poem today, but even in my less than attractive state, I still managed to get a whole SD card of new photos and am still busy as ever. My stamina only seemed to come in small hour increments, but prevail I have and conquer I will.

So today I am writing a list of 10 things thatmade me grateful for today. I am challenging myself since it was a harder day for me. :)

1) I am grateful to have a husband sensitive enough to understand me and appreciate how strong i am, yet man enough to tell me that I don't get to chose whether I am going to the dr today or not

2) even though today was hard, I got a whole bunch of photos while my husband was driving me to the dr, the pharmacy and home.

3) I am grateful for my brother stopping by today to ask my humble advice on his book. I love being able to encourage him and be there to bounce ideas off of.

4) I am so grateful for electricity; we did not have it for an hour this morning and it was so very cold!

5) grateful to have a doctor who is gentle but blunt in letting me know that I was way off in what I thought was going on with me. Ivwas humbly put in my place, told I was wrong, and he did not make me feel dumb about it.

6) EUCALYPTUS. I would not be breathing through my nose today without it.

7) my ever loyal black Labrador, Dax, who is an amazing seizure animal, a wonderful companion, and my loyal protector when I am under the weather. Sweet boy has not left my side for 3 days.

8) The classical music that finally  helped me fall asleep last night.  Finally drifted off during a number called Cool forest cello.

9) ice. Made it so much easier to stay hydrated today. 

10) hope and my gratitude goggles. They kept the optimism going when it would have been easy to quit.

Note To Readers: Thank You To Everyone Of You

Though My normal signature for this blog is the combination of a photograph and poem each day, (or nearly each day to be fair)  I wanted to take just a few moments and thank each and everyone of you who have taken the time to check out what I do, and support me in my efforts to help bring a little light to others from this little corner of the vast internet from which I post. Whether you just pass through, or check my blog on a regular basis, I am so grateful for all of you. I sincerely hope that what I am doing is helping to bring a smile to some faces, and help us all adopt a little gratitude in our lives. I know a lot of days its hard to be grateful, but hopefully what I am doing can give you a bit of courage on the tough days.

I am so humbled by the response that my project has received, and want to publicly thank all of you who are making this project successful by recommending it to others and taking what I do to heart. I sincerely pray that to someone out there, my words bring comfort and hope when things get tough. If I can make a difference to just one of you when you need it most, then this blog has served its purpose.

 I know that I have a lot of work to do, and I have some great things planned for this coming year. I am going to get a few of the songs I have written on here, along with the photos and lyrics to accompany them; I am in the process of creating a YouTube channel so that I can get some more involvement with the comments. I know that not everyone has access to comment on the blog itself, but I want to make it possible for anyone willing to comment to be able to do so. I am working on putting together some incentive for a few of my challenges during 2014 as well.  I am not by any means Oprah, so do not cross your fingers for a new car ,but as this blog is growing I am gaining new insight on how to improve things for my readers every day.

None of my mission would be possible without your support, Readers. Together we CAN make a difference, and we can pave the way to bringing gratitude and joy back to those that may have lost their way. With every word I write, with every song I sing, with every photograph I take...I can help remind this world of the beauty around us in a world that oft times seems dark. To the man without the courage to stand for what he believes, leading others from the darkness is a grand notion, and nothing more.

I love you all so very much, and am humbled and grateful for each hair on your heads. Your support is an inspiration and encouragement to me beyond the words I can speak. May I be inspired to find the words to reach you when you need a lift; may my simple puns and limericks bring a smile to you when you cannot find one on your own. And may I have the honor of leading the way for those who will follow, out of the patterns of negativity, and into the first steps of bringing joy into the lives of those who have forgotten how to feel it.
Keep putting one step in front of the other; keep searching for a moment of sun no matter how dark the storm. I have faith in each one of you, and I truly do care about each one of you. Never Give up searching for the beauty around us, for it is there, and once you begin to see it's presence in your life it will only grow stronger. Have a great day everyone!

Artfully Yours,

Jetta Marie

Mothers

Mothers

Photo: Jetta Marie
Poetry: Jetta Marie
Gratitude Of The Day: Mothers-especially mine
CHALLENGE: Take time today to acknowledge the mothers in your life, and tell them how much you love and appreciate what they do for you. For what they do everyday, and for the sacrifices they have made for each child they call their own, they do not hear it enough.

Mothers

Mothers have a way of humbling our heart

Long after the days of childhood have past;

While growing up,

It can be difficult to understand

Just how selfless mothers are,

And just how hard they fight

Each and every day

To not only keep us from annihilating ourselfs,

But to help us learn from the difficult lessons of life.

Mothers are teachers,

Mothers are nurses to us, 

Mothers are cooks, and therapists, 

And in some moments,

 A necessary platoon Sargent.

They get up at the crack of dawn, 

And attempt to sleep long past the sunset, 

Many times waking to a child

Ill, scared, or not able to sleep,

After only a few mins of sleep for herself,

Not blinking an eye at the fact

That their child needs them now,

And sleep must be forfeited for the night.

Mothers are special beyond words;

As I travel through the years of my life,

 I grow to appreciate mine more and more.

As we age we face a point in time

Where our mothers start to make sense,

And the dedication they had to us,

Begins to become clear.

The most haunting, beautiful words 

I have heard in my life,

Where spoken in a moment of humility

From the women who sacrificed

All piece of mind she hoped to have,

In raising a child

Bound and determined to raise hell,

Or so it seemed at the time.

As adulthood began to clear my sight,

I saw her for the first time,

And in a moment where she knew 

I was finally listening,

She said to me softly,

"I knew you had to hate someone, 

And I loved you enough to let it be me."

Oh sweet Mother;

What blindness I was trapped in,

To not see what a wonderful mother

You fought each day to be!

And I see this pattern,

In all good mothers,

No matter what challenges cross them,

Their love for their children

Surpasses the challenges set before them.

Crayon on the walls,

Children sick in the night,

Even Children plagued with emotions

No one can seem to understand;

Mothers face these challenges with power

Only possible by means of a daughter of God.

Who has accepted the call of Being a mother. 

Strength to keep trying

When nothing seems to help a fever;

Insight to be patient 

When their child misses yet another life lesson.

Love strong enough to allow her baby,

To hate her for a time,

And never stop loving her child.

This is a Mother;

An beautiful, amazing creature,

Whose love in never compromised

And untouchable.

Be thankful for our mothers,

For in them will we not only make it 

To the threshold of adulthood,

But surrounded with their love and prayers

We may even succeed in life.
Thank God for good Mothers,
For in their love and lessons,
We are shaped into who
And what
Is best for us to be.

What Makes An Artist

Photo: Jetta Marie
Poetry: Jetta Marie
Gratitude Of The Day: My friend, coworker, and mentor Carrie Howlett. Truly an inspired artist, an amazing person, and someone to whom I am so grateful that she gives me opportunities to learn and grow myself as an artist. She provides me critique when I ask, without overwhelming me with how much I have to learn. Watching her critical eye in her own work, and her dedication to the art she loves has inspired me to aim for greatness too, and to never accept the notion that a photograph with visible errors "is close, so its good enough." Thank you Carrie. For those of you who have never seen her amazing work, you should check it out! One of her websites is down at the moment, but you can check out some of the great pieces she has at  http://www.modelmayhem.com/carriehowlett. 

What Makes An Artist

A true painter will never settle

For a piece with little heart;

For a work with little of themselves

Kept within its colors.

A true Poet will never accept

Less than their very selves in written pose,

Or less than exceptional in every sentence 

Which they thread together,

With the ink of their pens.

A sculpture worth the granite he carves,

Would never chip in timeless stone,

Something that was merely a passing grade,

Something that he could not boast of

For the centuries yet to come.

Nor would someone granted talents in an art

That captures moments of time

In a photograph forever

Take lightly the task set before them.

No artist was ever made great

With excuses for their mistakes,

Nor has any master 

accepted in their work

 the despicable phrase of ignorance,

"That is good enough."

To a true artist, 

It is never good enough;

For there is always something to learn

And there is always room

To improve ones self and muse.

And to make their contributions better.

This is the standard to which we are held

Not by the world,

But by our own quests of passion.

This is what separates us

From those who casually doodle 

And earn a place on a refrigerator,

To those who chose to dream and master

To earn a place in the great halls 

of the "Musee' du Louvre"

Once I uttered the words of ignorance,

And in them I found doubt.

But A true artist gave me a reminder

Of the hard work and passion

That makes us what we are.

As I gaze at her work;

As she takes an ordinary person

And molds them into a new being

To capture them in a photograph,

In a moment unrepeatable in time;

I remember my roots,

And what makes me different.

I remember who and what I am,

And my ignorant slumber has now ceased.

I am an artist,

And "good enough"

Is not in my vocabulary.