I am grateful for those who have indomitable spirits, those who can always find reason to smile no matter what. They have a special gift from God, and as is the case with all spiritual gifts, their gift is not for them alone, but blesses all who know them. If you didn’t have hands, could you write as well as my friend who filled out the donation slip shown below with pen in foot? And what if you wanted to be a gymnast and had no legs? Check out the inspiring video link regarding Jen Bricker. These two ladies inspire me to be stronger against challenges and to be more thankful for my own gifts and blessings.

http://biggeekdad.com/2014/09/jen-bricker-amazing/

The story behind the Neuschwanstein Castle in Bavaria, Germany teaches an important truth. This beautiful fortress, the inspiration for the Sleeping Beauty Castle at Disneyland, was built by King Ludwig II in the 1800s. It took 14 carpenters a total of 4 years to do the wood work in one room alone, the king’s bedroom! After 16 and a half years of construction, the King moved in with only a third of the rooms completed. He lived in his castle less than 6 months before his death. The castle project, which nearly bankrupted the country, was abandoned immediately.

We can spend our entire lives gathering earthly treasures and building monuments but as with King Ludwig II, these rewards will only be “enjoyed” for a moment. God teaches us to put our time and energy into those things that matter most– obeying God, nurturing our families, and loving and serving those along our daily path. These are the things that will lead to heavenly rewards that will last throughout the eternities.

I am thankful to live in a time and place that allow me freedom to create. Creativity prospers when we put aside the routines and pressures of the day and instead allow our minds to go to new places and new ideas. Many hours were invested in capturing and processing a few images of the Milky Way taken from the Valley of Fire State Park near Las Vegas. But creativity is not accomplished through the rigid filters of efficiency and time constraints. Creativity requires time, even “down time”, to bring out the best in each of us.