April 7th, 2014 A Single Drop

It always amazes me that on a planet with an ocean of people, the loss of a single drop makes the world feel emptier somehow.

Last week I received the call everyone dreads. The death of a loved one. My broken hearted mother, in tears, telling me that my sweet, younger brother was dead, he had suddenly and unexpectedly passed into eternity.
This isn't my first walk through the garden of grief, you'd think it'd get easier each time but it doesn't. Like my mother says, "The thing about grief  is, there is no going under, around or over it..you can only go through it." So I guess I will walk through this garden again, trusting God to carry me through the rough spots as He has always been faithful to do.
                                                                         

                                    Timothy, my childhood buddy and partner in crime.


Later in the week I went for a walk in the park near our home. Maybe it's because I'm a country girl, but getting out into nature helps settle my mind and soul when I am troubled. Here in the largest city in the world it's kind of hard to find a quiet spot, and the park was teeming with people, but it still helped to walk and enjoy the scenery. The cherry blossoms are falling from the trees now but I caught a few more pictures before the season passed.                                        

                                                                Inokashira Park

                                                                 A lone Cherry tree.

                                                 People on the lake in paddle boats.
                                                                             

                                                              Temple on the lake.

                                                               Fountain and temple

The temple is on an island.

I liked how blue the sky was.

Koi Fish

                                                                   He was hoping I'd feed him.

                   And, one last picture of my brother. He's looking down because he was always hunting agates.