Gems and Minerals from the National Museum of Natural History

I thought I'd take a break from my annual goal setting session to share some lovely and interesting gemstone and mineral photos with you. While we were waiting to see the butterfly exhibit, my husband and I enjoyed the Gem and Mineral exhibits in the Smithsonian's National Museum of Natural History. My favorite picture is above. It's a small section of a huge piece of what I suspect is amethyst quartz and people seemed to love touching it (and kids climbing upon it).

 I liked the fan like quality of the "rustic inclusions" in this nearly transparent piece of quartz.

 Malachite is one of my favorite minerals and I thought this pretty piece almost looked like a turtle.

This pink gem slice resembles a figure eight. They had an even more impressive and large slice in another display too. I think it's rhodochrosite.

Here are two more forms of malachite (the tall cactus like pieces in the background and the bubbly bowl like piece in the foreground).

I thought this white stone rembled a dragon. I took it in honor of my Castle Age friends.

I hope all of you enjoyed my mini photo tour of the Smithsonian's Gem and Mineral exhibit. There's far much more to see if you go in person and I think it's well worth a tour if you're in the area.

May God bless you!

Related posts:
Live Butterfly Exhibit Photos: http://lovejoyandpeas.blogspot.com/2014/01/happy-new-year-blessings-butterflies.html
Smithsonian's Garden Fest Photos: http://lovejoyandpeas.blogspot.com/2012/05/garden-fest-photos-from-smithsonian.html
Brian Dering's Aruba Wildlife Photos: http://lovejoyandpeas.blogspot.com/2012/10/wildlife-in-aruba-photos-by-guest.html

Happy New Year Blessings & Butterflies

Mating butterflies: Copyright © by Phyllis Wheeler, 1/2014

 "Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here!" 

2 Corinthians 5:17 NIV

Happy New Year, dear friends! May God bless you, keep you, prosper you, heal you and increase your love, joy and peace throughout this New Year and always!

Hidden Blue Butterfly: Copyright © by Phyllis Wheeler, 1/2014

Like a caterpillar turning into a butterfly we become a new creature when born again in Christ. If you're not quite the creature God intends for you to be yet (and as long as we're breathing, none of us are), every day, not just New Year's day, is a new chance to start again. Really, every moment brings the opportunity to do better and live more fully! As long as we're alive we can make choices about how we spend our time and other resources.

Upside down butterfly: Copyright © by Phyllis Wheeler, 1/2014

My husband and I took these butterfly pictures at the live butterfly exhibit at the Smithsonian's National Museum of Natural History (you can see in the captions which one of us took which photo). It was a really fun time and at least three butterflies landed on me (please let me know if you'd like to see those pictures too and I'll do another post if there's enough interest).

Butterfly on green spike: Copyright © by Ben Wheeler, 1/2014

Butterflies remind me that amazing change is possible. No matter what our situation is, we can change it for the better and, even in those few situations where we are powerless, our God is greater than anything we can imagine. We can faithfully turn those situations over to Him and wait on His leading. We can always pray. And there's almost always someone else we can help and helping others can work a beautiful change in our hearts. 

Butterfly in leaves: Copyright © by Phyllis Wheeler, 1/2014

May God's peace dwell in your hearts! If you make New Year's resolutions, goals and action plans, may you have the strength, perseverence and resources to bring them to fruition!

I'd love to hear your plans for the New Year if you want to share. May God bless you and those you love!

Related posts: 
2013 New Year blessing: http://lovejoyandpeas.blogspot.com/2013/01/happy-new-year-haiku-and-blessing.html
Butterfly Art by Denise A: http://lovejoyandpeas.blogspot.com/2012/10/butterfly-art-by-denise-arvaneh.html
Butterflies and dragonfly: http://lovejoyandpeas.blogspot.com/2012/08/dragonfly-and-butterflies-on-flowers-at.html
Butterfly, bee and flowers: http://lovejoyandpeas.blogspot.com/2013/07/a-butterfly-bee-and-bunch-of-beautiful.html

Farewell 2013 - Hello 2014 - Plus a Free Gift for You!

Butterfly Banner by Ben Wheeler

It's the final day of 2013 and many of us are looking forward to a better 2014. May God will it to be our best year yet! I have a New Year post planned for you tomorrow and the photo above (courtesy of my beloved husband) is a hint at what's to come.

Christmas Atrium - not sure if this is by Ben or Phyllis

But before we jump into next year I want to share some final 2013 holiday pictures from some of the Washington D.C. Smithsonian museums.

This poinsettia encircled cherub fountain was lovlier in person. I think I took the photo of it in the National Gallery of Art museum.

Like the Longwood Gardens poinsettias, I found myself liking the variegated type best. 

But this curly leafed poinsettia also caught my fancy. 

While you're contemplating this year and preparing for next year, I hope my little gift to you will be of service. It's an updated copy of my year end review spreadsheet. I gave more details on how I use it in this post last year but it's pretty self explanatory. You can do it in less than an hour or print it out and add to it over the course of a week or use it however you like.

While I normally do this at the end of December, with Moose the cat being so sick (although she is no longer critically ill, she is scheduled for surgery on January 2 and has needed a lot of extra care to nurse her through this difficult time), my husband's extended leave and my own health challenges, I'm giving myself a break and have some time scheduled next week to enjoy a cup of tea, relax and dedicate an hour to prayerfully filling it out. I'll set aside a different time a few days later to prayerfully make my action plan for 2014.

May 2014 be filled with all the blessings your heart can hold and may God's peace, joy and love fill your soul! If you are grieving or suffering in any way as you read this I pray that God will ease your pain and that you will feel His loving presence in your heart. If you would like more information on God's great love for you, I recommend visiting http://peacewithgod.jesus.net/. Peace be with you, dear friend!

Full link to your free gift: 
https://docs.google.com/spreadsheet/ccc?key=0AiikM6A7Ok-NdHVRclljeUpwMXRTcm5sSzlBd0FPRlE&usp=sharing

Related posts:
New Year Haiku Poems: http://lovejoyandpeas.blogspot.com/2012/01/two-new-year-haikus-inspired-by-god-and.html 
New Year Prayer Poems: http://lovejoyandpeas.blogspot.com/2011/12/new-years-prayer-haikus.html 
New Year Blessing: http://lovejoyandpeas.blogspot.com/2013/01/happy-new-year-haiku-and-blessing.html 
New Year Otter cuteness: http://lovejoyandpeas.blogspot.com/2013/01/cute-and-squeaky-river-otter-family.html

You Be the President at the Smithsonian's American History Museum

This weekend I had the pleasure and honor of meeting up with my dear friend Katie and her family and her friend Sean and his family. We had a great visit and toured a good portion of the Smithsonian's American History Museum together. The exhibit that excited the kids the most was the area called "You Be the President." Above is a close up of Michael behind the presidential style podium (his dad's hands are holding him up). He was thrilled to see himself on the combo television screen and teleprompter (not pictured).

Here's Elizabeth at the You Be the President station. Elizabeth is a fantastic big sister, not only to her own brothers but also to Katie and Josh's kids. She lovingly held their hands, explained exhibits and entertained them throughout our visit to the American History Museum. 

Here's little Dillon's presidential photo at the You Be the President station. The kids were all a joy and both families clearly have great parenting skills and a lot of love. I'm proud of you all! Thank you all for taking the time to visit with me.

May God bless Katie, Josh, Audrey, Sean and all of their children and may He bless you too!

Smithsonian Folklife Festival Photos

We stumbled upon the Smithsonian's 2012 Folklife Festival today and it was a pleasant surprise. There was live music, art and an abundance of tents and displays. The festival runs through tomorrow so if you live near Washington DC and can brave the heat it might be a fun thing to check out. 

 Not sure what this mascot was supposed to be but I thought it was very creative and fun.

Overview of one small part of the 2012 Smithsonian Folklife Festival with the Washington Monument in the background.

Live art display / wall painting at the 2012 Smithsonian Folklife Festival. 

Overview of part of the art section at the 2012 Smithsonian Folklife Festival.

Hope you are enjoying your summer! May God bless you this summer and always!

Garden Fest Photos from the Smithsonian Gardens

Smithsonian Castle Garden: Photograph by Ben Wheeler

This weekend my beloved husband Ben and I went to the Smithsonian Castle's gardens and were pleasantly surprised to find their Garden Fest happening. They had activities for all ages, live music, dramatic readings, temporary tattoo stations, garden and lawn information stations, mural painting, tomato plant potting, outdoor yoga, a fun table with giant floral hats and butterfly wings for participants to try on and much more.

Garden Fest Actors: Photograph by Phyllis Wheeler

 In the above photograph you can see some of the actors performing a dramatic reading.

Garden Fest Butterfly Wing Table: Photograph by Phyllis Wheeler

If you click on the picture to enlarge it you'll see the guy in the yellow shirt removing a set of butterfly wings. Closer to the front you can see one of the giant floral hats.

Garden Fest Floral Hat: Photograph by Phyllis Wheeler

In the above photograph you can see a lady modeling one of the giant hats. You can also see some of the other butterfly and flower props on the table with the red tablecloth as well as some of the Smithsonian Castle's beautiful roses farther in the background.

Succulent Container Garden: Photograph by Phyllis Wheeler

This was both Ben's and my overall favorite entry in the container garden contest. Participants were allowed to vote on their favorites in six different categories (see photograph below).

Garden Fest Container Garden Contest: Photograph by Phyllis Wheeler

In the above picture you can see two more of the container gardens from the contest as well as the six categories in which Garden Fest participants could cast a vote.

We had a great time at the Smithsonian Castle's  Garden Fest and hope they'll host it again next year.

Smithsonian Castle's Christmas Tree

My husband Ben took these Christmas tree photos in a recent trip to the Smithsonian's Castle in Washington D.C. I loved the little feathered owl decorations. I wanted to touch them and see if they were as soft as they looked but because the tree was cordoned off I figured that wasn't allowed. It was a beautiful sight. Merry Christmas and may God bless you!