Cinque Terra Sunset ~ Manarola

Where on earth can you experience such amazing beauty? Cinque Terra National Park - 5 coastal villages perched along the rocky coastline in the province of La Spezia in the region of Liguria, Italy. The villages are linked and accessible by train cutting through the mountainside. For the more adventurous ones, 15 miles of cliffside footpaths provide a birdseye view of the terrain. Manarola ended up being our destination for dinner and sunset on our first stop in Italy. Chris and TJ enjoyed a leisurely Italian meal at an outdoor cafe (lower left corner below pink/yellow houses overlooking harbor). Venturing along the cliffwalk, just round the bend, I discovered a quiet little bench tucked into the wall. What a treat...a delicious dinner with a view of the coast...opera music wafted down through the air above me as I discovered a live cliffside performance going on above me. The setting sun soothed my spirit. The capstone of the evening was our walk from Manarola to Riomaggiore as the sun blazing burnt orange/pink in the sky set behind us and the luminous moon rose before us. Amazing!

Road Trippin' to Italy, July 13-23, 2008

Kimberly ~ first-time European traveler


(Left to right) TJ and Chris ~ Seasoned travelers

Partial Vacation Checklist:

• Jeeves (our faithful British GPS guide)
• 2 Svergies (Expats from California)
• 1 Bostonian
• Sense of humor (required)
• Patience (extra helpings)
• Diet Coke & Godis (tasty treats for the guys)
• Cameras and good memories (Priceless)
• 1 non-down pillow (now a permanent resident of Etap Hotel in Mannehiem, Germany)
• 50 cent euro for the WC (a whole blog could be dedicated solely to my experiences with European toilets)

Truly the adventure of a lifetime...a whirlwind tour of Germany, Italy, Switzerland and Austria...more photos to be posted with the adventurous tales of My European Vacation :-)

Here's the Itinerary:

Sunday July 13 - Hamburg, Germany
Monday July 14 - German castle country
Tuesday July 15 - Swiss Alps - Wengen, Switzerland
Wednesday July 16 - Cinque Terra
Thursday July 17 - Pisa, Tuscan countryside, Sienna, San Gimignano, Florence
Friday July 18 - Explore Florence (museums, churches)
Saturday July 19 - Venice, Italian Alps
Sunday July 20 - Salzburg, Austria
Monday July 21 - Germany
Tuesday July 22 - Sweden

Grace

Effortlessly gliding through the still waters of life?

Do you know people who seem to glide through life with ease and grace? Everything seems to fall into place for them. Job opportunities fall into their lap. They find that special someone. They seem to rise above life's difficulties with faith and a hopeful attitude. Outwardly, it appears that they navigate through life effortlessly...similar to a Swan gliding across the pond.

It's easy to fall into this trap. You know the one...comparing someone's outsides with your insides. Several times a day I find myself crawling out of the self-pity trap. After a bit of self reflection, I realize that I want to covet the success of others without putting in the time and effort (e.g. hours praying for God's guidance and direction, daily disciplined footwork that leads step by step towards my desired dream or goal) to obtain the results. When I'm honest with myself, I begin to notice the dreams and goals that I have accomplished...one step at a time, with God's grace and a lot of footwork.

Remember the Swan gliding effortlessly across the still pond? Well, if you looked underneath the pond's surface, you'd see the his little webbed feet paddling at top speed.

God offers me this same Grace...

“If God wants you to do something, he'll make it possible for you to do it, but the grace he provides comes only with the task and cannot be stockpiled beforehand. We are dependent on him from hour to hour, and the greater our awareness of this fact, the less likely we are to faint or fail in a crisis.” -Louis Cassels (1922-1974)

Photograph taken at Spy Pond, Arlington, MA

A Mother's Day Tribute

Daffodil Kiss ©1997 Kimberly Nyce

Long forgotten memories, once hidden from her sight,
Dance in rhythmic shadows, embracing dark and light.
A tiny bulb lies patient, anticipating birth,
Cradled in the womb of darkened mother earth.

Nourished by a mother’s breast, the sweetness of its flow,
Feeding tender shoots in hopes that they will grow.

The time arrives, as the gentle wind whispers softly in her ear.
Arise, Awaken 'Lil Daffodil, Spring is here!
In praise, her body arches upwards reaching for the light,
Released from her mother’s womb, she has blossomed through the night.

Her amber chiffon bonnet pulled gently round her face,
Floats amidst a sea of bows and ivory satin lace.
Her head bowed prayerfully, lies gently against her breast.
Quietly she slumbers, her thoughts now laid to rest.

The Zephyr wind blows softly, sending love your way,
From your ‘lil Daffodil on this Mother’s Day.

* Poem written for my Mom on Mother's Day, 1997.
Image taken in downtown Wickford, RI

One-of-a-Kind

From whose lips would you long to hear these words whispered?
...from a loved one, a friend, a spouse, a lover, a parent?

How would it feel to know that...YOU matter in this world to someone; YOUR presence is appreciated; YOU carry weight in this world?

I've waited for friends and family to utter these words. Always a part of me hopes that somehow these words will satisfy my insatiable hunger and thirst for love. They never do satisfy me completely. The words spoken seem to fall short of my heart's grasp. I am left hungering for more. My expectations soar beyond reasonable limits...always just out of reach, out of sight...missing the obvious that surrounds me.

God showers his love upon me daily. He whispers His Love for me in simple gestures - a butterfly lighting upon a flower; the stranger who smiles and nods as I pass by; the heart rocks that I stumble upon; the warm breeze caressing my cheek; the moon casting its light to guide and direct me home; a unexpected phone call or card from a friend or family member; the kindness of a stranger; the answered or unanswered prayer that turns out to be a blessing...the list is endless. When I awaken to these subtle messages around me, I realize just how much I am loved.

God's love always satisfies me...His grace fills me to overflowing. Patiently, I await those precious moments when I feel His presence washing over me.

His sweet nectar, poured out freely, nourishes my spirit, beckoning me forth to blossom into full Glory.

“I have loved you with an everlasting love; therefore, I have drawn you with loving-kindness.” (Jeremiah 31:3)

Know you are...LOVED!

©2008 Kimberly Nyce - Writings from the Chrysalis Collection
Original photograph taken at Mount Auburn Cemetery, Cambridge, MA. Watercolor effect applied to image.

When was your first time?

Window to the Soul ©1996 Kimberly Nyce

In an effort to arouse my (dormant? reluctant? sleeping? MIA?) creative muse within, I've decided to explore the roots of my beginnings as an artist. This, I hope will remind me of my true calling and personal vision...the one that fuels my desire and passion. It's an insistent internal urging which calls me forward...that desire to encourage and support others in awakening to the beauty of God's creation, both internally and externally.

The image pictured above is one that I consider to be the image that catapulted me into my life as an artist. I think I was born with artistic vision, though it wasn't something that I discovered until much later in life.

Several years ago, I enrolled in a writing course at Lesley University. One assignment asked us to write a paper about a momentus occasion in our lives. I thought back a few years to that trip to New Mexico.Yes, that one! An intense 2 week road trip that eventually led to a transformation of my spirit, and ultimately changed me forever. I've included an excerpt from this paper (unedited) to give voice to that 'budding' artist within...

"...The first time I truly felt like an artist was during an afternoon in Santa Fe, New Mexico, August 1996. The day I ventured out to explore Santa Fe's artist communities, I stepped into my own light. I felt confident and alive. I was walking along Canyon Road, a haven for artists. Confidently, I strode through the adobe-lined streets connecting Canyon Road. The mystical charm and the muted earth tones of the hills and plains seeped into my pores and filled me with a sense of overwhelming peace. I slipped the black nylon strap of my camera across my shoulder. The weight of the green canvas bag, resting against my side, felt substantial and self-assuring. Nestled safely inside, lay my Pentax PT 30 camera, an extension of my eyes and soul. In the adjoining compartment, standing upright was a 70/200 zoom lens capped on both ends to protect and shield the lens. With this I could see the most amazing details or capture the sweeping expanse of the desert hills.

I wandered down a side street and my eye caught sight of a small window box tucked quietly inside the entrance wall of an artist's studio. Like a cresting wave, a sense of authority surged within me. My body assuredly stepped backwards, arms cocked at the elbows, head bent forward and camera tilted sideways as I sized up the image within the small frame of my camera. My thoughts flowed and my body swayed, as I intuitively knew this was a great picture. Pride swept through me and a humbled silence fanned in its wake. I couldn't explain in words what had happened but my soul had been transformed in an instance. All those years of searching for meaning and my "gift" were lost in an eternal moment of joy, as I became myself.

My palms, once slick with insecurity, reached for awakened dreams with a firm resolve. When I looked through the lens of my camera, each picture that emerged reflected my soul. My heart opened up and my mind's thoughts ceased their incessant chatter. A stillness replaced the noise and I felt my awareness slip into my heart. I was seeing for the first time. I had been awakened to another realm. The world seemed to reveal its beauty and grace to me. Nature became alive to me and I felt a soul connection."...

Reach Higher

When you need a little inspiration or motivation in your life to go after your dreams...turn up the volume, lift your arms higher and reach for the stars as you listen to this song by Gloria Estafan...

Underneath the Glacial Mask...

Layers of darkness obscure the truth and the light burning brightly within me - a well chosen smile deceptively worn to hide my fear or insecurity or an an icy glare and hardened heart worn as protective gear in the games of life. What would be revealed if I allowed my well-worn masks of pretense to melt away in the Light of Truth? In those rare moments, when the masks falls away and I'm left with myself...raw, vulnerable and real...what then, would you see?

Do you glimpse the 'real me'? The woman with laughing eyes and a Chesire grin; a lonely soul who seeks solitude and beauty in nature; a timid and insecure woman on the brink of becoming herself; a strong, courageous warrior willing to face life's challenges; a strong-willed rebellious forty two-year old having a temper tantrum; a student of the spiritual life; All of these and more represent some aspect of myself. Despite the darkness, though, a pure joy and radiance exists...underlying it all. At the very core, flowing deeply within, the joy and pure essence of God's love is there. I feel it pulsing...expanding within me or contracting depending on how open I am to life. When I peel away the fears and lies, I'm left with the Truth.

What's under your mask?

Image taken on a cool winter's day at Walden Pond, Concord, MA.

Seeing Through Kaleidoscope Eyes

These images were created with Kaleidoscope software (Photoechoes.com) using my original photographs of nature as seen on this website.

Kaleidoscope: Changing Perspectives

Unity of the Spirit*

Unity of Women*

Have you ever looked through a Kaleidoscope? When I was a kid, peering at life through this magical tube offered hours of entertainment. Whole new worlds of color, light and patterns came into view. With a quick twist or turn of the tube, the images changed and transformed into new perspectives.

Life often resembles a Kaleidoscope...with its multitude of experiences constantly changing and evolving with each twist and turn along our sojourn through this world. How we perceive these experiences (positively or negatively) depends upon whether we view these experiences with 'Light' or in darkness.
"The Lord will be your everlasting light" (Isaiah 60:19)

Again Jesus spoke to them, saying, "I am the light of the world; he who follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life." (John 8:12)


*Note: The image (Unity of the Spirit) was created from the photograph (Unity of Women, 1997) using Kaleidoscope software from Photoechoes.com.

Lean on Him

Why is it so difficult to let go of what I want, what I think I need, what is best for me and to completely and unreservedly surrender to God's will in my life?

Maybe, because I think I know better than God what's best for my life? No...I've disproved that theory too many times to know it's not true.

Why then? Well...it's simply FEAR.

I've spent a good part of my life making my own decisions, determining what's best for me, pursuing relationships, jobs and that next 'thing' that will satisfy that place inside me that longs for relief, comfort, hope, excitement...

Now, I'm asked to surrender 'My' will to God's will. My fears rise up in mutiny at the thought of letting go of the 'reigns' of my life and allowing God's will to guide me. How many times have I told myself, "I can handle it myself or if I only get what I want, then I'll be happy"?

If I'm honest with myself, when I reflect back on 'my decisions' (especially the ones where I didn't consult God) the results usually ended in disaster. I'll admit that I'm predisposed to selfishness. Who doesn't enjoy the rush of Immediate gratification when we get what we 'think' we want? On the flip side, however, when I don't get what I want, I tend to pout, sulk and blame God for his lack of timing, unfairness and any other blame I put on Him.

I don't like to WAIT for His will to play out in my life...especially when it comes to relationships, jobs, friends, creative pursuits, family...basically, any area of my life.

God's will for me isn't always easy to understand or accept at times. It's often frustrating, exasperating, baffling and confusing. Though, to God, His will is perfect for me. My mind doesn't see the whole picture...the intricate plans woven through time that unfold daily. When I look back over my life, it's easier to see the 'big' picture, the view from God's eyes.

What is needed if I want to be at peace with His will and not My will?

When I learn to be open and willing to believe that God's will is always so much better for me than my feeble attempts, then I am more able to let go and trust in Him.

Proverbs 3:5-6
"Trust in the LORD with all your heart,
And lean not on your own understanding.
In all your ways acknowledge Him,
And He will make your paths straight." (NIV)

"Trust GOD from the bottom of your heart;
don't try to figure out everything on your own.
Listen for GOD'S voice in everything you do,
everywhere you go; he's the one who will keep
you on track." (MSG)

Becoming a Butterfly

God's power to transform our lives from the inside out is not only visible in outward appearance. More importantly, our hearts and minds are renewed and transformed at a very deep level.

When I'm ready and willing to change, the first thing I must be willing to release is all that I think and believe that I am. Letting go of the old self is required for a new life. Am I willing to let go and trust God to transform me into a new creature? God's design for our lives is always perfect. Trust and let go!All that I was, All that I am and All that I am to become...I will surrender to Him. Lord, create in me a pure and clean heart that lives for you. Let all that I do be a reflection of your Divine love and grace. Let your light shine through me that others may see your Glory.

Transformation of the Butterfly

SHE HAD ME AT MOO

Spiritual Transformation

Butterfly: The Mysteries of Transformation
[a short video presented by Humanity Healing Foundation]





----------------------------------------------------------------------------


*If you landed on my site looking for more detailed information about the phases of a butterfly, check out these links:

The Glorious Butterfly
[site includes information on raising monarch butterflies, videos of butterfly metamorphosis, christian perspective of transformation process, stories and images of butterflies, lesson plans for kindergarten and pre-schoolers]

Butterfly emerging from the chrysalis
[site includes slide show of complete metamorphosis of the butterfly]

Picturing God Through His Creation
[blog includes images of the metamorphosis of a butterfly; offers a Christian perspective on transformation]

The Butterfly Site
[#1 site for the most complete and current Butterfly information; includes biology, pictures, links and more]

The Children's Butterfly Site[site includes information, photos of life cycle of butterflies; links to Butterfly and Moth resources on the web; translations available in Français, Deutsch, Español,Italiano, Nederlands]

Butterfly Sites on the Web
[this site includes a list of resources on the web with full description of websites]

God Doesn't Shout

God wants to speak to me. I'm often too busy to really listen. It's difficult to hear His still small voice speaking to me when my world is full of noise and distraction (internal and external). It is only when I begin to turn off the sounds (turn off the radio, turn off the cell phone, turn off the computer...) that my mind begins to slow down. The internal voices drift off and I am left with the pure sound of silence. I pray that my heart and mind will be open to hear God's calling.

"Silence is the first language of God; all else is a poor translation." ~ Thomas Merton

He said: "Go out and stand on the mountain before the Lord,for the Lord is about to pass by." Now there was a great wind,so strong that it was splitting mountains and breaking rocks in pieces before the Lord, but the Lord was not in the wind; and after the wind an earthquake, but the Lord was not in the earthquake, and after the earthquake a fire, but the Lord was not in the fire; and after the fire a sound of sheer silence—and then there came a voice to him that said, "What are you doing here Elijah?" —I Kings: 19:11-13

Crooked or Straight?

"The man of integrity walks securely, but he who takes crooked paths will be found out." ~ Proverbs 10:9

In·teg·ri·ty
Pronunciation: \in-ˈte-grə-tē\

1. firm adherence to a code of especially moral or artistic values
2. an unimpaired condition; soundness
3. the quality or state of being complete or undivided (wholeness)

Integrity Self-Assessment:

• Am I living in alignment with God's will? or am I living according to my selfish desires?
• Do my actions match my words, or do I say one thing and do another?
• Am I the same person in all areas of my life or do I say and do things to adapt to whatever group I am with?
• Do I keep my commitments and my word or do I make empty promises and excuses?
• Am I truly being honest with God about all my thoughts, actions and behaviors... the ones that I don't really want to share with anyone (especially God)... the thoughts of lust, self-righteous anger, jealousy, judgment or resentment?
  

LORD, I pray that when I start to walk down the wrong path and stray from what I know is right (which I often do) that you will guide me back with a firm and gentle hand.

Image taken at Mount Auburn Cemetery, Cambridge, MA