Category: my photos

Still growing


Normally Sara lived to hike, but lately she had trouble just getting herself out of bed.

So when her boyfriend kept trying to drag her along on this hike, she wasn’t sure she wanted to go. He seemed so eager for her to come along though, so finally she relented.

Her sadness continued along the path through the park, though she still tried to smile since her boyfriend seemed to be having a good time.

Then she spotted something in the rocks and bent down, and she did something she hadn’t done on a long time. She genuinely smiled. Somehow that little flower growing out of this rock gave her hope. If this flower wouldn’t quit growing, neither would she.

Peace and quiet


“It’s so quiet here. Allison? Don’t you think it’s quiet?”

Allison opened her eyes and glared down at her little sister. “It was before you started talking.”

Mandy frowned. “Why do you like just standing there with your eyes closed? That’s boring.”

“If it’s so boring to you, why don’t you go away?”

“Fine. I can find something a lot more fun than hanging around with you.” Mandy stomped away, hitting branches with every step.

Allison closed her eyes again, ready to finally have some peace and quiet. She loved just listening to the sounds of nature without anybody interrupting. 

“Jimmy! Look at this!”

Allison sighed. Someday people would leave her alone. Apparently that day was not today.

Bunk Beds


“Can you imagine sleeping in that bed?”

My sister and I were touring a history museum, and I had to admit, that bed didn’t look very comfortable.

“Do you remember that old bunk bed we used to sleep in?”

“Of course I do. How could I forget? You insisted on the top bunk, and I could never get any sleep.”

I frowned. “Why couldn’t you get any sleep?”

“Because that thing was creaky and you rolled around constantly.”

“Why didn’t you say anything to me?”

“I did. You told me you didn’t care.”

Oh. Maybe I wasn’t as nice of a sister as I thought I was growing up.

“Sorry,” I said. “I guess this kind of a late apology.”

“I suppose I can forgive you. Better late than never.”

Waterfall


“All that hiking, and this waterfall is just a trickle.”

I stared at my friend. Fine, there wasn’t a ton of water in this waterfall today, but it was still a lovely waterfall, and this canyon was so beautiful.

“Why are you always so negative?”

She shrugged. “You’re the one who likes hiking and waterfalls so much. I’m just along because you dragged me here.”

I sighed. I knew I needed to find better friends to hike with. In the meantime, I was fully planning to enjoy this hike and any waterfalls we might find, regardless.

A year later, I hiked to the waterfall with a friend I had made in a hiking club.

“Look at this! Isn’t this amazing?”

That was more like it.

The Lakehouse

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“I want to go back home!”

When they finally arrived at the lakehouse for the first time, the whole family was exhausted. The kids had been arguing the entire ride, and their navigation system sent them down a dead-end road. They were seriously discussing never coming back again.

Once they finally got unpacked and went out to the lake, though, everything changed. The lakehouse was small, but the lake itself was so blue and seemed to stretch on for miles. The kids couldn’t wait to swim, Mike wanted to go fishing, and Angela wanted to sit and relax, just watching the water.

“I need you to promise me something,” Angela said to Mike. “We will never give this place up, no matter what mood we’re in or how crazy our summer is.”

“Done,” Mike said.

Thirty years later, Angela and Mike were sitting together by the lake, watching their grandkids swimming in the water.

“Remember when we were about to give this place up?” Angela said.

“Nah, I think you’re making that up,” Mike said. “This is our home away from home. We never could have given this place up.”

Angela just smiled.

 

Something out there

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Annie Shaw relaxed and enjoyed the feeling of the sun beating down on her. The waves were gently washing onto the beach.

“Aren’t you going to go in the water, Annie?”

Annie stretched and looked at her little sister. Amy was 12 years younger than her, and it was hard for her to understand why someone would just lie there and soak up the sun when they could be splashing around in the waves.

“No, Amy, I’m getting a nice tan.”

“But that’s boring. I want to go swimming.”

Annie looked around, but she didn’t see their parents. Amy wasn’t allowed to go into the ocean by herself. Annie looked out into the water and watched the waves for a few moments.

She blinked. What was she seeing out there? She put her hand up to her forehead to shield her eyes from the sun and try to figure out what was out there? Could it be a shark? They were in Florida after all.

Amy was tugging on Annie’s sarong. “Annie, can I go swimming.”

“No, Amy, there’s something out there.” Annie was still trying to figure out what it was, but all she could see was something moving around. Maybe it was just a swimmer, but whatever it was looked so much bigger than a person.

“What is that?” Annie said to no one in particular as she walked toward the water. Amy was following behind her.

A scream made Annie jump and nearly fall over onto the beach. The scream was coming from the water. Now there were many screams and a great deal of splashing as people attempted to get out of the water.

Annie took Amy’s hand. “Amy, I think we better go.”

“What is it, Annie? Why are people screaming?”

Now Annie was swiftly walking away from the water and tugging her little sister along with her. “I don’t know, Amy, but I don’t’ think we should wait around to find out.”

Annie was trying to keep moving, but curiosity made her turn around to see if whatever it was was still behind them.

What she saw made her heart jump into her throat. People were continuing to run out of the water and up the beach, but it the creature that was lumbering through the water that made Annie’s jaw drop. Amy shrieked and grabbed onto her.

“Annie, what is that? Is that a monster?”

Annie didn’t believe in monsters, but she didn’t know what else to call it. It was at least 7 feet tall and gray with scales covering it from head to foot. It was looking around, and Annie found herself frozen for the moment with Amy beside her. The creature turned and stared right at her. It had bright yellow eyes. Annie wanted to run, but her legs felt like lead. There were screams and cries and people running all around here, but somehow they all sounded very distant.

Then the creature turned away from her and roared. It was like nothing Annie had ever heard before. It didn’t sound like a lion or a bear. It sounded almost unearthly.

Then, just like that, the creature turned and stomped back into the water, slowly disappearing under the waves. The water was now calm, as if some unheard-of creature hadn’t just emerged from it and terrorized a beach full of people.

“What was that, Annie? Is it really gone?” Amy asked, looking up at Annie with wide blue eyes.

Annie gave her sister a hug. The legs that had felt like lead moments ago were now able to move again. “I think it’s gone, Amy. Still, why don’t we find Mom and Dad and go home?”

Amy nodded. “Okay. I don’t want to swim anymore now.”