A thoughtful essay by John Scalzi.

Safe distance, originally uploaded by Ron Dauphin.

An Amish family visits Dundee Falls. The younger children were barefoot but not allowed to dip their feet in the water. Dad held tightly to the youngest boy and made sure they all stayed at a safe distance from us and from the water.  As we were leaving, they piled into a Chrysler minivan with a rented driver.

I love this picture for it’s watercolor look.

I’m thankful for my own mother who has taught me much about Christian charity; for my sister who, with no children of her own, has dedicated her life to loving the children God places around her.  There are grandmothers who have been wonderful role models for me, and other women who have been like mothers to me. What a gift they are!

Mothers, of course, come in all flavors…some by grace, some by love.  I’m very mindful of mothers who sacrifice to make life better for their children.  Then there are mothers, like this one, whose hearts are so open that they welcome other children into their hearts and homes.

[link via Rod Dreher]

floats like a butterfly, originally uploaded by Ron Dauphin.

]]> http://rondauphin.com/2010/05/03/spring-has-sprung/feed/ 0 http://rondauphin.com/2009/12/16/a-french-quarter-courtyard/ http://rondauphin.com/2009/12/16/a-french-quarter-courtyard/#comments Thu, 17 Dec 2009 03:33:57 +0000 Ron Dauphin http://rondauphin.com/?p=552 From my recent visit back home.

More photos on my Flickr page.

ladybug on the apple tree, originally uploaded by Ron Dauphin.

Fall has special charms. A ladybug basks in the sunlight on the church’s front lawn apple tree.

Kuroshio Sea – 2nd largest aquarium tank in the world – (song is “Please Don’t Go” by Barcelona) from Jon Rawlinson on Vimeo.

Click the “four arrows” to view it full-screen.

St. Mary Magdalene Russian Orthodox Church, Jerusalem

Click photo to enlarge.

The moon shines in the morning light in the desert near Jericho