Still shaking my head

Almost a year has past since "the incident"... or incidents... I am not real sure. To be honest I have no idea what really caused the conflict between me and one of my sisters, but the truth is she banned me and my family from her life and her children's life. I do know at one point she was down right rude and mean to my oldest daughter. And as a mother and the oldest sister... I called her out! I also know she doesn't like not getting her way- hmm, well I have learned in life sometimes you don't. When you don't get your way, it stinks, but that is life. It doesn't mean you shut the door on people and God forbid you treat them like the enemy. Speaking of God...
This has been a very big sticking point... my blog... my words! If a person is religious and makes statements and is very big about something, that is great! I am all for it, I welcome it! Be true to your convictions though. You can not tell me about your deep religious beliefs (something I am very familiar with) and then treat people the way you do, act the way you do, and say the things you say. God's forgiveness is far more understanding and seems to be within reason. I lack the understanding sometimes how "God fearing" people select to follow different paths that what God instructs them to do. But I am not a judge, nor is it my place. Thus I continue to not understand and shake my head.
I do know that there are 4 small children that a sweet innocent babies that have no idea what "banned" means. Unlike my oldest daughter and my son who felt it personality. Feelings get hurt, and while I TEACH forgiveness even when it doesn't seem right. I tell my children often people act before they think and that often once they think they don't know how to act...
It's been almost a year... and still I shake my head because being banned just didn't seem a warranted action. But if that is how it is to be... that is very very sad...

perspectives

I once was told life was all about how you look at things- the perspective. My grandfather always taught me that true beauty wasn't about capturing a photo from the best angle, using the best lighting, or having the best equipment- it was the perspective. There is a photo in my parents house of the Statue of Liberty taken as though she is simply going for a walk, another photo of a now "famous to some" Pegasus with smoke billowing around it just so slightly- these photos never won anything, but every time I see them in my heart I remember his words- "when you take pictures, if its clouds (he loved the sky) or people you have to remember to capture the meaning and purpose of the moment in the click, because in that moment it will be forever frozen in time". He would tell me these little lessons while we developed pictures in the dark room, and I can't help but think of him as we have reached the digital age and it is SO easy to take 900 photos- he would develop 12 maybe 24. As I look through my lens I have a new found perspective...  I am so grateful and blessed for the life that was hand picked for me!

Love and miss you Grandpa Sam thank you for your wisdom! I hope this picture is one we would have printed together!!!