Some of my happiest memories we have shared as a family have been spent outdoors. Every year we make the 14 hour drive from our home in Peoria, Arizona to Carmel to visit my parents who have been living there since 1989. The central coast of California provides many opportunities to appreciate and photograph the beauty of the natural world. I will be writing a series of blogs about exploring the Monterey Peninsula beginning with the Coast Guard Pier in Monterey.
A walk along the Coast Guard Pier in Monterey offers wonderful views of wildlife, the shoreline, and the harbor. I love to watch the sea lions that gather on the rocks surrounding the pier. Whether they are animated and calling out to one-off my another or sitting in quiet repose, there are plenty of camera worthy moments.
Two of the poems included in our book, The Restorative Power of Spirit: Poems of Faith and Hope, were inspired by photographs taken of sea lions resting by the pier. Photography and writing both allow me to truly appreciate and celebrate the beauty and artistry of all living beings.
In addition to sea lions, on any given day you may discover sea otters enjoying a meal, a starfish resting just below the water’s surface and/or crabs inching along the rocks.
To find out more about visiting the Coast Guard Pier in Monterey click on the following link: http://monterey.org/Services/Harbor-and-Marina/Coast-Guard-Pier.
To see more images from Monterey and the central coast, I invite you to visit our portfolio at Bigstock:
https://www.bigstockphoto.com/search/contributor=SILVERBROOK+IMAGES&safesearch=n
Be sure to check back in next time when I will be visiting Pacific Grove!
Also, coming soon-the launch of our new online shop on Shopify.com- SILVERBROOK IMAGES: experiencing life one picture at a time.
Wishing you a wonderful day and safe travels!
Sheryl Brooks
Once there was the promise of you-
and now in the blink of an eye
I went from holding you in my arms
a few minutes old
to standing beside you-
13 years old.
The journey that has brought us from then to now
has been one of unexpected detours
and changes in direction.
Not following the expected course-
we’re learning together.
Shared steps on an altered path
I treasure every moment-
knowing that I was meant to be your mom.
Wishing all moms a very happy Mother’s Day!
Blessings,
Sheryl Brooks
My mother-in-law’s dog, Ziggy, came into our lives shortly before my father-in-law went into the hospital. My mother-in-law had taken our son, Alex, who was 6 at the time, to the local Humane Society to donate some old bedding to be used in the kennels. They walked through the aisles of cats and dogs. Normally, they would just walk through and leave, but this time it was different. It was love at first sight. My son spotted Ziggy, an older female cocker spaniel and basset hound mix, and wouldn’t leave her side. One of the volunteers said she needed to be taken outside, so they accompanied her outside and it was as if Alex and Ziggy had always known each other. My in-laws have always been animal people, so when my mother-in-law called my father-in-law, he gave her the green light to bring Ziggy home. I do believe God brought Ziggy to us because within a few months after moving in with my in-laws, my father-in-law went into the hospital where he would remain until he died in December of that year. Ziggy was the loving presence my mother-in-law needed and a comfort to us all. Ziggy helped my son overcome his fear of dogs and became his devoted friend. The bond that existed between my son and Ziggy was one of pure magic.
The photo above was taken a few months before we had to say our goodbyes to Ziggy. She was with our family for 6 years. An older dog when my mother-in- law adopted her, we estimate she was about 18 years old when she had to be put to sleep. The night she passed, I was in a twilight state and as I started to drift off I suddenly could feel her soft ears and face in my hand. While still drifting I suddenly heard children calling her name. I like to believe that she had come to see me and would continue to be touching children’s lives even in Heaven.
Fast forward to almost a year later, and Ziggy has continued to hold a special place in our hearts and memories. She also finds ways of making her gentle presence known. I was at a park not too long ago and this dog came up to me. I started petting her and talking with her owner. To my great surprise, her owner said her name was Ziggy. When she rubbed her head against me, her owner said she would only do that for a small percentage of people. I felt love pour from her and tears started to well up in my eyes because I knew that this was our Ziggy letting me know that she was at peace and would always be with us.
If you have lost a beloved pet, know that their spirit will always be with you. You might even start to notice signs that they are close by. The love we share with our animals is a blessing and this bond will continue from this world to the next.
May the loving presence of Spirit be with you always.
Blessings,
Sheryl Brooks
I wish to extend my heartfelt appreciation to all of our veterans and to those brave men and women who continue to serve in our military. We have several members of our own family that were in the service, including my grandfather, Sam Silverman, who served during WWII and my father-in-law, Sid Brooks (seen here with my husband on our wedding day), who was in the Army. You both are in our memories and in our hearts. Thank you for your service.
I would like to take this opportunity to wish my mom, my mother-in-law, and all mothers a very happy Mother’s Day. Motherhood has brought a whole new dimension to my life and I feel very blessed to have the opportunity to watch my son grow and evolve into the person he was meant to be. He turned 11 this year and it feels like it was just yesterday that I held him in my arms as a newborn. The years that have followed since those first few moments together as mother and son in the hospital have been marked with both highs and lows; moments of joy interspersed with moments of “What did I get myself into?” The challenge of trying to juggle family life with work and now a book to promote can be daunting to say the least. However, I know that I’m not walking this journey alone. Along with my family, I know God is with me and his angels are there to answer my calls for help when needed. I often find myself venturing outside at sunset or in the early evening hours to look up at the stars and to quietly commune with God. I use this time to express my appreciation for all our blessings and to release any fears or doubts that I might have. These moments in nature provide me with comfort and allow me to quiet my mind long enough, so that I can fully experience God’s loving presence. At night, we say prayers as a family to thank God for all that we have and to ask for a peaceful night’s rest. Mother’s Day provides a wonderful opportunity to not only appreciate the special women in our lives, but to celebrate family.
The months that have passed since our last blog have been filled with work and family responsibilities, but we did find time to participate in another event, an arts and cultural festival for the City of Peoria. We had the opportunity to meet with many wonderful people and we look forward to participating in many more events in the future, both close to home and throughout our beautiful state.
Happy Mother’s Day and Blessings Until We Meet Again!
Sincerely,
Sheryl Brooks
Photo taken in Monterey, CA