Always In My Heart

I realized I never shared this nonfiction short work on my blogs about the experience of losing my first love my daughter. Please go to this link: Always In My Heart. In order to read my story and see how I decided not to let this loss define how I lived my life.  This may be especially helpful to those dealing with a miscarriage right now in their lives, or for anyone who ever has felt the pain of losing a child.  I urge you to read this short work to find some semblance of solace. Know that your rainbow exists, it’s just a little further down your life’s path than you expected.

Wishing you happiness!

Rainbows of Happiness LLC

Best Friends From the Start!

          Jaime and I in kindergarten!

I met my best friend Jaime over thirty years ago on the first day of kindergarten!  I had been worried about making new friends on my first day of school so I had asked my mother how I should make friends.  She told me to simply be a friendly person and go up to other children saying, “Hi my name is Jennifer, do you want to be friends?”

Being five, I took her words very literally, and when I entered school on that first day of kindergarten, I approached a tiny fellow classmate with the longest hair I had ever seen and said those exact words my mother had instructed me to say in hopes she would be my new friend.  It worked! My mom was right! Alli had to do to make friends was to be friendly and smile! Little did I know that introducing myself to this long haired little girl was the best thing I could have done! We became best friends immediately and still are to this very day!

I believe the reason Jaime and I are still best friends today despite living in separate states, is because we have always been there for one another.  As children our relationship stayed strong because we always got along, liked similar things, yet we didn’t have the exact same personality.  We were different just enough, that it allowed us to revel in each other’s uniqueness, bringing out the best in one another.  Jaime is a talented artist, I can’t draw to save my life! I loved reading constantly, which has helped me to become a detailed writer.  We both love animals, rainbows, dragonflies and butterflies, and taking photographs.  As the years passed, our friendship moved beyond the realm of being best friends, and we became like family.  We still refer to each other’s mothers as “mom #2”.  We have never fought over anything, and continue to this day to discover new dynamics in our friendship.

Our friendship has been strengthened over the years due to a mutual respect for one another.  We support each other in all we do, cheering each other on, applauding achievements accomplished, consoling the other when life throws us an unexpected curveball that results in sad outcomes, and even if we have been apart for long periods of time, we are able to pick up right where we last left off!  We stay in touch through texts, use the various social media platforms to stay abreast of what is happening in each other’s lives, and take turns writing handwritten letters that we mail (so rare in this technology driven world) to each other.  The reason we are able to still be best friends, despite living in separate states is we take the time to care about what is happening in each other’s lives!  That is the key to keeping a lasting friendship going.

Some of you may know the rhyme “Make new friends but keep the old, one is silver and the others gold”, well Jaime is my golden friend for life!

Jaime and I on the last day of high school!

Daily Post Prompt Strong

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Circle or “Halo” Rainbow Captured!

A perfect circle or “halo” rainbow with sun and rays in the dead center to enhance it!

Being one extremely interested in rainbows and their meanings, I had read some time ago that rainbow arcs we usually see in the sky are actually part of a rainbow.  A rainbow is actually a circle! Well this was a new one on me! Then yesterday as I photographed the sun around noonish, I noticed rainbow colors slightly above the sun’s extended rays.  I stepped back to attempt to capture it and that’s when I realized I was staring at a humongous circle rainbow with the sun dead in the center of it! I kept backing up trying to captured this rare phenomenon, for me at least it was, all the while staring awe- struck  at the sheer size of it! It was directly over my house and backyard!

This shows the sheer size of the halo rainbow before I started backing up to capture it all!

Later I went in to review my photos and was thrilled to have captured this magical work of nature fully in several photos.  Being the type of person who has to know the meaning/symbolism behind occurrences, I looked up circle rainbows. I loved the name “halo” rainbow because it seems to symbolize angels and to me this halo rainbow symbolized the uniting of all the many people my families have lost coming together as one to tell me they are okay up there!  It made my heart and soul feel warm and happy to make this connection. 

I tried to capture different angles of the sun in the halo rainbow.

Now of course I know that these rare rainbows are created from ice crystals being hit by sunlight, but as I go out several times a day every day to photograph the natural world around me, why haven’t I seen one sooner? Why was it that when I was feeling extremely low in my life and had beseechingly been asking for a rainbow the day prior that all of a sudden out of the blue, I get to witness the most amazing type of rainbow imaginable? Someone up there knew I was in need of a special sign.  This rainbow was it.  I spent the rest of the day floating on air feeling so much better about life!  I see this rainbow as a magnificent gift from above! Think what you will about its sudden appearance, but for me it came at a time I needed it the most!

See the rainbow colors running along the top of this circle rainbow?

Here the sun even looks like a star in the center!

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Rainbow Visions

A good friend of mine who knows my penchant for loving rainbows sent me this fabulous shot of a rainbow clearly viewed through the fountain.  I love it and I really love the magical appearance of rainbows at the most unexpected times!  This week on on my site on Google+ called Weekly Wed Photo Word Association Challenge the theme happens to be rainbows so I thought this was the perfect post to share! The formation of those seven bright colors just brings happiness to my heart! One of my favorite songs about rainbows is Rainbow Connection.  The first line says “why are there so many songs about rainbows?”  So this got me to thinking of other songs about rainbows whether in the title or in the song itself.  I started to make a list but didn’t get too far so now I ask you fellow bloggers can you add to my list of rainbow songs?
Songs About Rainbows
1.Somewhere Over the Rainbow
2.Sunshine Lollipops Rainbows
3.True Colors
4. Rainbow by Mariah Carey
5.
I’m sure I’m leaving out tons of rainbow songs but my mind is blank!
Here are some recent rainbow shimmer captures to give you all inspiration!

Here’s the real thing!

Have a fabulous day my friends! 🙂

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Phoneography Monday Challenge Nature

One of my favorite things to photograph in nature is the sun.  The sun’s trajectories can be magnificent to capture especially when they have rainbows entwined throughout them!  The sun is a mystery of nature, appearing large and radiant at times, hiding within the clouds exuding color into the cloud cover at other times.  No matter how it appears through the lens, it is always magnificent!

Another thing I enjoy photographing in nature is the migration of birds overhead.  I was especially lucky to be outside when the air was blanketed with blackbirds!

Finally, my favorite thing to photograph in nature due to the amazing natural colors it creates is the sky, especially at sunset! Captures of the sky through the lens are a magnificent sight!

So there are some lovely nature photography captures for you all to peruse! Remember beauty is all around us, we just have to keep our eyes open to it!  Have a wonderful day! 🙂

 

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Weekly Photo Challenge-Object

Rainbows Everywhere!!

My object I fondly refer to as my rainbow maker!  My best friend gave it to me this past Christmas since she knew of my love for rainbows!  The object pictured contains a mini solar panel on top, which when powered by sunlight causes the colorful gears in the circle to move.  The moving gears cause the dangling crystal to rotatate, resulting in rainbows being visible throughout the whole room!  I was skeptical if it would really work when I first hung it in my bedroom window, but the next morning I awoke to a room bathed in rainbows! It was so pleasant to wake up like this, everyone who loves rainbows should have a rainbow maker of their own to enjoy those seven fabulous colors seen when a rainbow appears!  Something about the sight of a mini rainbow in my room just fills me with joy, making the day ahead seem full of endless possibilities to achieve! 

Some rainbows created by my rainbow maker! 🙂
Weekly Photo Challenge-Object

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Daily Prompt Friends

My BFF For Life!

I am a firm believe that we don’t just encounter people in our life randomly, they are sent to us for a purpose. This is truly the case for my best friend Jaime and myself. We met on the first day of kindergarten when we were five years old, and have been inseparable ever since! (I won’t say how long we’ve been BFF’s to protect our ageless beauty ;), but trust me its been awhile!) She is the most generous, loving, giving, person I have ever met! She doesn’t think twice about helping out another person and would give you the shirt off her back if you needed it! Over the years, our friendship has grown and blossomed making her feel more like the sister I never had, as opposed to just a friend. We have been there for each other for the good times and bad. Weddings, funerals, birthdays, holidays, you name it! The support she has shown me over the years only continues to grow. Even though we live in different states, whenever we get together, we pick up right where we left off! I feel she epitomizes the qualities of a true friend, someone who isn’t there only for the good moments in life, but for the not so good ones too! We have seen each other at our worst times and she always knows just what to say to make me feel better. I hope I do the same for her as well! She has a heart of gold, and this can be seen in how she treats her students and her pets, as well as in her treatment of other individuals. Though we have been friends for many many years, we have never once been in a fight! Honestly! We just have fun together and are there cheering each other on through life’s little and big achievements! I love her like a sister and she is truly the best friend a girl could ask for! She’s a lover of rainbows, dragonflies, and butterflies just like me. She is a dreamer, creative (you should see her paint Tweety Bird on her own nails!), and I don’t think I could ever say enough to describe the truly magnificent individual that she embodies! If you have a friend that you can always count on, that supports you, and accepts you for the person you are no matter what happens in life, treasure that person and that friendship. This is a unique, wonderful gift to find in life. If you are able to have one true, honest to goodness friend in life, never take that or them for granted! I was given a great gift the day I met my BFF, my sister for life, and I am so thankful to have her in my life!

Look to the Sky for Inspiration!

Ah, the sky! Both mysterious and wonderous in its ability to create natural beauty.  It has been said that if you take in the calming blue hues seen above, your mood improves.  I feel this is definitely possible.  But when the sun starts to set, creating a kaleidoscope affect of color, that’s when I feel the sky truly comes alive!! As a photographer, we are trained to look for those moments of beauty in nature, ones that are so magnificent, you’re left awestruck.  The extraordinary ability of the sky to create displays of color, unique cloud formations, and the manner in which the sun shoots trajectories of light down to Earth make it one of my favorite natural phenomenon to photograph.  Enjoy the inspiration resulting from the brillance of the sky!!

#skyphotography #kaleidoscopeofcolors #sunsetphotography #landscapephotography #inspirationalimages #naturephotography

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Darkened Sunshine

Darkened Sunshine
By Jennifer L Roche

Once bright in appearance, now hue has diminished,
clouds dense like fog, envelope the sky.
No glimmer of light can invade these fluffy giants,
consuming all that stands in their path.
No thin ray of sunshine,
can penetrate this solid wall.
Try though it may, sun appears unable to permeate this barrier,
a dominating obstacle, overtaking the world above.
Sun refuses to concede to defeat, pushing repeatedly at its oppressor,
begrudgingly, dark clouds give way to the persistant attitude, that refuses to back down.
Emerging briefly, victorious in battle,
is the circular shaped winner, towering over the Earth.
Its glow creates a rainbow of colors,
visible through the dark void overhead.
Proof positive that insistance,
vanquishes darkness, creating victory. Constantly battling to maintain its rightful position,
this golden orb inspires within oneself, the yearning to fight for happiness in life!

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The Reason for Rainbows! Daily Prompt-Colors

     The daily prompt today couldn’t be more tailored to my personality.  It says to show colors.  The post written about colors must incorporate every color found in the rainbow.  Well hold onto you hats fellow bloggers, because photographing rainbows and researching their meaning is my specialty!
     The rainbow is one of mankinds’ oldest known symbols of hope and eternal life.  This arc of colors is the product of perfect harmony within the vibrant shades. Beginning with a passionate red, then fading seamlessly into each different color until reaching its end in a deep purple. The seven colors of the rainbow mirror the seven chakras found in the human body.  Each color in the rainbow is associated with a different chakra and has its own unique meaning. Whether you choose to believe in the power and the energy produced from the rainbow’s individual colors is your choice.  I personally feel that the magnificence created by the formation of a rainbow is something to take notice of!  It has been said  the violet/purple shade seen in the rainbow can be linked to our crown chakra, and offers spiritual power. The indigo shade is associated with the human mid-brow chakra eliciting third eye intuition.  The blue coloring  is symbolic of the throat chakra, creating inspiration.  Green represents our heart chakra, creating will and feeling.  Yellow links to our solar chakra and thus links to our mind. Orange is attached to the spleen chakra, aiding in digestion and personal sociability.  Finally, that vibrant red topping the rainbow, is connected to the human root chakra, providing us with spirituality, ability to take action, and our vitality for life!  There is more to the 7 colors in the rainbow’s arc than you realized!
     I personally feel that the rainbow serves as a link between Earth and sky, uniting us with those loved ones above that have passed on.  When I see a rainbow, they tend to appear at moments in my life when I am in need of personal reassurance, or feeling extremely low.  Therefore, I feel these vibrant colors serve as a symbol from our loved ones passed to reassure us that all will be well, and to continue to persevere in life.  The rainbow appears to serve as a promise that there is still hope to be found even in the toughest of times.  A magnificent gift of nature found in an arc of colors, letting us know our lost loved ones are never far away.  They are always watching over us from above.  The rainbow with its seven glorious colors of red, orange, yellow, green, blue, indigo, and violet/purple, is a visual reminder to be grateful for nature’s beauty, present throughout our world. A beautiful sign to remind us to be thankful for all the things present in our lives! 🙂

Daily Post Roy G Biv-colors
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