Photo courtesy of author
However you look at it, 2020 will be a memorable year. With all the sadness, I have to force myself to balance somber thoughts with ones filled with simple joy. I find that comfort through nature. All these pictures are views from our deck on the outskirts of Ann Arbor, Michigan. I am thankful to have a beautiful spot to hunker down as Covid-19 destroys life as we knew it.
No matter where we live, there’ll always be a sky. It never ceases to surprise and delight me.
I try to be conscious of my perspective. I can either choose to see darkness and despair or I can embrace the light. I will always celebrate the light. I hope you will too.
January
Photo courtesy of author
Sunsets are so beautiful that they almost seem as if we are looking through the gates of Heaven. ~ John Lubbock
This is one of my favorite pictures and an omen for what was coming in 2020. Everything is turned upside down and it’s easy to confuse what is real and what is merely a reflection.
February
Photo courtesy of author
With every sunset, a new hope is born, and an old expectation dies. ~ Noor Unnahar
In February, we fear our foundation may be cracking underneath us, but many of us looked on the bright side and felt the virus would not wreak havoc on our lives. Covid affected the world, but we must continue to focus on hope lest we get sucked under by the fears.
March
Photo courtesy of author
Nature is painting for us, day after day, pictures of infinite beauty if only we have the eyes to see them. ~ John Ruskin
In March, I don’t capture a beautiful sunset. Maybe I am focusing on the wrong things. When the world comes to a halt, I’m afraid I’m going to be flung off the earth. Everything feels off-kilter and askew. This picture of everything perfectly still stabilizes me.
April
Photo courtesy of author
Softly the evening came with the sunset. ~ Henry Wadsworth Longfellow
Trailings from two airplanes remind me life is still moving. While I don’t put any miles on my car or rack up any SkyMiles, the odometer in my head is spinning constantly as my mind works hard to understand that everything I knew has changed.
May
Photo courtesy of author
The water was glassy and calm, still candy colored in the afterglow of sunset. ~ Stephen King
The days are warming and tulips are blooming in Michigan. Gorgeous nights like this make me grateful for the things we still have and I worry less about what we are losing.
June
Photo courtesy of author
It is almost impossible to watch a sunset and not dream. ~ Ben Williams
As summer begins, I fantasize about what may be on the horizon. I pray it’s more glorious than we could ever imagine.
We eat outside whenever the weather permits and linger on the deck well into the evening. Fresh air, sun rays, and moonbeams combined make an intoxicating cocktail.
July
Photo courtesy of author
A sunrise or sunset can be ablaze with brilliance and arouse all the passion, all the yearning, in the soul of the beholder. ~ Mary Balogh
Sam and I are married July 3, 2020, in a small ceremony in our yard. We got creative to be able to have our closest friends and family surround us … safely at a distance. In days filled with forecasts of a bleak future, we choose to believe in each other and trust God. May the rest of our lives be filled with abundant sunshine and gentle rains.
August
Photo courtesy of author
Sunset is still my favorite color, and rainbow is second. ~ Mattie Stepanek
More than ever, I am in awe of nature’s beauty. I try to adhere images like this onto my mind and have faith there will be plenty of sunny tomorrows. We stay outdoors, soaking up the balmy days and cool evenings.
September
Photo courtesy of author
A sunset paints the sky as if there were no tomorrow. ~ Anthony T. Hincks
I am trying to learn to enjoy the present and not worry so much about what the future holds. This isn’t always easy for me, but instead of questioning, I am choosing to believe in the good. Life is unpredictable — that’s what makes it an exciting ride!
October
Photo courtesy of author
Enjoy the beauty of a sunset — nature’s farewell kiss for the night. ~ Sharon Rene
This year, we’ve lived a very simple life and I’m beginning to appreciate the lessons it’s taught us. No restaurant, club, or concert is needed to create a special evening. We do that on our own and we’ve discovered we are getting pretty darn good at making our time together meaningful and memorable.
Hopefully soon, we will stroll Ann Arbor's quaint shops and dine at our favorite restaurants. It will be like revisiting old friends.
November
Photo courtesy of author
When the sun has set, no candle can replace it. ~ George R. R. Martin
I learn we can give thanks with our loved ones in different ways than we are used to, and they are more heartfelt than ever. We join hearts from afar and eagerly await the day we can gather again. Our time with loved ones is precious and priceless.
December
Photo courtesy of author
Clouds come floating into my life, no longer to carry rain or usher storms, but to add color to my sunset sky. ~Robindranath Tagori
As the year comes to a close and the Christmas season ramps up, I am focused on the positives. I’m am a more grateful, appreciative, and spiritual person at the end of this year than I was at the beginning.
Our home is wrapped in lights we hung with care, but the brightest lights of all radiate from our hearts.
In reflection
As we begin March 2021, we mark a full year since the Covid lockdowns and restrictions began. Although I think back, I strive to continue looking forward, determined to search for the beauty in even the ugliest things.
May your world be full of fresh air and stunning sunsets. I hope you notice them all.
Comments / 0