What are the odds?

What are the odds, that we pray for rain all spring and summer, only to get nothing.  Nada, ziltch, not a drop, absolutely nuttin. We arrive at our fall season, continuing to pray for rain and what do we get?  Nuttin', unless it's a day that I want to take the fam out to get a family pic, lol!!!!  I want that elusive, glorious golden hour but it just ain't happenin' with the cloudiness we've had lately.

The great thing about it though... this is cocoa drinkin' weather and that my friends, is a glorious thing!  We don't normally get to wear sweaters here until January 31st and we pack them back up around Feb 2, haha!  It actually feels like Christmas here in the hill country :)  Enjoy whatever weather you are having today, give glory to God for it ALL!  Oh, and have some cocoa with the fam and don't take ANYTHING for granted, we have a lot to be thankful for!

Has it been so long?

I can't believe it's been so long since I've blogged!

I figured it was time for an update :)  Hunny is doing well I am happy to report.  It was a long 5 day stint in the hospital with severe reactions to meds :(  He went cold turkey when we got home, had a few challenges, but he's moving along.  We just had his two week, post-op, appointment and doc gave a big thumbs up!

The walking program consists of starting with 10 minutes a day.  We walked some today and he's sooo sore!  We will start with 5 minutes tomorrow I think.  By the time his  next appointment is here, a month away, he is to be walking 30 minutes every day.  Even if it's 15 in the morning and 15 in the evening.  Hard to believe that it's that slow, huh?  It's going to take time I guess.

One thing I have to confess too.... I was prepared to get very frustrated having to care for a grown man.  I can't tell you how AMAZING our God is!  I have found an even GREATER love for my husband than I had before :D  Isn't God FANTASTIC?!?!

There is always hope, peace and joy.  In every situation, a silver lining.  I pray this blog finds you seeking that out in whatever you may be facing this very minute.

Forgiveness, Peace and Overwhelming Joy.....

It's funny sometimes.  God does something in our lives and then tells us to hold on to it.  I guess He is telling me that now is the time to share...  :)

Last year, our spring proffered up a kaleidoscope of color!  It was the most stunning, most cataclysmic display I have EVER been witness too.  "Amazing" just doesn't cut it. I've longed for that this year.  With lack of rain, our Hill Country has suffered greatly.  Along with photographers :(  Sometime again soon I hope, VERY soon is my prayer.

I was out shooting one crisp, fresh, cool afternoon (these are a dime a dozen out here!) while waiting for my daughter's meeting to finish before I picked her up from school.  I was blessed to have another "photog walk with God".  I love those.  I miss them.  I need to go again.

I had been struggling with some serious, heart-wrenching, life-breaking, tear-weeping issues for the last year and didn't know how I was going to pull through.  I had lost my best friend.  Not through literal death mind you, but through the lies and pain the enemy plots to inflict upon those that love the Lord.  We were intertwined she and I.  Inseparable.  Sisters.  Even our families had seemed to morph into one.  What a joy it was to be together!  All the time.  I know now that God used this to prepare both of us, well.... all of us for what was to come.  Different paths.  Different directions.  But the pain, the horrible, gut-wrenching, bawl-your-eyes-out, devastating pain... was almost too much to bear.

That day, on the side of the road, God loved me.  He showed me His glory.  He wrapped His arms around me and LITERALLY with a whirlwind of His breath, took all the pain.  The hurt, the unforgiveness... gone.  Poof... just like that!!!  I mean it!  As His breath (through a funnel of wind) twirled around me, I felt it all throughout my body!  The adrenaline rushed through my veins, my heart started to pound, my ears started to tingle and goose bumps broke out all over my arms and legs.  It was GONE!  The heaviness, the excruciating weight of it all.... gone.  My heart cried out and He answered.  He even let me capture it on film so I would forever be reminded that He is in control.  He heals, He orchestrates, He loves, and I can do all things through Him that gives me strength!  Praise be His Name FOREVER!

Brandon Heath, "Your Love"

Have you ever heard a song that makes you want to spend all day in front of the speakers, blasting the sound, letting all else fade away, tears streaming, arms raised, feet dancing and twirling? All day? This is mine ♥

lyrics

New Year, New Life, New Challenges, New Joys

I have been quite absent.  Things have changed quite a bit since I've returned from our vacation (which still is yet to be blogged). :(  I have now taken on another child to homeschool.  My fabulous niece from New Mexico.  She is a complete joy but still added responsibility.  She came last week and we've been a little scattered getting prepared for her sudden arrival.

I FINALLY was able to upload my new photo editing program, Photoshop Elements 9 (as I will be shortening to PSE9) after needing to spend hours deleting old photos and files, moving old photos and files and generally pulling my hair out to make the necessary room on the drive I have to use.  I had another drive I thought would work but I guess PSE9 decided otherwise :O.  I also purchased a mega texture bundle and ALL the goodies for PSE from Paint the Moon Photography!  I LOVE Annie's work and have been dreaming of the day I would get to use them :D

As you also may know, as soon as I returned I was incredibly privileged to have a baby session with Karson :)  FUN!!!!!!  He was a tad older than would have been best so he didn't sleep as much as I would have liked and was quite the wiggle worm but a WONDERFULLY patient little guy and we had loads of fun.

I have been working diligently on his images and the goal is to have them blogged tonight.  I am finding that playing with the actions and textures is going to be sooooo rewarding!  I just have to pick and choose what images and what things I'll do this time.  Gotta get this done!  Not much time to play.

Here is a little sampling of some fun with the program and a few different textures.  Nope, not Paint the Moon but fun none-the-less :)  This is a quickie cell phone pic going down the highway at 60+ mph?  Not bad once you add a little UMPH to it, lol!!!!

Tis the season!

I am realizing that I've been the victim of blogus sufferus.  My symptoms of heart palpitations, sweaty palms, nervous stomach, twitching of the eyes, spastic reactions to the word "wrapping paper" and sudden out bursts are finally starting to subside.  What was the cure?  LOL!  We are supposed to be leaving in 3hrs to head out for MARYLAND and NEW YORK!!!!   Either I can stay here and freak out or we head out and I choose to finally chill :)  Literally!

I don't know what my computer situation will be like for a while, as I am not YET the happy owner of a laptop, but rest assured I will be attempting to blog about this AMAZING blessing/trip God has given us :)

Merry CHRIST-mas to you ALL!  May you feel the love, joy and PEACE (gonna try to get some of that here in a minute) He has for you this season :)

Sorry to pull one up from the archives but I just love this one and it says it all :)

See ya Summer, it's finally FALL!

I'm attempting more changes with this blog and I don't know what the heck I'm doing!  I've now changed this blog to a larger format but lost my dashboard.  Talk about FREAK out moment!  I have gotten it back (obviously since I'm now writing this, lol!).  I just didn't realize that in order to become a photographer I was going to have to become a computer specialist as well.  The things God has me learn :)

Well the main reason for this blog isn't to scream about computer stuff, it's to celebrate the end of summer.  I'm not a huge fan of 100+ temps and 200% humidity ;)  I am however a HUGE fan of fall color, cool temps, pumpkin patches, and spicy scents.  I figured I'd celebrate by posting a few images from our summer.  Kinda killing two birds with one stone.  I am also entering a contest for a Tamron lens (cross your fingers!) titled, "Summertime Rituals", and these are my entries.

I figured I'd say my official "hallelujah!" to the beginning of fall....  "HALLELUJAH and THANK YOU JESUS!!!!"

We celebrated Em's 10th birthday back in May.  She decided she wanted a *SPLASHTACULAR Birthday* complete with a slip-n-slide, water balloons, races, and of course FOOD!  They had a fabulous time flying down the slide, and I had a BLAST capturing it, teehee!

Ahhhh, summertime picnics....  nothing like a romantic moment with muh hunny down by the lake around sunset.  I have to admit though, while my hunny WAS with me, he was there as my assistant, lol!   I actually took this for a sweet friend of mine for her wedding "Save the Date" cards :D  Truth, yeouch!

And the final entry, my precious man's FAVORITE food....  :)  This one's for you Greggy!

I can't believe it's been a year already.  I can't WAIT for fall!  We had such amazing color last year.  I'm praying He displays His glory even more fantastically this season :)

Precious Bravery...

It was just over 9yrs ago since the last time this precious man donned an apron. My wonderful husband, of 19yrs today, chose to be brave for the sake of his bride :)


When I had Emily, Greg wanted to surprise me by baking brownies and having them ready for me when I walked in the door from the hospital. I had Emily over Mother's Day and what a wonderful present to come home to. Unfortunately, there was a little mishap. The gas oven in the home we were in at the time, decided not to co-operate with the wonderful intentions of my sweet Gregory. The pilot light (we discovered later) had a leak. The brownies, hard as a rock, were totally inedible. Despite his careful preparation and baking, they were a total loss. He swore he'd never bake again. Even though we found out the stove was to blame, he was severely disappointed and took it incredibly hard.


Today, my charming husband had a surprise. He came to the door with bags in hand, producing a dozen red roses and dinner. NOT dinner as in "take out", but as in supplies to MAKE dinner! He took my breath away. As I sit writing this, he is busying himself in the other room. The table is set with the favorable dishes, cheerful place mats, sparkling glasses and my STUNNING red roses. The kitchen smells amazing! I think brownies are in the works. :)


Jesus, I thank you for not giving up on us. It's not always been peachy. In fact, there have been many moments when I didn't know if we'd make it. We have, and we will. He's a wonderful man and I'm so blessed. He is an amazing husband and incredibly loving father. I'm so grateful that we didn't give up on each other and by Your grace, love and mercy.... we are here today. It's amazing to look back and see that it's been this long. Next year will be 20. So many don't make it this far. I'm so thrilled that we have and I can't wait for the next 20!


To my darling Gregory.... thank you for your precious bravery. Thank you for putting up with this emotional, wacky and messy woman. For loving me in spite of my mistakes. For caring about me when I don't care enough about myself. For sharing your dreams. For sharing in mine. For giving me three INCREDIBLE children and most of all, for sticking by me when things got tough. I love you and I will never be able to express in words exactly how much. ♥