I Heart You

My oldest son, Chris, came across this heart in a piece of lumber as he was working today. As I came out of my room after taking a nap, he said, "Mom, I have a present for you," and he proceeded to pull it out of his pocket.

Awww... wasn't it sweet of him to think of me?  I heart you, too, Chris.  :)

Gracie: Almost 6 Months Old

My granddaughter, Gracie, and her daddy visited today while her mommy worked out, and of course, I couldn't help but take her picture.  Max said her mommy looks like this when she's tired.



Her pretty little outfit with matching headband was given to her by our mutual friend, Laura Burbank.  Thank you, Laura.

The Gift

I recently did a photo shoot for a brand new family for Christmas.  Little Annabelle is a precious and long awaited gift.  Thank you, Lord, for giving her life.





This was the last shot I took after the session was finished and I was ready to put my camera away.   Annabelle looked so peaceful and adorable in her little baby hammock, I just had to get that last shot in.

Gracie: 5 Months Old

We had so much fun with Gracie a couple of nights ago. At first, Sally was checking her out, and Gracie kept trying to reach out and touch her, but Sally decided she wasn't interested.



Gracie wants to get moving so badly. She loves doing 'push-ups' and 'flying', and although she can inch herself backward and rotate, she still has not yet figured out how to crawl. She practiced so much that she became a tired Gracie. She's growing so fast...

Fruits Game

I am the 'game lady' for a children's Bible club, and I wanted to come up with a game that would teach the kids about the fruits of the Spirit vs. the works of the flesh. (Galatians 5:13-26) So, I drew pieces of fruit and labeled them.  The kids had to sort them, considering which are good 'fruits' and which are bad... which ones are pleasing to God and which are not.  I thought it might help them really consider the fruits of the Spirit and the works of the flesh more seriously if they had to actually read the words and consider which category each one belonged.  It also gave us an opportunity to teach them what some of the words and characteristics mean.  Maybe you can use this idea for your own children's ministry, and if you have any ideas of games you've played that teach, I hope you'll leave a comment and share your own tips.  Thanks!  :)

"But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance: against such there is no law." --Galatians 5:22, 23

Little Miss Gracie

These were taken two weeks ago just a few days after my first session with Gracie. I had especially wanted to get a shot of her in one of my husband's wooden bowls.  I found the flower headband at a local health food store that also houses a craft section.  So pretty in pink, and don'tcha just love her smile?

Gracie: 3 Weeks Old

Gracie and I had our first official photo shoot yesterday.  It was also my first baby photo shoot.  My daughter, Tiffany, helped with lighting and setting up.  Gracie was asleep at first, and we were hoping to get some good sleeping shots, but she woke up, was fed and burped by her mommy, and decided to stay wide awake and active.  Besides the shot of her little 'piggies', my favorite shot is of Gracie wrapped in a scarf, looking straight into the camera.  I also love the last one, because she looks so much like her daddy when he was a baby.  So while we may not have gotten some of the posed sleeping shots we were hoping to get, I'm so glad she was awake and alert.  Be warned though, when you see her looking back at you, you might need to grab a mop after finding your heart melted on the floor.  (^_~)

Sleeping Cutie

Just having fun playing with textures and layers on this shot of my first grandchild, Gracie.

My First Grandchild!

My son and daughter-in-law, Max and Emily, welcomed their first child into the world today... Grace Elizabeth.  I'm a Grammie!  (^_^)

Me & Gracie

Daddy Kisses

A Family Is Like a Ship

Yesterday was Memorial Day.  For some it was merely the beginning of summer celebrated with a BBQ, a trip to the beach, or a ride on a boat.  For others it was a day to remember those who have served our country in the armed forces and have given their very lives for our freedom.  And for others still, it was just another day like any other.

This weekend brought to mind an article I'd read several years ago.  Although I don't agree with everything he teaches, I found the article Jumping Ship (Part 2):  Stagnant and Unpromising  by Michael Pearl very intriguing.  He likens the family to a ship with a captain and a crew.  Each ship may be different, but in order to keep its crew, it needs to have a clear purpose with each member involved in fulfilling its mission and reaching its destination.  And it must provide some source of entertainment along with rewarding labor.  If the crew sees other ships passing by that appear to be going somewhere while they just float along or remain stagnant... or if they notice the crews on other ships having fun while they seem to just work or have nothing to do, the captain risks having them jump overboard to join other ships that actually appear to be enjoyably going somewhere.

How's your crew?  Are they looking to book passage on a different ship, or do they have the confidence to believe their ship is going somewhere and doing something worthwhile?

Loves Babies

"A baby is born with a need to be loved... and never outgrows it."  —Frank A. Clark

I took this shot of Riley and Isabella at my future sister-in-law's bridal shower.  Isabella is the daughter of a friend of the bride.  She is the most contented and happy baby I've ever seen.  Riley is the bride's oldest daughter and soon to be my niece.  She is a sweet, thoughtful, mature young lady who loves babies.  Y'know, there's something about a person who loves babies... well, except those who love babies like they love puppies and kittens, which is only as long as they're small, cute, and cuddly.  But children, teenagers, and even adults need to be loved and sometimes babied, too, right?

 

Almost Empty

"As an eagle stirreth up her nest, fluttereth over her young, spreadeth abroad her wings, taketh them, beareth them on her wings: so the LORD alone did lead him..."  --Deuteronomy 32:11, 12a

Even though I actually haven't yet experienced having a truly empty nest, I've been feeling a bit blue today as I've been reminded of the inevitable.  When my children were younger, they once went to summer camp for a week, but I knew they would soon be home again.

My first experience with long-term separation was a couple of years ago when our second son went away to college for a year.  That was a little difficult, because he is the more exuberant of the three, and he and I have always enjoyed having some serious theological discussions.  He also gives wonderful shoulder massages. The house was quieter while he was gone.  It was then that I realized I was being prepared to one day face an empty nest.

Our daughter, left yesterday to visit her out-of-state boyfriend for just short of a week.  I’m glad she’ll be coming back, because I have been enjoying the growing friendship between us.  I will always be her mother, but I’m glad we’re becoming friends.  She adds creativity and beauty to our family, as well as delicious aromas from the kitchen.  I miss her smiles, giggles, and stories.  Her kitty, Leslie, misses her, too.

Our oldest son is planning to depart Thursday to take a job half way across the country.  Although he attended a technical college for four years, he was able to live at home and commute.  He graduated last year with a bachelor’s degree, and although he was able to work at a temporary job for a few months, the job market in our state has been very bleak.  I’m so grateful for my sister’s and brother-in-law’s offer of a job and a place to stay.  While I am sad he’ll be leaving home, I’m excited for the journey the Lord has set before him.  I’m also delighted he’ll be with family where deeper relationships can be built.  I’ll miss his smiles, hugs, and analytical wit.  Oh!  And his macro lens and curry fried rice.  (^_~)

Perhaps I won’t really have to experience an empty nest.  Our second son married a very nice young lady last year, and they are expecting their first child in July... Grace Elizabeth.  So before our daughter leaves the nest, our family will soon be blessed with a little one to fill it up again.

Father-To-Be

"Lo, children are an heritage of the LORD: and the fruit of the womb is his reward." --Psalm 127:3

My son and daughter-in-law asked me to take their picture before they headed out to a benefit waltz class. I just love seeing my son's playfulness and affection. I think he's going to make a wonderful father.

Passing It On

“That the generation to come might know them, even the children which should be born; who should arise and declare them to their children:  That they might set their hope in God, and not forget the works of God...”  --Psalm 78:6-7b

My daughter-in-law is now five months pregnant with my first grandchild.  She and my son already sing and read to their unborn baby... a girl?  It’s never too early to start.  Studies have shown that a prenatal baby’s developing brain is stimulated by the sounds, which helps them develop.  After being born, hearing those familiar sounds, stories, and songs can help to calm the baby.

It warms my heart to know that both my son and daughter-in-law share the same beliefs and are working toward the same goals.  How difficult it can be for children when there is no clear sense of direction... or hope.  Who should they believe?  By having to choose one, they are essentially forced to reject the other... or both for that matter.  “Can two walk together, except they be agreed?”  (Amos 3:3)

Having pretty much raised our children, I know they won’t always believe exactly as we do.  But that’s okay, because we’re still learning, too.  God is still working to open our understanding and mold us into the likeness of His Son.  So, what’s important is to have a firm foundation in what we believe and pass it on.

Hugs and Kisses

“Greet one another with a kiss of love...”  --1 Peter 5:4

I am participating in a group on Flickr called “52 Weeks of Gratitude~”.  I love and am thankful for big, warm hugs and soft kisses.  During our Sunday morning worship services at church, we have a time of greeting one another.  While a few may greet a close relative or loved one with a kiss on the cheek, most simply shake hands, and some are like me, who love to give hugs.  I especially delight in the hugs and soft kisses of children, because they are genuine expressions of love and trust and not an attempt to get something more in return.  As a child of God, I sometimes wish I could give my heavenly Father a hug, but when I consider His awesome holiness, I think I would be more like the immoral woman who fell at Jesus feet.  She washed his feet with her tears and hair, anointed them with oil, and kissed them out of genuine love (Luke 7:36-50).

I also think of how Jesus must have been with all the little children who loved Him. When we read that Jesus "...blessed them", please don't think our Lord was somber and solemn! Can't you see Him sitting with little kids just crowded around laughing and giggling and Him laughing with them? And hugging them and they Him? How refreshing that must have looked and how surprising it would seem to some of us! Yet maybe that's a key? Didn't the Lord say we had to become like little children to receive the Kingdom?

Do you know someone who could use a big, warm hug... or a gentle kiss today?