Lots of fun with Photography!

So, yesterday I got dressed up like this and photographed myself for the current Dgrin challenge. It was a great learning experience with light, and the makeup part was fun too! Thanks to Lana and Debbie for being extra hands! I also took some shots of their girls in their ballet outfits, and (once I get my house in order to some degree!) I get to do some product shots. I can't wait for that one! It's for some AWESOME handmade soaps from Full Earth, and I've got all kinds of fun props planned! Still...my house is a wreck from reorganizing, plus the mess I made with the shoot yesterday, so damage control must be done first!

It's been a loonnnggg time...

After more than a year, I am finally able to jump back into the Dgrin challenges. I just had so much fun shooting again, that I don't even care if I get in the judges' selections. I just know it's great to be getting creative with it again!

Image title: My Cup Runneth Over
Dgrin.com Challenge theme: Saturated

Work in progress

Okay, so it doesn't look like much at this point, but it's a start. This is my butterfly and bird garden, or at least the start of it. It was just a small grassy hill that covers the root cellar/storm shelter thingy. I moved all the block in this past weekend and although it's not quite finished, the hardest parts are done. This weekend I hope to finish the hardscaping and maybe get some bulbs in. I can't wait to get the whole thing growing. The birds already love the feeders being there, which I can see from my kitchen window, and the whole area is an unused part of the property that is immediately behind our sunroom. It should make for some spectacular summertime viewing!

Apple Blossoms

This crazy weather, I tell ya. I never thought I would be out in almost freezing weather putting sheets and newspapers over plants, yet here I am. My 2 compact apple trees are actually now in the ground and looking good, just getting ready to get pretty, and tonight is supposed to be in the 20s. We had 80 degree weather this past weekend, and this coming weekend will be in the 70s, yet today we are having snow flurries. It's just not the way it's supposed to be (according to all the seasons books we read!)

I'm heading off to physical therapy in an hour or so. I actually kind of enjoy it. I think it's helping, but I didn't do myself any favors holding toddlers in the nursery yesterday at CHAT. I loved being able to calm some of them down, but my back is paying for it today.

This our awesome new puppy! He is such a sweet boy. He came from the Atlanta Humane Society and we picked him up yesterday. He loves to be cuddled and is very gentle.

Facebook is a blog killer.

Blogs are email killers.
Emails are phone killers.
Phones are personal visit killers.
Makes you wonder what's next.

Actually, due to facebook I'm in much better contact with my extended family than I've ever been before and I am very thankful for that. It's is an amazing world that we live in. In my lifetime I've seen dial phones to cell phones, coin operated TVs to HDTV Wall Mounted Flat Panels, manual typewriters to computers that get bigger (or smaller), better, faster, more every day. Environmental awareness has been around all of my lifetime, but I still see an astounding amount of waste. Makes me more than a little afraid for the future of the planet we have been entrusted with.

I just finished listening to a 6 part sermon series by Andy Stanley called Balanced. It was fascinating to me. It's all about money, how we think about it and how we handle it, and how that affects our relationship with God. I've never much cared for churches talking about money, but I eagerly looked forward to each new week of this series. I have to say I don't think any other sermon has ever affected my life so profoundly. I feel like I've been shown a path that will lead to increased peace in my life - and I totally plan to take it.

Photo: Kyle O'Neal, Worship Leader at Church at The Well

I got to spend about 3 hours out shooting yesterday, trying to capture some images for a slideshow at Church at the Well. They wanted to play them while Kyle sings God Of This City. I left the girls with their grandparents (as I didn't think having them run around on the train tracks was a good idea) and I had fun, but man was it COLD! I spent many hours last night and today post processing them and I'm quite pleased with how they turned out. I've run out of space on my computer though, so my next big project is to set up my photo filing system and free up some hard drive space.

A Christmas Wedding and a little too much holiday cheer.

So, I'm definitely managing to cut back on outside jobs/projects and really focusing on my family. It's a super nice feeling to be able to keep the house clean, provide good meals, homeschool well, study the bible, take care of my pets and spend quality time with my husband and children. On the same token, however, I seem tired a lot and am totally over-eating (a weight gain of 10+ lbs - yikes!). I guess the first thing I'll be adding into my schedule is a diet and exercise routine. :(

I did get the photos Todd and I took at Kyle and Melissa's wedding processed up. I think these are my favorites from the bunch.

Christmastime

I love Christmas. Absolutely LOVE it. And it is so much more special with the children, watching their excitement build as they stare in amazement at all of the lights and decorations and sing along to my favorite carols. This year we've really been trying to focus on the true meaning of Christmas and my heart warms through and through when I see both of my children to gaze in wonderous awe at the baby Jesus in any nativity scene.

We went to see The Nativity Ballet performance by the Steps of Faith dance company this past week and it was really lovely. They did such a great job! J and I went to get our hair done this weekend too...J's first professional haircut. It looks so cute!

All of the shopping is complete, my wrapping is done, tomorrow is cleaning and laundry day. Tuesday we'll be helping set up our Church at the Civic Center for the Christmas Eve service. I know it will be beautiful!

We've had a TON of rain this past week. Perfect for a puddle-jumping, mud-pie-making exploration for the girls. They had a blast!

A Dgrin Day

Yesterday I tried something new with the Dgrin Challenges by putting all of the entries in a gallery. With everything combined (nasty-grams from disgruntled people included), I spent over 8 hours on it. Then another two in the wee hours of the morning trying to wrap things up. My poor kids didn't get any schooling and were bored totally, so it better not take any where near as long next time! Today I plan to be much more productive (HA!).

(Photo: Another of Lana...keeping her in my prayers today)