Ok So I am going to be following along with Darcy on her 31 days to a better photo.....a lot of it I am already doing but I need to do it better! So if you need help getting out of auto or understanding your camera this is a great place to start!!!
Today she wanted us to play with shutter speed and here are my results

1/2s F 22.0 ISO 400

1/30s F 8.0 ISO 400

1/13s F 13.0 ISO 400

1/80s F 5.0 ISO 400

Thanks Claire for being my model!!!!

bazzill paper, bazzill just the edge cardstock strips, CM heart punch, 3 paper peonies word art		, coffee shop barrista action

Another one done and I really feel my love for this hobby coming back!!! Of course I spent more time editing the photo here then actually doing the layout.....but I wanted to keep the design simple to focus on the photo!
I used coffeeshops barrista action to begin with then made it B&W and used the gaussian blur filter to blur the background.....I really love the way it turned out......I am really liking keeping my photos big on my pages too....very dramatic!!!
Ok I'm ready for day 4! Bring it on!!!!

Where have I been?....Well this summer brought some surprises and blessings and let me just say I am thankful in so many ways.....



What better way to jump back into blogging then starting right off with joining in on Multitude Monday to count my gifts......


verses hidden and written on our hearts


A boy that is growing and turned 9 this year
a young lady who turned into a running champion this summer and also turned 15
getting to run with Elaina in a 5k......she was way ahead of me but we both finished!
the biggest gift this summer!!! And why I ran so slow at that last race! Baby #8 is due mid March!


backyard visitors
first lost tooth and another little boy growing so fast!
fun times at blue mountain lake

 another great vacation at Union Beach!
 me and the baby at 10 weeks......a gift straight from heaven


freedom in Christ!



and another gift of grace as Brian, Elaina, Claire and Garrett were baptized September 12, 2010 at Akenac Lake.......


I hope to be blogging again more frequently......we'll see how life goes!

I just finished reading this very well written article over at Raising Olives.

"If you believe that God requires people to be educated, then you must also believe that God’s Word equips and prepares us to educate.  The best method for educating children will not be found apart from God’s Word."

Yes, Kimberly and I are of one mind on this topic......please go over and read the full article here

I've been thinking a lot about YES. The word can be a powerful thing! After reading Ann's post about her year of yes and then being reminded of it again reading this post as well I decided to make an effort to be the Mom that says YES!

Yes to the paint.......and yes to the clay.........yes to the baking of more cookies and yes to staying up late and sleeping under the stars.
YES, YES and more YES!!

Not only to the pleading eyes of my children but also to the tugging of the Holy Spirit on my heart. Come.....YES!
Be with Me......YES!
Keep me in your everyday and worship Me as you do your housework and clean the toilets......YES!
Even as I clean those toilets and do another load of never ending laundry I will answer YES and find the holy in all of it......Let my life be a living sacrifice of YES LORD!

YES! Boys we can dig in the dirt and plant a three sisters garden just like the Lenape Indians did......Corn in the middle......beans to grow up the corn and squash at the bottom. And God blessed us with toads and spiders and even a snake found while digging.

This is the summer of YES!

I have had an ahha moment......you know the kind that makes you say "Of course, why did it take me so long to get it!!"

I have been reading through Brother Lawrence's book The Practice of the Presence of God. It is an amazing little book packed with the humble writings of a brother who had an intimate relationship with God. It is about finding God everywhere.....even when washing dishes or sweeping the floors. I read it the first time last year and enjoyed it alot but was somewhat mystified as to if I could really get there.

Fast forward to this year. It is so true that sufferings and troubles bring us closer to our Lord. If I had not been close and in constant communication with God through my fathers illness I don't know how I would have survived. God is my lifeline. He is my strength, my ever present help. Oh I know he has always been there before, but there is something about suffering that just brings my need of Him so much closer, stronger........not sure of the right word for it.......all I know is that without Him I would not have made it.

This year our Pastor has also been preaching on the Holy Spirit and how we as Christians don't even realize the power we have within us......that God has given us......to do his will.....  We have had so many amazing sermons these past few months! The Holy Spirit is flowing and moving in our church and people are being transformed. Isn't this how church is supposed to be!!

Because of all of this I have felt closer to God then ever. I am striving to live my life in His presence and let me tell you it is the most amazing place to be. And the really neat thing is my striving is not a hard thing anymore....it is a peaceful thing......not sure that makes sense. But when I use to try to stay in His presence....I had to think about it and work at it. Now for some reason it is easier...oh sure I wander sometimes but now I feel Him calling me back and my soul longs for His presence and the peace I have only in Him. It's just such a gift.....a gift I never thought to have.....a gift God wants us all to have!

So here is my ahha moment......before when I would worship or pray I was always thinking God was above me or next to me even......I worshiped the God above.....I prayed to my Father who was holding my hand sitting next to me. But God is not away.....above.....or next to me......He is in me.

hello there.......sorry to be missing in action for so long. Things have been upside down here for a while. My Dad went to be with the Lord on April 15th. It was very sudden and we really were not ready (would we ever be) but looking back now we can see God's hand of mercy in all of it and we know Dad is healed and holding hands with Jesus......and that picture gives me such comfort.

We had a beautiful service for my Dad celebrating his life and his entrance into eternity. I had prayed about getting up and saying some things....I knew my Dad would have wanted us to use his service to plant seeds for the kingdom and that is exactly what we tried to do. I did not think I would be able to speak but with the many prayers from friends I was able to get up and not fall apart in doing so. These are the words God gave me......

In 1 Corinthians 9:24 Paul tells us


As I read that verse I began to think about my Dad's race and the amazing example he left me of a race that was well run.

Through all his pain and suffering he never once turned his face from the race God had called him to. But was steadfast standing on his faith in God and God's word. My Dad always had a smile and a peace through everything that can only come from our loving God.

We have been praying and many of you have as well, for my Dad''s healing and for his pain to be taken away. I tell you that our prayers have been answered and my Dad has received total healing of body and soul. He has a new body with no cancer and no pain and he has the joy of seeing and being with the Savior he so loved. I also rejoice in knowing that I too will be with him again someday and I'll hug him and we'll laugh and be together again. My prayer and I know his is too is that you also will be there with us.

Psalm 103 says

Today we can rejoice knowing that my Dad has received his crown...