"Trust your instincts, and make judgements on what your heart tells you. The heart will not betray you." -David Gemmel, The Fall of Kings
One of my goals for 2015 is to design a piece of photo art once a month. Luke sent me some pictures of the twins that he took on his iPhone. I thought they would make a good photo story, and photo art as well. This is my February photo art. I call it: Decisions then Delight.
Tuesday, February 17, 2015
Monday, February 16, 2015
Hearts...Hope...
"My Hope is in Thee..." -Psalms 39:7
"Love the Lord your God with all your Heart, and with all your Soul, and with all you Mind." -Matthew 22:37
2015 is becoming quite a challenging year so far for reasons I will go into at a later date. In December, I decided I wanted to do the Documented Faith project not knowing what the next year would hold. I just knew I wanted to get closer to the Lord, and this was a way to do it, and hold me accountable. It has been fantastic. Themes have been "trust", "truth", "transform" just to name a few. Today, I read a wonderful post on a blog about hearts which is quite appropriate in light of the fact that we just celebrated Valentine's day. I am quoting what she said...you can go to the blog to read it for yourself. I could have written this...it rang so true with me.
"My tenderheartedness comes from a deep place...a place that knows love and loss.
Too many times spent hoping, wishing, and kneeling-longing for something different-something to change. And a tired mind, trying hard to make up for what the heart wished it had. I had a heart that was too broken to be mended and had to be made new.
Have you ever asked for a new heart? It may sound sad, but it isn't. When our own ideas, strength, and desires fall apart, and when we crumble into His hands...His heart is for us! He knows every tear, He comforts every sadness, He makes us smile with things He knows we love.
Perhaps you will quietly hold out your hands and hold out your heart, and be willing and expectant that God's love will cover, embrace, and begin to warm you. His Love Is what our Hearts want most of all."
Sometimes we need to be reminded of what we know, and did a long time ago. This was such a reminder for me.
"Love the Lord your God with all your Heart, and with all your Soul, and with all you Mind." -Matthew 22:37
2015 is becoming quite a challenging year so far for reasons I will go into at a later date. In December, I decided I wanted to do the Documented Faith project not knowing what the next year would hold. I just knew I wanted to get closer to the Lord, and this was a way to do it, and hold me accountable. It has been fantastic. Themes have been "trust", "truth", "transform" just to name a few. Today, I read a wonderful post on a blog about hearts which is quite appropriate in light of the fact that we just celebrated Valentine's day. I am quoting what she said...you can go to the blog to read it for yourself. I could have written this...it rang so true with me.
"My tenderheartedness comes from a deep place...a place that knows love and loss.
Too many times spent hoping, wishing, and kneeling-longing for something different-something to change. And a tired mind, trying hard to make up for what the heart wished it had. I had a heart that was too broken to be mended and had to be made new.
Have you ever asked for a new heart? It may sound sad, but it isn't. When our own ideas, strength, and desires fall apart, and when we crumble into His hands...His heart is for us! He knows every tear, He comforts every sadness, He makes us smile with things He knows we love.
Perhaps you will quietly hold out your hands and hold out your heart, and be willing and expectant that God's love will cover, embrace, and begin to warm you. His Love Is what our Hearts want most of all."
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Inspired by Stephanie Ackermann (at Homegrown hospitality) |
Sometimes we need to be reminded of what we know, and did a long time ago. This was such a reminder for me.
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My Hope is in the Lord...love this song. Enjoy, and be encouraged.
Saturday, February 14, 2015
Happy Valentine's Day...
"True love stories never have endings." -Richard Bach
Happy Valentine's Day! This has sort of been a Valentine week for me. It started on Monday with flowers. I have been out of town, and my darling hubby, aka Warren, had the most beautiful bouquet of flowers waiting for me when I arrived home.
While visiting Luke, we did a little throwing of the baseball. It was so much fun that I decided right there and then, that I wanted a new glove...and one for Warren too, so we could play catch together. Thursday we bought the gloves deciding they would became our official valentine present. We found them more than half off at a local sporting good store.
Happy Valentine's Day! This has sort of been a Valentine week for me. It started on Monday with flowers. I have been out of town, and my darling hubby, aka Warren, had the most beautiful bouquet of flowers waiting for me when I arrived home.
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Lots of red and white flowers. I think this is my favorite bouquet yet that he has gotten me. |
I think I have taken hundreds of pictures using the flowers from this bouquet!
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a single rose... |
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daisies added, a card, and hearts... |
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Okay, Warren got me this card when I returned from my Australian trip...I love it, and it's perfect for a prop... |
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My photo art... |
While visiting Luke, we did a little throwing of the baseball. It was so much fun that I decided right there and then, that I wanted a new glove...and one for Warren too, so we could play catch together. Thursday we bought the gloves deciding they would became our official valentine present. We found them more than half off at a local sporting good store.
Then he surprised me this morning with a very nice card, and a candle!
Here's this week's valentine loot.
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Now you can see the whole bouquet of flowers, the candle Warren got me, and the cards. And of course the gloves, and ball. |
The day is not over yet...we have many more fun things planned to celebrate the day.
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My amazing man...cooling down from a workout... |
Hugs to my wonderful husband...pretty appropriate for this day.
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US! |
Happy Valentine's Day...may your love abound more and more!
Tuesday, January 20, 2015
California visit...and texture Tuesday...
"We are cups, constantly and quietly being filled. The trick is, knowing how to tip ourselves over, and let the beautiful stuff out." -Ray Bradbury
I think the above quote is perfect for this picture! I am on the front of the cup...just pour me out. I got the cup as a free offer. It is the right size for a pumpkin spice latte which is a perfect beverage for the middle of the afternoon. Yum...so good. I am linking this up with Kim Klassen's texture Tuesday. I have not participated in it since before Christmas.
I am so behind in my posting, so I am going to catch up by going back to the end of December when we took a trip to LA to see Mark and Amber. We flew into the DFW airport, where boarded our plane, and sat at the gate for an hour, because there was a dent in our airplane. They had to get a mechanic to come make a decision as to whether our airplane was flight worthy with the dent. Thank goodness it was approved for flight.
The delay put us into LAX in the evening. I was glad this was our final destination. Mark and Amber live only 15 minutes from the airport. We were very excited to see their new apartment. They always select places where there are nearby stores, and fun things to do. Our hotel was just across the parking lot from their apartment. This was very handy.
Zach joined us for our California adventure. We were very happy he was able to get time off to join us.
We all went for a walk to take in the sights...with a stop at Starbucks for tea, and coffee.
Amber's brother, Tony, joined us for the afternoon, and dinner at this fantastic barbecue joint.
We grilled burgers...well Zach grilled burgers for our evening meal. Mark supervised. Their apartment has an amazing outdoor pool with nice grills, and fire pits around it. There are nice tables for eating outside, and that is exactly what we did...eat outside. Amber's mom joined us for dinner. Very nice, and pleasant...and good, good food.
I think the above quote is perfect for this picture! I am on the front of the cup...just pour me out. I got the cup as a free offer. It is the right size for a pumpkin spice latte which is a perfect beverage for the middle of the afternoon. Yum...so good. I am linking this up with Kim Klassen's texture Tuesday. I have not participated in it since before Christmas.
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kk_waterfront18, soft light 100%, kk_scripted,soft light, 100%, kk_rien, multiply, 56%, masked painted over the cup. |
The delay put us into LAX in the evening. I was glad this was our final destination. Mark and Amber live only 15 minutes from the airport. We were very excited to see their new apartment. They always select places where there are nearby stores, and fun things to do. Our hotel was just across the parking lot from their apartment. This was very handy.
Zach joined us for our California adventure. We were very happy he was able to get time off to join us.
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Mark, Zach, Warren |
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Mark waits outside of Starbucks with Oliver. |
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Warren, Tony, Zach (look at his eyes), Mark, and Amber. |
Then football game watching time for the guys...
Head shots...when we were out and about...
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Mark... |
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Zach... |
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Amber... |
Of course, we had to take a walk along the beach...it was such a gorgeous day!
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Amber and Mark... |
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Amber working, and a view of their kitchen. Amber always has such pretty flowers on the table. |
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Oliver...isn't he so cute? |
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Zach and Mark... |
That evening we went to get some sunset photos of the beach. It was a beautiful sunset.
And we cannot forget the family in the sunset...
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Zach... |
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A little chilly in the water... |
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Mark standing, me kneeling getting a photo... |
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Now it is Zach's turn to get a photo...Mark is standing close to the water's edge...gazing at God's glorious sunset. |
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Just Mark... |
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Mark, and Zach looking mean, sort of... |
Mark wanted me to take some head-shots to use on his website, so we took a lot of photos.
These are the unedited ones.
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This is not one he can use, but I like it a lot... |
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We took the photos in their bedroom since it had good window light. (SOOC-straight out of the camera) |
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This one I took as we were finishing...also, not to be used. |
Here are a few of the edited ones. He wanted them on a white background, so I extracted him, and put him on a white background, just like he wanted.
We left sunny California just in time to catch a snow storm here at home.
Our Maggie was so glad we were home.
I am now caught up on all the activities for December. Yeah...
Thursday, January 15, 2015
Some snow photos
"When snow falls, nature listens." -Antoinette van Kleeft
I love fresh fallen snow...the whiteness, the crisp air, the quiet, and the beauty of it all. Truly a bit of God's handiwork! I am in the process of catching up on long overdue posts. Snow scenes are among them. I like to see how I can capture the ordinary in an extraordinary way. I like any kind of street scene. I think our street is lovely covered in snow.
One of my resolutions for the new year is to do a 'Photo Art' picture once a month. This month, I chose a snow picture of my grandkids. I know it does not look like it, but I converted the photo into a sketch, then added back just a little of the detail in the photo. I added a light post to the right side of the photo like the scene in the Chronicles of Narnia. If you look at it closely, you can see rays of light coming out where the light bulb would be in the lamp post. I am pleased with the results of my photo art.
I love fresh fallen snow...the whiteness, the crisp air, the quiet, and the beauty of it all. Truly a bit of God's handiwork! I am in the process of catching up on long overdue posts. Snow scenes are among them. I like to see how I can capture the ordinary in an extraordinary way. I like any kind of street scene. I think our street is lovely covered in snow.
Snow on the boughs of some of our pine trees.
One of my resolutions for the new year is to do a 'Photo Art' picture once a month. This month, I chose a snow picture of my grandkids. I know it does not look like it, but I converted the photo into a sketch, then added back just a little of the detail in the photo. I added a light post to the right side of the photo like the scene in the Chronicles of Narnia. If you look at it closely, you can see rays of light coming out where the light bulb would be in the lamp post. I am pleased with the results of my photo art.
"Like the cold of snow in the time of harvest
is a faithful messenger to those who send him,
for he refreshes the soul of his master."
-Proverbs 25:13
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