The Many Faces of Martha

At great personal risk (see threat under comments in previous post!) I now present to you the many faces of Martha...

Funny Faces

Would anyone like me to post the many faces of Martha????

Enjoying God's Creation

Photography has taught me to see and appreciate God's awesome creation like never before. I enjoy things that I never thought twice about before. Beautiful blue skies and puffy white clouds, unique and interesting flowers, bugs, and other critters. On my hike with Martha we saw some very unique trees - the trunks looked like lizard skin! I've spent a lot of time down by seabreeze with the ducks, geese, swans and sea gulls. Each and every one of 'em is a unique creation with a personality all it's own. All the trees, every insect, every flower - a unique creation designed by God and for Him. And He knows everything about each and every one of them and He enjoys His creation! What an awesome God we serve!! And I'm learning that God really does speak through His creation. He tells us mysteries about Himself and about His kingdom - if only we would take the time to look and to listen and to learn.

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Up with the Birds

Jessi and I got up bright and early this morning and headed back to Durand. We wanted to get some more pix of the nesting swans. I thought it would be a good time to take pictures cuz morning lighting is sooo much nicer than the harsh afternoon lighting that I fought with yesterday. What I didn't know... mamma swans like to sleep in!! I didn't think a sleeping swan would make for an interesting picture, so Jess and I headed over to Seabreeze to take pix of the birds over there.


I also took some more pix over in Eunices garden while the girls had their music lessons. This one makes me dizzy! I was really hoping to get a giant bumblebee - but I can't seem to get one! While there I had this brilliant idea... I thought I'd take a picture of Eunice's house. To take the picture I went way out in her front yard and laid down in the grass so that I was eye level with the sea of dandelions in her front yard. I guess I thought it made for a more interesting composition. The thing I didn't count on was that I got dandelion all over my new jeans and my sweater!! I sure hope it comes out!!! Any suggestions for removing dandelion from clothing????

Hunting

My mom and I went hunting today. Here I am all decked out in camo!! Aren't I just the fashion statement? My mom has a friend that hunts with a bow and arrow and a gun - but today we were shooting with cameras. She agreed to teach us how we could get up close and personal to get a good shot. We had to buy scent free soap for our clothes and for the shower. We both forgot to buy the scent free deodorant so we had to go without. Aren't you glad you weren't there with us?! She sprayed us with a woodsy scented 'perfume'. YUCK!! But I suppose the deer and the turkey and other critters like it and that's what mattered today. She dressed us up in her camo from head to toe. My pants were several sizes too large - I think Jessi could have fit in them with me! :) We even had head nets which made it a little difficult to see. They are to keep the bugs away and also to hide your face. It got a little toasty hiking around in all those clothes! I had on extra thick socks too cuz my boots were too big for me. LOL. And somehow I was supposed to 'sneak around' in all this bulky/clunky garb.

Unfortunately there wasn't much out today. That's the way it goes with hunting I suppose. Sometimes you 'hit the jackpot' but most of the time... NOTHING! We did see some deer (I counted five) but I just couldn't get in close enough!! My mom got a couple of shots - but even with her 200 mm lens it still wasn't close enough. She also got a turkey... But again, it would have been nice if she had been able to get a little closer. But it was a good day and we had fun! I'm hoping to go out again sometime. Jessi wants to go hunting with us. And Heather too. Though she doesn't care about taking pictures - she just wants to dress up in camo and sneak around in the woods!

After our hunting excursion my mom took Jessi and I up to Durand Eastman Park where there was a nesting swan. I counted at least 3 eggs - but I really think I saw a 4th. Of course I took quite a few pix!! I want to go again early some morning and get better lighting! But I still like these pix. It would also be cool to be there when they hatch!!! My mom will be stopping to check on 'em often. And the rest of that area too. She says there is ALWAYS people over there taking pictures.

Standing on the TRUTH

What a beautiful day! God is so good and I love, love, love Him!!!! He has filled me with such incredible JOY. How desperately I want everyone to experience for themselves the joy of the LORD. I have been doing a study on joy and I thought I’d share a little of what I’m finding. This will probably come in spurts… Here a little, there a little. Mostly all I have are notes. Meaning a lot of it is just a jumbled mess inside my head (and my computer). So bear with me as I sort it all out.

In my own battle with depression I discovered that I was believing the lies of the enemy rather than the TRUTH of God. Of course I didn’t realize that that’s what I was doing! And there were many times in the midst of my struggles that I would try and fight the lies or the depression… You cannot chase away the darkness but if you turn on the light the darkness flees. You cannot fight a lie but you can be filled with the truth and a lie simply cannot stand in the presence of truth! You cannot chase away depression but you can be filled with JOY and depression vanishes.

So, when the enemy comes and tries to tell me I’m not good enough, I simply declare truth – GOD IS MY RIGHTEOUSNESS! (Ps 24:5) When the enemy tells me that I don’t belong – I declare that I am CALLED TO BELONG! (Romans 1:6). When he tells me that I am of no value I proclaim that I am God’s TREASURED POSSESSION! (Deuteronomy 26:18) When he calls me a failure I shout, “I am MORE THAN A CONQUEROR!!” (Romans 8:37).

Your words were found and I ate them,

And Your words became for me a joy and the delight of my heart;

For I have been called by Your name, O LORD God of hosts
- Jeremiah 15:16

So… I have discovered that one key to victory over depression is rejecting every lie of the enemy and standing on the TRUTH of God regardless of what our feelings say!! May you be filled with the JOY OF THE LORD!

The Make-up Party

My girls having a little fun.

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Passport Picture

My passport picture - after Heather got a hold of it!

Seventeen

Today we celebrate Brian's 17th birthday. So... in celebration, I will do not just 13 things about Brian - but 17 things!

1. When he was born he looked just like Mr. Magoo.
2. He works as a life guard in the summer and as a short order cook through the winter months. He likes lifeguarding much better than cooking!
3. He loves snowboarding and has been begging for us to move to Colorado where the really good slopes are.
4. He loves movies and talks about them non-stop!!! Someday he hopes to be a movie director.
5. He is writing his own theatrical version of 'Charlie and the Chocolate Factory' and hopes to put it on sometime in the near future.
6. He plays the drums - in the basement thankfully!!!
7. Brian HATES math and any other thing that slightly resembles school!!
8. He has always been a huge fan of Peter Pan and would love to fly away to Never Land and 'always have fun and never grow up'.
9. He is in desperate need of a haircut!
10. He named his bike the Millennium Falcon.
11. Brian has his own bedroom which, I might add, looks more like a pig-sty than a bedroom!!
12. He likes to EAT!
13. Jesus is his savior.
14. He loves old time radio shows like Jack Benny.
15. His favorite Nascar driver is Dale Jr.
16. He thinks Novocain is really cool!
17. He is extremely creative and a lot of fun to be around.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY BRIAN!! I LOVE YOU!!!!

Making New Friends

I've been out trying to make friends with my neighbor-hood squirrels. These squirrels aren't like the ones at Seneca Park where it didn't take much effort to get them to come close to you. They are much more reluctant! But I'm making progress with one in particular. He's coming closer and closer for the peanuts. Hopefully we will eventually be good friends and then I can get some really cute pictures (yes, I know, I have a one track mind!). I'd like to attract some chipmunks too. I don't have any pictures of chipmunks. I've seen 'em around... but not often. I think there's a rabbit that lives nearby as well. I wonder how I can get him to come out or find out exactly where he lives. Any ideas?

Makeover

A friend of mine talked me into getting my eyebrows waxed today. Here are the results. What do you think??? She was pretty excited! Next it's the hair... by the time she gets done with me you won't be able to recognize me!

We did have a good time and spent the afternoon shopping. She's an awesome decorator and has plans to totally makeover my house as well. We're going to get rid of this UGLY panelling - YAY!!!! Now if only we could get rid of our dilapidated couch...

I'd Rather be Biking!

Last summer I didn't get to do much cycling. I was just too busy getting ready to go to Brazil and then photographing 2 weddings AND heading up Deliverance Den... But this year I'm determined to get out on the bike again!!! I'm not sure how yet, cuz I seem just as busy.... but I WILL get on the bike even if it means getting up earlier! Anyone care to join me???

Baby's Day

By the end of the week mine and my mom's book should be off to a perspective publisher. YAY!!! Can you tell I'm excited??? To celebrate, I thought I'd share with ya'all our very first attempt at a baby board book. Unfortunately you won't be able to view the entire picture or all of the words... but you'll get a good idea. So, sit back, relax and enjoy the show!! (Don't forget the popcorn!)

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Happy Resurrection Day!

Getting there...

I'm nearing the end of the wedding pictures!!! Of course this is only phase one - the proofs! Then comes the order with processing and final edits... and then, I'm REALLY DONE!!!!! My goal is to have the proofs done by the end of the week and the orders all completed BEFORE SUMMER. Hopefully well before summer. This has already dragged out waaaaaay too long.

Springtime Pix

I finally got some springtime pictures!! These were all taken in Eunice's garden while the kids were inside having their music lessons. While I took pix of the flowers, I of course couldn't resist taking pix of the bees!! I used to run from bees - now I run towards them!!! Anything for a picture, that's my motto.

Today I'm heading over to take pictures of Josiah's turtle. Hopefully I'll have those to share with you tomorrow....

Mango Bird

Mango is Heather's cockatiel. She got him when he was just a baby a couple of years ago soon after Kiwi died. Mango is a lot of fun - when he's not imitating the microwave (just imagine hours and hours of your microwave beeping LOUDLY at you and then maybe, just maybe you will understand how annoying that would be!!). You can read more about Mango Bird on Pom Girl's web page. Enjoy!!

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Dog Coaster

Giant, Lumpy, Marshmallow Mom

On Saturday I hid away in my bedroom and read most of the day. I was WONDERFULLY lazy! :) Actually, every time I came out of my bedroom I noticed that the rest of the house seemed kinda chilly and so back to my room I'd go... It was just too cozy to leave it, and quiet to boot. A combination no mother could refuse! Yesterday I noticed my room was getting rather hot and yet the rest of the house wasn't very warm at all. There was a funny smell in there too... It all seemed pretty weird to me. I never remember my room being warmer than the rest of the house and now it was significantly warmer! Brett checked all the vents... nothing seemed suspicious. Finally he went down to the basement to check the furnace. Sure enough - a broken belt. UGH! So last night he turned it off and told me not to touch it until he was able to get it fixed. The house got colder and colder and colder through the night. I was under my nice thick comforter and on a toasty water bed, shivering away!!! And I had no hope for a better tomorrow! I envisioned myself bundled up in several layers of clothing, looking like a giant, lumpy, marshmallow mom and still chattering away. So I thought... hmmm... I could either keep myself moving, like clean the entire house from top to bottom and maybe that would keep me warm, or I could just LEAVE! But where would I go??? Should I take the kids shopping? Or should I ask my dear friend Martha to have pity on me? She hates the cold almost as much as I do!! (Are you feeling sorry for me yet????) Thankfully, however, Brett has managed a temporary fix. Hopefully temporary means at least until he gets home! But for the moment I am not dressed like the lumpy marshmallow mom (maybe a little frumpy - but not lumpy) and I'm sitting comfortably on my couch typing away!

Complaints from the Fan Club

I have received numerous complaints from my fan club that I haven't been blogging lately... So here I am, back in blog world, attempting once again to satisfy my numerous reader(s) out there. BUT, I need some help from all you adoring fans.... WHAT DO I WRITE?! Ideas anyone???? I've been told that my Xanga site was much, much too serious and, well... The actual word that was used was - "boring"! (I won't mention any names but does the color green, John Deere green to be specific, mean anything to anyone????) I know that there are many creative genius' out there!! I know this cuz many of you have given me some WONDERFUL ideas for my upcoming mid-life crises in a couple of years. :)