Caption Contest

This expression from yesterday's photo shoot just begs for a caption...

ideas, anyone?!

Photos of the day

There are some things you imagine....and imagine...and then finally work out! Last fall Alaythia was given this white dress -- and from the first moment I saw it I knew I wanted to take her portrait in a field of dasies!

Tonight was the night. She eagerly donned her dress, then we went out hunting for a field of daisies...with success!

What do you think of the results?!

Justin & Alicia

I think it is the season of love here in Nebraska! I had the delight of doing yet another engagement session yesterday -- aren't they a precious couple?!

Congratulations Justin and Alicia!!!

II Thessalonians 3:5

"May the Lord direct your hearts
into the love of God..."

You will find as you look back upon your life that the moments that stand out, the moments when you have really lived, are the moments when you have done things in the spirit of love.

-Henry Drummond

Josiah & Abi

The news is finally out!! I was asked to take some engagement pictures last week, and have been waiting to post them until the announcement was made -- my brother Josiah is engaged!! So happy!

Congratulations, Josiah and Abi!

[and stay tuned for wedding pictures come September!]

Memorial Day

O! thus be it ever when free men shall stand

Between their loved home and the war's desolation

Bleast with victory and peace, may the Heav'n-rescued land

Praise the Pow'r that hath made and preserved us a nation!

Then conquer we must, when our cause is just.
And this be our motto, "In God is our trust!"

And the star spangled banner in triumph shall wave
O'er the land of the free and the home of the brave!

Fourth verse of the Star Spangled Banner
-Francis Scott Key

A month from today...

I will be boarding a plane -- headed to CHINA!!

Through some amazing turn of events, my sister Rachel and I will be going over with two other friends for seven weeks to teach English. The Lord has already confirmed it over and over again, as well as answering so many prayers and needs; it has been incredible to see and be a part of!

My visa came two days ago...

I have heard that blogs and the whole blogger website is not allowed in China, so I doubt I'll be updating here for the seven weeks I am over there, but believe me -- I will be taking pictures and posting updates upon my return to the United States!! [grin]

Colors

...are the smiles of nature.

-Leigh Hunt

Godly womanhood

...the very phrase sounds strange in our ears. We never hear it now. We hear about every other type of women: beautiful women, smart women, sophisticated women, career women, talented women, divorced women. But so seldom do we hear of a godly woman - or of a godly man either, for that matter...
It is a much nobler thing to be a good wife, than to be Miss America. It is a greater achievement to establish a Christian home than it is to produce a second-rate novel filled with filth. It is a far, far better thing in the realms of morals to be old-fashioned, than to be ultra-modern.The world has enough women who know how to be smart. It needs women who are willing to be simple. The world has enough women who know how to be brilliant. It needs some who will be brave. The world has enough women who are popular. It needs more who are pure. We need women, and men, too, who would rather be morally right than socially correct.

-Peter Marshall

Random Sweetness

Greatness

The beginning of greatness is to be little.
The increase of greatness is to be less,
and the perfection of greatness is to be nothing.

Dwight L. Moody

The craziest

...funniest fridge magnet I ever did see:

Stay thy heart

When you have no helpers, see your helpers in God.

When you have many helpers, see God in all your helpers.

When you have nothing but God, see all in God.

When you have everything, see God in everything.

Under all conditions, stay thy heart only on the Lord."

-Charles Spurgeon

Fhoto Friday

You are probably wondering if I have forgotten about "Fhoto Friday." No, I haven't! But life has been extremely full. And to make up for the absence of photography posts on the Friday's over the past few months, I was really hoping to have a packed post today; but life has a way of changing hopes.

Our wash machine is broken, and for the past eight days we've been trying to get it fixed, with no success. In a family of 15, eight days is the max for going without clean laundry. So this morning I ended up filling three overflowing laundry hampers and four garbage sacks and spent the morning at the laundry mat plugging quarters and washing clothes. And because I don't have much time tonight, you'll have to be satisfied with something short and random. But we have clean clothes -- so you all should be happy, anyway.

I know I am. [grin]




A random heads up:

For those of you who enjoyed the most recent photography class that HP offered, they have begun another one! This time on Camera Composition: changing your perspective. Once again a lot of basics are covered, but if you are a beginner and trying to learn, it is sometimes a challenge to know where to start! Some very excellent material is covered in the little bit of this course that I have seen.

Disclaimer: Due to the class being in progress, I have not been able to preview all the content. Although this site is reasonably safe, I am not responsible for content that is not appropriate. Proceed at your own discretion.

Question & answer:
Where do you develop your pictures? And what is the best quality development you have used?

Currently, I am just using Walmart's photo center, mostly for convenience sake. I know there are several places online that have excellent quality, though I have not taken the time to pursue them yet. [snapfish -- winkflash -- shutterfly -- mpix -- just to name a few.] Since I have not done much in this area at all, I'd love to hear input from the rest of you. What do you use? And what have you found works best? I'd love to hear your comments!

1 Thessalonians 3:12

"May the Lord make you increase and abound in love..."

The true measure of loving God
is to love without measure.

-St. Bernard

Random expression

Vision

not seeing things as they are,

but as they can be.