07/31/07

I don't think I have shown this one before. I know I showed one similar at the beginning of summer. Today was a beautiful day and this one reminded me of outside.

I went to a local park today and took around 200 pictures of my children. lol Bless their hearts... they are having to deal with my need to practice. I had a lot of great shots and now I have to choose what I want and order them. lol

We are having fly issues... I don't know what has caused them to be so bad all of a sudden but this morning I killed around 8 in the kitchen before we had breakfast! Last night Steve killed that many before we went to bed!! They are really aggravating but we are getting good at the fly swatter... as the saying goes "If Noah had been wise, he'd of swatted those two flies!!"

Enjoy your evening. :) I'm going to go see Steve who just got in from working late!!

07/30/07

This flower is in a planter by our garden. I love this picture.. I took it with my new lens and it is so sharp!! It is a really pretty bloom and I like the way the white turns into purple toward the ends of the petals. I have lots of flower pictures I am loving. lol

Let's just say the last few days have been interesting. lol On Saturday, we went to see Steve's Mom for her birthday. We took her and her husband out to eat and on our way back to their house Steve ran over some old wood in the road that he couldn't avoid. No sooner had I gotten out of my mouth that I hoped there were no nails in that mess that the van began to pull to the right something fierce. NOT a good sign. Thankfully, we were stopped at a stop light and when I looked out the window I couldn't believe our tire was flat!! We pulled over into a parking lot and Steve changed the tire to the lovely spare. It was humorous at this point. Well, we travel all around the area she lives only to find we were out of luck past 2:00 for any tire store to be open!! We went back to their house to call the next town over and when we were about to leave we found out we had accidentally locked the van with our keys in it!!!! Steve then had to shimmy the door and open it up with a wire hanger. By the time we found a place to fix the tire we were hoping nothing else would happen! They did manage to fix the tire, thank the Lord, so we didn't have to buy a new one. We were glad to get home....

Yesterday was a nice, normal Sunday. I did work on some things for school. I can tell I am just not ready to go back yet. Horrible, huh? I just really enjoy the less stress of summer.

Today I had to go have a scan done on my gallbladder. I have had issues with it since the spring and decided I needed to have the thing checked out before school starts. Well, it came back that it was working more than what they determine is cause for taking it out. JOY... I have no idea what the doctor will say about it all. I guess I'll just wait and see!! I know when my stress level increases that the pain will probably also. Before the wedding it was really bothering me and it was because of the stress of making sure I photographed everything correctly. lol We'll see!

I haven't photographed anything since Friday and it is bugging me!! I was supposed to photograph our youth pastor's daughter for her one year photos but that had to be cancelled today because of the weather. It was a bit stormy around today. I am hoping to do her next week. Another family talked with me at church yesterday about doing their family and individuals of their children. I am excited about that and hoping to hear back from her soon. I think tomorrow I am going to take the kids out and work on my "out of the box" shooting. They are gonna LOVE me for that!!

In talking with my pro photog. "friend" he says it would be a good idea for me to do a portfolio. I'll have to work on that in the next little bit. I have to decide first what will go in it! I am continuing to ask the Lord for guidance in how and what to do on everything. I don't want to do something that He wouldn't want me to do....

Well, it is time for me to read to the kiddos before bedtime. Have a great day and don't get any flat tires.... he heee

07/27/07

Glad it was Friday! We cleaned and got the house looking better today. :) First of all, though, I went out and took some more shots of the kiddos practicing what I learned yesterday. I had a great time but am finding I still need to think "out of my box." I am learning to do that, though, so that is great. :) These pictures today were taken this morning. I was really tickled with the ones of Mikayla. I took a lot more of her but didn't have time to post all of them! lol Wesley was NOT happy with the grass sticking to his feet so he wasn't in the best of moods. His tractor made him more bearable. lol

The kids cracked me up this afternoon. I was right in the middle of cleaning and kept hearing them be loud and a lot of giggling. I had the radio on while I was cleaning and when I came in they were doing "ballroom" type dancing together. I had to laugh. They were actually pretty good and Wesley even "dipped" Mikayla!! Too funny... I am really enjoying this part of them. I can't tell you enough how wonderful it is to be off for the summer and not be stressed out with the kids. That is really the biggest dread I have of going back to school... my lack of patience at home when school starts. I hate giving my kids the "leftovers."

Off to spend some time with Steve. I am glad he didn't have to work late tonight! Hope you have had a blessed day!

07/26/07

Wow...sorry for not posting in a while. I guess I have been so caught up in my last few "moments" of summer I haven't got on here.

Things have been great.. I have been working on what I have learned with my camera and it is going well. I guess I need to update on what my last post had said regarding my new lens! I did buy a 17-85 Canon lens and it is AWESOME. I traded my kit lens and the other one I had been using and am having the best time learning my new one. It is amazing what I am able to do with this lens that I wasn't able to do with my other. I have included a few shots today to show how sharp it is. Of course, most people are not going to analyze a photograph like me so I know you probably won't see a difference, but I do! LOL

Today I went on a "photography class" field trip with the pro photographer I met at the camera store. WOW....did I learn a lot of stuff! I have to "chew" on it and practice with it but overall I am feeling more confident in what I would do in certain situations. That isn't to say that I still don't have to practice it and all but I just learned a WHOLE bunch. ;)

I am continuing to learn that photography isn't just taking a camera and going out and snapping a picture... it is figuring out where the light is coming from, how much light you have, what you have to do to that light to make it work as well as what you want your photo to do and say!! I am excited about the possibilities in the future. I am continuing to pray for the Lord's hand to be on this and to guide me. He has given me this ability and I want to use it in the right way.

I guess I am beginning to realize I need to start gearing back up for school. This is the first year I haven't already gotten some things done... I think the photography is so on my mind that teaching has been put on the back burner for the time being. You can't learn something new while working hard on another thing at the same time! I knew I HAD to learn this photography over the summer so I could put it more into practice during the school year instead of trying to learn it all.

Here is a shot I took of Wesley and Mikayla's feet... summer feet... not too long ago. (this is not with my new lens, though....) I am entering this one into the fair. I love it. It probably won't win because you never know what the judges at the fair are looking for, but at least I will love looking at it when I get it back!

Steve has had to work late the last couple of nights. I have missed him. The kids have, too.

Well, I need to get some "stuff" done so I guess I need to get off of here. Have a blessed day and thank the Lord for the gifts He has given to you. Without HIM, we are nothing...

07/21/07

Here are a couple of pictures from the park the other day. I just love the toad one. The turtle cracks me up because he looks like he is looking right at me saying "WHAT are you doing?" Wesley was SO excited when he saw the toad. He does love some frogs!

What a day I had yesterday!! I have been praying that the Lord would direct my steps in regard to my camera lenses and the flash. The pro photographer had told me my lens was part of my problem with the focusing issues in those wedding photos. It made some things look "soft" and it wasn't all me. That made me feel better. He also shared with me the flash I had, since it wasn't Canon brand, would not work AS well with my Camera and it would be better to get the right equipment. Anyway, he has been sending me links to different lenses I should try. I almost choked at the prices but I also know that you have to have the right equipment to get what you want in your photographs.

I decided yesterday would be the day I would go see what is out there for myself and try them out so I would know what to buy... that was in my price range! When I got to the camera store, the pro photographer I had been emailing was there! He was SO nice and took me over to the lenses and began trying different ones out on my camera. It was quite humorous. The people who work in the store all know him and he roamed freely around trying to help me. He found a USED Canon flash for my camera. When he asked the guys how much it was they said it was around the same price as the "off brand" I had to buy before the wedding. (The REAL Canon flashes are quite expensive so this was a wonderful find!) Anyway, I traded my "old" (really, new.. hee) flash for the Used Canon flash. He kept telling me it would be a better flash for what I want. I was so thrilled and thanked the Lord for showing me that find!! That made me feel better about my price range for the lens as well.

I have to go back this morning and we are going to compare two more lenses and see which ones will give me the most for my money. I'll trade my old lens when I buy my new one. I am so excited. OH... but we did find yesterday that my AutoFocus on my actual camera does NOT work properly! I thought it was ME, the user... but he used my camera several times yesterday and it did the same thing to him!! I have to send it away to get fixed. I will have to "live without" my camera for around 4 weeks. That is the part that I am not liking but I have to get it fixed. That really stinks... get a new lens and have to wait a good month to really use it. ha!!

I am continuing to pray for the Lord to guide my steps and help me make the right decision today. I know He will...

Last night the kids spent the night with Mom and Dad and Steve and I went out on a date. It was to our favorite restaurant and to Wal-Mart but, hey, we were together and that is all that matters. :) Since he has worked late so much I have truly missed seeing him so I talked his ear off at supper. hee hee

I have a wedding to go to today. I will just be able to walk in and sit down... no running around with a camera in my hand this time. :) One of my best friends is going with me because Steve has to work today/tonight. I am looking forward to hanging out with her this evening. Her daughter and husband are going on a missions trip with their church and they left early this morning.

Well, I need to go get some things done for the day. I hope you have a wonderful one!

07/19/07

I cannot believe it is already toward the end of July. This has been the fastest month!

I haven't gotten on here lately because I have been over-analyzing and trying to figure out what I could do better on those wedding pictures. hee hee.. Told you I would fret over them. I am, thankfully, talking with that professional wedding photographer through email and he has been sharing important information with me. I know people aren't lining up at my door step to become a wedding photographer and that is not my intentions at this point in my life, but I am wanting to LEARN from a professional in a hands-on-way and not always try to figure it out on my own. I am learning, though, that I have leaps and bounds to go before I get as good as I'd like to be. I know that will take years and that all of life is learning. I am spazzing, aren't I? I am just praying for the Lord to direct me and help me know how to handle it all. I don't want to make rash decisions and poor choices in regards to buying equipment or with claiming I am something I am not. I have really struggled with that last part of that statement a lot this past week. When I got the proofs back of the wedding pictures I saw what I already knew. There were issues. Again, I knew it was my first wedding but I guess I wanted perfection. lol Steve thought they were fine but he also doesn't see things I see. It is the "Type A" personality that I have that is coming out. hee heee.. OK, enough of me thinking as I type!

I went out to a local park yesterday morning before it got EXTREMELY hot and shot some photos of nature. (My brother is wanting me to enter the nature photograph contest for our state again this year.) While I love looking at nature and seeing God's Creation up close I know I am NOT the nature photographer next door. I love getting close but not TOO close... know what I mean? he heee.. I did manage to get a few neat pictures, though. The pictures you see today are from my nature walk. I had a gazillion dragonflies I photographed. I guess I'll be known as "the woman who can only take nature photographs of dragonflies." I also found the yellow moth on the leaf that looked like another leaf that had fallen. I would have totally missed it if I had just walked by without really trying to find things. That is the beauty of taking things slow. Enjoy all of those pictures...

Last week at the beach was a great day... one that we will always remember because a storm came up QUICKLY while we were on the beach. If you recall, Wesley has a serious issue with weather/storms. When he saw it coming and we were trying to figure out what to do and where to go he begins screaming that it was a tornado! He was uncontrollable and I look back now and it is quite comical. In the middle of it, though... it wasn't!! I am trying to help my friend load the beach cart with all of our stuff and tell the kids where to go and what to do. The kids are all ahead of us running to the gazebo area at the public access area of the beach. I am in the middle with bags and my friend was behind me pulling the cart. Wesley is still screaming "TORNADO" the entire time. I look back to see the beach cart my friend was pushing falling over into the sand. I threw my bags at Mikayla to take and told the kids where to go and to get there fast and I ran back to help her. As we were getting closer to the gazebo (Yes, Wesley is STILL screaming) the wind starts blowing so hard that sand is hitting us sideways. We JUST make it into the gazebo when the rain starts pelting us all and it starts to hail! We stayed all wrapped up in towels and holding on to our stuff like that for around ten minutes. A lot of people began to leave the beach but we figured we drove 2 hours to be there and we would wait it out. We stayed in the gazebo for 30 minutes or so till we knew the danger had passed and then made it back out onto the beach. It was QUITE the interesting moment. We have laughed and laughed over it since then but during the middle of it there was nothing pleasant about it!!

The storm did help Wesley to see he would be OK and that God was taking care of us in the middle of that storm. I had told Wesley the other night (after the beach episode) when I read the Bible story of Jesus walking on the water and Peter going to Him that Wesley was a lot like Peter. When he takes his eyes off of Jesus when a storm comes up then he starts to sink in his fear. That seemed to make an impact on him because he mentioned it to me the next day when there were storms around. He still has the fear and I know he will have to continually learn to put his trust in the Lord, but the Lord gave me those words to tell him so he would start "chewing" on those thoughts and apply it.

The rest of our day at the beach was awesome. We loved playing in the water and being relaxed. The only problem was all of the sand that we brought home!! That is the only bad part about going to the beach for the day.. you have no place to really get cleaned up and you look (and smell!) horrible. ha!! We went out to eat at our annual restaurant that seats people outside, thank goodness, and enjoyed ourselves immensly. I actually tried something new... I had grilled salmon with crab on top and asparagus on the side. I was so proud of myself and it was SO good... I cleaned my plate big time.

Last Friday we worked on cleaning this house (as we will do the same tomorrow) and I decided it was time to get that garage clean. We worked on it for a couple of hours and I got it all tidy, swept and the toys put in their correct area and all only to see that even today it is beginning to look like it did before I cleaned it. I still have some things to teach it seems... he hee

Today I worked on scrapbooking a majority of the day. I'll probably work on it some more when the kids go to bed. I am now caught up in our family book to the end of May and am glad. I did the page of my surprise to Steve for our anniversary (when I took him to that really nice place and had reservations at our favorite restaurant). Doing those pages actually brought tears to my eyes (corny?... maybe). There was a quote I used on the page that goes something like this "Once in a while, right in the middle of an ordinary life, love gives us a fairy tale." That was the perfect description of our getaway. I don't live an everyday fairy tale but I am as close to it as possible. It just brought wonderful thoughts of Steve to my mind from the way he laughs and has a dry sense of humor to the way he plays with our kids or works in the yard. The everyday, ordinary parts of life that make him my Prince Charming. He is my sweetie!

I need to close for now. I need to have two children read to me before they go to bed! Steve is working late again and I miss him. (I actually fixed supper again tonight so he is in for a surprise when he gets home. ha! I was QUITE proud of my beef stew if I do say so myself!) Anyway, off to hear them read and then read to them before bed. Enjoy the day the Lord has given to you.

07/10/07

A couple more photos from the wedding. I just loved all of the details of what makes a wedding. That is something I didn't have with my pictures in my wedding and I hate that now. Of course, 14 years ago that was not something people thought of much. I wanted to capture everything I could and was so excited when those pictures came out well.

We had some thunderstorms tonight that were something else!! I saw lots of forked lightning which is something we don't see very often. We mainly see the whole cloud like up or the whole sky. It was popping everywhere and I was glad I was inside! We were so thankful for the rain, though, and were not going to complain.

I finished working on the wedding pictures early yesterday and sent them to the parents of the groom. They were thrilled with them which made me thrilled. I know they aren't all perfect but I will learn from my mistakes and move forward to continue to be my best. I ordered the proofs for them today so I am anxious to see them in person. I over-analyze all of my pictures so I know I'll be doing that when they get in. hee hee

I have around 3 weeks before school starts back. I am dreading getting back into the busyness of life. I have so enjoyed the laid back times this summer. Not that everyday has been laid back but that I have been able to be at home and not be crazy all day. I know once I get back into it I'll be fine but the thought of that is not my happy place right now. ha!!!

Tomorrow we are going to the beach for the day with one of my best friends and her daughters. I am looking forward to hearing the sounds of the waves and just being with them. I am praying for a good day and a safe trip.

Steve is working late tonight and the kids wanted a sleep over in Wesley's room. I figured with the storms still around that would be a great idea. I just love my kids. I could eat them up sometimes with some of the ways they look at me or some of the things they say. I still can't believe how quickly they are growing up...

Off to read and eat some carrots. :)

07/08/07

Ahhh... now to relax a while. The wedding is done and I have spent around 12 hours in the last two days tweeking and saving all of the photos. The wedding went REALLY well. I was so thankful to the Lord for helping me the whole day and I truly give HIM the entire credit. I could not have done it without Him. There were some "blubs" in a few pictures as I knew it would. You can't take around 400 pictures and not have some. I tweeked them enough in Photo Shop, though, that they should be fine. Let's just say a majority of the pictures came out well and I am pleased seeing as this was my FIRST WEDDING!! whew....

Wesley and Mikayla did a great job. They were too cute and everyone loved them. They were cracking up the wedding party with some of their brother/sister antics. I was so tickled I could be a part of this special occasion with them. I enjoyed photographing my kiddos... who would have thought that!?? Mikayla was so cute when she was coming down the aisle. No one had really told her yesterday that she should toss the petals. They had told her Friday night that she would do it for the actual day but for practice they wouldn't worry about it. Well, since no one really reminded her she started off down the aisle but quickly turned as they were closing the doors for the bride to ask if she should throw petals. It was the cutest thing and I regret that I didn't capture it. I was so consumed with making sure I got everyone!! I think they had a great day, too, but they were tired. We all were....

I learned quite a bit through experience yesterday. I learned that lighting is not always as it seems. LOL I am not one that can think quickly on her feet, but I had to yesterday and overall did OK. I still have lots to learn in that area, but I know that will continue to grow. I was definitely out of my comfort zone yesterday but as I have said before I know the Lord will use this to help me learn. I already learned some new things in Photo Shop that I hadn't known so that is awesome!!

Even though I was quite tired last night I decided to jump on into the pictures. Because of my focusing on the pictures my house is a disaster and will need to be cleaned tomorrow!!! I am just thankful the pictures are done. Now I can order proofs and see them in print.. and so can the family!! They were really pleased with the few I sent them. I hope they are pleased with ALL of them.

Enjoy these pictures from the wedding. These are some of my creative ones which is my favorite way to photograph.. slow and steady not fast and frenzied. LOL Enjoy! More later as I am cross-eyed from staring at this screen for so long with the pictures. lol

07/05/07

Flowers from the lake are your feast for the eyes today. :)

Two days until the wedding. I am feeling a bit better about it but still "nervous" because I want so badly to do a good job for them. Still looking online at wedding photographs to get ideas. I did get the ideas they wanted tonight and some of them were what I knew they would want and then they gave me other things. I am glad to have it. I am getting excited now, though, and am looking forward to making their day special. I still have a few more lighting issues, but I should be alright. This afternoon I was walking around the house working on my manual focus. LOL Steve looked at me like I had lost my marbles. Tomorrow is the rehearsal dinner. The tie I ordered for Wesley came in today and it is going to look PERFECT with the other guys outfits. I am so tickled. Mikayla will look like a princess. We worked on her hair last night and she is going to look beautiful. She is getting excited. Wesley is still kind of clueless as to what he'll be doing. He is so funny. I saw the bride's dress tonight and it is beautiful. I can't wait to photograph it. :)

Yesterday was July 4th and we celebrated with friends. We had a great time and tried to shoot off some fireworks but me and my friend were too nervous and when two of them exploded too soon we said it was time to quit. We decided to finish watching all of our neighbors as we sat on the back deck. HA!! We ate homemade icecream while watching the fireworks and it was great. I enjoyed the evening. It was actually a nice breeze blowing last night... one of those nights you think of sleeping outdoors if it weren't for all of the bugs and other critters. :)

Off to try to make my mind stop thinking so I can go to sleep! Have a wonderful day!

07/03/07

I played around with Photo Shop today to learn some blurring techniques. I took a photo of Mikayla and played with the coloring and then did a guassien blur on it. (I think I spelled that correctly!) This was the first time I had played with it and I just thought it turned out awesome! This picture was sweet to me before but after I added more color and the blur I really loved it. I think I may make a print of this one! (you will probably need to click on the last two to make them larger so you can see the difference.)

Well, four days and counting till the wedding. lol I went up to the church again today to get some more lighting issues "solved." I am still having a hard time with doing closeups by our church windows because they are green stained glass. They give a green tint on some and if I try a different color tone for the picture they turn out orange. I'll just keep working on it. I did figure out a few more things about my flash today that helped. I will say that this whole experience has forced me to learn more about my camera and about PhotoShop. For that, I am grateful. See, I told you all the Lord is stretching me to learn more. ha!!

I am all alone tonight. Mikayla went for a sleepover at her best buds house and Wesley and Steve are gone golfing. Mom asked me if I wanted to come up to eat with them tonight and I gladly accepted. It is nice to be alone for a while but at the same time I don't like it. All I hear in this house right now is the fish tank filter!!!

I ate sushi last night! It was the cooked variety but it was great! One of my best friends took me out for my birthday. We went to an asian restarant named "An" and it was super. (You can click on the name and see the web site.) Let's just say it was totally different from anything I have ever eaten before but it was fabulous. We then went to see the movie Evening. It was a good movie but not the best I had ever seen before. It was one of those that left you thinking what went on after the movie was over. ha! Anyway, I totally enjoyed the time I spent with my friend. That is what meant the world to me for my birthday.

Well, enjoy the photos for today. When I get my sushi picture uploaded I'll share that. (Yes, I was a nerd and took my camera in to get a photo of the sushi. hee he)

07/01/07

You wouldn't believe how many pages on photography I have read this week or pictures I have studied. I am now at less than a week for taking photographs of this wedding and I am feeling confident yet scared to death. How can I have both of those feelings at the same time???? Ack! I have gone up to the church a couple of times already to get my lighting right. I still have some work to do this week so that isn't done. My friends keep telling me to stop worrying but when you know this is someone's wedding day you don't want to take it lightly! I do everything I can with the knowledge that I need to do it my best. I know the Lord has allowed me to do this to stretch me and to learn and so that is what I am trying to do. I know the Lord will be with me and calm these nerves of mine.

This past week we went to one of our friends house for the day. We had the best time with them and I got experimental with fruit in a bowl. Silly, maybe, but did I have fun adding fruit...OH YEAH. My friend (Hey, Kathryn!!!!) laughed at me but also got into the "photo shoot." It was such a wonderful day of sitting around and talking and laughing. It is so wonderful to be able to share what the Lord is doing in our lives and know someone understands. God is so good to give us friends. Enjoy these pictures I created of blueberries, cherries and bananas. :) I was tickled with them.

I am showing a few more pictures from our time at the lake last Sunday. The first picture is of a bird that is a GREEN HERON (Steve's Dad and Step-Mom need to know that info. hee hee) I had to ask my brother about it. He was impressed with my photo even though it isn't one that is prize worthy. For my continued learning of how to photograph nature, I was tickled. I didn't dress appropriately for wild nature shots. I had on a bright orange shirt with my capris... not exactly the kind of camouflage clothing I needed. Ha!! I waited on their deck for a long time waiting for a blue bird to come out of this bird house. Well, I sat and sat and then another bird distracted me for LESS than a second... guess where that bluebird went??? OUT of the house without me photographing it. Oh well.... I got a pretty shot of the bluebird house. ha! This other picture is from their house as well. This butterfly was enjoying the dahlias and I was enjoying watching it through my camera lens. I captured this shot and was SO tickled with it. This was my favorite shot of the day. (you can click on them to see them bigger)

Tomorrow we plan on going swimming with one of my best friends and her girls. She is also taking me out tomorrow night for my birthday. I am going to try cooked Sushi... her orders. hee he. I will take my camera along, of course.

Oh, please continue to pray for our former Youth Pastor's wife, Lora. Today was the first day that she was at church following all of the funeral services and everything. I admire her a great deal and know the Lord is helping her through the trial of Mike's passing. She is a testimony (as well as her in-laws) to the strength the Lord can give you through the trials we face. Her life is going to be so different now, but God's sustaining GRACE will take her through each day moment by moment. She is in my thoughts a lot now.

I should go see what my family is up to. I think they went to feed the dogs. I believe I need to go eat a little bit of supper as well... Have a wonderful evening and take time to thank the Lord for the gifts He has given you as well as how blessed He has made your life.