The End December 31, 2009

The End, originally uploaded by picturethepromises.

Here it is, the very last sunset of 2009. The last sunset I will see, experience, enjoy, and photograph this year. It represents so much more. Not only is this the end of the day, it is the end of the year, the end of a decade, maybe the end of an era. In our ever changing world we can count on one thing; change. Two things actually, change and an unchanging God. I'm glad that no matter what tomorrow holds or what the year ahead holds, My Father God who has loved me these 52 years with an unending, unchanging and unconditional love will continue to Hold me safely yet tenderly in the palm of his mighty hand.
Welcome 2010!
Blessings~

Open it! December 30, 2009

Open it!, originally uploaded by picturethepromises.

The new year is fast approaching. The old will soon be gone and the new will have arrived. Sometimes it's good to shut the door on the past, to leave it behind. But it can be scary to move into the future. The door to tomorrow may not look like one we want to open. Is it safe? Will I like what's behind that door? Am I going thru alone? New years and new doors often mean change. I choose not to fear the change but to embrace it. Behind that beat up old door I will find challenges and change, the familiar and new adventures. I can't wait to open the door. How about You?
Blessings~

Somethings Missing December 29, 2009

Late December Day, originally uploaded by picturethepromises.

After a Christmas Blizzard we were finally able to drive to northern MN to celebrate Christmas with my mom, dad, sister and her family. We arrived before lunch and that afternoon I needed to go for a little walk. (Mom always feeds us very well!) It was cold, but a beautiful afternoon. A couple years ago I took a similar photo but this year there were a couple things missing. The beautiful barn that had been there finally lost it's battle with gravity. Here is a shot taken on a blustery day. http://www.flickr.com/photos/9199449@N08/2144179488/in/set-72157603198719734/ and this is a closer look http://www.flickr.com/photos/9199449@N08/2162139649/in/set-72157603198719734/. Also missing is this wonderful old pickup http://www.flickr.com/photos/9199449@N08/2039768268/in/set-72157603212215570/.

Looking towards a new year you may notice some things that just aren't there anymore. Children off to college, a job no longer yours. Broken relationships or loved ones passed on. Our stuff gets old or we have too much so we sell it, throw it or give it away. Sometimes it can be a good thing to remove "clutter", sometimes loss is just plain painful. When I look at this scene, I know what is missing and there is sadness for what's been lost but I also see beauty and potential for the future. Sometimes we can work to restore what's missing, like a broken relationship. Sometimes we have to accept the reality of loss and move forward. It is my prayer for you that as you let the past year slip away you'll find beauty and potential in the year to come.
Blessings~

After....December 28, 2009

After...., originally uploaded by picturethepromises.

I took a few photos today just before sunset. That is my favorite time of day, my favorite light to shoot by. Much of the landscape in this area is flat, flat, flat. No hills, mountains, buttes, waterfalls or lakes. Lots of land as far as the eye can see. In the summertime this field may be filled with wheat or beans or beets or corn. We watch the little plants pop thru the soil in rows. They grow and grow and soon we have the beautiful colors of fall when the crops are ready for harvest. Then comes the winter. Sky and snow. But if you look for it you can find the beauty. I have two shots like this on flickr. One of them is right out of the camera. Nice...
This one I enhanced using picasa. I hit the auto contrast button and the auto color button. I liked what I saw. Sometimes it's ok to add a little color, a little drama to the ordinary of living.
Blessings~

Note: if you click on the photo, it will take you to my flickr account, you can compare the two photos.

Sticks December 27, 2009

Sticks, originally uploaded by picturethepromises.

After several gloomy days, snow, wind, blizzard conditions, no travel, drifts, ice and on and on, we finally got a glimpse of the sun this evening! I first noticed a glow on some buildings across the street. I threw on my coat, boots, cap and gloves and headed outdoors with my camera. At first I was just going to shoot the buildings across the street but the colors at the edge of town so enticed me I decided to take a little walk. The winter sky kept changing, just when I thought I had missed the sunset, the colors would change again. I chose this one for the One a Day set because I liked the colors. Sometimes these trees bug me because they block my view of the sunset. Sometimes I love the way they stand guard, tall, mostly straight , working together, sticking together. They add texture, color and interest to my photo. I hope you have some "sticks" like that in your life, some who will stand with you, stand tall, stand guard, working with you, sticking by you. Some who add texture, color and interest to your life.
Blessings~

Whose Party is it anyway? December 26, 2009

Pining, originally uploaded by picturethepromises.

I don't know about you but I get so caught up in the frenzy before Christmas, I sometimes look at the calender on December 26th and say to myself, it's over and you missed it! Growing up, we set up and decorated our real tree on Christmas eve. That was when the party started. Of course mom had all kinds of goodies prepared, cookies, breads, lefse and more! But our "Christmas Programs", company, caroling, and general celebrations took place from Dec 23rd or 24th thru the new year. We never threw the tree out til near the end of January. I think I liked it that way better. I celebrate Christmas, the birth of Jesus my savior. It's His party. Sometimes I feel like we start without Him and by the time His day arrives, we are partied out and movin' on.
There is a new year on the horizon and I want to live it with a little different mindset. Rather than prepare all year for Christmas, I want to celebrate a little Christmas everyday. With a thankful heart, peace in my soul and the Joy of the Lord as my strength, I will celebrate the Babe in the manger and trust the Christ of the cross.
Blessings~

Happy New Year December 25, 2009

Happy New Year, originally uploaded by picturethepromises.

Christmas is fast fading and will soon be just memories. The moments of our lives come and go quickly. The memories fade, the details can get fuzzy. Sometimes we look back, longing for what has been. Sometimes we look forward waiting for what is to come. I want to stop and immerse myself in the moment, the here and now. I want the memories of the past to be sharp because I was in them. I want whatever the future holds to entice and inspire me, so that when the future comes, I am delighted by the here and now.
Remember yesterday, be present in the present and wait with anticipation for tomorrow.
Blessings~

A cold winters night (chrismas eve in ND) December 24, 2009

A cold winters night (chrismas eve in ND), originally uploaded by picturethepromises.

Christmas Eve was a cold winters night!! We celebrated with my Husbands mom and sister who live just next door while outside the "Christmas Blizzard of 2009" was just getting started. I headed home just before midnight and looked back from my driveway. The front lights shone on the wintery night, helping me safely find my way home. It was beautiful and I tried to capture the mood. Not so beautiful the next morn, snowed in and unable to get to my parents home to celebrate Christmas!
It was a beautiful evening anyway!
Blessings

My wishes for all of you! December 23, 2009

My wishes for all of you!, originally uploaded by picturethepromises.

One thing I want to learn to do is really understand the manual setting on my camera. I have been trying to use it more instead of the Auto setting, the more i do, the better i understand......Of course there is a lot of trial and error but I learn best by doing. I love Bokeh so that was one thing I was aiming for in this photo. I'd love to hear what you think!
Blessings~

Misty wishes! December 22, 2009

Misty wishes!, originally uploaded by picturethepromises.

I started a project 365 a couple years ago and got almost one third of the way thru the year! you can check it out at http://www.flickr.com/photos/9199449@N08/sets/72157603601204850/ I don't remember why I stopped, life just got busier for a time I suppose. I learned a lot about my camera, I also started looking at the world around me differently. I looked at things wondering if this or that would make a good photo. That was a habit I built in those 100 plus days that I continue today, even when I don't shoot for days! So I am going to do something similar. I'm calling it One a Day and if I am able to shoot at least one photo each day, I will. I'll post it here on the blog and add it to my set on Flickr as well. If i miss a day or several, that's ok. I have thousands of images on Flickr and will choose one of my faves from the past and post it here. The goal is to think photography everyday, to look at the moments of my life as if the camera was always in my hand. And them maybe it will be more often!

My first entry is one of our kitties Misty. She hopes you all had a Merry Christmas and a wonderful New Year in the Making!
Blessings~

Texture

Day 6 of 365 has been a long dreary rainy day. I prefer to photograph outdoors so today was a challenge to think of something fun to photograph. I walked by my hutch and saw these leaves laying inside with my antique glassware. We picked them up in Washington state a few years ago because they were huge. This one is larger than my hand. I propped it up against a dark blue glass plate just under the hutch light. I shot in Priority mode with no flash and hand held. I like it, especially the texture of the veins. The only editing was to crop just a bit.

*note* if you click on the image you can view the original size, the textures and detail are cool!

Blessings All~

My Grapes

Day 5 pf 365. It's fall and that means that it is harvest time. These are my grapes. We planted 4 vines more than 20 years ago and each year they are a little sweeter. They are small with seeds but we don't usually just eat them. It is time to pick them (before the birds do) wash them and freeze them. Later this winter I will pull them out, cook them in just a little water and then squish them thru the colander, strain them and make jelly that that famous company would be jealous of! I think I need a pnut butter and jelly sandwich !

Blessings All

Middle C

Day 4 of 365
We spent the day at the Western Minnesota Steam Threshers Reunion or WMSTR in Rollag Minnesota. Steam Engines, antique tractors, horse farming, womens' activities (like lefsa, fry bread, carmel rolls, rommegrott !) log houses, a train, old time music, and tons more cool stuff to see! We stopped in the church for a little music and there was a wonderful old pump organ. I lifted the lid to the keys and found them in great condition. I've seen something similar to this done and loved it. Not original but I took the opportunity when presented. The second is my favorite, but I liked all of them.

I took over 250 photos today~can I just use them for the next 250 days? There are many fun ones I would love to share with you.........

Blessings All~

Blue Moon..........

Day 3 of 365 September 5th, 2009. I know, another moon, same as yesterdays pic. A beautiful moon, a nice evening and a clear sky don't always present themselves together so I took advantage of the three coming together. It was another opportunity to play with the manual settings and experiment some. I can read about f stops and shutter speed but actually shooting and comparing photos is how I learn.

The moon is mysterious, interesting, beautiful, out of reach, and part of a world most of us can only view from our windows, driveways, or yards. We can tell it our secrets and share our dreams. There is something about capturing the moon in a photo~that way it always belongs to us.

Blessings All~

There's a Moon Out Tonight

Okay, the day is nearly done and I have no pic yet for Day 2 of 365 September 4, 2009. I grab my camera and head outdoors. Too late in the day for flower pics, so I jump in the car and head for the country road where I like to watch the sun set. Another sunset~only there are never two the same right? I took sunset pics, tons of them, some of them I really liked too. I finished up and turned around and there on the eastern horizon was a rising moon. Of course I didn't have my zoom lens or my tripod so I hurry home and grab the rest of my gear. (Always take everything because you just never know!) I got back out to my country road and got a few shots. I tried some on auto and then played with manual settings. This is something I am learning more about so it was a good exercise. There were a couple I liked but chose this one because you can see the lights on the antenna. It was one of the ones I shot in the manual mode.

Blessings

Okay, I accepted a challenge to take at least one photo every day for the next 365 with the hopes of improving my photography skills. The challenge is to pick up my camera every day, to try something new, something different, new angles, different light, different subjects. I plan to post them here on my blog. Here is my first pic for Thursday September 3, 2009. I know, not so "unusual" but supper last evening was very tasty!

Blessings All~

Chosen

I recently spoke at a women's retreat with the theme being "Pearls for a Princess". Over the course of 2 days we looked at some of the "perks" or "pearls" of being a daughter of the King of Kings and Lord of Lords. God showed me so much about His incomprehesible love for me as I prepared. I want to share some of that insight and His grace with you. This is the first pearl~~

GOD CHOOSES US~FIRST!

I was a quiet kid, shy and reserved. I remember at family events and in school, my peers would decide to play a game. Team captains were named and they then would "choose up sides". I can remember standing there waiting, turn after turn to be chosen. I wanted to be picked too! Eventually I would be, one of the very last. My friends knew I would be of no use to them on their team. I couldn't throw a ball, catch a ball or run very fast. I probably didn't even know the rules to some of the games. I was finally picked because someone had no other choice!

I know of adults and kids alike who feel that way, not just over a game but in life. I've felt that way many times, maybe you have too. Our hearts are crying "Choose me, choose me!" and we wait and we wait. We wonder if anyone will ever choose us because they really want us.

Someone did, His name is Jesus. He has chosen me, and He chooses you. And instead of being chosen last because we are the only one left, we are chosen first! Ephesians 1:4 says this "For he chose us in him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in his sight." (NIV). Did you get that? Chosen BEFORE creation. Before the sky, the sea and land, before the mountains and stars, before the creatures on land, in the sea or in the sky, before a single blade of grass, piece of fruit or delicate flower ever came into being; HE CHOSE ME AND HE CHOSE YOU! He loves us, loved us before we ever came into being and desires to have us as his own. He wants you and me "on his team". If you have a personal relationship with Jesus, then you are a daughter of the King of Kings, his princess, so take heart, even when the world rejects us, shuns us or just plain forgets us, we have been chosen before the creation of the world. If you don't have a relationship with him, you can, he's waiting too, waiting for you to call on him. Blessings~Faylin

White as Snow

For many the pure white newly fallen snow is gone. For you it may have been replaced by green grass and tulips. For me it has been replace by dirty snowbanks, ice, mud and the threat of major flooding in the coming weeks. I look out my window and see the mess; the yard to be cleaned and the garbage strewn from the blizzards this winter. It's hard to remember the beauty of the fresh fallen snow.

My life is like that too. I know the redemptive power of God's love and the supernatural cleansing of my soul by the sacrificial death of Christ on the cross. I have been made clean by the shed blood of Jesus. But if you were to look closely at me, at my life, at my walk, it does not always appear to be so. There is dirt, mud sometimes, and ice. I allow garbage to be strewn about and I am too lazy or too proud to ask God to help me clean it up.

I am so sick of the dirtiness outdoors. I am ready for something new. Grass, leaves, flowers, sunshine, birds, butterflies. I am waiting on God to bring the new season about. That is true in my soul as well. I have allowed worldliness to soil me. O Jesus, I cry out for your touch, for refreshing! The Psalmist cried out to God "Cleanse me, search my heart and see if there be any wicked way in me and lead me in the way everlasting! " Time in His word daily reminds me of my need for renewal. He is faithful when I am not, he cleans me up, and then brings newness, life, growth, blessings everyday.

Maybe you feel the grime of the world as well. Mud on your boots, ice in your soul, garbage everywhere. Call on Jesus, he longs to bring you newness, refreshing, hope. He loves you, He proved it on a cross at Golgatha. His red blood covered our sins and made them white as snow, trust Him.

Blessings~Faylin

Wait, and Let God

I don't know about you but I don't like to wait. I don't like to wait for my coffee to finish brewing, I sneak a cup before the pot is full. I don't like to wait for my kids or my hubby, I am always trying to hurry them up. I get impatient when I have to wait for a light to turn green and right now I CAN"T wait for summer to get here!

I am learning however the benefit and blessings that come when we wait. If I stop to wait for a bird at the feeder, I see so much more of God's creation right there in my back yard. Waiting for the bloom to open on my orchid builds anticipation. Waiting for my children to tell me what's on their minds in their own time will reveal so much more than if I pressed them to tell me anything!

God too wants us to wait, not for Him but on Him. For me it means letting God. Letting Him meet my needs in His own way and in His own time. He knows more fully what I need anyway. He knows the best way to meet that need whatever it is. So when I want to hurry up and solve some problem, meet my own needs or start demanding answers, I am reminded of this verse. Wait for the Lord. Wait ON the Lord, it takes strength to sit on my hands and let God. How about you, are you longing for a situation to be resolved? Are you looking for answers to some struggle you are in the midst of. Be strong, take courage, and wait for the Lord. He's waiting for you to let God.

Blessings~Faylin

Photo by Faylin Myhre please respect copyrights

A Certainty in Uncertain Times

We live in such uncertain times don't we? This is nothing new. There have been seasons in history that were prosperous, with much growth; happy times. Other seasons we recall were dark, fearful times.I love what Isaiah tells us in this verse. It reminds me that everything in this life is transient. Nothing of this world lasts forever. There are only two things that are eternal. First, God and his word. Second, the human soul.

When I consider who and what to trust, the eyes of my heart look to God and His Word. His wisdom does not change regardless of the times we live in. He has given me a written testament to His love, His will and His wisdom. It is in the pages of His eternal word that I find what is needed to tend my eternal soul. Is your day, your week, your life filled with uncertainty, spend some time in the eternal certainty of God's love. Spend a little time in His Word.

Blessings~Faylin

Photo by Faylin Myhre, please respect copyrights

Something New!

Ok I have a blog! This is my first entry, just had to give it a go. This day is done but soon a new one will begin. It is a blank slate, ready for us to leave our mark. What kind of mark will we leave. One that is harsh, grating, hurtful, destructive? Or will we touch lives with mercy, love, kindness, forgiveness, grace. I choose to extend mercy to those who hurt me. I choose to love the unlovely and to forgive those who offend me. I choose to touch the lives of those whose lives touch mine with grace. I acknowledge that it is not in me to do this, only by the grace and mercy of my savior can I reach out to those around me. He has called me to it, and He gives the power by His spirit to follow thru.

Touch someones life today with grace. I Thess. 5:21 The one who calls you is faithful and he will do it!
Blessings~Faylin