Caught you!! March 25, 2010

Been a couple busy days, cutting mats for photos and then matting nearly 50 prints. Not as much time as I'd like to shoot photos. There is always a subject outside my patio door however. Most often birds and fairly often my little squirrel friends. Now that temps are warmer I try to carefully and quietly open the sliding glass door enough to stick my lens outside. Sometimes it works and sometimes all the birds fly away. Such was the case today, the birds scattered buy my friend held his place in the tree. I'm off for the weekend, going to a retreat in Wisconsin, bring some of my photos along for a small exhibit/sale. This is a yearly treat for me and am looking forward to seeing friends I haven't seen since last year! It's beautiful there too near the St Croix River, hoping to stop by a waterfall I know. If I can, I'll share some pics next week!
Blessings~

Something New! January 1, 2010

Squiggles, originally uploaded by picturethepromises.

I have so enjoyed getting acquainted with my new camera the past several months. Shooting with a DSLR is so very different from shooting with my little point and shoot. I use the Auto setting most of the time but venture out every now and then to the M setting. In Colorado, I tried to get the smooth looking water, some of them turned out fine. Today we celebrated Christmas with my oldest son and his new wife. I found the "bulb" setting and we had fun playing!

It's good to step outside one's comfort zone, to try something new, to learn something new. We have a brand new year ahead and it's like a field of freshly fallen snow. Each day we can leave a footprint in the snow. Where shall we step today and what new things will we experience? I want to explore the entire field, leave my prints all over the place. I don't intend to miss a thing.
Blessings~

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~

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