Photo of the Week

Photo of the Week

I had a really great opportunity pop up last weekend.  A friend asked me to take some family photos for her at the beach.  I'd never considered taking portraits, as I didn't feel like I was any good at it.

But I took the photos.  And I so enjoyed it.  Interacting with people while I'm behind the camera is fun!  The flowers I usually take pictures of aren't quite so talkative!!  I won't say that I talk any less when photographing nature than I do when photographing people, but that's between me and the flowers...

The photo of the week...  I'll bet after that intro you're expecting to see a photo of the family, right?  Well, no dice.  First, I'm still editing photos, and next, I don't feel comfortable about posting pictures of another person's family.  Even if I DID take some good pictures of 'em...  (honk, honk!)

On my way home from the beach, I saw a perfect photo op.  And guess what?  You get to see it too:

And because Mr. Heron was being so cooperative, I kept snapping:

So, there you have it.  Two photos for the photo of the week journal entry!

Side note:  if you're a praying person, would you please pray for me in terms of clear direction from God about my photography?  Thankyouverymuch.  And, if you're not a praying person and would like to be, email me.  I'd love to introduce you to my Jesus!

B3 -- Update #2... and #3

We went back to the doctor yesterday to have The Big Brave Boy's arm x-rayed in his cast.  As you know from BBB's last appointment, we were praying that the bone would not move and that it would be healing well in the lovely, green cast he received last week.

I saw the x-rays today and knew.  Knew with the kind of knowing that makes your heart beat a little faster.  Knew with the kind of knowing that makes your stomach drop and all peripheral noises fade.  


And the doctor confirmed it.  The bone was moving.  And moving quite a bit by the looks of the x-ray.  Be still my pounding heart...


I was not afraid.  God brought peace to my heart and comfort to this momma's soul.  

"So do not fear, for I am with you;

do not be dismayed, for I am your God.

I will strengthen you and help you;

I will uphold you with my righteous right hand."

Isaiah 41:10

And while I was thinking, "Surgery!  Metal pins!  In my baby!", God comforted me, quieted me, and rebuked me, "Be still and KNOW that I am God."  

And that's when the doctor said, "So, we're going to take that cast off, move his arm a bit and re-cast it.  After which, we'll see you in two weeks."

Oh, yes.  I am once again humbled and reminded:  He is God.  And I am not.  

The BBB chose a blue cast this time.  As the corpsman was finishing up, BBB says, "It's too bad you can't mix the colors and have red, white, and blue like the American flag."   

(iPhone Photo -- excuse the quality, please!!)

The Naval Hospital:  where all your casting dreams come true!!


Update to the update:  We were BACK at the Naval Hospital again today because the cast was rubbing in a couple of places.  So, we have yet another cast.  The third in three days...  I feel like we've spent so much time at the Naval Hospital that I ought to add those Corpsmen to my Christmas list!!

Here's to praying that there will be no more updates on The Big Brave Boy for 2 weeks!  

B3 Update

If you visited here late last week or over the weekend, you'll see that The Big Brave Boy had an exciting day on Friday.


Well, today we went to the orthopedic doctor's office.  I was expecting them to say it was a minor break and that they'd leave the splint on.  I was actually thinking I'd ask them to put a cast on the arm because the splint was getting so dirty and dingy looking after only 4 days.


Well, I didn't have to ask...

Not only did TheBoy get a cast (GREEN!), but he received a full-arm cast!  SIGH!!  And, we also received the news that since only one of the bones in his forearm is broken that it can be trickier to heal correctly.   Apparently the unbroken bone can cause movement in the broken bone at the fracture and cause it not to heal correctly.  We now get to visit the Ortho's office on a weekly basis!   If the bone is moving inside the cast and not healing correctly, then "other options" will need to be discussed.  YIKES!


Please continue to pray for TheBoy.  We are praying for God's healing without surgery.  We're also praying for patience for TheBoy.  He is not too thrilled with the lack of activity, nor the lack of range of motion...  Not sure which is a more pressing prayer need at this point!  


The good news?  God already knows all this.  In fact, he prepared me for today with this in my morning Bible quiet time:


"Whatever happens, conduct yourselves in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ."  Philippians 1:27


So, I will conduct myself accordingly:  I KNOW that He is Healer.  And, by His wounds we are healed.  I will not live in the "what if", nor will I be ruled by fear.  I will rest in His comfort, His love, His truth...


PS -- In case you're wondering, I DID have my good camera with me.  Yep, I was prepared.  But, I'm saving those pictures for another day!

OAWP -- Week 2

Because I'm in the middle of figuring out some new photo editing software (grrr!), both of this week's shots are SOOC (Straight Out of the Camera)...

The Big Brave Boy

(Alternate Post Title:  Why You Should ALWAYS Have Your GOOD Camera With You)...


Our week was ending as the previous six have.  With our Co-Op classes.  


Our day was ending as all co-op days have --  


-- with one minor exception:  an unplanned trip to the ER.  Zoinks!

TheBoy.  Playing soccer.  Falling.

Breaking.


           His.


                 Arm!!

When I asked him at the hospital if I could take some pictures with my phone, he reluctantly agreed.  (Yes, this is the point when it would have been nice to have my REAL camera with me.)

When we got home tonight, while eating his "I've been a brave boy" ice cream, he said, "Momma, it's good that you took pictures of me.  Can you put them on your blog?  That way lots of people can know about me."

I was just about to launch into a monologue about being humble, and how famous people don't have perfect lives and blah, blah, blah when he continued,  "Yeah, that way they'll see me and can pray for me.  And prayers are good."

So, here he is on the blog.  And all of you know about him now.  At his request (and Momma's), please pray!


Blessings and thanks from The Big Brave Boy.  
And his Momma -- who has sprouted a few new Greyhairs after today's ordeal!


(If you didn't get the above minor insinuations that I didn't have my Nikon camera handy when this unplanned trip the ER occurred, then it HOPEFULLY became abundantly clear when you saw my not-great-at-all iPhone photos!  Note to self:  Nikon camera is like air.  Necessary in all areas of life.  Carry on your person daily.)

(Oh, and if you think it's less than Mother-of-the-Year of me to have thought, "I wish I had my Nikon" while my boy was dealing with a broken arm, I will defend myself.  His sister and dad were in the room too.  And, there wasn't much to be done while waiting for the doctor's confirmation and treatment of the break (the X-ray techs had already told us it was broken) other than take photos.  And I have taken pictures of all the other momentous events in his life.  Why not this one???  Okay.  I will stop defending myself now.  I need to go and pack my camera in my purse.  Who knows when I'll need it next??)

A Dog's Gotta Do What A Dog's Gotta Do...

When it's raining, and your people won't come out to play,

there's only one thing to do.

Play in the mud puddles.

Not for the fun of the mud.

But for the bath that comes afterwards.

See?  I can get my people to play!

Sorta Fall-ish

Most days, fall still seems a long ways off.

Today, however, coffee was enjoyed on the back porch.  
With only a small bit of sweating.

Do I dare say it?

Could fall be just around the corner?