May 31, Memorial Day 2010

I do hope you are all having a wonderful Memorial Day weekend. It is in fact, one of my favorites time of the year. It’s almost like hitting the pause button for just a few days to remember and honor those whom Abraham Lincoln spoke about so eloquently when he said, “they gave the last full measure of devotion.”

Abraham Lincoln is in fact my favorite President.

These photos are of the Changing of the Guard ceremony at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier in Arlington Cemetary. My family and friends and I watched in silence. It is somber and weighty, as it should be.

While I’m quoting great men, I wanted to share this with you.

It is the soldier, not the reporter who gives us freedom of the press.
It is the soldier, not the poet, who gives us freedom of speech.
It is the soldier, not the protestor, who gives us the freedom to demonstrate.
It is the soldier who salutes the flag, who serves beneath that flag, and who’s coffin is draped by the flag, who gives the protestor the right to burn that flag.

Spoken by Senior Pastor Hahn in a sermon deliverd yesterday called, “Life Worth Dying For.”

I was incredibly touched.

I hope your weekend is filled with many a hotdog, hamburger, relish and a moment to remember those who gave the full measure of devotion.

May 29, The Joy Of Letting Go

This sweet couple asked me if I would photograph their wedding.

I said no.

There were many reasons for this but the main one was that I didn’t want them to put their most important day in my hands, a mere hobbyist. I was terrified they would look at their photos and say, “What did she do?” I’m sure it had something to do with the insecurities I spoke of yesterday. I also felt I was taking away work from a real photographer, one who does it for a living.

So I asked my friend Danny, who was a real photographer, do the job. And I tagged along to help – and to get the bride a cold drink when she needed it.

They were an adorable and fun couple. I snuck a few photos with my camera anyway and glad I did. Danny did a wonderful job with the wedding. And I know they will cherish the photos.

Happy Memorial Day weekend everyone. Please visit me at Visiona and Verb today or some time during the weekend.

May 28, Diamond In The Rough

Live to Glorify God
Let go of what lies behind
Choose your battles
Don’t be afraid of what people think
Trust God to change other people
Live with margin
Don’t be so hard on yourself
Stop doing things you don’t do well
Remember that God is for you!

A friend of mine sent me that this week. The words move me since they really do apply. They are from 100 Ways to Simplify Your Life by Joyce Meyer.

I suffer from a (not so) mild case of insecurity so that’s perhaps why I don’t like to say no. It is my own stuff that I have to work on. And it is why life gets overwhelming at times.

The one phrase that struck me…Don’t be so hard on yourself. If only I can learn how:)

What am I doing this weekend?

I’m trying out my new vacuum cleaner, paint my coffee table, and catch up on my laundry. Yes, I have a few obligations like a horse show and some Memorial Day invitations. However, I will enjoy myself much more at those things if I have a clean floor. You should see the vacuum cleaner the husband bought me! Now that’s love!

What are you doing this weekend?

See you tomorrow at Vision & Verb.

Out Of Focused Team Thursday

This week’s theme was “Out of Focus.” Since half my photos qualified, I thought, “This should be easy.” However, being out of focus doesn’t necessarily mean a great photo.

I love Kristina’s…it’s very romantic. And I will stop for romance any time.

May 27, Historical Annapolis

The family took me to dinner for Mother’s Day in Annapolis a few weeks ago. I stopped to capture this while the family stood on the other side of the street asking each other, “What is she taking a picture of?”

Well to them it looks like a wall and empty streets. To me it’s art. And an artist never has to explain herself.

Cleanse Your Palette

I hope this bright breen grass will cleanse your palette of the photo I posted an hour ago. It’s like chewing gum after eating a hamburger with onions.

May 26, A Conversation

I posted this photo yesterday on my facebook account and someone said they looked like they were having a conversation and it does, as creepy as that seems.

For you see, they were skinned, beheaded and fried very shortly afterward…then eaten for dinner. The husband took the boat out for the first time yesterday. That means one thing…there will be many more photos of fish on this blog this summer.

Be warned.

The Lost & Confused Boys

I know that many of us worry about the friends our kids choose. After all, it seems that that teenagers listen to their friends more than their parents.

If however, you can whisper softly in their ears and hearts, “God’s with you and I’m watching too,” it will settle into their beings and it won’t feel strange to hug their moms in front their peers and because their friends will also have put God first.

For all of the lost & confused events going on around here, this remains a special time in my family’s life. I’m holding on to it…it disappears way too fast.

Happy Love Thursday on Tuesday. For who knows what Thursday will actually bring.

May 25, Purple Difference

I saw Avatar this weekend. The boy said I would like it and though I was skeptical, I really did. It was fantastic. I’m now inspired to create weird and wild glowing flowers.

It was also nice to spend time with the boy even if it’s just watching a movie together, snug in our livingroom. He’s so distracted now-a-days and I have to schedule mom/son time.

She Cleans Up Well

There aren’t many official “rites of passages” in our culture anymore but I consider the 8th grade dance one of them. Some of the girls in her class have been planning for this dance all year. They bought their dresses months ago. They matched their shoes and their jewelry.

The girl spent the night before in the hay barn.

With her other horsey friends.

Why, hello Kelly-girl!

I was surprised to see that there was no hay in the hay barn. It means that the girls are going to have to do some serious haying soon.

In any case, since the girl then stayed at the farm all day and did two lessons before I picked her up, I thought she may be really tired. At the very least, she was really dirty. But she wanted to go get a dress for the dance that night so we drove to the mall just hours before the dance started. I guess she really didn’t put as much thought into her outfit as some of her other school friends.

She looked beautiful. Her father and I were beaming, we had never seen her in heels before. After extensive discussion, I let her wear some make-up and I have to admit, she looked like a….girl.

When a mom cries, is she happy or sad? As my pastor said a couple of weeks ago, the answer is “Yes.”

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