Ten on Tuesday

Is anyone still reading this blog???  H-e-l-l-o??  I've been a bit preoccupied lately with life.  Last week was one of those weeks where I had something to do every night after school.  And running from one thing to the next can leave a girl a bit exhausted and this blog left untouched.  Sorry for my unexpected absence.

So here are a few random things that have been going on in my life lately:

1.  Our school has already had homecoming week.  We always have a spirit week and each day comes with its own theme.  Tuesday's theme was Nerd Day.  So Hannah and I embraced our inner nerds and donned our best nerd outfits. 

2.  Hannah played in the annual powder puff football game.  It was the Freshman and Juniors vs. the Sophomores and Seniors....the Sophs and Srs. creamed our girls...it was ugly...these girls could play football and look cute in the process!

3.  Rachel came home for homecoming!  We were so glad to see here!

4.  Rachel brought her roommate home too and we were glad to get to spend time with her too: 

5.  And with the girls came about 7 loads of dirty laundry!  This was just the second load but I didn't mind.  My washing machine was happy and so was this momma.

6.  Rachel slept until 11:30 Saturday morning.  I could hardly wait for these gorgeous eyes to open!

7.  Hannah was asked to homecoming by 5 different guys.  Be still my heart!  I am thankful that she said yes to one of the sweetest guys in school. *Update:  2 asked as 'friends'...there I feel better!

8.  I am taking a new photography class.  And while it is very much pushing me to the limits, I am really liking the difficulty of this class.  I had to apply to get in...and just when I thought I might not be accepted, I was.  Delight! When I am not busy being a wife and momma, teacher, and photographer, you will find me putting my photography assignments into practise.  One of the assignments was to play with dramatic lighting.  I thought this idea was fun and I did it with a simple table lamp:

9.  Who would have thought that a little weed could be so beautiful?  Love the lighting of this image:

10.  Homecoming was two weeks ago...that is how far behind I am in blogging my life. Oiy!  I still haven't posted pictures from our trip to Cibolo Creek but I hope to do so soon.  I think that is all for now.  Thanks for dropping by my little corner of the world!

Happiness is

teaching your youngest daughter to ride the four wheeler and watching that beautiful smile that goes from one ear to the other and seeing her beautiful hair blowing in the wind.

Enjoy the Caterpillar Years....

...because all too soon they will turn into butterflies, take flight, and soar!  And watching them soar is a great joy.  After my haircut last night, Hannah and I called Rachel on our drive home.  My suburban has hands free calling so Hannah and I could both talk to Rachel.  She told me to hang on a second as she made her way to the dorm hallway and then her voice cracked a little bit.  I asked her if she was okay and then she told me about her day and dinner in the cafeteria.

Rachel explained that there was a senior girl who had gone through the cafeteria line and was trying to find a place to sit.  Rachel noticed that she was by herself, and feeling the prompting of the Holy Spirit,  she asked her to join them.  The senior seemed relieved to have a friendly place to eat a meal.  Rachel noticed the girl looked very sick and soon realized that this senior girl has cancer.  I cannot even begin to imagine.

She and Rachel enjoyed visiting but others at the table did not.  In fact, they started texting one another about why was this girl sitting here, etc. and laughing.  Naturally, that made dinner a bit awkward and left Rachel broken hearted for this senior girl and for the girls who were exhibiting mean-girl behavior. 
I listened as my daughter cried through her story and ached to get my arms around her to give her a hug.  Hugs just aren't the same through a computer screen via Skype or through a phone conversation.  Instead, I asked God to wrap His great big arms of love around her.  I told her that we are so proud of her and that her Heavenly Father is too.  She quickly added, "Momma, I didn't tell you this story for you to be proud of me, all I did was ask her to sit with us."  To which I encouraged, it was way more than that, and her humble heart knows this too.  I fully believe the Lord ordained a special opportunity for Rachel to reach out to a fellow student that needed a bit of encouragement....and Rachel said yes to the opportunity.  The other girls simply said no.

Why am I telling you this story?  Yes, I am a proud momma....proud of how Rachel responded and thankful that her heart was sensitive to this senior girl and to others who didn't respond in the same way....but there is more to my purpose.  God presents opportunities to each one of us every day.  And we have the option of saying yes to His leading or no to Him and yes to ourselves.

I see it everyday at school.  And the ones who say yes to those Holy opportunities shine like the stars. To be honest, in my lifetime I am guilty of choosing both.  Thankfully, even in the times I said no to the Lord's prompting and yes to myself, He offered a second chance and still risks His name on me over and over again.

We are called to be like Christ, not in only the big things that the world sees, but in the small too...when we feel like no one is watching.  What a monumental task, being called to be like Christ is.  I am thankful that we don't have to do it in our own power....my week has been proof that that kind of mindset only leaves one tired, frustrated, spent, and exhausted.  We can be like Christ because He somehow enables us to do what He has called us to do. Oh, what a Saviour!


Speaking of enabling, a blog that I love to read shared this link today:  http://www.fromdatestodiapers.com/50-rules-for-dads-of-daughters  It is a list of 50 rules for dad of daughters. 

I loved reading the list, written by a dad for dads.  I found myself grinning and reminiscing as I made my way through the list thinking about my wonderfully incredible dad.  I giggled out loud when I got to #19 that says teach her to change a flat tire.  My dad did that...he did all of the rules on the list and so much more.  I love my dad so much!  I love the daddy of my daughters so much too.  I think there is a new movie coming out soon about dads being courageous to be what God has called them to be.  I can't wait to go see this movie!  It sounds like a good movie for all of us...being courageous to be what God has called us to be. 

Some Days...

...you just have to:

And this week has already been one of those weeks. A week where I feel I might lose my witness if I react the way I would really like to act....on a week where I would really like to curl up in a ball and cry like a baby because I miss my college daughter so much it hurts....a week where I am tired of being creatively copied or in an unseen competition with another person (there is room for all of us)....on a week where I feel like I am singing Adam Lambert's, "What Do You Want From Me," song as my theme song in my head all day long....and I could go on and on but I'll stop there (too much info already). 

Moral of the story:  I am tired (my mom told me that last night and true to her normal full-of-wisdom self, she is so right) and life is far from normal getting adjusted to not seeing our daughter everyday.  What is that saying about "normal" just being a setting on the dryer?  Ha!  It's time to give a little thought to myself and to slow down a bit. Lately I've been running through myself so I didn't have time to think about how much I miss Rachel...is that working for me?  I checked my attitude and my answer is a big fat NO!

So this morning I painted my fingernails red (my favorite color), put on one of my favorite dresses and jewelry to match, had my time with the Lord (best way to start a day), ate blueberries with my cereal (yum!), and made the largest glass of iced coffee ever! Attitude adjustment here I come!

I'm thankful the Lord loves me too much to leave me this way.  And instead of getting a spiritual spanking like I expected this morning, He offered encouragement instead.  What a Savior! 

Nope, I am far from myself these days...but I'm thankful God is still on the throne in my life....and my heart wants my life to reflect that in every situation....so I'll try my best to see as He sees and to act like He would act because that's far better than how I would like to react right now!

And sweet Rachel of mine, if you are reading this:  I couldn't be more proud of you!  Thank you for your sweet visit home this weekend.  It did this heart of mine a great deal of good...until you had to drive back to school.  You are soaring so beautifully and it is my joy to watch from the sidelines...I'll find my groove eventually so don't give this a second thought.  Go be what God has designed for you to be and He will take care of the rest...including your mother!

Fall/Christmas Mini Sessions!

These mini sessions are perfect for updating family photos and for Christmas cards!


Friday Evening Sessions (October 7th): Old building and Field location: 6:30, 7:00, 7:30, 8:00

Saturday Morning Sessions (October 8th): Old truck with hay bales and pumpkins in a field: 8:30, 9:00, 9:30, 10:00

Saturday Evening Sessions (October 8th): Location TBA: 6:30, 7:00, 7:30, 8:00

The "Y" Family {A Sneak Peek}

This past Saturday evening, I was blessed to photograph this incredible couple.  I brought my man with me to help hold the reflector if I needed and because he wanted to go with me....which I loved!  I have had this date marked on my calendar and I have counted down the days.  This couple has an Amazing ranch and I could hardly wait to take their picture.

From the moment we stepped foot on their land we felt so welcome and my jaw was permanently set with the Oh-my-goodness-gracious-this-is-a-photographer's-dream-location expression!  I took over 300 photos of them and their land and I could have taken hundreds more...but I didn't want to wear out my welcome.  Ha!

This couple loves each other!  I mean, my camera was smokin' because of the love they share for each other.  They told us how they met and so many other wonderful stories.  I laughed until I nearly cried when she told us about their wedding.  She really needs to write all of this down; I think it would be a best seller!

"Y" family, we loved spending time with you this past Saturday evening.  Thank you for your gracious hospitality and for being so willing to walk all over your homestead with me.  I hope that you enjoy your sneak peek!

Mr. Y and his dogs.  They are all stray dogs and will follow him anywhere.  A cowboy and his dogs....love it!

This is a special horse, Rusty.  I believe Rusty is over 35 years old.  We had to get pictures of the two of them together.  Rusty loves her nearly as much as Mr. Y.  She is one blessed lady!

It's A Random Friday Post

Yay!  It's Friday.  Woo hoo!  That means more Friday night football, listening to our baby play in the band, and getting a little more sleep this weekend.  I am so looking forward to a three day weekend.  This post will be short and sweet today.  I see you rolling your eyes...I know I can be a bit long winded at times.

I got the funniest email this week and I won't say who sent it but I have to share the contents:

You know you have been wearing Capri pants and shorts for too long when you need to go to the bathroom, and as you are sitting there, you notice your skirt is around your ankles.  Ha!!!!!!!!!!

On another note:

And this morning I woke up to a sweet message reply from Rachel on facebook.  She mentioned something about, "I did dance with boys but I'm not sick yet!  What???

I looked back at my message to her that I typed saying, "How was the dance? How was the dance?? I can't wait to hear all about the dance!!! I love you and miss you. It was so awesome to hear your voice on the answering machine 

And then I fell asleep last night with my Ipad apparently on our message.  Mr. Incredible decided to hack my facebook while I was sleeping unaware and took it upon himself to add to my message to our daughter, "Rachel I forgot to tell you dancing with boys is a sin and you shouldn't do it. Also I think it is bad for your health and if you don't stop you might even get sick from it. It's just not worth it, I'm just sayin..... Love your mother."

What???  My man.  Oiy!  Naturally, I messaged her back early this morning saying, "P.S. I had no idea what you were talking about when you said, "I did dance with boys but I'm not sick." Your dad hacked my facebook! I fell asleep looking at facebook last night on my ipad so he took it upon himself to add that last part and I had no idea until just now. Oh, your father! You know your momma would say: Dance with all the cute guys, make new friends, be brave....and then want to hear all about it! Ha!"

I think I'm changing my facebook password today...do you hear the Mr. Incredible Facebook Hacker??? 

P.S. I love you!