Good Friday Floral

 

 

 

 

 

On this Good Friday, I am reminded how absolutely amazing our Savior is.  I am taking time to just breathe and sit in His presence.

 

 

 

Bloom Even in Adversity

 

 

 

 

Time is short.  I have dinner bubbling away on the stove and several projects that need to be finished.  So this is going to be brief.

I’m feeling a bit rushed today with so much to do, but I am thankful for today. And for our yesterday and days to come. 

You never know what a day will bring when you first set your feet on the floor. And lately we have had a few surprises.  Surprises we would rather not have visited on us, but they came all the same.

Yesterday was a “surprise” sort of day.  I got a call from my husband’s friend and boss, saying that Joel had crushed his hand in the mixer at work and that they were on their way to the ER.

SURPRISE.

After several hours in the ER, Joel was taken back into surgery.  They repaired his broken and mangled thumb by placing 3 pins in it.  Thankfully both of his tendons were still intact, they had thought one of his tendons had been tore.  He had a nasty gash that they repaired and then sent us home with pain meds and instructions for further doctor visits, etc.  He is looking at many weeks off of work as his thumb heals and he gains mobility of it again.

Life certainly has been interesting around here for the past three months!

I am so thankful for our faith.  Our God is bigger than anything that may come at us in this life. So, today, I am blooming even though I feel there has been much adversity here lately.  God is for me, so who could ever be against me! (Romans 8:31)

 

 

Savoring Life

 

 

When I have my camera in my hand it is because I have seen beauty that requires capturing.  It is a remembrance of the abundant blessings the Lord has given me.  When my camera is clicking it is God’s beauty I am savoring.  It is Him I am giving thanks to as I see His glory reflected all around me.  This life, His blessing, His gift calling out to be savored, used, lived, and all for His glory.

Spring Where For Art Thou?

 

 

 

Spring is supposed to be right around the corner…. two days away actually.  If I didn’t know what the calendar said, I’m pretty sure I would be fooled by the weather.  Twenty-eight degrees and snow for the past several days doesn’t shout spring.

I’m very, very ready.  I’m starting my tomatoes, eggplant, and peppers.  Tucking the seeds into moist soil and little pots. 

I guess it’s okay, for the most part, if it still wants to snow, even though it should be closer to fifty degrees than thirty, I am really almost too busy to notice.

Sadly, really too busy to be blogging a whole lot here lately.  Let me give you a run down in bullet points

• I’m writing a series of thirteen small articles for the back of an Adult Sunday school paper.
• I’m taking an online Lightroom class from Kim Klassen
• I’m leading a Bible study
• We’re in the thick of the homeschool spring long stretch

And then just add in the every day and well…. I just don’t have much left in hours.  So, I hope you stick with me and don’t remove me from your blog reader! I’ll try to make my rounds to your lovely blogs and catch up with you as soon as I possibly can.

 

 

 

I used Kim’s texture Edith from the Downton Abby collection  for the above picture and a texture from Lenabem-Anna

 

What a Beauty

 

 

 

I have just recently been able to do a couple of newborn shoots.  And I am loving them!  What precious beauty there is in new life! 

This particular shoot went so smoothly and I had so much fun that it was hard to stop. I took over 500 pictures! (insert sheepish grin)

When we got to the part where I wanted to take a group photo of the siblings we had a little difficulty. Mr. E, the two year old, was full of energy and wiggles and the older two were anxious to get down and play.  At first it looked like we would have to let the little goober down off the bed and just take the pictures with the oldest two and their new sister.  But, Mr. E saved the day when he began blowing amazingly loud zurberts on his arm.  It was all I needed. From there on in it was PERFECT!  I captured them as they really are playful and full of life!

It couldn’t have been any better!

 

 

 

 

A Self-Portrait of 40

 

This weekend I turn 40.  A sad day?  I think not!

 

 

My days could have ended 16 years ago at the age of 24. My doctor told my mom I was a miracle walking. The Lord, has blessed me. Since that time he has gifted me with 3 more children, a move to the rural country side where I grew up, the opportunity to homeschool, the joy of capturing His glory in photography…. I could go on and on.

 

 

Most importantly He is calling me to step out beyond what I feel I am capable of doing. In the past year He has challenged me to serve Him in ways I had promised myself I would never do.  Our God is sorta humorous like that!

 

 

 

So 40 here I come! I’m wearing my laugh lines and creases like a badge of honor.  Society tells me to try everything it has to offer to get rid of them, but I say they are beautiful and they are earned!  I’m ready for another year.  Another year to love, serve, live, impact, and enjoy!

 

 

 

 

 

 

     

Colorful

 

Red

One of my Rhode Island Red hens.

 

Linked up with:

 

 

Orange

Pumpkin French Toast Casserole

 

Linked up with:

 

 

Yellow

 

 

Green

Our faithful bird watcher.

 

 

Blue

Blue skies.

 

 

Linked up with Ashley:

Snow Day Perfection

It has been a snowy past couple of months and the past two days have been no exception.

We have been experiencing a winter wonderland with constant snow for two days and it’s perfect packing  to boot!

When Little Miss went out to do her morning chores she was ecstatic!  She’s been waiting for a good wet snow.  She got right to work making a family of snow people. I had to chuckle at her snow attire and if you look closely you will see how dirty that chore coat gets. It comes from hugging the dog, the chickens, the food bucket, the water jug and just plain enjoying the great out doors. When I brought the pictures up on the computer I realized that I really need to give that thing a bath!

 

 

My boys on the other hand by-passed all snowman sentimentality and went straight for Lord of the Rings!  They spent two days working on their re-creation of the fortress of Helms Deep and the Tower of Barad-Dur.  I love the creativity they put into it!

 

 

It was so gorgeous with the thick heavy snow clinging to the trees. I tried to go out and take some photos, but it was snowing to heavily and making my camera a bit too wet.  So I trudged back inside, opened some windows, leaned out, and took a few photos that way!

 

 

 

 

 

With such snowy weather outside my windows I just had to do some comfort cooking.  Plus my hens are still laying about eight eggs a day.  I am stacking carton upon carton in my fridge!  It’s a great thing really and we have plenty to share.  With all this abundance I have taken to making a dinner, once a week,  that uses a lot of eggs.  This week I decided to try a new recipe.

 

 

Pumpkin French Toast Casserole

(original recipe here.)

Preheat oven to 350 degrees and grease a 9x13 inch pan.

8 eggs

1 t  vanilla

2 t  cinnamon

1/2 t  cloves

1/4 t  nutmeg

1/4 t  ginger

2 T  white sugar

1/4 c  milk

1- 15oz can pumpkin puree

~Mix all the above ingredients into a large mixing bowl.

~Cut up a 2 lb loaf of French bread into 1/2 inch cubes.

(I have an old standby recipe that I use for my French bread and so I always make it fresh. But, you could also use store bought or even a loaf of Texas toast bread.)

~Place the bread into the pumpkin mixture and toss until the bread is well coated.

~Pour into prepared baking pan.

~Mix together the following in a small bowl, until crumbs form.

1/3 c  brown sugar

1/2 t  cinnamon

2 T  flour

1 1/2 T  butter, softened butter.

~Sprinkle over the top of the bread.

Bake 30-40 min or until golden brown and knife inserted comes out clean.

 

This was a huge hit with all my guys. I served it with big mugs full of fruit smoothies.  The combination of the pumpkin and spices was perfect! It wasn’t icky sweet like some french toast casseroles can be.  There was very little left. My boys kept going back for more and if my youngest son, who has been sick, had joined us for dinner I’m sure they would not have been a single crumb left.  It’s that good!

Definitely a perfect snowy day recipe!