These Days September 29, 2009

September has been one of the busiest months I remember having in my life.  In between taking care of the baby (2 yr old…still a baby?  Yes, yes she is.), I’ve been working quite a few 12-14 hour days.  Not my cup of tea.  Husband keeps trying to get me to take breaks, but it’s hard, knowing there’s no one else there to pick up the slack (self-employment is great, but has some down-sides).

This business God has given me (because truly, I never went looking for it; I really feel that He’s pushed me through one open door after another) has been blessed beyond what I could have imagined, and I owe it all to him.  That said, it has come with its stresses.

Other things I’ve been able to squeeze into September:

• A haircut (nothing exciting, just a much-needed trim)
• Bible study
• A MOPS meeting
• A visit to an apple orchard
• An overnight visit from an old friend and her baby girl
• A meal out with friends at a restaurant I’ve been wanting to try
• A couple morning trips to the zoo with Anja, which she loved

Today I took the day off from processing photos and cleaned up the house and did some Autumn decorating.  I told Husband that even though cleaning is not really a break, it seemed like one, so that counts, right?

So far I’ve gained about the same amount of pregnancy weight as I did with Anja (which was more than I wanted to gain, but still in healthy range).  I can’t imagine the weight gain will slow down with my typical menu of hearty soups, yummy breads and fall baked goods coming up, followed by the holiday season.  Yikes!  But friends have reassured me that it is oh so cozy to have a big belly keeping you warm in January, unlike in August where you just wish you could remove it and get the swelling in your legs to go down…

October will likely be less busy with photo shoots (though I have four this coming weekend), but more busy with client orders.  Can’t promise I’ll be around a lot, but I’d love to hear what you’re up to this fall!

Sunday Sunshine 09.13.09 September 13, 2009

Contrary to last time, This Is Why You’re Thin.  Thanks, tranabanana, for the link!

The mother in me cries when I read these posts, but the Christ-lover in me acts.  There are so many great organizations out there who help these sweet, needy children.  Are you supporting one?

5 Grammar Mistakes That Make You Sound Like A Chimp – I’m sure I’m guilty of some of these!

The Wonder of It All August 24, 2009

Where does our wonder go as we age?  Do we become so jaded by seeing the same things over and over that we lose any sense that they are special?

My daughter, bless her childlike heart, is thrilled by the smallest of things: a partially-deflated balloon, a bite of Mama’s cookie, raindrops.  Yesterday Husband and I had to do a bunch of unexpected painting and taping, and in an effort to keep her out of our hair (and paint out of hers), we plunked her in front of Planet Earth.  The exclamations of awe that poured out of her mouth at every item made me wish I had an old-fashioned tape recorder handy.  “Ooooooooh!  A BEAR!”  “Wow!  What’s that?  It’s…WA-ter, and it’s dripping.”  “Mama, yook!  The birds, they flying roun’ and roun’, and then, the TREES!”

I just stared at her, a little tearful at her joy.  God, grant us to have childlike wonder at Your creation each day.  Let us not take each bendable finger, each fluttering leaf, each thunderhead, for granted.

Sunday Sunshine 08.16.09 August 16, 2009

Good gravy, this mommy is creative.  She must never sleep!

Speaking of creative mommies, here is a very compelling post (and discussion following in the comments) about living simply.  I would love love love to hear your response to it.

Freebies for Photoshop and Vector.

A beauty of a post from Aunt Ruthie.

I’ve long been a fan of Caroline Tran’s work, but this wedding stood out to me because of the incredible attention to detail.  The bride did a fabulous job of putting it all together, and Caroline did her usual stellar job of photographing everything.

Feeling the Love July 27, 2009

We camped this past weekend with some friends.  One of the guys has been going on a lot of dates recently, and he told us that most of his male co-workers, even the married ones, said they were jealous of him getting to date a lot of women.

Without hesitation, Husband piped up, “I’m not jealous.”  He was not mocking our friend or making light of his situation in any way, but went on, “I’m just so glad I met Heidi when I did and that I never had to date other women.”

He has no idea how much that little statement meant to me.  He’s said it to me many times, and even to friends on other occasions, but for some reason, this time it made a greater impact on me.  I know that God has given us to each other, weaknesses and strengths there to complement one another.  Husband is not going anywhere.  He loves me the way God made me, and he wants me to be more and more like Christ.  I love you, Honey, and I’m glad God brought us together.

Please pray July 27, 2009

Things are not going well for Baby Stellan right now.  Let’s unite our prayers for his well-being and his family’s peace.

Amazima July 6, 2009

You will notice a new “quote of the month” (yeah, it’s been a few months…) and a new banner in my sidebar.  I’m not much of a banner person, so when I put one up, it is usually something very near and dear to my heart.

I spent quite a while tonight reading through the blog of Katie, a young woman who left everything she knew and, in the name of Christ, started a ministry in Uganda called Amazima.

Since 2007, Katie has brought food, teaching and the Gospel to over 300 children, including 13 that she now calls her own.  Did I mention?  Katie is 20 years old.  Praise God for people like her, who live in faith and stir it up in us by how they live.  If you want to read more about the history of her ministry or the ways you can donate (anywhere from a $10 chicken to sponsoring a child for $300/yr), click on the Amazima banner on the right.  You won’t be sorry.

And if her story touches your heart like it did mine, spread the word.  It is, after all, The Word.

Independence, Mr. Smith-style July 3, 2009

Husband and I just rang in the 4th of July by watching Mr. Smith Goes to Washington.  It’s been years since I’ve seen that film, and it was even better than I remember it being.

Political machines are run much the same today–powerful lobbies, bribery, blackmail–and we have few people in Congress like Jefferson Smith (the film’s main character) to stand for truth and “loving thy neighbor.”

When Smith took the oath of office* to become a senator, I turned to Husband, shocked, and asked, “Is that still the oath they use today?”  He nodded affirmation.

“But they said he had to support and defend the Constitution; hardly anyone even knows what it says!  It’s like a joke!”  He sadly agreed.

I am thankful for a day like Independence Day, when we can look upon the oppression from which our ancestors came, no matter what their origin, and embraced the ideals of “Life, Liberty, and the pursuit of Happiness.”  I am thankful for the many, the brave, who defend those unalienable rights to this day in combat and on peace-keeping missions around the world.  I am thankful for the few, the brave, who have kept their oaths of office and defend those same unalienable rights before the wolves in Washington.

Please, take some time today to be thankful, and to pray for our country’s future.

*I do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I will support and defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies, foreign and domestic; that I will bear true faith and allegiance to the same; that I take this obligation freely, without any mental reservation or purpose of evasion; and that I will well and faithfully discharge the duties of the office on which I am about to enter: So help me God.

——–

Edited to add: I don’t necessarily support any of the bills proposed in Mr. Smith Goes to Washington; it is moreso the “standing behind what one believes is right with one’s entire being” to which I relate so passionately.

Also, my hyperbole gets the better of me: certainly most Senators know, or have at least read, the bulk of the Constitution; it is simply ignored or treated as obsolete.

2009 Goals Update 07.02.09 July 2, 2009

1. Spend daily time in prayer and the Word (I used to do this no problem, but since Anja was born, my discipline in this area has slipped)
Off and on.

2. Read 2 photography books
Finished with one. Started a second.

3. Read 1 Photoshop book
Started it!

4. Book an average of 4 on-location sessions and 1 wedding each month
Have booked more weddings and more sessions. Praise God!

5. Sell our townhome and purchase a home with a $500 less per month payment
Got a yard sign and a tube for flyers tonight.  Still no legitimate bites from our online ads.

6. Organize an office for myself (instead of using the dining room table…)
Still waiting for the house in which to do it.

7. Have a baby or get pregnant
Second part of this goal attained!

8. Lose 10-15 lbs.
Um, not really worrying about this anymore.

9. Make healthier meals most nights each week
Depends. Most of the time, when I’ve planned, we eat well, but sometimes my cravings get the better of me and we’ll have pancakes (though I do throw some fresh berries on them at least) or order a pizza.  I’ve also been on a big Mexican kick, whether it’s some guacamole for a snack or Gluten-Free Chicken Enchiladas or Chicken Flautas (Mom, you should try this one–I used up the rest of the corn tortillas, and they were yummy!) for supper.  Thankfully, most Mexican recipes can be interpreted in a healthy fashion.

10. Reduce grocery bill to $250/month (this could be the hardest one…seriously)
I have a feeling this is just a big FAIL for the year. Nigh impossible unless we plan on cutting all fresh produce out of our diets (which is not happening!).

Prayer for a Friend July 1, 2009

Hi everyone,

A friend of ours recently emailed with some news, and I would like to ask you all to say a prayer on her behalf.  Since I don’t have permission, I won’t be sharing her name, but she is about as far along as me in pregnancy, and she was just diagnosed with Guillain-Barre Syndrome.  They may have to do treatment while she is pregnant, so please pray not only for her full recovery but that the baby will come through any treatment unharmed.

She is currently in the hospital being monitored until they can determine if/when her symptoms have plateaued.

Thank you for your prayers!