As you can see, the header has changed once again. Me, Jeff and the kids had a little photo shoot with the most awesome photographer in Kentucky, Renee Lewis. You can see the bigger images on her blog Renee Lewis Photography. I hear there are more to come, and if they look anything like the three above I am sure they will be great. I can't wait to see the rest. Below is one she e-mailed me that she claims is her favorite, and I think it might be one of mine :)
For about the last hour I have been searching for cruises. Actually, I guess I should say A cruise. I'm not really looking to go on multiple ones - however, I must say that would be just grand. Anyway - Jeff said he thought we should come to some type of decision on where to go and what to do and, as bad as it pains me to admit it :), I think he's right. I believe that I've made my final decision. I want him to check it first, of course, but I'm almost sure its the same one he looked at the other night.
Now that I've managed to bore you with all of those useless details....
I have blogger's block. I don't have a clue what to write about. So here I sit...by myself, listening to the house make noises that creep me out and nothing to really occupy myself with. As Jeff would say, "It's a sad song."
As creepy as this house is at night, it gives me the opportunity to think a lot. I think back about 6 months ago, when things were very different. As I sit here now, it will be a mere 6 1/2 months until I am married. I am going to be someone's wife. I will be someone's step-mom. To a lot of people, that sounds frightening. But as I sit here, in the quiet, I can't imagine anything more exciting. I know that life won't always be easy. But it makes it easier knowing that there will be someone to walk through it with every step of the way. It makes it better knowing that that someone loves you very much - and always will.
...and other random happenings from the past few days.
We're repainting at work. The interior designer decided it was a good idea to write the names of each paint color on its coordinating wall. The bathroom paint color is apparently called "Henderson Buff". Someone else apparently thought it was an even better idea to write "was here" underneath the name. Our owner thought it was not so funny. I did ;)
Last night I went to McDonald's and got a hot fuge sundae with nuts. This time, I actually got the nuts :) You can imagine my excitement, since for WEEKS they have been out of them.
I'm also pretty excited in my discovery that my camera can take pictures of the ceiling without me having to lean my head back. I just hold it out in front of me and shoot. What's the purpose, you ask? There's not.
I think sometimes we forget that. I know that I do. Frankly, there are times of frustration and struggle that I rarely remember it. Unfortunately, most of the time that phrase tends to just remind me of that old, worn out, annoying (however..quite true) Twila Paris song by the same name.
Just a few days ago, a fellow blogging friend of mine wrote an entry about this very subject. A portion of it follows:
It's easy for me in times like now to get discouraged, just like my friend. I wonder why God won't give us a break sometimes. Why can't God stop life from snowballing? How the heck are you supposed to say "Thank you God. I praise you for making life difficult?"When someone lies to you, God is in control. When someone manipulates you, God is in control. No matter what is going on in your life. . . GOD IS IN CONTROL! Today I am disappointed (as I'm sure you can tell). Today I am discouraged. Today I am a child of God struggling to keep my focus on Him as the distractions of the world loom heavy. I am tempted to point fingers and blame. I am tempted to confront with hostility. I am tempted. . .
So, as I sit with my Bible I turn to a familiar passage in Romans:
And we know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose" Romans 8:28.
I know that God is in control. I know that he is using every second of every day to build me into the person he wants me to be. That doesn't mean it's easy. Maybe I don't know what He is teaching me yet. Maybe I don't always understand His ways. But I do know that God is using it all for good.
After being engaged for over a month, Jeff and I finally have a picture of us together. (Except for one at Christmas of all the cousins, and it's hideous) It took a few attempts at our self-portrait...
...but in the end I think we did a pretty decent job :)
Ever since discovering my digital camera, Yana has become fascinated with photography. She always wants her picture made, and sometimes before it is even captured, she runs around and says "Let me see, let me see me!"
