Failure!!!

Okay, here's the deal.

I have not kept up with this blog and my photography the way I intended to.  I am going to take a break from it and begin January 1, 2011.  That way I have a chance to plan how I will incorporate this into my daily life. 

I came at this as a spur of the moment decision and while I am NOT giving up I am going to begin again with a clean slate.  See you in the new year.

Risa

PROMISES

THURSDAY, AUGUST 19, 2010

This wasn't taken on a different day but I still like this photo.

We have promises that God has made to us and He has told us that this is the year of dreams come true..

 I believe that by the end of this year we will posses EVERY promise that He has made.  I will be able to look back at this and say, "See, He told us so."

I am so excited!!!

I SING PRAISES TO YOUR NAME

WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 18, 2010

This picture shows a huge part of my life.  Singing with the praise and worship team at church.

I desire to live a life of worship to my Father God and savior Jesus Christ.  I am so thankful for the chance to praise Him with my church family.

 I used to sing all the time until I was about 15 years old.  At that time I had someone tell me that I was not a good singer.  From then on I did NOT sing in front of people.  About two years ago I had the desire begin in me to sing with the praise and worship team.  I mentioned this one time and then stayed back so God could do with it what He wanted.

I also came to the realization that I wanted God to change my voice.  "Lord, I want to sound like this one or sing as well as that one."  Finally I just prayed and asked God to anoint the voice that He gave me.  I only wanted to sound like He created me.

Last year we had a prophet come to our church and he told me that I should be singing and worshipping.  I went three days later and bought a CD to sing at church.  I think it was that act of obedience that did it because the next Sunday morning I was on the platform as a back up singer for the Praise Team.

OH DEER!!!

This is why you should always be prepared.

I once again got to the end of the day and was looking for a picture.  I went to the gas station to get something to drink.  As I was leaving with my soda (coke or pop, depending on what part of the country you are from.)  I thought I would drive around to see if there was anything interesting to photograph.

I drove behind the station and thought. "Wow, they have goats."

No, they were deer.  I was able to take about 13 pictures before they ran off.

This isn't the greatest picture.  And I have to confess that I took this on the Auto setting.  But I didn't know how long I would have and wanted the smallest margin of error.

I have to say that taking pictures on auto that turned out worse than my manual ones means that maybe I'm learning what I'm doing. 

Til tomorrow.  Bye all.

CONTRADICTIONS

The moon in the day.

The reason I titled this Contradictions is because of the moon in the middle of the day.

The things in life that seem to contradict each other can sometimes bring beauty and sometimes bring mystery.  It's all in how we look at it.

Another thing that is affected by point of view is satisfaction.  There is always an opportunity in life to be happy.  The way we react to life has more to do with our attitude than our circumstances.

I can choose to focus on my blessings or my deprivations.  The thing is that when I look at what I don't have not only am I longing for something that I may never get but I am stealing the joy from what I am already blessed with.

SIMPLE MOMENTS

It's easy to find beauty in the small things.

This flower is by our porch.  Sometimes the most beautiful things are the things around us that we never really SEE. 

Why is it so easy to take the everyday things for granted?  A flower by your door, a laugh from your child or a day with your loved ones.

Overlooking the simple things is a habit that each of us needs to break.  Be thankful for every moment, large or small, that you have because no one knows when the last one will come.

KISS THEM GOODBYE

SATURDAY, AUGUST 14, 2010

He (Elisha)...ran after Elijah and said, "Please let me kiss my father and my mother, then I will follow you."

1 Kings 19:20

Last night at the Lighthouse Ladies Conference Prophetess Tracy Quintana spoke about the mantle that was given to Elisha from Elijah. 

This picture is a reminder that the past makes us who we are but sometimes we have to let some things go before we can step into who God wants us to be.  I am ready to move into the future that God has for me.  I love the past and how strong I have become because of it, but I will have to kiss goodbye any part that holds me back.   

Lord,

Help me to let go of anything that is preventing me from stepping into the purpose, will and destiny that You have for me.  And thank you for my grandmother and Godly parents that formed and shaped me into the woman I am today. 

Amen

One nation UNDER GOD...

FRIDAY, AUGUST 13, 2010

I love this image of the flag in front of our courthouse.

As I was getting our van licensed yesterday I looked across the street to the courthouse and thought what a beautiful building it was and I had found my picture for the day.

I tried to get this shot of the flag in front of the steps but the wind had it tangled around the pole and then had stopped blowing so my shots were just not the way I envisioned.  I gave up and went to find something different.

As I was shooting I heard a jangling noise behind me and looked to see the flag standing straight out.  I quickly went back across the street and was able to get this shot.  I love it.

I have been feeling more patriotic lately since my husband began the Missouri Sherriff's Academy and soon he will be helping to uphold the laws that are brought forth in the halls of courthouses such as these all across our great country.

I pledge allegience to the flag of the United States of America and to the Republic for which it stands.  One nation, UNDER GOD, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all.

PRAISE!!!!!!!

THURSDAY, AUGUST 12, 2010

We have flags at church that are used for praise!

Thursday night we started a three day Women's Conference at Lighthouse Ministry Center.  When I got there I realized that the day had gone by and I had not taken a picture.  The plan was to find something to shoot when I got home.  But as I was listening to Prophetess Tracy Quintana I noticed our praise flags and how beautiful they looked all lined up in the rack.  So when the service was over I took some pictures of them.  I honestly couldn't decide on my favorite so I combined the top two into one picture.

It was great that I did because at service the next night not one of these flags were left in the stand.  We had them out and were declaring some warfare with our prophetic praise and dancing as we waved them before the Lord.  It was a great service and I was very blessed.  My picture on Saturday will have more to do with that service on Friday.

SILVER LINING

Wednesday, August 11, 2010

I saw this on the way to church and just had to capture it.

This is just a glimpse of the splendor and majesty of God's creation.  And of course one can never really do it justice in a photograph.

I took this at church and it just seemed so symbolic to my life right now.  As I was taking this a storm was rolling in.  There was lightning flashing to my right and thunder rumbling around me.  Yet here was the sun determined to be seen.

In my life, the storms seem to want to overtake me.  Yet I am determined to shine with the light of Christ and I will not let the storms hide who He is or who He is leading to be.

Stay true to Jesus and His light will break through and shine in your life and on those around you who so desperatly need Him.

RAY OF SUNSHINE

I am trying to learn how to shoot rays of sun.

Today was a hard photography day.  With Michael at school I have no way to go anywhere to take pictures.  So I had to make do with our house.  There is very little to photograph around our neighborhood.

I am also still trying to learn how to set my camera for the proper exposure.  I think it's just a matter of one step at a time. 

I can and I will improve.  In fact I have already gotten better in less than a week.  Onward and upward as they say.

See you tomorrow.

SCHOOL DAYS

I love new school supplies.  They are just so full of endless potential.

We started our school year today so I thought that a picture of pencils was exactly right. 

I am so excited about this new year and ready to take the kids education to the next level. 

How am I doing as their teacher?  I know that I have my downfalls but the goal is to pick the worst one and fix it.  Then I will be ready to fix the next, and the next, and so on.  I should be an excellant teacher and exactly what they need about the time they graduate.

Honestly, homeschooling is only done by the grace of God and I would not be able to do it if I was not SURE of my calling to do so. 

That's right, I said calling.  If you are doing it because it is a decision and not something you have prayed over and know that this is what God has set for you to do I wish you luck.  There are those who can successfully teach that way but I am not one of them.  God is the reason I do this and the comfort I cling to when my day falls apart and it seems nothing was done right. 

It is those days of chaos that would make me change my mind if this were only a decision and not a calling.

I CAN (AND WILL) DO ALL THINGS THROUGH CHRIST,  WHO STRENGTHENS ME (DAILY AND OVER AND OVER AGAIN).

Thank you, Jesus, for giving me strength to walk the path you have set before me.

MORNING BLISS

I love a cup of coffee in the mornings.

I am normally not a morning person but a cup of coffee always helps.

In the winter I can barely drag myself out of bed but in the summer I love to get up early and sit outside.  It's so nice before the heat kicks in and everyone gets up and starts stirring.  It's a chance to relax and start the day with a peaceful moment instead of a bang.

This also works well since I am going to concentrate this week on taking pictures during the golden hours.  One hour after sunrise and one hour before sunset.  I am trying to learn to use light correctly and do it all with the manual settings on my camera.  This means no help from anything that is preset. 

For example:  the above picture was the only one out of twenty-three that was acceptable.  I have a long ways to go with this photography thing.  But since this is only day 3 of 365, I guess I have a long time to get there.

See you tomorrow.  And hopefully I will have two good pictures to choose from.  That will mean I am twice as good tomorrow as I was today.  What more can you ask for, other than perfection?

THE KEYS TO HAPPINESS?????

Saturday, August 7, 2010

The way I spend most of my days.

I am on the internet or computer most of my day.  One of my goals with this photo challenge is to become more engaged in the world around me.  It will be very boring to have 350 pictures of my laptop on my blog. 

With this project I hope to also become a better photographer, to learn more about who I am as an artist and a person. 

As a person I am a wife, mom, woman of
God and a person who is still searching for exactly who I am. 

Enough with the deep thoughts for today.  We'll see what I discover about myself in this next year.  Hope I don't discover that I am a quitter.

Life is Just a Bowl of Skittles

Friday, August 6, 2010

This is a picture of some skittles we used today for a game at Payton's Birthday party.  Can you believe that she is 11 years old?

Her party was so much fun.  We had a great time.  Not many people came but that's ok. 

We played a game called Drama Bag.  The kids got to get props and make up skits.  We also had a pinata filled with candy and balloons.

The theme of her party was a flip flop party and the decorations were very cute.  I made an awesome cake that looked like a pair of flip flops.

Happy Birthday to my baby, Payton Jewel, who is growing up way too fast.  I love you!!!