Wow! It has been over a year since I have posted!  I must be more diligent about posting.

So what have I been doing you say.  Well taking pictures, my favorite hobby.  I just finished a wedding and am very happy about the outcome of the photos.  I helped my cousin Barbara move back to Louisiana.  It broke my heart but I know they will be happy and I got to visit them this past week. *thumbs up*.  I loved it and can't wait to go again!  And we are ever so diligent with keeping up with Ms. Jordan's progress, my mother-in-law, after her stroke.  My sister-in-law, Sylvia,  has the largest burden and is always keeping us posted.  We are so appreciative of all she does and the sacrifices she is making.  I wish we lived there to help her out.  

Well I have decided to start on the road of health.  I am at the end of the second illness for the summer and this one has been the hardest to get over.  I am tired of being sick and am ready for health.  On my quest for a new way of living I have been watching shows that have been suggested.  One is Sick, Fat and Nearly Dead and the other and most recent is Forks over Knives.  Both of these shows can be found on HULU.  They are very informative and eye opening and I recommend for you to watch it at least once.

To help you understand why I am on this path let me tell you a little about my health.  I can remember as a kid always being sick and getting ear infections.  My mom wasn't one to run to the doctor for every little sniffle so I endured many ear infections, sore throats, etc.  You would think my immune system would have strenghten, if what the expert believed would happen without taking antibiotics, but that was not the case with me.  I now know it is because I did not have the basic building blocks to help my system function properly.  Don't get me wrong, I had plenty of good food to eat and most of it we grew ourselves but we didn't know how we should cook it in a way that would benefit us the most and the things we needed to exclude that would harm us.  So lets fast forward to the last 4 years to the present, from allergies to all types of medications, neck surgery, degenerative disc disease and eye disease and diagnosis of fibromyalgia.  So here I am presently fighting off an upper respiratory infection with steroids and inhalers, wanting a night without coughing up a lung and just being able to breath. Since my neck surgery I have taken many steriods and medications that has added to my weight problem and that is another issue I am now trying to tackle and losing because I can't stay well.  So I am on the road to a healthier lifestyle and after watching these movies I am convinced that veggies, nuts, grains and fruits are the way to go.

Watch the movies.  I think it will get you to thinking about changing to a healthier lifestyle. Maybe you will join with me on the quest to a healthier longer quality of life.

I plan to give up dates on the things that are happening on my path and I hope I can help someone on the way.

Big hugs to you all and wishing you good health

It's a Coffee Day

Some days are coffee days and today is one for me.  I was up editing photos until 1 a.m. and I am finding it difficult to keep my eyes open today.  I have never been one for drinking a lot of coffee but I find the older I get the more I want it and need it.

I love frappes!  I know, for most of you it really isn't consider coffee but for me it is perfect and yummy.  My daughter, Krista, and I treated ourselves to High Point coffee during spring break.  She likes the dark semi sweet...

I like it light and sweet...

I know for most of you Starbucks is the best but we don't have that in Oxford so I will settle for High Point or Java City.  Java City coffee is what I am sipping this morning, it looks like the picture, the only difference is the name on the cup. 

MMMMM, love my coffee!

Is today a coffee day for you?


Until next time God Bless and be kind to each other!

Accidental Photographer

For those of you following me or just dropping by, you probably read my "about me" spot and know I love to take pictures.  Sunday my Pastor surprised me by calling me up and telling EVERYONE, in the church, that I take pictures and how he thinks I have an eye for it!  He even showed a picture that I had given him.  It was very nice of him and very humbling for me.  I thought I would start out slow but I guess God has other plans.

So why the title?  Well, because, I didn't ever picture myself as a photographer growing up (no pun intended, LOL).  I knew I liked to take pictures and I even asked for a camera as a teenager but they gave my sister one instead.  She let me use it and eventually it became mine. I am an artist by heart. Love to draw and started doing that as a child.  I wasn't super talented at it but knew it was part of my makeup.  My Dad and Mom both could draw but unfortunately neither pursued it.  Maybe they thought Artists couldn't make a living.  My Dad carved ducks after he was injured on the job and couldn't work anymore.  His ducks were beautiful.  He carved some hummingbirds for me, my favorite birds, as a wedding present.  I had glass hummingbirds on my wedding cake and I guess he was inspired.  Thinking back on it that was a really thoughtful thing he did.  I still have the carved hummingbirds and maybe later I will put a picture of them here.  Anyway, back to the topic at hand. This started up when I took pictures at the Pastor's son's wedding.  I wasn't the photographer but brought my camera along because I love weddings and wanted to capture the happy moments.  It was an outside wedding which made it much more exciting.  The photographer they had was family and I tried to stay out of the way and felt guilty for taking photos but the love for it was stronger than the guilt.  They liked the pictures I took and I was encouraged to continue and now I have been outed.  I feel guilty because I have never taken a class and I am still learning how to use my new fangled camera.  I hope when I take pictures for someone that they come out nice because that is a memory they want to preserve.  That means a lot to me because I know what it is like to lose photos and lose those memories, nothing replaces them.  I pray before I take pictures because I know He is the teacher above all and He is the one that gives the talent.  I am an accidental photographer going on sheer luck and, most importantly, God's grace hoping to spread joy and wonderful memories with what I do.  Another art form to explore and I think I like it. :)

Some new photos I took around campus....

I am set up as a second wedding photographer in June.  Wish me luck for me and the happy couple :).  I am just glad I don't have to do it alone which takes a little pressure off.  I will let you know if it happens.

Until next time God Bless and be kind to each other.

Dream or Reality

Hello again, it has been a long time.

As I have said in another blog or maybe in the "about me" spot, that I am really getting into taking pictures not just as a hobby but as something to make a little money on the side.  I have been somewhat busy with taking pictures the last few weeks and I have to admit one of my shoots made me really rethink the reality of whether I should really pursue this as a career.  Anything and everything went awry in that shoot.  I was trying to take pictures of a young family that just added a new addition to the family.  It was the worst time and the worst pictures I think I have ever done.  I do think I have a few pictures that are nice but nothing I am proud of.  I was sweating profusely and I thought I would faint right there in front of everyone.  The baby and the 4 year old were crying.  The 4 year old refused to take a picture.  The Dad was fussing the 4 year old and on top of it there was a storm going on outside.  I really thought about quitting the whole thing.  I am still editing those pictures.  On the other hand, I just took pictures of a high school senior and got some really great shots and on top of it we had a blast.  My daughter "Krista" helped (she was my prop girl ) and she had some really great ideas.  It made me feel much better about doing this, though, I think I will stick with teens and nature a little more.

I took this picture on campus that I am really proud of, which needed no editing, I just added my name.

                                                                       Dogwood flower
 
I still have so much to learn but I am willing to learn and try to keep it as something I enjoy.  I still ask myself "is this reality or just a dream I have".  It is so hard to know if you have the talent to do this with the invention of the digital camera.  I guess time and more photo shoots will tell if I have it or not.

Until next time, be kind to each other!

Pizza and the Park

Another lovely day.  Slept in which was awesome but almost missed meeting up with my friend Donna at the Park.  We planned to get our boys together and play.  Got up and rushed around to get ready to go.  Joel and I were about 30 minutes late but it didn't take a way from the fun we had.  Donna and I went and got Pizza and sweets.  Awesome!  My first meal of the day Pizza!!! LOL

PIZZA, PIZZA!!!  I remember the commercials when I lived in West Palm Beach, Florida.  I am glad we have one in Oxford.  The boys were famished by the time we got back to the Park with the Pizzas.  They scarfed them down and then ran off to play football.  After a few hours at the park we decided to go the Library.  O.K.  we thought we could cool off at the Library but who would have guessed the Library was as hot as the outside.  We were so glad to get to my house and cool off. 

Our play date ended when Joel, Darrel and James packed up James' truck and set off to go camping.  I have to say the fews days I have been off have been a wonderful one.  Krista, my daughter is here to spend the night.  We plan to do projects for her education class and then watch a movie and eat junk.

We are about to head out to the store to pick up items for the project.  I am having so much fun. It has been a wonderful spring vacation.  I feel so blessed.

God Bless and be kind to each other.

Great food and Antiquing

Didn't blog yesterday so this is a catch up for Thursday, March 17th.

It was a lovely St. Patrick's Day ")

 I met my cousin Barbara at Boure's.  We had an awesome lunch and visit.  It was nice to be out and about.

I love Boure's and I will miss the location when they move to the Downtown Grill spot.  It is so cheery where it is now. 

The visit with my cousin didn't end at Boure's.  Our conversation included her trip to an antique shop and the napkins she bought.  The bug bit me and I wanted to go check out the Antique shops in town.  So off we headed.  We eventually stopped by my house after our first Antique shop stroll.  While there my daughter wanted to come with us, so we were off to more shops.  We had so much fun that we planned to extend our Antiquing to New Albany.  While there we decided we would visit Sugaree's.  My cousin Barbara and I had not been before.  They have awesome cakes, brownies, cheesecakes, etc.  Very yummy.

It was nice to relax and enjoy the day, not having to be anywhere at any particular time.  We ended the day with gumbo at my house that my awesome husband prepared.  He is a great cook and the company of Barbara and her husband, Jason, was a blessing. 

God Bless and remember to be kind to each other.

The Forgotten and Lost

Today has been a crazy one.  I get to the office, tired but excited, this is my last day until Monday.  I get 3 days off for Spring Break!  I was there an hour before I remembered it was Pay Day! My first forgotten thing of the day.  Ugh, that meant I needed to pay bills and balance our checkbook.  How could I forget it was payday! 

2ndly,  I remembered that Joel had an ortho appt. today and it wasn't for tomorrow.  Why I thought Wednesday was the appt. day I have no idea.  I have it on the calendar as Tuesday the 15th. 

So, being thankful I remembered, with the help of the dentist office, everything was planned to get him there.  So lunch time rolls around and I am convinced his appt. is at 12:40, Darrel and I drive home to pick up Joel.  We stop by his regular dentist office, pick up x-rays and head to the ortho.  We get there and we hand the nice receptionist his paperwork.  She looks for his name and sweetly announces that his appt. isn't until 3.  Oh my goodness, what else am I a going to forget today.  Of course that meant we had to do this again at 3!

Well we finally do all that and I think I am in the clear for the day and realize I have lost the money I was paid for a photo I did for someone.  It was only one pic and they generously paid me $10 instead of $5, which is the cost of printing the picture.  I guess I stuck it in my pocket and it fell out. For whatever reason that was the last straw for me.  I went home and took an anti-anxiety pill and slept for a couple of hours.

Of course just forgetting didn't make me have an anxiety attack, the fussing over things with my dear spouse in the middle of it all helped out as well.  He seems to be going through a stage of not understanding what I say, a little anger and other things that come a long with a much too busy life and the worries of living life day to day.

The best news of all today was that Joel did not have to wear head gear because the dentist said he does not have an under bite.  So wonderful, no crazy head gear for Joel but the price of his braces cost as much as a small used car.  I saw my husbands face go white with the announcement of our monthly payments for the next 2 years and for the generous amount we must put down for Joel's day to get his braces on, which happens to be on Wednesday, March 23rd at 9:40 a.m.  Maybe I will remember this appointment.

Until next time, God Bless and be kind to each other.