Topper Play

I had forgotten about this topper. Awhile back I traveled around neighboring communities taking photos of different crosses that I liked. I thought since I named my blog The Shadow of the Cross, it should have some cross shots on it somewhere. So I got some cool photos, learned a bit about some different churches, and I joined that with some other pics I already had. What I came up with were some sample blog toppers. I found this one tonight as I was flipping through old computer files. Click on the photo and it should open up in full screen. What do you think about this one? Do you recognize where any of these were taken?

Happy Thanksgiving To You

I found this photo in a friend's email. I thought it was funny and hoped you might find it funny as well :).

Happy Thanksgiving! We have so much to be thankful for. As I look from blog to blog, I see many of you listing the things in your life that you are thankful for.

I am thankful for God, His son, the cross, forgiveness, and a future hope and life with Him, and for my Bible.

I am thankful for my husband who loves me more than anything here on earth, for my son who has grown into adulthood way too fast, for my daughter who loves God and is trying to find her way in life following Him, for my mom and dad who raised me - teaching me about Jesus - and loved me beyond measure.

I am thankful for my sister and her family, for Mark's sister and her family, and Mark's parents and Jane.

I am thankful to be retired!!!! and doing what I love - chauffeuring my daughter around as we homeschool and learn together, spending some quality time with my son that I couldn't do when I worked full-time, and for enjoying these days with my husband (I even went to the hunting camp twice this fall and just hung out).

I am thankful for our wonderful church. For our pastors and their wives as they lead us and love us. For our wonderful youth ministry where I get to hang out and be a kid again and be accepted, just because the students know I love them.

I am thankful to live in this great United States of America. And although I didn't vote for him, I promise to pray for Obama every day because that is what I am supposed to do as a Christian. I will pray that God will touch his heart and lead him in the right steps and decisions for what is right for our country.

What are you thankful for today? Pickles? Godiva chocolate? Horses? Goats? Koalas? Flip flops? Stillettos???? Guitars? Lakes? Mountains? Love? Acceptance? Forgiveness? Salvation? Freedom? Security? Love?

I hope your Thanksgiving is blessed and happy and spent doing something you love. God bless!

(I borrowed this photo from google:thanksgiving photos.)

A True Southern Winter

I hate to rub it in to my snowbound blog friends, but this is what winter looks like where I live. These are pictures of Cocoa Beach and were just taken a week ago. Sun, surf, sand, swimsuits, shells, sand pipers, shorelines ... you get the idea :). Sorry.

I literally sat my camera on the ground to take this shot, right after high-tide.

We love living in the south, but I do miss the snow. I envy you guys living up north where it is snowing already. I grew up in Newfoundland and have so many fun memories of snowmen, sled and toboggan rides, iceskating, snowball fights, blizzards (interpreted no-school that day), and so much more. Yet, as I get older I really appreciate living in the south. I don't know that I could do what my dad had to do every day - shoveling out the car before work, figuring out what roads were open so he could get to work, shoveling the sidewalks, salting the steps (I fall enough without the assistance of ice on the steps). I miss the fun parts of snow. Yet, you can't beat swimming and playing in the surf in late November :).

Stained Glass Gospel - Show & Tell Friday

Today is Show & Tell Friday at Kelli's. You can check it out here.

I have always loved stained glass windows. I recently combined that love with photography. I am combining this post with one I listed a couple days ago, but first, here are three photos I took at Boyce College in Louisville, Kentucky. My daughter is planning on attending Boyce in a couple years. The third shot includes Kali.

My earlier post:

And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. But the angel said to them, "Do not be afraid. I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is Christ the Lord. ~ Luke 2:8-11 ~

I am the gate; whoever enters through me will be saved. He will come in and go out, and find pasture. The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full. I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep. I am the good shepherd; I know my sheep and my sheep know me.
~ John 10:9-11,14 ~

I have given them your word and the world has hated them, for they are not of the world any more than I am of the world. My prayer is not that you take them out of the world but that you protect them from the evil one. They are not of the world, even as I am not of it. Sanctify them by the truth; your word is truth. As you sent me into the world, I have sent them into the world.

~ John 17:14-18 ~

He withdrew about a stone's throw beyond them, knelt down and prayed, "Father, if you are willing, take this cup from me; yet not my will, but yours be done."

~ Luke 22:41-42 ~

But he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was upon him, and by his wounds we are healed. We all, like sheep, have gone astray, each of us has turned to his own way; and the Lord has laid on him the iniquity of us all.
~ Isaiah 53:5-6 ~

For the Lord himself will come down from heaven, with a loud command, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet call of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. After that, we who are still alive and are left will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so we will be with the Lord forever. Therefore encourage each other with these words.

~ I Thessalonians 5:28 ~
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These beautiful stained glass windows can be seen in the Kilarney Baptist Church, Winter Park, Florida. As I looked at them, I noticed they told a story if you followed them around the sanctuary, starting with the nativity, as I am sure they were meant to. I pulled some of my favorite scriptures to go with them. I hope you enjoy this gospel message shared through stained glass. I loved it and found it to be so beautiful.

Please visit Kelli's to see other Show & Tells.

A Cocoa Beach Sunrise

Those of you who know me well, know I am not a morning person. Recently, Kali and I were in Cocoa Beach for a few days. The day before we left, I got up at 6:15 and headed down to the beach, camera in hand. This is a progression of shots I took from various angles, all within ten or so yards of each other. God's handiwork, beautifully captured.

A Walk on the Wild Side

This past week, Kali and I visited the Brevard Zoo. We didn't stay long. Here are some shots of our favorite animals and birds.

I was walking through the lorikeet section when I noticed this man attracting birds. To start with he had two that were interested in his cup of nectar. I figured I would be able to get some easy shots of some beautifully colored birds, so I started shooting away. The birds seemed to really like him :). They hopped up and down his hands and arms, jumped on his shoulders, and while his wife and he were laughing about it, another flew up and landed on his head. One hopped around to the back of his collar and began clawing his neck, still trying to reach around to get to the nectar cup. What a hoot! Thanks for some awesome shots!

This is Stephanie. She is the newest giraffe at the Brevard Zoo. She really likes to eat crackers. In fact, she eats them so fast that I couldn't get a photo of it, even though we tried four times - lol! She really like Kali. We could pet her on the head and just - watch out for the tongue! It's 18" long!

This was Kali's favorite bird. She really wasn't all about the birds. They kept flying at us - wildly! But, she loved this little guy. He just looked at us and posed in a variety of ways, content to just let me take his picture :). I loved this next one. His posture reminds me of Zazoo in The Lion King.

Lemurs on Lemur Island. Reminiscent of Madagascar.

Shot at about 15 yards away, through glass.

This is Rafiki. The platform you see is second-story-high. Right next to this opening is a drink/concession stand. Kali and I walked up to buy icees and saw Rafiki peaking through the opening, like he wanted an icee, or for someone to play. Kali went over to pet him and one of the zookeepers told us Rafiki was in time-out and we couldn't talk to him. Apparently, Rafiki had knocked a lady down and was in trouble. Time-out at the zoo? Yep, it happens :).