Precious Jewels

A Tangled Web

 When I woke up this morning it was hazy and foggy outside. 
Standing at my work desk, looking out the windows, 
I noticed this web attached to one of the metal posts out on the deck.

I haven't taken any photos in a long time, but I just had to go outside 
to try to capture this shot as the dew and mist hung on the web. 
Glad I did because it wasn't five minutes before 
the sun came out and dried up all the mist.

Hotel Providence

Last week I was in Providence, Rhode Island, attending training to become a certified teacher of the art of zentangle. Don't worry if you don't know what that is. It's really easy to understand. You can look at my other blog - The Creator's Leaf - and see for yourself. Most of the artwork posted there was drawn in the style of zentangle. 

Right now I am editing photos of the hotel and surrounding area. So, stay tuned and expect more photos soon!

The Greatest . . . Love

Closing in on getting these finished up. A beautiful wedding - a beautiful bride! Two hearts for God!

They Said, "I Do!"

I second shot a wedding with Color Me Happy Photography last weekend and am editing shots now. Simple though this may be - it is one of my favorite shots from the wedding. Probably because of the starfish in the foreground and the cross in the background. You know I am always looking for those cross shots! Stay tuned for more to come :).

Praying You Through This Storm!

A wonderful video put together by my friend Kaylin. She lives in Colorado Springs where the wildfires - the fire storms - are bringing danger and disaster. Yet, through it all God can still be praised. As Kaylin puts it - God is for me. Yes, Kaylin, He is. We continue to pray for you from here in Florida. I love you, sweetie! Praying you through this storm!

So Long to Debby!

These are my new feed-the-horses-in-the-monsoon boots!

(Not a good quality picture - sorry - taken with my phone.) We needed to get hay to the horses, so we headed out. What a production! The first thing we noticed is that the road is still a major mess! See the pond where these teens are swimming? That's our road and they are standing up.

Thank the good Lord for our tractor! We were able to travel off-road to get a roll of hay in. Mark only lost the roll off the back of the tractor once - in the road :). Thankfully I was no longer standing on the side of the tractor at that point, because the front of the tractor lifted off the ground as the roll of hay splashed into the river! Uh, road!

The entrance to the fields is still under water, but it isn't quite as deep as it was yesterday. It is starting to receed.

And the front pasture is still under water, although not as deep :).

And in some spots it isn't horrible :).

This is the "higher ground" we moved the horses to. Normally the donkeys have full reign of this area, now all of the animals are housed in this field.

It is always safe to assume that Sawyer is thrilled to see food in any shape, form, or variety! What an awesome picture I got with my phone! I am still afraid to take my nice camera - and good thing when I almost got pitched into the river - uh, road - when we lost the roll of hay!

All in all, a very hopeful day! It didn't rain today - yay!!! The sun was shining for part of the day! The horses are fed, we didn't lose the tractor down a mudhole, and my fancy new boots kept my feet dry! Great day!!! Now, if our friends in Colorado could fare as well. 


Lifting prayers for the Sieberts, Yuens, Rutkowskis, Greens, Craddocks, Schlichtings, Jeubs, Hagoods, and Steve Warren! Several have been evacuated. We are hearing conflicting stories about the house of one family. Praying for safety and a quick end to the fires!

Prayers For Colorado

Many of our speech/debate/communications families live in Colorado Springs - in the area of the fires. They are pictured in this photo. We are concerned that one of the families may have already lost their home, others have been evacuated and are awaiting news. Please lift a prayer for these people we love so much! For their safety, for their homes, for their jobs, for calm and peace. Please pray for the firefighters, for wisdom and equipment and abundant supplies of water. Pray for rain, no wind, stamina, strength, and success. Thank you - we are drying out here in Florida from our floods. Our focus is now on our friends and family in Colorado.


(I made this collage to be my cover photo on Facebook. That would explain the open space towards the left bottom - room for my profile pic.)

Tropical Storm Debby

This is a test. I am trying to figure out how to post photos from my iphone onto my blog. I think it's going to work - yay!


So. We had a little storm blow through. Actually, Tropical Storm Debby came through and it sat on Florida for hour after hour after hour. It's been raining for so long now. We headed out to check on our horses this morning. This is the main gate leading into the pasture. Mark is standing in water about 9-10 inches deep.

(Instagram picture - hence the frame. Sorry.) Then you move into the fields. What a mess!

Back by the barn is a section of ground that is dry. That's where we moved the horses to. They are now in the back pasture with my donkeys. 

Sadly, this is the road we had to drive down to get to our property. Not even kidding.

That's Scott and a buddy riding a 4-wheeler through the water. There's one place where they lost the 4-wheeler underwater.

Climbing out of the hole in the road. Seriously, it was waist deep there in the middle. What a mess! I've never seen this much water up around the houses and fields. And it's still raining. It's supposed to rain every day this week. I can't even imagine what it's going to be like come Saturday.


All these pix were taken with my phone. Hopefully the quality is acceptable. I didn't want to risk my nice camera out around all the water. Now, back to the art process!

Guess Where?

Looks like a tropical paradise. I can tell you this is not far from home.

I actually have pictures of this same spot - taken on our
honeymoon! Yes, I should find some of those and post them :).

Something you really can not tell from this picture is this . . .

. . . this beautiful tropical locale is found indoors! And we were visiting there to attend this . . .

. . . one of the best breakfasts you will ever eat! 'Ohana! Located at the Polynesian Village, Walt Disney World, Orlando, Florida!

It's all you can eat fare. Hawaiian pineapple bread, fresh fruit, bacon, sausage, scrambled eggs, fried potatoes, Mickey waffles, and some awesome guava/papaya/something to drink. (And I'm probably totally wrong on what is in the drink - but it's amazing!)

While you eat, four of the Disney characters come to your table and hang out for a little while. 
Photo op time, autograph time. Fun time!

This particular morning we were joined by Stitch and Lilo, Pluto and Mickey!

We had a wonderful time!

Lilo and Stitch are always favorites!

What a beautiful hotel, with some wonderful scenery! We had a great breakfast, took a couple photos, 
then moved on to Downtown Disney for the rest of the day!

Flourish

Cedar Key, 2012

Just spent a few days in Cedar Key. Lots of sun, heat, water, and fun.  Hope to post more pictures soon. 
Right now my editing is being hampered by Tropical Storm Beryl. Not good!

We certainly had a good time, although we would have liked to stay another week or so - hahaha! 
Didn't know this storm was coming through, it's probably a good thing we aren't still there. 
Cedar Key hasn't historically done well with storms!

Everglades, 2012

Mark, Mike, and Bill just returned from their annual 2-day fishing trip in the Florida Everglades. 
This year they took along Tony - he's new to this annual jaunt. 
Were they successful? Uh, yeah! 
All I can tell you for sure - this was only a portion of what they brought home! Good job, guys!

Stronger - by Mandisa - Things Can Only Get Better

Mandisa is one of my favorite Christian singers. I love this song. Listen to the lyrics.
 He knows this is going to make you stronger.
  If He started this work in your life, He will be faithful to complete it,
 if only you believe it!

A Garden Built on Love

Isn't this garden beautiful? I had the good fortune to spend part of one afternoon walking through this garden and just enjoying myself. Tucked away in the backyard of a beautiful home, it is completely apparent that this was a garden built by loving hands. A garden of significance and meaning. A garden of love.

The couple in the next to last photo was celebrating 50 years of marriage. Fifty wonderful years by all accounts. Fifty years later and they are still best friends. Fifty years later and they are still holding the family together in one huge hug of affection. One daughter and three sons, their spouses and children, all make for a loving family weekend celebrating all the memories, devotion, and commitment.

One thing I noticed repeatedly, every person there was familiar with this garden. Familiar with the birdhouses, familiar with the statuary, familiar with the plants, familiar with the lighting. It was obvious to me that each person there had spent time in this garden with these grandparents. This truly is a garden that was built on love!

Only in Olney

I spent a day in Maryland recently just driving around checking out churches and taking photographs.
This is Faith Presbyterian Church in Olney, Maryland.
God sure does do some good work!

The Makings of a Great Simulation

At Ignite, 2012, the Institute For Cultural Communicators welcomed the participants with one awesome simulation.
What do you need for an awesome simulation? A great plotline and some incredible interns, prospective interns, and
recommended staff assistants!

You start with a welcoming committee :),

some assistants,

some crazy makeup,

and some crazy characters.

You rehearse your storyline and get into position . . .

. . . and take advantage of a photo opp while you wait for the students to be escorted in.

Beef up your welcoming committee/security force . . .

. . . and get ready!

Wait a minute! He's one of the good guys!

Did I mention the crazy makeup?

Well, you've got to have some crazy hair, too!

Then, bring on the guinea pi ...uh, i mean, bring on the students!
Great job planning this activity, interns!