Day Forty Four

Bicycle accident...

View from the ICU:

(her little brother brought his favorite, George, to comfort his sister)

Our daughter has been away at college and was enjoying a Saturday bike ride with her roommate. She hit something, got all tangled up, and flew off of her bike. She landed hard enough to break her spleen, almost in half. We made the two hour drive over the mountain pass (no snow this time, thank you, Lord!) with words like, "internal bleeding" and "embolization" running through our minds. In times like these, I cannot follow the "what ifs" to the end, so I think in song. This song was one I'd "given" to her about a year ago when we were going through a hard time as a family. It was her graduation year, and when I hear it, I think of her. I also think of or Father's love for us...

I Will Show You Love 

 

I will show you love like you've never loved before

I will go the distance and back for more if you just say the word

You will come alive again, call the trying times your friend

The pain that you have suffered through will never get the best of you 

You will hope in something real that won't depend on how you feel

When you call my name, then I will answer, answer

And I am on your side, 

Though the wind and waves beat against your faith

You were on my mind when the world was made

Trust in me, my child...

Walk out on the water when you have no control

So scared to death of failure you sacrifice your soul, please let that go

You have climbed an uphill road. You have worn a heavy load

You have cried through endless nights, nearly given up the fight

Watched your dreams like falling stars

The heartaches made you who you are

Now looking back you see that I have always been there...

Where you gonna hide- where you gonna hide from me?

Where you gonna go- where you gonna go that I can't see?

Cause I have heard you cry

And it breaks my heart, 'cause I love you so

I would never lie.

This is not the end, there is still a hope... 

                                                                   - Kendall Payne 

Day Forty Three

The Calm Before the Storm...

 

...Just another Beatles' Rock Band night, Dad doing an assignment, me fulfilling my 365 "obligation"...

who knew what tomorrow would bring?

Day Forty Two

For you, Amy...

 

It's all there for us, just on the other side.

 

Day Forty One

Fresh from the halls of her middle school, she makes an appearance.

I've been trying to get some photos of this girl for weeks now, but the weather, etc. have kept us from the fashion shoot I'm planning in my head. So today I insisted that we go out in the snow and freeze, just so she wouldn't feel neglected in this project. I love her sunshiny face. This girl makes my heart sing...

even on these darn melancholy winter days!

Day Forty

Sometimes with your youngest, It's the baby in them that you see the most. But, in this shot, I see a glimpse of the young man he's growing to be. 

His face is less round and soft. He is developing a life  and a mind of his own.

He sleeps with his favorite things. This night, they include his "entire collection" of the "Diary of a Wimpy Kid" series, his Bible (halfway through Genesis), and the beanie I made him last weekend with my Knifty Knitter. He thinks it's awesome.

Darn these melancholy Winter days!

Day Thirty Nine

Missin' You

 

I miss hearing you play your guitar (and, yes, your ukelele) in your room.

I miss hearing you sing... in the best of times and in the worst of times.

Yeah.

See you on Spring Break... 

 

Day Thirty Eight

I dated him in these socks...

On dreary winter days when I am bored with the wardrobe, bored with the gray sky, bored with getting ready to go places while it is cold and dark, I dig to the bottom of my sock drawer and pull out something funky. I don't feel the need to make a scene when I go to church, but the private knowledge that I'm wearing cool socks is enough to give me a smile.

So, an amazing service ends (turns out, at this church, I really didn't need the socks. Just needed them to get there) and we head for home. After ten changes to our lunch choice (ended up at Subway. The bread was amazingly fresh!), We settled in and turned on the Superbowl. We're not really pro fans, but you've gotta check out the commercials. Harry Connick Jr. said that morning on the news that he was hoping for a Saints victory, of course, and that was good enough for me. Go Saints! Cool fleur de lis...

I wasn't totally engaged, however, and I got to looking at these socks (from the very bottom of the drawer) and I began to think about where it was I'd seen these before. I found myself at Bible College in 1987, in the chapel where we registered for classes. I was wearing my favorite pink sweater. It wasn't bubble gum pink or neon pink. It was a beautiful antique pink. It was also my last pink sweater ever.

These socks were so cute, back in the day, with my penny loafers (with pfennings tucked inside that I brought home from my trip to Germany that past Spring).

Someone else thought so, too.

I jumped ahead to our dates in the Rose Garden. I'd sit on his lap and we'd gaze, all goofy, into each others' eyes. We new the minute we started being more than friends that our futures would always be together.

More than twenty years later, I'm wearing those socks!

Day Thirty Seven

When I first took my Photography class at The Kilns College, I became struck by the possibilities within my reach with digital photography, particularly what can be achieved in post processing. I really love to play. But my mind has lately been occupied with a desire to take great photos in the first place.

So, while I still "played" in Lightroom and the composition isn't anything special, I took this with my agenda being to truly consider the light I wanted here and the mood I wanted to create. All this while wanting clear focus using 100 ISO.

I want to perfect this thing so I don't have any reservations letting people put their moments in my hands. I would be most gratified if I found that my images didn't need post editing, but that I used it for fun. For art.

I don't know if any of that makes any sense, but I do know that this is some of my favorite music. Just a little of it. A true representation of "music I love" would take the 120 gig ipod (which I'd love to document buying sometime within the span of this project). The stack of CDs would be much taller than my house.

Day Thirty Six

Family Games...

Pizza, wings, soda.

Nothing at all good for you, but the laughter!

We moved on from "dinner" to play Beatles Rock Band. For hours. Marvelous Bliss.

 

Day Thirty Five

Congratulations, Buddy!!

 

THIS is what a self- manager looks like! Off to Dairy Queen!!

 

Day Thirty Four

His oldest sister is away at school.

They are just about exactly ten years apart, but they are fiercely close.

It has been hard to live without her here with us every day, but I am so thankful for Facebook, webcams, and Skype chat so that we can better keep in touch.

By the smile on his face, this conversation is more than likely about body noises and functions,

but it's what they do!

Day Thirty Three

So...

I'm 42 today.

I couldn't be happier about that.

 

It looks like I'm getting the focus down a bit better,

but I could do without the hunks of lint on the bathroom mirror!

 

Day Thirty Two

Blue Monday

Well, my watermark is still under construction, and things were glitchy when I was making it. So, yeah, don't "cop" my photo. :D. I'll fix it later.

This is actually from yesterday. Believe it or not, today is back to cloudy skies and snow.

Way too depressing.

I have to remind myself that I said this would be my project my way. So I'm not cheating by posting yesterday's photo today.

I'm really very impressed that I've done a month so far. I really love what it's doing for me!

Day Thirty One

I love this place. Sunday after church is such a nice time for a walk...

If you look closely, you'll see my husband and son leaning over the railing, looking at the ducks.

Coming soon:

Way more pictures of people!

Day Thirty

We made a promise to our son, who's obviously neglected (NOT) that we would make a family game night. I've had so much fun with this. However, this Friday, I was exhausted and we asked if we could do it Saturday afternoon, instead. We got the O.K. and that's what we did.

It was Apples to Apples in a manner so cutthroat that I expect Oliver Stone to call any minute for permission to review the controversy in his next film. Sandra Bullock will play me. My husband would love that!

First of all, the rules have you play until one player has either five cards or seven. I forget. Anyway, little buddy saw his opportunity and declared that, this time, we will play to twelve.

Yeah. Twelve.

We ended up in a four-way, eleven card tie. What makes this more difficult is that we take turns being the judge. This meant that on the final turn, the judge CAN NOT win.

Whoever wins the card does win. All of it. The whole enchilada.

Well, in our case, half of a tuna sandwich.

Turns out the victory went to my daughter. I still say that Captain Kirk fits the nerdy card way more than the black hole or penguins or marshmallows. He's the poster guy for nerds worlwide!!

But I digress...

My son got his game day (and I mean DAY) and his sister emerged the victor.

Rematch?

Oh... it's on!

 

Note: no one else was willing to be photographed because we stayed in our jams all day.

Day Twenty Nine

Sunrise...

 

Sunset...

Day Twenty Eight

Okay...

Truth is, I'm WAY over winter. I lasted longer this year, but I am here now. A bit pouty.

I cringe to look outside and see what looks like Christmas for months on end. I'm ready for flowers and kids on bikes...

Since this project, for me, is about growing in my photography, I need to work with what I have. This has been valuable experience.

Here's our tree. With a pinecone. And snow.

I kind of like this:

 

Day Twenty Seven

I found myself with the very rare day alone.

What to do?

This movie is, at least, on my top ten.

My husband and I talk about how we will be the parents whose kids gather around.

Instead of a lake, it will be a beach house on the Oregon Coast.

Yeah.

I love this movie!

Day Twenty Six

Truth Tuesday...

This hangs above the window at my kitchen sink. 

It is a constant, comforting reminder to me

as my family is in this "transition" season of our lives.

"Calm down... I've got it!"

 

Day Twenty Five

Winter's getting to me, but there's beauty here.

Still tweaking my watermark... I'll fix it later!

Day Twenty Four

Yesterday, we left to see our daughter. We were trying to beat a winter storm, due on Sunday afternoon. We set out at around noon. The heavy rain started right away, and we knew that the snow on the pass had come too early. But everyone had school in the morning so, no matter how badly we wanted to just stay with our daughter and our friends, we set out in our Toyota Camry That's right. Not a Highlander or even a Rav 4, but the sedan.

The first picture shows what a beautiful view we had on our way over.

The second shows the mess we had on the way home.

My brave husband tightened his grip and plowed us onward to our safe place and to our dog...

But not before we hit a giant rock (think volleyball size) and bumped over it in a loud, scary fashion. The visibility was bad, and we just didn't see it.

I'm seriously so grateful that we suffered nothing more than a slightly bent rim and frazzled nerves.It could have been so much worse.

This is my weekly self portrait day,

but I promised that I wouldn't let myself be bound by the rules I made for this project, just guided by them.

Maybe in a few days...

Day Twenty Three

Today, we were able to travel go to Eugene to see our daughter, who is in college.

We had lunch with her and took her shopping for laundry soap.

Our dear friends who live there (and help to take good care of our girl) were so kind and invited us to stay with them overnight. We've all been busy, as families tend to be, and haven't spent time together in a couple of years. Lifelong friends are the ones who feel like home.

Here we are...

Lunch, friends, and parking meters.

(We don't have those where we live!)

Day Twenty Two

Bruno!!

Day Twenty One

This Day...

This is a good one,

because forty (mmffble) years ago, my husband was born and God marked him just for ME!

As they read this, my girls are "throwing up a little in their mouths".

This man has been my best friend for the last 22 and a half years. For almost twenty of these, we've been married. Why is he so cool?

Well...

He's gentle, loyal, snuggly, undyingly commtitted, loving, humble, handsome, committed to truth, very much his own man and someone who would do absolutely ANYTHING for his family...

As I'm typing this, I realize that I'll never be able to finish all the things I love about him,

so I'll just show you a fun moment we shared last night

with two- thirds of our children at Bend Burger Company.

Yum.

Day Twenty

He has his own room...

When his oldest sister left for college this past Fall, we just knew that the two remaining would be thrilled to get their own rooms.

I mean, what thirteen year old girl wants to share with her eight-year-old brother?

Well, he can't quite bring himself to sleep alone.

It's January. We've tried. We need sleep, too, so we've been giving in.

I have to remind myself that it won't last forever, and we'll miss this. 

Day Nineteen

Here they are...

My son had a day. Hit in the face with a ball in P.E. Hard enough to bring some tears.

Quite a raspberry on his cheek. (I'm not sure if it shows here)

My daughter is in eighth grade. That's enough for anyone to put up with in a day. Seriously.

Brave girl.

And Bruno...

Well, he's had some naughty days these past few weeks. He's really the best dog ever.

Today, he's been good and I think he's proud of himself for not getting into stuff.

Or peeing in the house.

Go Bruno!

Day Eighteen

Something blue...

I love the Lightroom action on this, although this really is this kind of blue.

It almost looks like selective color, but it's really "cold tone"

This is getting to be super fun AND addictive!

I find I'm "seeing" photos everywhere I go.

Day Seventeen

This is me, being brave...

It's Sunday, and it's my commitment to take a self- portrait every week as part of this project.

It's good for me to show up. I'm the mom behind the camera.

I realized that there should be some pictures of me and that I should find a way to be happy with myself with all my imperfections.

When I'm 55, I'll look back and say, "Ohh... I was so young!"

Ha!

Today, I'm just looking for a way to embrace the mom hair and (gulp) wrinkles.

Here goes...

 

Day Sixteen

My guys on my weekly photo walk...

Lookin' at the ducks in Bend

Day Fifteen

We finally got the kid a real Bible- not just the book with Bible stories in it.

He hasn't put it down (well, now he's playing Wii, but before that)

He keeps saying things like, "Did you know...?"

He giggles every time Adam and Eve are referred to as "naked".

He insisted on starting with the Old Testament... even though we tried to tell him that the New Testament might  be a bit less confusing. But the boy is curious about all of it.

I love this guy and the desire he has to learn. Really, this is the first time he's put down his "Diary of a Wimpy Kid" series since he completed the collection with his Christmas money.

Day Fourteen

Sunrise...

Are words really necessary here?

Day Thirteen

I have always loved this necklace...

My oldest daughter wore it to one of her formal dances (her first, I believe).

Well, she left for college this past Fall and I was really thinking about her today.

Photographically speaking, I'm still having a blast in Lightroom and still having trouble on the focusing on more than just where the spot focus frame on my camera wants to focus. That said, I really have had fun with this shot. 

Day Twelve

I love this book. I went to college to study it.

After a lifetime of ministry positions, I still love it, though we are readjusting our relationship.

This Word never changes, but our lives do.

This scripture (Psalm 90) has been my prayer for much of my adult life... I just want, in the end, to know that my life's work mattered; that every experience was for a reason.

And that, now, God would bring us to a place where we can bless others.

There's always a hunger for Truth...

Day Eleven

So far, my theme for Mondays is "something blue".

My favorite color is blue and has been for most of my life with little deviations for pink when I was five and purple in the early eighties. Of course. I was in middle school. It's expected.

This is a photo of one of my very favorite blue things. However, in this DARK winter, I had to add light in the room which made it not at all blue... not even with a full on assault in Lightroom.

That's okay.

I know that my incredibly soft (if just a bit nappy) fuzzy throw is a beautiful grey- inspired blue. I like to think of it as the color of our ocean waters here in Oregon (when the water is blue and not green). I'm convinced. Are you?

Day Ten

This day (Sunday) is set aside for a weekly self portrait. Well, don't we all have those days when we're not suited for public consumption? I mean, at all? 

That was this day. So I put my toes in as a stand- in for me. It's all I had! The day was extra dark. No good light anywhere. We were exhausted from a big week. Nothing's in focus, but that, also, is fitting for the day...

I know I am trying to grow as a person and an artist, but this will have to do!

Day Nine

Saturdays are set aside for a photo walk.

There's a group for this on Facebook that I've joined.  I love this idea. 

Today, we were in Bend and we ended up at Farewell Bend Park. Brennan climbed a rock or two, we saw a brown, fluffy Newfoundland puppy, who was bigger than our lab/beagle- and he was only four months old! The ducks and the sun were out and Gracie and I had this assignment to do. I LOVE that we are doing it together...

 (I really need to work on focus in a situation like this...how to get everyone in there clearly!)

Day Eight

This is the thing...

Some days, it seems as though, in the middle of this winter, there are only a couple of hours of daylight. It may also seem as though there is nothing photo-worthy in my entire neighborhood that has gone unrecorded by me and my camera. I can only shoot so much yellow grass, so many dry evergreens. And I'm over snow.

This is where the stretching of this project comes in.

I was forced to find something in the low light inside my house to make a shot that is just a bit meaningful...

I really love Billy Graham.

He's one who has LIVED this walk in truth and true, Christ- like love for others. He hasn't lived running his own agenda or by marketing his own "Christian" brand. He really has been a true servant to God and man.

He's on my top five of those I'm most excited to look up in Heaven.

And, on this day, his words have lifted me up!

Day Seven

If you look closely, you can see a grove of evergreens in his right eye...

I'm in LOVE with these freckles!

Day Six

I love this expression on my baby girl. She's a photographer, too, and will very soon surpass me in skill and art. Maybe she'll let me work with her someday! So, like I said, the noise is there, but I'm going to choose to look at it as "film grain". *Smile*I will try this and the next shot next week with more appropriate settings. Hopefully, it will be warmer!

Day Five

Part of this project for me, in fact, a very large part, is to develop the discipline and experience to become a much better photographer. This means that there will be days when I think I have the shot- only to find in post processing that I missed some setting or focus issue. This will be good for me, but posting these will be hard for me. I like perfection. It's a good opportunity for me to get creative and work with what is.

The next three posts are a span of three days when I didn't bother to check my ISO. It was set at Hi 1 on my Nikon, and the noise is enormous. I worked them a bit in LR, but I'm just learning that program, as well. What I do know about Lightroom is that, if I use a preset, it is more than likely going to be "aged photo". I just really like it! And this is a beautiful piece of white chocolate! Next time, I will nail the focus! Yeah.