"Ponder the path of thy feet, and let all thy ways be established." Proverbs 4:26

Merry Christmas!!

Farewell to October

[Audrey looks very determined]

[I love fall colors!]

New camera!

I got a new camera (I actually shouldn't say new, because it is my first digital camera). It's not a SLR, which I originally wanted, but it's almost as good. I'm really liking it more and more as time goes on. These are a couple of pictures I tried out on it:

Photoshoot

In August, we took pictures of everyone in the family. I had fun editing some of them, as you can see.

[Lillian]

[Cherise][Audrey]

[Hannah]

[this one of Melissa was actually taken earlier this year]

Texas

[Weatherford, TX]

Since I was born and raised in Texas, I naturally have a preference for it. I know some people don't like the Lone Star State very well, but you got to admit, we do have the best flag!

Endurance

I saw this spider in our flower bed today. I've always been fascinated by spiderwebs (not really spiders though) and this zig-zag spiderweb is even more amazing. The zig-zag is actually called a stabilimentum. No one actually really knows what it is used for. I think it is amazing all the same how this tiny creature can make this intricate design in its web. There's proof for creative design right there. A thing like that could not just happen. Someone had to put into these little black and yellow garden spiders the information to make the designs, plus the materials for making it. I know Who did it. He wrote a book about it. :-)

[detail of spidey's zig-zag]

But that wasn't really what I was thinking about today. I was struck by the endurance of the common spiders, things that we don't think much of, but they last and don't give up easily. It reminded me of these verses: "There be four things which are little upon the earth, but they are exceeding wise: The ants are a people not strong, yet they prepare their meat in the summer; The conies are but a feeble folk, yet make they their houses in the rocks; The locusts have no king, yet go they forth all of them by bands; The spider taketh hold with her hands, and is in kings' palaces." Proverbs 30:24-28 No matter how big or little a house or building is, spiders can always find a way to get in. They're not stopped by doors or walls, all that keeps normal things out. But the spider never gives up. It keeps on working, doing what God planned for it to do by ridding the world of a few more insects. So what was the spider's lesson for me? To keep on doing what I know is right for me to do, even when it's not what others around me are doing. To keep on the right path, keep my eyes on the goal even when I can't see it clearly. To keep my focus on my Savior and read His word a lot so that His way is plain to me. To never, ever give up, even when it seems hopeless. To keep pressing on, even when dreams fade and life goes on and I grow weary of the race I must run.

"But what things were gain to me, those I counted loss for Christ. Yea doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but dung, that I may win Christ, And be found in him, not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith: That I may know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, being made conformable unto his death; If by any means I might attain unto the resurrection of the dead. Not as though I had already attained, either were already perfect: but I follow after, if that I may apprehend that for which also I am apprehended of Christ Jesus. Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus." Philippians 3:7-14

Life does grow weary at times, but recently I've able to enjoy it more because I've learned to give up more of what I think will make me happy, but really makes me grumpy, selfish, and intolerable to be around. Once I found out that real joy only comes by sacrificing self will, it became a lot easier to give up my own way. But like the verse said, I'm not perfect already, (just ask my siblings!) just following my Jesus as close as I can. My only fear is that I'm on a mountaintop now and there's probably a valley close ahead. My mountaintops and valleys are a lot closer together now than they used to be.

...this picture doesn't have anything to do with this post, but I had to post it anyway :-)

July Reunion

Pictures from our West Reunion in July:
We had a lot of fun with the canoes :-)


Melissa and Brenda

These three ducks were always seen together

The long road home

Been a while...

I guess I'm not as eager to keep up with this as I thought. I'm just so busy, and when the internet decides to actually work, that's normally at a time when my thought processes aren't working as well. I've made some before and after pictures that I'll post. I'll try to remember what I did to them so that won't just be me showing off.

[This was taken near the 4th when we had the flag out. I upped the contrast and added a soft glow. I cloned the telephone pole out. (not sure exactly how to explain that :-))I think I might have softened the colors a little bit also. ]

[sorry this one's a little small. I can't figure out how to change it. I changed the contrast and took out the wires (which you probably can't see anyway). I didn't like the coloring, so I made it more blue.]

My life verse for right now:

“One thing have I desired of the LORD, that will I seek after; that I may dwell in the house of the LORD all the days of my life, to behold the beauty of the LORD, and to inquire in his temple” ~Psalm 27:4

In the Amplified Bible:

One thing have I asked of the Lord, that will I seek, inquire for, and [insistently] require: that I may dwell in the house of the Lord [in His presence] all the days of my life, to behold and gaze upon the beauty [the sweet attractiveness and the delightful loveliness] of the Lord and to meditate, consider, and inquire in His temple.

Thou wilt shew me the path of life: in thy presence is fulness of joy; at thy right hand there are pleasures for evermore. Psalm 16:11