Consider...

Today our family returned to memorizing scripture. We'd really let the practice of writing God's word on our hearts (for the sake of meditating on it) slip away as we've lived through so many unusual events in the past year.

This verse caught my eye and resounded in my heart earlier in the week so I decided to make it my first goal:

"Only fear the Lord and serve Him in truth with all your heart;
for consider what great things He has done for you." (1 Samuel 12:24)

If ever there was a woman for whom God has done great things, I am she! Here is the greatest of my earthly blessings:

God has done great things for me!

Sing a New Song

When our family was on its way home from a quick trip to Minneapolis, I caught sight of a truly prairie-looking chapel glowing in the last of the day's sunbeams. My family was kind enough to let me rocket out of the car to try to catch the last of the light that bathed the church. We read on a plaque that the building dated back to 1903.

Each time I pick up a camera, I do so desiring to find a way to glorify the Lord. I want my photographs to "sing a new song" of praise to my God. (Psalm 149:1)

Having the opportunity to capture this beautiful chapel at sunset had the feeling of worship to me. I moved around the building taking shots from many different angles overwhelmed by God's majesty as the sunlight slowly slipped away. I felt to blessed so have caught just such a building on just such a beautiful autumn evening. God is good and does good; I praise and thank my King and Saviour.

Look Back...and Remember

"Return to your rest, O my soul,

For the Lord has dealt bountifully with you."

(Psalm 116:7)

Look back. Look back...and remember. Look back and remember God's care, His protection, His provision. "Gracious is the Lord, and righteous; yes, our God is compassionate." (Psalm 116:5) He who has cared so lovingly for you in the past will not abandon you now. He who has never betrayed you will not forsake you now.

He who was willing to send His own beloved son to die a horrific death after unspeakable torture that you might be saved, will He not continue to give His wise and loving attention to the minutest details of your life?

So, look back. Look back...and remember. Then, look forward with trust, hope and, in faith, rest in your great Creator and Maker.

The Beauty of Black and White

Today I was trying to update Lissie's photo on our family blog. However, I failed miserably when it came to the coloration of the photos. Thankfully, Picasa (the photo editing software I'm using) allowed me to salvage the picture in black and white.

Love at First Bite

Oksana - age 7 - adopted from Russia November 2010

Vacation = Family Glue

Our family's vacation has been everything we'd dreamed it would be and so very much more. I want to write more and post more photos, but it's bedtime on our last evening. "Real" life begins again tomorrow so sleep is important tonight.

For now, I'll share one photo that captures how blessed I feel to have had this special time with my beloved family (sans Anna & Aaron and our Jaynie). This particular picture was part of a photo shoot I did with our youngest four while here, but the photograph symbolizes for me all the sibling bonding that went on this week. With our still fresh adoption of Daria, Alexander and Oksana, more time for all of us to get to know one another is truly a gift from a kind and generous Father.

I guess I'd title this photo "A Mother's Paradise".

Sunrise Reflections

Lake Superior

Sunflowers Follow Sunshine

Today I had the privlege of taking some senior photos for "Sunshine" Nordstrom. Before I put the camera away, I took a few pictures in the fields surrounding our home where the sunflowers are hailing the close of summer.

O, how I love the endless number of ways in which creation points to a glorious Creator!