Well … the last few days have been a blur … but that’s usually the case when you are running to and fro!!  I want to thank you all for your prayers, comments, and your tips on photography!  It’s been a blessing!   

… and now, onto the weekend update: 

Friday dawned bright and clear … we had breakfast here, and then, had to be at the church to set up the video cameras at 2:00PM … the rehearsal started at 4:00PM which gave Ian plenty of time to do that, while I ‘tested’ out the camera.  It was an older church and the windows in it were so beautiful (some pics below) … the lighting in there wasn’t the best for it though … but I did the best I could with the still photography … haven’t seen it yet, but I’m sure he did great with the video! 

The rehearsal went for quite awhile … the Pastor wanted everything timed just right with the music, and they were having trouble with the sound system … they finally figured out that a little boy had gotten in the sound booth, and pushed some buttons when we were all busy with other things!   And speaking of which, there were so many cute children there that night!  I got a couple of photos of the Pastor’s children … they were so photogenic!  We were anxious to see how the rehearsal photos turned out … and I’m embarrassed to say, that after we uploaded them … we noticed that a few came out okay, but when you looked at the others, you felt like your vision was blurred!

Needless to say, I was so very disappointed!  As most of you know, the digital cameras have the screen on back so you can see your photo right after you take it, and delete it if it’s not good … well, they sure looked fine to both of us … but after uploading them to the computer,  that’s when we noticed the ‘blurred vision’!!   Since then, I’ve done a lot of deleting!  The bride & groom were not concerned about it at all … and remember, I’m just getting ‘my feet wet’ here!  I’m also thankful that there were bridesmaids taking pictures and, of course, Ian videotaped the rehearsal!  I know he got some good footage to edit with the video of the wedding.

The wedding on Saturday went very well … Ian did take most of the still photos then … with the video cameras being set to run on their own, he was more than willing to work the camera for the still shots … but I did get a chance to take a few, as well!  I had my ’helper’ with me, and I’ll share a photo of her soon.  I am thankful Ian did most of it, as I didn’t want to have them end up like the night before!  I’m sure it was a setting that I have yet to learn! 

I’ll share more as we get through the photos.  We took over 800 … so I’m sure we’ll get some good ones.  Tomorrow, we’ll upload that batch!  In the meantime, I’ve posted just a few of the ones I’ve worked on so far from the rehearsal, none of the bride & groom, or wedding party yet … just some shots of the church, and children, before everyone else got there Friday night … and, like I said, most of them from the rehearsal did not turn out, and these could be so much better … tomorrow we’ll know about the ones from the wedding!  Stay tuned! 

I hope you’ve all had a good weekend!  Yesterday, we went to church, then Ian started feeling like he was coming down with a cold/flu … so we cut our afternoon short, and we brought him home.  I’m hoping he gets better soon … it would be no fun if he was sick while here … and he has some plans with his friends this week!  We are also expecting a winter storm … again!!  Who knows if we’ll get snow, ice, or both?!!  I’ll be visiting around today … catching up on your sites, while I’m taking care of Ian … I think I’m going to make a big pot of homemade chicken soup for him today!  It’s not necessarily his favorite, but he’s willing to eat it to feel better!  You know, they say that the best thing for the cold or flu, is Mom’s Homemade Chicken Soup!!  Anything exciting happen at your house this weekend?!

 Hugs,
         ~ Deborah <><

~ The Church  and the Windows ~

~ Brothers and Sisters ~ 

She was so sweet … so photogenic



~ More church windows and Flowers ~

Faith is often strengthened right at the place of disappointment.

~ Rodney McBride ~

     Oh, happy day!!  Back home again, in Indiana! 

A quick update, and yes, another prayer request!!  We have our son home safe and sound!  We picked him up yesterday morning at 10:30AM, then we headed to Bob Evans for a late breakfast where we did a lot of catching up!  Thank you all so very much for your comments, thoughts, and prayers … and putting up with me through it all! 

After breakfast, we came on home, and Lewis headed to work while Ian and I spent some time here just talking, and trying to decide whether or not to do our weekend show, or go to the wedding where I could help Ian with the filming.  Decisions, decisions.  Well it was becoming clearer as the morning went on! 

Ian told me that Tim had cancelled  a little while back and he wasn’t sure if they had gotten anyone else to take the still photos of the wedding!  It had originally been planned that I would ‘just go along’ and take some shots for ‘practice’, while Tim would be the main photographer.  So, about that time, I started to get a bit nervous! 

Well, last night, Ian got together with all the guys for a dinner/bowling ‘bachelor’ party … I told him to find out if they had gotten anyone to take the photos … so, he talked to the ‘Groom’ about it, and found out they had NOT hired anyone  !!  Since Tim had cancelled they were unable to get someone on such short notice, so they were just hoping friends, and relatives, would bring their cameras so they could get some photos that way, and Ian said he really didn’t seem too concerned about it, just wanted a few photos to go with the video!  Wouldn’t ya know it …  Ian told him that I would be coming, with the camera!  He made sure to tell him that I was still getting used to it, and that I’ve only done a shoot at one other wedding … ’on the side’, and for practice … but that I would do the best that I knew how … and he said, ‘you’re hired’!!    

So my dear friends, I am once again asking for some major prayer for later tonight at the rehearsal, and dinner, and then for tomorrow, at the wedding!  The wedding starts at 1:00PM, and needless to say, I’m a bit nervous about this whole thing … but, I know with your prayers, God will give me wisdom as to what to do!  Ian will be taking some photos, as well, while the cameras are set up doing their thing.  If any of you ‘shutterbugs’ out there have any tips, please drop them in the hat!!  I know at one wedding I was at, they took very few still photos during the ceremony … mainly done before and after …. but at another wedding they did it all during the ceremony, and it was quite a distraction … so does anyone know the proper way to go about doing this?  I don’t want to be a distraction in any way, and I’ve never been good at getting up in front of people!!  Now, I’m hoping someone else, like me, will show up with a camera thinking the same thing … to get the best photos that she knows how … then between us, God can create something nice for them both!  

I’ll keep you posted here, but I may not get around to catch up with you all until the first of the week … so in the meantime, you will all be in my thoughts and prayers … stay warm, have a wonderful Friday, and a super blessed weekend!  Me?  Well, no matter what, my main goal is to enjoy having my son home!  It’s so very good to see him again!

 Hugs,
               ~ Deborah <><  


Do not yield to the temptation of looking at everything at once, as if everything would happen at once, and all the events of the day be crowded into an hour. Do not thus forecast, but take each thing as it comes to you, and look upon it as the present expression of the will of God concerning you; then regard the next in the same way, and thus receive your day piece by piece from Him who will remember always when He gives you work to do, that you need strength to do it. Often, when you have almost fainted in spirit, the thought comes, “If thou hast run with the footmen, and they have wearied thee, what shalt thou do with the horsemen?” Put it from you, it is a faithless thought; if you need more strength, you will have it, be sure of that; or the call to greater exertion may never come to you. Your business is with the present; leave the future in His hands who will be sure to do the best, the very best for you.  ~Priscilla Maurice

 
 FLIGHT PLAN DELAY ….. 
See below the UPDATE for the UP-UPDATE!!

Thank you Christi for sending Laurie over with a weather report in Chicago … and thank you, Laurie!  And yes, things have changed!  Ian’s original flight from San Jose into Chicago was cancelled due to the winter storm!  They gave him a cab ticket for free fare from San Jose to San Francisco where they re-routed him to Dallas/Ft. Worth, where he only has a 10 minute layover … we are hoping that he makes it to the connecting flight into Indianapolis, as 10 minutes is not alot of time to get off one flight and onto another … so he did ask us to be praying for him!  If all goes well, we should see him around 11:00PM tonight!  We’re getting ready to go run some quick errands, and get a bite to eat … then off to the airport to pick up our precious cargo!  I’ll let you all know how things went later tonight … or, in the wee hours of the mornin’!  I hope to have pictures, as well!  I pray you’re all safe with the bad weather we’ve had!  I appreciate and love you all so much for your thoughts and prayers … and friendship!  

Hugs,
~ Deborah <>< 

P.S.  Those of you with the snow … send some my way! 

……AND NOW, FOR THE UP-UPDATE!!
Well, the drama has switched channels,  and now, as the evening so goes … we ran our errands, one of which was that we had our car at the mechanics today, and we needed to pick that up.  The repair bill was minimal … and that was a blessing!  We came back home, with about an hour to spare before heading to the airport … while we were here, Ian called at around 9:30PM … and, unfortunately, he missed that connecting flight from Dallas/Ft. Worth to Indy!   The plane he flew in on was only three minutes late, nevertheless; he stood and watched the one he was supposed to be on, taxi down the runway!  

Well, quite a few other people missed that flight, as well, and since there are no other ones leaving tonight, they put them up in a hotel until the next flight out, which will be around 7:00AM in the morning … and then, providing that one doesn’t get delayed, he should be in Indy around 10:00AM!  Another problem now presents itself … Lewis is supposed to be working on a job about an hour and 1/2 south of us tomorrow, so he has to change his whole schedule for the day, as well!  He really does want to go with me to pick Ian up, so if you would, please pray for both Ian, and for things to go well at work until Lewis gets there later in the morning!  

 *I’ve just spoken with Ian … and he’s settled in for the night, so now, I’ve gotten into my comfy jammies, and I’m enjoying a nice hot cup of tea, then it’s off to bed to get some sleep before tomorrow.  Do any of you have a ‘flight plan’ story to share??  To be continued …  Deborah <><









   

I pray that everyone is okay after the storms blew through!  I’ve been praying especially for those in Arkansas and Tennessee!  The tornado sirens went off here in our county … we had a lot of high winds and a whole lot of rain … my backyard looks like a pond … and if it freezes, maybe we can go ice skating!  The temperature is supposed to drop tomorrow and then snow … hmm, we’ll see!  There is so much water coming through the pipes in the basement that our sump pump is working overtime … I’m praying it doesn’t quit working … that would be a mess!  We have so many things stored there that we don’t want to get ruined!  I may be up for awhile checking on it from time to time!   




TODAY IS THE DAY WE HAVE BEEN WAITING FOR!!  Yesterday I cleaned and did laundry … got things ready for Ian’s homecoming later tonight!  He leaves California around 1:00PM his time ( which is 4:00PM our time ) … and has a connecting flight in Chicago, with a 2 hour layover.  They are predicting snow in that area, and I know O’Hare is backed up now from the fog they just had … so, your prayers are much appreciated for safe travels for him!  If all goes well, we should be seeing him at 10:55PM tonight!  Does anyone know how I can find out online what the flight delays would be if there is bad weather?  He’s flying in on American Airlines, and I’m hoping to have an idea, by later today, if there will be any changes as to the arrival time of his flight.  




We’ve made some plans while he is here through the 18th, but he did say that he just wants a few days to rest!  That’s not a problem with me!  I’ll have his company!  )  He is going to be filming a friend’s wedding on Saturday, and I was hoping to go and do some of the photography for practice, and just to bless the couple, but, tentatively, we have a show scheduled this weekend.  Ian and I would both need a car that day, and my hubby is still working for Tim’s dad trying to get caught up, so things are sort of up in the air!  I really would love to go to the wedding with my son and help out … but then there’s the show on Saturday!  What to do?!!  We’ll talk about it on Thursday, once he’s had some time to rest … I’m sure it will all work out!  Do you ever wish there were two of you?!!   



There are a lot of great faces this week over in the contest at iliveinmycamera!  Be sure to stop in and vote for the ‘Friendliest’!  Well, I had better get some sleep so I can be up and at ‘em later this morning … but first, I’d better check that sump pump!  Where did they ever come up with a name like ‘sump pump’?  What’s the ‘sump’ in the pump?  Question of the day!!  Or, we could say … ‘what’s sump’!!  Oh goodness, it’s late isn’t it!! :o)  Have a wonderful Wednesday, and since it’s a great day for worship, as is everyday, take just a few minutes here to watch this video from GodTube … and I pray your heart is blessed as you, ‘wait upon the Lord’!   
 
Hugs,
    ~ Deborah <><

Isaiah 40:28
Hast thou not known? hast thou not heard?
The everlasting God, Jehovah, the Creator of the ends of the earth,
fainteth not, neither is weary; there is no searching of his understanding.

YOU ARE THE EVERLASTING GOD!

Strength will rise as we wait upon the Lord
We will wait upon the Lord
We will wait upon the Lord

Our God, You reign forever
Our hope, our Strong Deliverer
You are the everlasting God
The everlasting God
You do not faint
You won’t grow weary

Our God, You reign forever
Our hope, our Strong Deliverer
You are the everlasting God
The everlasting God
You do not faint
You won’t grow weary

You’re the defender of the weak
You comfort those in need
You lift us up on wings like eagles

 

~ POST MODERN PROVERBS ~

If you want your dreams to come true, don’t oversleep.

The smallest good deed is better than the grandest intention.

Of all the things you wear, your expression is the most important.

The best vitamin for making friends…B-1.

The 10 commandments are not “multiple choice.”

The happiness of your life depends on the quality of your thoughts.

Minds are like parachutes…they function only when open.

Ideas won’t work unless YOU do.

One thing you can’t recycle is wasted time.

One who lacks the courage to start has already finished.

The heaviest thing to carry is a grudge.

Don’t learn safety rules by accident.

We lie the loudest when we lie to ourselves.

Jumping to conclusions can be bad exercise.

A turtle makes progress when it sticks its head out.

One thing you can give and still keep…is your word.

A friend walks in when everyone else walks out.

The pursuit of happiness is the chase of a lifetime!

~ Author Unknown ~



Guess, what? 
I fell in  love today!
British Short Hair Kittens
See more at this link!

 

  

Well, we’ve had a blessed and eventful weekend … Saturday … hubby was home and we started working on decluttering Ian’s bedroom … oh my, the treasures we found in some boxes ‘neath his bed!  A stamp collection, a baseball card collection, coin collection and the printouts from his first business at an antique mall selling his coins, along with a collection of Franklin Mint knives we had gotten him as birthday gifts over the years ~ (anyone familiar with those?), and of course, a (cough, cough, sputter) collection of ‘dust bunnies’!  Now who doesn’t have a nice collection of those around their home somewhere?!!  They sure are easy to come by!  Well, we started to collect those ‘dust bunnies’, and wouldn’t you know it, our vacuum cleaner konked out!  It was giving us trouble earlier in the day, so when my sister dropped by, she checked it out, and we found out that there were dustbunnies stuck in the hose!  Problem solved!  It’s still an old vacuum and we are due for a new one!  It seems I’ve asked this before on here, but does anyone have any preferences on brands of vacuums?  Right after that, my husband got a call from his sister, who needed him to drive to Sam’s Club on the northside of town, and pick up a chair in his van and deliver it to her apartment.  So we put the decluttering on hold, and he headed north!  I had a nice quiet evening getting things ready for church on Sunday, and he didn’t get home till around 11:00PM … the chair was picked up and delivered by a really sweet guy, and he had a good time at dinner with his sisters, at Panera! 

We also got a call from our son earlier on Saturday asking for prayer as he drove with Tim, and another friend, to San Francisco for a vacation day.  He called me three times telling me all the things I was missing, which included a drive across the Golden Gate Bridge, twice … a visit to the San Francisco De Young Fine Arts Museum, which was founded in 1895, and where he said some of the exhibits were quite interesting … and of course, a nice meal at the Fisherman’s Warf.  
 
 


He had a great time, and one of his calls was to tell me to check my e-mail for a photo he was sending back through his iPhone … he was there at that very moment … I think the picture turned out pretty good for an iPhone!  This of course, is the Golden Gate Bridge.  It was about 5:00PM there in this shot. 



As you can see it was quite foggy, so that was one of our prayers … for their safe trip back to Monterey!  Ian drove it both ways!  Me … although I would have enjoyed myself, I probably would have ‘thunk twice’ before venturing into all of that traffic there … and I’m not too fond of going over bridges … especially long bridges, with lots of water under them … but Ian had a great time … nothing seems to bother him much … wish I had inherited that!

**And, thankfully, they made it back without any trouble at all!   





Now for Sunday:  I fixed a new, easy recipe for yesterday’s pitch in at church … Tater Taco Casserole from ‘Taste of Home’ (recipe below) … it turned out pretty good … not a morsel was left after the meal … and I also made powdered sugar brownies which, thankfully, made it into the church this week!  Those birds were pretty disappointed though!  Here’s that recipe, if anyone is interested!


TATER TACO CASSEROLE
~Taste of Home~
2 pounds ground beef
1/4 cup chopped onion
1 envelope taco seasoning
2/3 cup water
1 can (11 ounces) whole kernel corn, drained
1 can (11 ounces) condensed fiesta nacho cheese soup, undiluted
1 package (32 ounces) frozen Tater Tots

In a skillet, cook beef and onion over medium heat until meat is no longer pink; drain. Stir in taco seasoning and water.  Simmer, uncovered, for 5 minutes.  Add corn and soup; mix well.  Transfer to a greased 13-in. x 9-in. x 2-in. baking dish.  Arrange Tater Tots in a single layer over the top.  Bake, uncovered, at 350° for 30-35 minutes or until potatoes are crispy and golden brown.

We had a wonderful time at church, with a friend of Ian’s coming as well.  Whenever I see his friends, it makes me feel closer to Ian!  Also, our church is hosting a ‘Dave Ramsey’ seminar starting mid-February, which we have signed up for, and he will be doing that along with us!  Anyone familiar with Dave Ramsey? 

Well, there’s much more to share about Sunday, our son, and the ‘move’, but I’ll save that for the next time … aren’t you glad?!!  Did you do anything special for the weekend?  I’ll be around to visit later today, and I pray that each one of you will have a wonderful Monday … me, well, I’m going to be busy getting things ready for our son … we’re picking him up at the airport Wednesday night … I get to keep him for 12 wonderful days, and I am so excited!!

Hugs,
   ~ Deborah <><

P.S.  Also … if you’re in need of a friendly face, or two, to cheer you up, just hop on over to iliveinmycamera, take a peek, and be sure to vote for your favorite!

The butterfly then emerged easily.  But it had a swollen body and small, shriveled wings.  The man continued to watch the butterfly because he expected that, at any moment, the wings would enlarge and expand to be able to support the body, which would contract in time.  Neither happened! In fact, the butterfly spent the rest of its life crawling around with a swollen body and shriveled wings.  It never was able to fly.

What the man, in his kindness and haste, did not understand was that the restricting cocoon and the struggle required for the butterfly to get through the tiny opening were God’s way of forcing fluid from the body of the butterfly into its wings so that it would be ready for flight once it achieved its freedom from the cocoon.

Sometimes struggles are exactly what we need in our lives.  If God allowed us to go through our lives without any obstacles, it would cripple us.

We would not be as strong as what we could have been.  We could never fly!

I asked for Strength…And God gave me Difficulties to make me strong.

I asked for Wisdom…And God gave me Problems to solve.

I asked for Prosperity…And God gave me Brain and Brawn to work.

I asked for Courage…And God gave me Danger to overcome.

I asked for Love…And God gave me Troubled people to help.

I asked for Favours…And God gave me Opportunities.

I received nothing I wanted…I received everything I needed!

“Beloved, do not be astonished at the fiery trial happening among you for your testing, as if a surprise were occurring to you; but according as you share the sufferings of Christ, rejoice; so that you may rejoice exultingly at the revelation of His glory” (1 Pet. 4:12, 13).

“For whom the Lord loves, He disciplines, and chastens every son whom He receives. If you endure discipline, God is dealing with you as with sons . . .” (Heb. 12:5-7, 11).

“Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is.  And every man that hath this hope in him purifieth himself, even as he is pure”. (1 Jn. 3:2-3).

“For our light affliction, is but for a moment, and works for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory;”
(2 Cor. 4:17).

“Then shall the righteous shine forth as the sun in the kingdom of their Father” (Matt. 13:43). “Come hither, I will show thee the bride, the Lamb’s wife.  And he carried me away in the spirit to a great and high mountain, and showed me that great city, the holy Jerusalem, descending out of heaven from God, having the glory of God: and her light was like unto a stone most precious, even like a jasper stone, clear as crystal” (Rev. 21:9-11).

The breaking of the alabaster box and the anointing of the Lord filled the house with the odor,
with the sweetest odor.  Everyone could smell it.  Whenever you meet someone who has really suffered;
been limited, gone through things for the Lord, willing to be imprisoned by the Lord,
just being satisfied with Him and nothing else, immediately you scent the fragrance.
There is a savour of the Lord. Something has been crushed, something has been broken,
and there is a resulting odor of sweetness.
~Watchman Nee~