Samples of my playing

She came on Tuesday and we are slowly becoming good friends. She needs a name. What do you name a Nikon D700? Any suggestions? 

Going from 35mm to this fabulous DSLR is quite a change. I knew it would be and I was prepared but boy, there's a lot to know! The manual is 443 pages long! Phew... But like I said, we're slowly becoming acquainted with each other. I keep learning new things and they excite me! I had no idea a camera could do half of the things this can. 

Here's just a few sample of J that I shot this morning.

One of the things I've been super excited about getting a DSLR for is to see exactly what my flash is doing and using my light reflector.
In this shot, I used a silver reflector that I bounced the flash from. See how it makes the Cosmos flowers look almost cold?

This series I used gold. I like how warm it looks. What do you think?

How God didn't answer my prayer

At the beginning of the summer I entered a photography contest in hopes of winning the grand prize of cash in order to upgrade to a DSLR (digital single lens reflex, a camera with the ability to interchange lenses). A friend of mine was telling me about a sermon her pastor had preached on prayer and he'd said to ask God for specific things. So, I decided that I would pray that God would provide me with a specific DSLR.

I love photography and I want to use it to bring the Lord honor. So, why would it be out of His ability or desire to provide the specific camera I was asking Him for?

Well, the contest came and went. I didn't win the grand prize, however I was a finalist of about 14,000 entries! My photo will be published in the Best of Photography 2011! That is pretty exciting and I'm very grateful for it, however, the Lord didn't answer my prayer for the specified DSLR. 

The beginning of September I was quite discouraged. I have a little point and shoot Nikon that I really like, but it doesn't shoot like my beloved Nikon N80 (35mm). As much as I do love film, I've really been enjoying stepping into the digital world. It's also more practical because of where I live. My favorite photo lab back in Illinois closed down and I haven't found one in South Dakota that I really like. So, I've had to mail my film into an online lab. I do like this lab, but I still end up paying more because of the shipping.

I opened an online store at etsy.com selling handcrafted jewelry and some of my photos, in hopes that I could make money to purchase the camera I'd been praying for. I haven't made a single sale to anyone outside of my family. The Lord must not want me to have the Nikon D7000. Sigh...

Before going on my resent vacation, I received an email from someone asking me to take some family pictures. Oh how nice it would be to be digital! I told her that I would love to and would she mind that I was still shooting 35mm. My husband then informed me while on vacation, that since our ag business has done very well this year he wanted me to have that specified camera. I was quite shocked! I'd never expected him to purchase such an item for me and it wasn't even my birthday! I found a photography store near where we were staying and inquired about some information that I didn't completely understand about the Nikon D7000. I'm still a little new to the digital end of photography and knew that there are some differences in the 35mm vs. a certain line of Nikon DSLRs. I learned that the D7000 has a smaller image sensor compared to a 35mm camera. Specific lenses have to be purchased for the D7000 and those cameras that are similar, unless I was willing to lose some focal range with my current lenses. I didn't want to have to purchase a whole new camera and new lenses. I love the ones that I have and they work incredibly! 

I realize this is a lot of information you might not care about, but I promise that it will come to an end and it does have a point. :) 

So, my options were to purchase the D7000 and new lenses. Purchase the D7000 and use the ones I have and lose some focal range (which is a BIG deal in landscape photography). Or, purchase Nikon's DSLR version that has a full frame sensor (equal to that of a 35mm). This makes perfect sense! I won't have to purchase new lenses, the image quality will actually be much better than the D7000 even though it's a few mega pixels less. However, the downside to all of this is that the camera I was now looking at was twice the price of the D7000.  

I went back to my sister's house where my husband awaited me, empty handed. I couldn't ask him to let me purchase this camera. I'd been praying that God would provide me with a camera. I couldn't expect my husband to hand over his hard earned money for my hobby that I'm trying to turn into a part-time job. I told him what I found out and just left it at that. God will provide for this camera if He wants me to have it, right?

Well, apparently He does want me to have it. It should be arriving tomorrow. No, I didn't win a cash prize in a photo contest to pay for it. I was so sure that was how God was going to provide a camera, but instead, He chose to use my husband to bless me. It's funny, really. I'd been praying for the Nikon D7000 all summer. God didn't provide it for me. He provided something better, because the Nikon D7000 would have ultimately been useless to me. 

Isn't He amazing? He does care about things we would normally think were "too small" to pray about. I sometimes catch myself only praying for those dying of cancer, or those living in darkness, or that my son would learn who Jesus is. Never for cameras. Isn't that silly? No, it isn't silly. Especially when the very reason I wanted this camera was to bring Him honor. I do want to get my little business rolling, but not with the sole purpose of making money. I want to use this camera to take photos of God's incredible creation. Whether it be the mist on an fall morning or the faces of a family laughing together. To show that world glimpses of Who God is, that maybe they will see and bend the knee before Him.

"These Inward Trials"

My family and I just returned from a wonderful fall vacation to a fabulous state where the colors are spectacular-Wisconsin! I love fall, I love the changing of seasons. I love the colors of the trees as they change from green to yellows, orange, reds and even deep purples. The sad thing about fall is that this beautiful season is so short and after it comes the bitter cold of winter. The driving, bone chilling winds. The ice. The snow. And yet, within most homes the fire roars and there is warmth within despite the bitterness outside. 

I was thinking the other day how much the changing seasons cause the trees in my region to grow. If it was always spring/summer when they are at their fullest in green lushness and they never went through fall and winter, they wouldn't grow. If they didn't face the trials of loosing their beauty in the fall and enduring the pain of winter, they wouldn't shoot forth buds in the spring and be so green and beautiful in the summer. 

Isn't that similar to the Christian's life? When we go through trials we think that God isn't loving or that He's forgotten us or that He's punishing us. Jesus never said that following Him was always going to be grand like spring and summer. He said that a disciple is not above his teacher. His followers shouldn't think that they will have an easy life without trials. Jesus Himself suffered greatly, more than any man ever will. 

"How does God in grace prosecute this purpose? Not by shielding us from assault by the world, the flesh and the devil, not by protecting us from burdensome and frustrating circumstances, nor yet by shielding us from troubles created by our own temperament and psychology; but rather by exposing us to all these things, so as to overwhelm us with a sense of our own inadequacy, and to drive us to cling to Him more closely. This is the ultimate reason, from our standpoint, why God fills our lives with troubles and perplexities of one sort and another: it is to ensure that we shall learn to hold Him fast." -J.I. Packer

So I should take great joy in the fall and winter seasons of my life. Jesus never promised a carefree, burdensome, "happy" life and anyone who says differently is a liar. A life of following Jesus Christ will be full of trials, but He uses them to "ensure that we shall learn to hold Him fast." And in learning to hold Him fast, there is great joy. Joy with eternal significance. 

Aren't the things worth living for more challenging to achieve? Would they be as sweet if they were easy to attain?

Humility at its best

I know I already posted something today, however, in light of being an honest Christian as I promise to do, I must post again.

I failed. 

This morning started out great! I spent time with the Lord, was able to get a fair amount of my work for the day done and then the afternoon happened...

We are preparing to go on a short trip this weekend and so I have been busy gathering the needed essentials and a few extras. Jacob didn't sleep during his nap this morning but took the time to play and rest in his crib. I have discovered that even if he doesn't sleep during his nap, the resting time is still beneficial.

We ate our lunch with Daddy and then continued on our packing routine. All the while Jacob being naughty due to not taking his nap. Each time something needed to be dealt with, I did so in a kind and loving way (while stress and frustration starting smoldering within). Jacob went down for his afternoon nap a little earlier due to extra crabbiness. :) 

Then disaster hit. 
I was making a pumpkin rice pudding for our Bible study tonight. As I was placing it into the oven it slipped out of my hands all over the floor and the oven door. By this time Jacob was fussing and crying in bed, I had pumpkin rice pudding all over my feet, kitchen rug, floor and oven. Jacob's crying was increasing in obnoxiousness as I stood there sobbing against the sink. It was everything I could do to hold it in. 

And then I just couldn't. It all came out. It was horrible. I don't think I've ever yelled at Jacob so loud and with such force. 
I failed.

I failed to allow circumstances to be what they are, just circumstances that will pass by. I failed to love my child no matter what. I failed to control my emotions. I failed to control my tongue. I failed to glorify God in all circumstances, because let me tell you, that anger was anything but glorying to God.

I failed, but do you know what? Jesus didn't. He doesn't yell at me every time I mess up. His anger doesn't boil and burst because He's heard me whine about the same thing over and over again. He never once doesn't welcome me back into His arms. He is ever patient, ever compassionate. 

I picked myself up, cleaned the mess through tears and went to pick up Jacob and tell him how sorry I was and asked him to forgive me. He just smiled. I'm so glad that he most likely won't remember this. 

I had more leftover rice and pumpkin to make another pumpkin rice pudding, which is currently in the oven and smelling wonderful. 

Marty just pulled on the yard. Now, deep breath. I will not allow my frustrating afternoon rub off onto my attitude towards my husband when he walks in the door. 

Jesus, You are my strength and deliverer.

Litany of Humility

Oh, for this to be true of me...


Litany of Humility
Oh Jesus, meek and humble of heart, hear me today.  
 
Deliver me Jesus from the desire of being esteemed, from the desire of being loved, of being extolled, and honored and praised.  
 
Deliver me from the desire of being preferred to others, or the desire of being consulted, of being approved.  
 
And deliver me Father from the fear of being humiliated, the fear of being despised, of suffering rebukes, of being falsely accused.
 
Deliver me from the fear of being forgotten, being ridiculed, being wronged, and the fear of being suspected.  Deliver me Lord from all those things.
 
And grant me the grace to desire that others may be loved more than I, that others may be esteemed more than I, that others may increase and I may decrease, that others may be chosen and I set aside, that others may be praised and I unnoticed.  
 
Grant me the grace to desire that others be preferred before me in everything, that others become truly holier than I, provided that I may become as holy as I should.
 
Lord Jesus, grant me the grace to desire these things and the deliverance from the other things.  
 
Thank you today for your faithfulness, Father.  Morning by morning new mercies we see.  All that we have needed your hand has provided, great, great is your faithfulness to me.
 
 We worship you our delivering and faithful Father, and now we give to you in Jesus name.  Amen.

~Author Unknown

Roasted Tomatoes

Have extra tomatoes from your garden or have been given some from someone else? I have a fabulous recipe passed on from my sister last year that will use those up!
I have just been making this and thought there might be others who would enjoy it as well. :)

Roasted Tomatoes
8 c. chopped tomatoes (Roma are great but any will do)
1 c. chopped onion
4 whole cloves garlic
2 t. salt
1 t. red pepper flakes
1 t. sugar


Toss all in a baking dish, add 1/2 c. EVOO. Roast 35-40 minutes at 450F. Mash. Stir in 1/2 c. chopped fresh basil (if you don't have fresh, use 1-2 t. dried depending on your preference).


To store, I cool the tomatoes, place 1 c. into a ziploc sandwich bag and fill a freezer bag full of the sandwich bags. Freeze.


To use, thaw, heat in saucepan until starting to bubble. Cook your preference of pasta, drain, return to pot and toss with roasted tomatoes. Serve with freshly grated Parmesan! 
Or, use on grilled pizza. (I have yet to try that one, I'm always too enticed by the former way of indulging in the tomatoes.) :)




Enjoy!

Negativity

It amazes me how negative words greatly effect how people act, think and speak.

I have been greatly convicted lately of being a negative person. So often when I open my mouth, I find that what I have to say is negative. All of this is of course done with the thought that if I share my frustrations about said circumstance, person, organization, weather, etc., that that is my attempt at trying to better the situation. But is it? 

As a verbal processor is it really better for my own state of mind to criticize and condemn? Is it really beneficial for those who hear?

I was recently re-reading parts of a book that I have been going through with Women's Challenge, a Bible study a good friend leads. I came across the following, which I'd underlined:       

"Whatever possesses virtue and praise. If it has virtue, it will motivate us to do better; and if it has praise, it is worth commending to others. No Christian can afford to waste “mind power” on thoughts that tear him down or that would tear others down if these thoughts were shared."

                                    ~Warren Wiersbe

When I focus on negativity, my attitude becomes that and it is then transferred towards my husband and son. This was not my intent while I was trying to make the situation better by sharing my disappointment, frustration, anger, irritation, etc. 

So, is it really beneficial to share negative thoughts at all?

"Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in Your sight, O LORD, my rock and my Redeemer." ~Psalm 19:14