Project 365, Week 41

October 4
A beautiful Sunday fall afternoon calls for a game of tag-football. Shaun, his brothers and a couple friends like to go up to the local highschool to play. The kids and I went too so we could get some fresh air and enjoy the day.

October 5
Shaun took Avery to dance class etc, so the little guys and I went for a walk (oh, the dog, too). Its so much easier to take two than three!

October 6
It appears from my pictures this week that we are spending as much time as we can outside. That's because the weather turns fast and ugly here in New England and we know each 60+ degree could be our last for a very loooong time. I wasn't trying to do it at the time, but it looks like Amanda's legs go with Aiden's head and torso. He, he.

October 7

New camera day, so the girls and I went out while Daddy worked on the "park" in our backyard.

October 8

We visited Shaun's grandfather and had a surprise visit from Cousin Alayna, who is 8 weeks younger than Aiden. We think they look alike, but it could just be that they are babies with a head of dark hair and chubby cheeks.

October 9

We celebrated my nephew Nathanael's 6th birthday. The kids all had a blast playing Capture the Flag.

October 10

We got to spend some of the day at Shaun's sister's house with part of his family. It was the first time all the cousins on his side had been together, so obviously it was picture worthy.

Amanda 2, holding Aiden 2 mos, big Cousin Jared 10, Avery 4, holding Alayna 1 mo.

There's more great projects at Sara's blog.

My Camera Is Here!

After just two short, or long, weeks, depending on your perspective, my camera arrived! Shaun was outside and I was in, so we both nearly tackled the poor UPS man as he tried to deliver the box. Knowing what it meant to me, Shaun was just about as excited as I was.

I can't imagine anyone would be interested in the detailed story of how we decided on this new camera, but several people have asked already, so I thought I'd share in case there is one more person who wants to know. Come to think of it, maybe those people were asking to be polite, not to really know the 15-minute explanation I gave. Kind of like asking, How are you? and just hoping to hear Fine in response. Nah...

The story begins two years ago when I started dropping not-so-subtle hints to Shaun that I would like to step up my camera and enter the world of the DSLR. In true Shaun-fashion, he began madly researching the world of cameras and came up with the Olympus E-510 that he presented to me on Christmas Day. Just two years ago it was the only one with a Live Viewfinder and it also had in-camera image stabilization. The complete package deal was the best value there was out there and all the reviews agreed it was indeed a solid choice.

I really liked that camera and learned SO much while using it. The experience got even better this past Christmas when Shaun bought me a really nice lense for it (30mm f1.4).

When the cop told us there was little chance of ever seeing my camera again, Shaun immediately got on the internet and started doing his mad research again. We assumed Olympus, because that's what I was familiar with and that's what I had all the accessories for, but I also wanted to investigate Nikon, since it is most similar to Olympus.

Olympus works on a special Four-Thirds system that is great, but it makes the lenses harder to come by, since both Nikon and Canon don't use that system. The variety is less and the prices are more. We were finding that the cheesy kit lenses I still had (my good Prime lense was on my camera when it was taken) were not worth working around, since the Nikon lenses were so (relatively) cheap and I could re-sell the Olympus ones.

After hours and hours on the computer researching and reading reviews (mostly by Shaun...the hours, not the reviews) we had it narrowed down to two. We made plans to go to NYC to visit the B&H warehouse, but that fell through. We ended up going to a store here in CT that had the camera on display so I could try it out. The next day I ordered it online.

Shaun is normally frugal and is a master bargain-shopper, but whenever we do a big-ticket item, he likes to shop quality first and then do price second. The Nikon D90 is more camera than I need right now and most certainly more than I deserve, but its one that I can grow into and do well with for many years to come.

Now...how's that for an answer to "how are you?" :)

I'm so grateful to Shaun for the interest he showed in the purchase. He cares nothing about photography, except that it is a passion of mine. On more than one occasion, he was up after I'd gone to bed still reading and educating himself on the best camera to move to. I had to be honest with him and tell him if it were reversed and he was looking for a new golf club, that he'd be on his own!

We make a good team. He wants to do everything well (meaning perfect) and thorough and I just want to get it done and call it good enough. There's a balance in there somewhere and together we usually find it.

Thank you, Shaun for taking an interest in the things that are important to me even though you don't know a thing about f-stops. You filled my little love bank right to the top! I can't wait to continue documenting this journey we are on together.

And thank you, dear readers and family and friends IRL (in real life) for your concern and interest. Very sweet!

I find it a bit ironic that a post ALL about my camera includes NO pictures. Don't worry...there will be an overload to come!

Sidenote: If you live close by and trust me to do a shoot for you, let me know when we can schedule a time. If you are wanting them for Christmas cards, then it really should happen by the end of this month so I have time to do the editing before Thanksgiving and all the other holiday "stuff". Also, my tax guy (aka Shaun) says I need to start showing an intent to make money at this, so I will need to start charging a nominal fee. Very nominal, for now. Unless you are family. Or a good friend. Oh, this is going to be hard!

Goodwill and Favor

As I came up the stairs this morning to get Aiden out of his crib, this is what greeted me. Both girls were wearing shorts for a hat and were clomping around in my heels. As a bonus, Amanda was singing to the "CD player" around her neck.

Much later, they thought Aiden should get in on the action, too. And so it begins...poor little guy isn't even three months old yet. BUT, he stood his ground...NO tutus!

Shaun and Avery left this morning to go help his grandfather. He almost never takes my car, but did today. Well, look what fell right where my car would have been, but thankfully was not. I was just reading this morning in Psalm 86 and verse 17 stayed with me.

Show me a sign of [Your evident] goodwill and favor...

I prayed that I would be more aware of God's goodwill and blessings toward me, because I know it's constantly in action and I miss so many things. This one was easy though! Thankful for the "little"ways He takes care of us.

Twelve Weeks Old

I'm going to break my own rule and post 12-week pictures tomorrow, when I can (hopefully) take them with my new camera.

**Updated...Changed my mind. Can't find any tracking info so I'm not convinced its coming tomorrow. Plus, I just don't like to break the "rules".

Aiden is growing out of clothes faster than I stack them on top of his changing table. He's right in between sizes, but mostly he is wearing 3-6 months. His head control is really good now. For the past week he has slept in his crib both for naps and during the night. It didn't take him long to discover there is much more wiggle room in his crib than the cradle, so now everytime I go to get him he has flipped onto his back. I know, I know, they are supposed to sleep on their backs, but I disagree with that philosophy so all my kids have slept on their stomachs from day 1.

*

This past week Shaun was holding him and when I walked into the room and when Aiden heard my voice, he grinned. I felt such love and it was also very humbling.

I was reminded that I am the one he will listen to. He will learn how to be caring and loving by my choice of words and the inflection of my voice. He'll be watching me to learn about the qualities he is looking for in a future mate.

The responsibility is great and there are such few years. Because little eyes and ears are watching me, I commit to continue to grow into the woman God wants me to be, so my kids have a godly woman to watch with the microscope they use. One who is giving, who loves endlessly, who knows she can do nothing in her own strength; one who relies on God's grace EACH day. In Jesus' strength, I AM able.

Project 365, Week 40

September 27

It was the first chilly day so we all put socks on and us three girls skated and slid and danced across the kitchen floor.

September 28

We hadn't seen my mom in a couple weeks, so she stopped by and was reading stories to the girls .

September 29

Aunt Laryssa made us an offer that if we enrolled Amanda in gymnastics, she would commit to bringing her each week. We took her up on it and she started this week. The first class Laryssa did with her in the "mommy & me" class, but the teacher thought she was ready to move up into the 3-5 year class because she followed directions and was able to leave me (yeah, no problem there!). So, they went the very next day to the class that she will be in for the semester. She seemed to really like it.

Shaun's woodpile is a year-round project, but this time of year the efforts get stepped up. He is moving the pile to the back corner of our lot in preparation for winter and also because we will have a park soon. At least that's what Avery calls the playscape that we are getting this fall. Amanda wanted to be out there in her leotard helping.

We were going somewhere, so I asked Amanda to change out of her leotard. This is what she came down in. Totally picture worthy. Yup, I let her go out like that. Clearly much thought was put into the outfit and I was uninvolved...two very good reasons to just let her do her thing.

September 30

I was getting ready to make dinner and Shaun said, "Let's go to the store (45 minutes away) so you can look at cameras." So in 5 minutes we were all piled in the car and on our way. After we'd spent a considerable time at the store letting me try out the camera and everyone was SO patient and good, we went out to dinner.

Notice the bag of cookies on the table...we didn't buy them and we didn't steal them. Any guesses? Yes, one of the employees thought Amanda was too cute because she hadn't hesitated to engage her in light-hearted conversation, apparently asking her if she got paid to do her job. The woman was glowing and came over with the bag of cookies. The girl has a gift, to be sure.

October 1

After a chilly day in a 60 degree house, we broke down and started the woodstove for the first time of the season. I have a very love/hate with that thing.

October 2

Two little girls oohing over their brother and he's soaking it up.

October 3

The girls like to watch Show Tunes on YouTube, like Sound of Music and Singin' in the Rain.

Of course mine isn't the only 365 project. Sara's hosting some of the others.

An Intruder-Part III

There's not a whole lot more to the home invasion, as my dad calls it, story (Part I & Part II), but its more or less wrapped up for me, so I thought I'd fill you in on the last details.

After repeated attempts to have the officer who first responded to my case come out to talk to the construction crew who saw and spoke to the thief, I finally called to speak to a supervisor. A different officer came out and spoke to the guys who are working on my neighbor's house at the time of the robbery and they were able to give quite a bit of information, including a detailed description . From a line-up of ten suspects, they were able to pick out the one they witnessed walk into my house.

The officer asked me to look at the line-up, too but I explained I didn't see anything because I was hiding in the bathroom. He still had me look over the photos. What I saw was ten men, all white, in their 40's, looking like they hadn't showered in a week. It was sad to think its likely all of them have struggled most all of their lives. Perhaps they had rough childhoods or found trouble in their teen years, but to think at 40 they still don't have it together and in fact, are quite lost...sad.

The cop's best guess is that he took my camera down to a crack house and got a $30 bag for it. What the drug dealer will do with it is unknown, he may hold onto it for a while and eventually pawn it or throw it away. Though I'm thankful there were no irreplaceable pictures on the memory card, I really wish there had been NO pictures of my girls on there.

I'm not sure what will happen to the guy, but at this point I feel like I've done all I can to get the police all the information I have. It is unlikely we will ever see that camera again, the officer told us, so Shaun went into high gear researching new (and even used) cameras. My new one is "in the mail"!

My family was very caring and sweet about it. At 34, its nice to know my parents still feel like they want to protect me. My dad lost sleep over it, rolling it over in his mind and getting frustrated with the police response and my mom did some side investigation work. Glad its over and we're moving on!

For the Son of Man came to find and restore the lost.

Luke 19:10

Scripture Memory #14

I took the last part of September off to give some time to my previous verses and now I'm ready to go again. Are you joining in? I didn't think I could do it either, but its been wonderful. When my mind is idle, I try to jump into the scriptures I've memorized, instead of my own thoughts.

Do you read Beth Moore's blog? Wow, that woman is annointed...you won't be sorry if you spend some time there. Here's an excerpt from the explaination of the verse she chose this week:

I’ve concluded that the paths where our faith is stretched beyond our circumstances, our emotions, and natural conclusions are the ones where we receive the most vivid divine disclosures. These are the experiences that shape the paragraphs of our life stories. These are what keep us from being the snoozers and reward-losers in the Body of Christ. These are our hikes up the mountain where Jesus is transfigured before us. I am convinced that, in seasons that call for a powerful outbreak of faith, victory is never accidental. We make up our minds to believe God. To make no choice at all is to choose defeat

"Above all else, guard your heart, for out of it spring the issues of life."

Proverbs 4: 23