365 Project - Days 282, 283

"For we are God's handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do." Ephesians 2:10

I was honored to have the opportunity to photograph the dress rehearsal for one of this year's 12.14 Foundation New Arts The Lion King performances. I was back the next day to photograph the second cast because we needed photos for our final leadership series montage. Both of the performances were outstanding. During the dress rehearsal, I nearly lost track of my responsibility to capture the moment, because the kids were so adorable. And during the actual performance that evening, I kept tapping my husband saying, "isn't that just the cutest thing?" It was not that they were just cute - they were cute and awesome. The performances were exceptional and powerful.

The entire experience was special for me since I had worked with many of the primary cast members during our leadership workshops. I confess that I was assigned to the younger kids under duress - well, "protest" might be a more accurate term. I was vocal about my preference for working with the older teens. These 11-13 year olds, I argued are way outside my comfort zone. I also know that these things happen for a reason. So I capitulated. Despite my own personal preferences, I found myself delighted by my time with the middle schoolers.

As I congratulated one of the cast members after the opening night performance, all he could say was how much the leadership training had helped his performance. It made all the difference for him, he shared. I was beaming. They were brilliant. Whatever small part we played in helping the youth become stronger, more confident performers, was well worth setting aside my own anxieties about working with them. As usual, when I trusted that God knew where he wanted me to be, everything was better.

Blessings.

Today's Photos: Powerful Performances

"People tend to play in their comfort zone, so the best things are achieved in a state of surprise, actually." Brian Eno

365 Project - Day 281

"Art is man's nature; nature is God's art." Philip James Bailey

Two days hiking in Acadia and I am weary. I am also in awe of the wonder of His beauty. This is nature at its best. I have watched my sons take multiple iPhone photos, heard them proclaim the beauty they see and declare they have been to no place more exquisite. In fact, one of my sons after hiking (and complaining loudly) for nearly 3 hours, noted that he could sit at the top of the mountain looking out toward the ocean for hours. Sounds like the strenuous hike was worthwhile!

The hike took a long time for several reasons: some due to the nature of the hike and some were my fault. The hike was up a rocky trail. This was my first time hiking since the incident of my broken leg and I was determined to take it easy. The funny thing was we saw a lot of hikers coming down (the easy way) while we were headed up. I also stopped many times to take photos. The path was beautiful; hard but full!

There are parallels we can draw in life, right? The journey almost always seems treacherous and we doubt, along the way, whether the outcome will have been worth the plight. Yet, inevitably, the destination exceeds our expectations. How much more might we enjoy the end, if we took more time to notice the beauty of the journey itself? We might also learn a few secrets from God about the truths of His plan, if we pause during the journey, rather than rush to the end. It is something to think about.

Blessings.

Today's Photo: Nature's Bounty

"I love to think of nature as an unlimited broadcasting station, through which God speaks to us every hour, if we will only tune in." George Washington Carver.







EXIF: Nikon D7100
ISO 400
28mm
f3.2
1/30s

365 Project - Days 279, 280

"I've learned through the years that it's not where you live, it's the people who surround you that make you feel at home." -J.B. McGee

As things wind down this summer, these boys chose to take advantage of their season passes to Six Flags to spend the day with their dads. My husband went along, but with some trepidation - he is not a fan of amusement parks. I tried to give the other dads a heads up.

As the kids gathered at our home in the morning, they were full of excitement. The joy and respect they have for each other is obvious. They have such an easy time together. I'm sure the day will be long remembered. They spent the evening playing a variety of games - both social and electronic. And, I must say they were the loudest I can ever recall for a sleepover at our home. I could not fathom the game that caused so much wild energy at 2AM.

They were back to gaming and swimming the following day, with the last group leaving at close to 4:00 in the afternoon. A 30+ hour party. My crowning moment was hearing from the vegetarians that the salad I served for lunch was "the best salad ever." I quickly snapped the photo of the carrots before adding them to the salad.

These guys are more than friends. They are truly my son's extended family. Next week the first of his closest friends will leave for college. The goodbyes will be difficult. And while he is excited to begin his own journey, leaving this extended family he has built with compassion and love will be painful. He knows he has been blessed.

Best wishes!

Today's Photos: Blessings

"Summing up: Be agreeable, be sympathetic, be loving, be compassionate, be humble. That goes for all of you, no exceptions. No retaliation. No sharp-tongued sarcasm. Instead, bless - that's your job, to bless. You'll be a blessing and also get a blessing." 1Peter 3:8-9

365 Project - Day 278

“Hold fast to dreams,
For if dreams die
Life is a broken-winged bird,
That cannot fly.”
― Langston Hughes

Feeling this in spades today and in every dimension. The day has been a rough one, but God has had my back at every turn. I do wish, though, that he could have prevented me from pressing the quality button on the back of my camera when I was fumbling in the dark - I hate when that happens.

I have been pressed for time and this was put in draft and delayed. I have been pulled in a lot of different directions with multiple demands on my time, wearing many different hats. I changed the photo I had planned for Day 278. Still a bird - so I left the quote above, but I just had to use the woodpecker at the hummingbird feeder.

Ever feel like this? A bit of a desperate misfit. It seems you have all the right tools, but not quite. I'm fairly certain the woodpecker knows this is not his space. Yet he sticks his beak in there anyway. He may enjoy the nectar, but it cannot be as fulfilling as banging his beak against a firm wooden tree. Yet, still, he burrows in the hummingbird's hole. I watch and wonder. Why is the woodpecker so insistent on enjoying the fruit of something a third his size and clearly something so ill-fitting him? Perhaps, he is just thirsty. Perhaps, he wishes he were a tiny hummingbird. Perhaps, he thinks, if only ...

I know how the woodpecker feels.

Best wishes.

Today's Photo: If only ...

"Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things." Colossians 3:1-2






EXIF: Nikon D7100
ISO 800
200mm
f2.8
1/500s

365 Project - Day 276, 277

"You can complain because rose bushes have thorns or rejoice because thorn bushes have roses. It's all in how you look at it." Unknown

I have been putting off writing this blog all day. It was easy, though. My house was filled with the shouts and laughter of teenage boys most of the day. So between cooking for them and cleaning up after them, there was hardly enough time to anguish over today's blog. I am not happy with the photos, perhaps more so than any other day in the past 275.

It's almost comical that a photo of something so beautiful as a rose could upset me so much. And something as awkward as a home filled with teenage boys could bring such joy and gratitude. Interesting day.

I have learned valuable lessons today. The reality is I have to own the fact that late one night, I chose to tempt fate and pop up the flash on my camera to light and shoot the first photo. A poor choice, but now I certainly know better! Simultaneously, there was a time when the boys could make too much noise at 2AM. Yet, soon, when my son leaves for college, the silence will be deafening.

The shouts, louder than ever in the past 18 years, were somehow soothing today. There was not one thing annoying about the noise. It was more beautiful than a rose on a summer day.

Blessings!

Today's Photo: Thorns and Roses

"To emphasize only the beautiful seems to me to be like a mathematical system that only concerns itself with positive numbers." Paul Klee

365 Project - Day 275

"And after you suffer for a short time, God, who gives all grace, will make everything right. He will make you strong and support you and keep you from falling. He called you to share in his glory in Christ, a glory that will continue forever. All power is his forever and ever. Amen."
1 Peter 5:10-11

"But may the God of all grace, who called us to His eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after you have suffered a while, perfect, establish, strengthen, and settle you. To him be the glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen." 1 Peter 5:10-11

I needed this and Paul knew it. What comes next is his acknowledgment that he wrote these words to encourage, saying "Stand strong in that grace." Ever have one of those days where it feels like you're running as hard as you can, in one place; doing a whole lot, getting nothing accomplished; going nowhere? Perhaps that is all part of the suffering Paul speaks of in the verses above.

My hope is that my suffering is super short, yet meaningful, filled with crystal clear lessons - lest I suffer without learning. (I suppose one might call that tragic!) And most importantly that the glory surpasses the suffering. Yes, that is a lot to ask, but I believe the combination of God's grace and Christ's glory is explosive and, therefore certainly up to my "ask".

I waited a day or two after purchasing these beets before photographing them. By the time I pulled them out of the vegetable bin, they were damp and smelly. Since I bought them just for this project, though, I was determined to photograph the best bits, the best possible way. This exercise was painful, but I persevered - not to be beaten, by the beets!

Blessings.

Today's Photo: Red Beets

"In his kindness God called you to share in his eternal glory by means of Christ Jesus. So after you have suffered a little while, he will restore, support, and strengthen you, and he will place you on a firm foundation. All power to him forever! Amen." 1 Peter 5:10-11

"And the God of all grace, who called you to his eternal glory in Christ, after you have suffered for a short time, will himself restore, confirm, strengthen, and establish you. To him be the power forever and ever. Amen." 1 Peter 5:10-11







EXIF: Nikon D7100
ISO 400
50mm
f6.7
1/6s

365 Project - Day 274

"I don't understand myself at all, for I really want to do what is right, but I don't do it. Instead, I do the very thing I hate."

Okay - two trips this week to one of the local creameries may have been a bit too much. We have been trying to connect with one of the French teenagers who recently stayed with us and he wanted to try, "the best ice cream in town." We decided to meet him at Ferris Acres Creamery. He wasn't able to make it the first time, but we were already there and at the front of the line when he sent word that he couldn't make it. We certainly could not pass up the opportunity for a family dessert night. Then, however, we met up with him at the creamery 2 days later. It's hard to make peace with yourself when you're working exceptionally hard, getting little sleep and also indulging in ice cream at the same time. It was tasty, though!

I took my camera with me the second time to capture a photo of the cows on the property, but they didn't show up until it was quite dark outside. I suppose bringing the camera was also my way of ensuring there was a higher purpose to the trip to the creamery. It is rare for us to make two trips to the creamery in an entire summer. So maybe in some small way I could redeem the excessiveness and utilize the trip to serve a purpose.

I was humored by the juxtaposition of this post - a peace sign, albeit upside down, in front of the massive creamery menu. This is now one of my favorite photos of the summer. More personal than artistic, but a strong, sturdy reminder to stay on course - or at least, get back quickly after a diversion.

Blessings.

Today's Photo: Peace Cone

"You're blessed when you stay on course, walking steadily on the road revealed by God. You're blessed when you follow his directions doing your best to find him." Psalm 119:1-2








EXIF: Nikon D7100
ISO 640
50mm
f1.4
1/45s