october {photo a day}

another round of busy -

31 days of october,

a photo to reflect each day

10/1 - my tamron lens auto focus quit working. 

so not good.

10/2 - party at the park

10/3 - family reunion. cemetery visit.

10/4 - piping up the debt

10/5 - handles installed. love!

10/6 - a sweet note and a lovely wreath.

10/7 - vacation day to shop (for the house)

10/8 - trying out the dishwasher

10/9 - celebrating Brooke's birthday

10/10/10 - across the field

i actually forgot to take a photo for 10.10.10 - i took

this before 6 am in the morning on 10.11, counted for 10.10

because that is before my day technically begins

10/11 - another project completed

my mama is a jewel

10/12 - fall colors

10/13 - cotton fields. harvested.

new innovation seen with round bales this year in the county.

wish i would have captured that.

10/14 - caught up, goal met.

10/15 - grungy yellow meets white spray paint

10/16 - what a view

10/17 - reflects a generous heart

10/18 - the couch arrives.

10/19 - porch work

10/20 - how i feel.

10/21 - celebrating 15 years

10/22 - going through totes, moving some.

10/23 - her birthday party

10/24 - homecoming meal

10/25 - red beauty

10/26 - awesome!

10/27 - quick shots during revival.

10/28 - well worn tupperware

10/29 - quite a deal

10/30 - braving the sun for a photoshoot.

quite difficult.

10/31 - the night ends at church.

the days speed by...

(posted in January 2011, backdated to October.)

invitation

Last minute invitations -

now to finish up the last-minue to-do list.

I am overwhelmed by the goodness of God,

by His blessings!

And while this house is special to me,

I do not want it to be a treasure.

I want my treasures to accumulate in another place -

 an eternal home in Heaven.

So, I am trying to work on a balance -

and hold the things of earth with a light touch.

However, it is exciting to see the progress

 from closing, March 30th, to now.

Seven months of hard work!

House renovation-progress

album coming soon on my photo website...

happy 3rd hunter luke!

2007

2008

2009

2010

i can't hardly believe that he is 3 years old today!

my youngest nephew hunter luke - he makes me smile!

i love him so!

and my aunt M has a birthday too -

who helped me beyond words during my college years.

ahh - sweet memories.

happy birthday to them both! =)

thankful: John 14:18

John 14:18
I will not leave you comfortless; I will come to you.

My sister shared that scripture with me several months ago.

And I can say it now with meaning...
No doubt.
It's real.
That Pentecostal Blessing.
And He Abides - with me.
Tuesday 10/26/2010
I will never forget.
One of the best days ever in my life.
Ever grateful.
Thankful for a free gift of the Holy Ghost.
Unexplainable joy.  Thank you Jesus.

you will never be sorry...

YOU WILL NEVER BE SORRY...
* ...for thinking before acting.
* ...for hearing before judging.
* ...for forgiving your enemies.
* ...for being candid and frank.
* ...for helping a fallen brother.
* ...for being honest in business.
* ...for thinking before speaking.
* ...for being loyal to your church.
* ...for standing by your principles.
* ...for closing your ears to gossip.
* ...for bridling a slanderous tongue.
* ...for harboring pure thoughts.
* ...for sympathizing with the afflicted.
* ...for being courteous and kind to all.
~~ Author Unknown ~~


This is what I am striving for -
and to just make sure everything is "right." 
Because goodness, I sure have failed at times.
But I am thankful for a merciful Savior,
who will pick up the broken pieces,
who will unlock the chains,
who will redeem the wasted years,
who will cleanse, renew, restore, make new.
Great things He has done! =)

a favorite shot

Around a month later,

I finally downloaded wedding photos to my laptop.

My photo editing is WAY behind for the past two months.

I have some August photos left to edit, 

a chunk of September photos, and probably all of October photos.

Since the September wedding is family -

I am giving myself an extended deadline so that I can finish most

of this house stuff and moving process.

However, I did see a photo that I wanted to post, a favorite of mine.
I took the photo looking through two pieces of tulle and

I loved how it framed the couple.

It is probably not something I would frame - enlarge for a scrapbook maybe.

But, I think it's cool with the blurred tulle and a focus on the couple.

* unedited shot with the exception of resizing

Remaining wedding photos and lots of other photos

posting in November hopefully.

I hope to catch up that month. 

That's my "tentative" goal at least -

Lord willing, and the creek doesn't rise, etc. =)

a 15th anniversary

October 21, 1995

Tonight we are celebrating their 15th Anniversary -

with just immediate family at my house.

This week has involved a lot of secret planning, 

trying to meet deadlines, stressful days.

2010 is turning into a year of big events for our family.

 One for Marcus, 

one for Allison,

and....

two more left. =)

going dark

The exterior of my front door is no longer in the primer state!!! =)

 

My mom and I applied the first coat of paint yesterday.
 

I debated between a dark red, black, or gray color.

Even though I have a dark handle, I still chose a dark gray color.

I have had to wait around 4 months to change

that non-matching tan primer shade.

I love it! It looks great with the black shutters.

And...all the new porch rails/posts were finished last night.

 The moving list and to-do list is getting shorter.

My new couch went in Monday night - very late. ;)

Ahhh - it's hard to believe that it is almost finished.

an october goal

For October, I had a goal planned.
Something that I wanted to complete.

I couldn't help but journal about it -

I met my goal around mid-month!!!

Now, if I can just work on that same outcome

for some other parts of life.
 With God's help, I believe that I can.

Being confident of this very thing,
that he which hath begun a good work in you
will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ:
Philippians 1:6

engagement: selina & jr

I finally unlocked a website album from

an engagement session in August...

A sweet couple with an amazing "love story."

These are two of Selina's favorites.

We all laughed quite a bit during this session -

fun memories as scenes from the church grounds and the park

filtered through my camera lens.

Her bridal portraits were taken Saturday at the beach - so pretty!

Now - it's just wrapping up the details before their December wedding.

beach scenes

Saturday, I took bridal portraits for a December bride.

Although the trip included a "job" -

just spending a little while with this view is worth it.

The big sky gleamed blue -

The palm trees blew soft -

  

The sand beckoned feet -

And before we left, the water glittered bright

as the tide rolled in with a lovely Carolina sunset gracing the pier.

No doubt about it - 

I could spend hours there, 

soaking up the beauty, 

escaping from the cares of reality.

scripture for today

Hebrews 4:15-16


For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities;
but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin.

Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy,
and find grace to help in time of need.


Ephesians 3:20

Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us,

moving: in progress

This week's house update:

The moving-in is showing progress (yay!)

and the renovation list is down to just a few items.

Thankful thoughts and exhaustion mingle together....

thru the years with Brooke

In October 2005, my second niece arrived. 
I skipped an accounting class and left Clemson early that day.

Waiting with the kiddos on another one to join us...

And here's Brooke Danielle - still "brand new." =)
 

Holding a precious little bundle.

Just after coming home from the hospital - her eyes and hair were dark.

A year later in 2006, we celebrated number 1.

Andrea used bright colors, flowers, and butterflies.

Brooke had her own little smash cake.

But she didn't like that part - she wanted the icing off of her fingers.

She wore the cutest birthday dress.

And she of course matched big sister, Paige.

For the number two party in 2007, she had a Dora cake.

I loved this photo with her showing her age.

In 2008, Hello Kitty showed up for Brooke's number 3 party.

The little princess smiled pretty.

 The kool-aid matched the cake icing.

And my jacket matched her outfit. :)

The tiaras showed up again in 2009 for the princess party.

The castle cake, dress, and pose all bring out the princess theme!

Her adorable smile makes me smile!

She's a girly-girl for sure.

And her mama always has her dressed in cute little outfits.

She's the middle child - and loves her little brother and big sister.

They love their Build-a-Bear animals.

And she already has a "boy-crazy" tendency.

She loves Cody.

She's a sweet little girl - who has one of the cutest voices.

I wish that I had recordings of how her "talking" has progressed.

She has some of the prettiest blue eyes I have ever seen.

It is hard to believe that she is in pre-school, and turning 5 years old.

Running towards my camera when they were at the house one evening.

We had fun playing outside that day.

Because she was on vacation the day of her birthday,

we are not celebrating until later today.

And I have to go print off her birthday collage to take with me.

I love this sweet little girl!

Happy Birthday, Brooke!