Ever had one of those moments...

when you're completely in awe of your surroundings and circumstances and aware of the Master Creator Artist God? This afternoon was one of those moments for me.

Wondering where Littlest Dude was? I was keeping him safe, back by me. We didn't want one of those waves whisking him away.

The Five Minute Photoshoot...

No, really. Five minutes. These guys had battles to fight, footballs to throw, and tag to play. :-)

Sacrifice and Offering You have not desired; but a body You have prepared for Me...

For Christ did not enter a holy place made with hands, a mere copy of the true one, but into heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God for us; nor was it that He would offer Himself often, as the high priest enters the holy place year by year with blood that is not his own. Otherwise, He would have needed to suffer often since the foundation of the world; but now once at the consummation of the ages He has been manifested to put away sin by the sacrifice of Himself. And inasmuch as it is appointed for men to die once and after this comes judgment, so Christ also, having been offered once to bear the sins of many, will appear a second time for salvation without reference to sin, to those who eagerly await Him. (Heb 9:24-28)

For the Law, since it has only a shadow of the good things to come and not the very form of things, can never, by the same sacrifices which they offer continually year by year, make perfect those who draw near. Otherwise, would they not have ceased to be offered, because the worshipers, having once been cleansed, would no longer have had consciousness of sins? But in those sacrifices there is a reminder of sins year by year. For it is impossible for the blood of bulls and goats to take away sins. Therefore, when He comes into the world, He says, "SACRIFICE AND OFFERING YOU HAVE NOT DESIRED, BUT A BODY YOU HAVE PREPARED FOR ME;

IN WHOLE BURNT OFFERINGS AND SACRIFICES FOR SIN YOU HAVE TAKEN NO PLEASURE.

"THEN I SAID, `BEHOLD, I HAVE COME

(IN THE SCROLL OF THE BOOK IT IS WRITTEN OF ME)

TO DO YOUR WILL, O GOD.' " (Heb 10:1-7)

Every priest stands daily ministering and offering time after time the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins; but He, having offered one sacrifice for sins for all time, SAT DOWN AT THE RIGHT HAND OF GOD, waiting from that time onward UNTIL HIS ENEMIES BE MADE A FOOTSTOOL FOR HIS FEET. For by one offering He has perfected for all time those who are sanctified. And the Holy Spirit also testifies to us; for after saying,

"THIS IS THE COVENANT THAT I WILL MAKE WITH THEM

AFTER THOSE DAYS, SAYS THE LORD:

I WILL PUT MY LAWS UPON THEIR HEART,

AND ON THEIR MIND I WILL WRITE THEM,"

He then says,

"AND THEIR SINS AND THEIR LAWLESS DEEDS

I WILL REMEMBER NO MORE."

Now where there is forgiveness of these things, there is no longer any offering for sin.


Therefore, brethren, since we have confidence to enter the holy place by the blood of Jesus, by a new and living way which He inaugurated for us through the veil, that is, His flesh, and since we have a great priest over the house of God, let us draw near with a sincere heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water. Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful; and let us consider how to stimulate one another to love and good deeds, not forsaking our own assembling together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another; and all the more as you see the day drawing near. (Heb 10:11-25)

"What can I get for you?"

Dad and I had just walked up to the local Starbucks. Dad, to get a paper for himself and to treat me to a coffee (he's nice like that!)...

Me: A grande, raspberry mocha made with nonfat milk, please.

Nice Sbux Man: Oh. So you don't want whipped cream, then?

Me: No, I'd like whipped cream, please.

NSM: Whipped Cream and nonfat milk?? Isn't that kind of like pizza and Diet Coke?!?

Me [thinking, not saying out loud, because I'm polite like that]: Yup. Pizza and DC is one of my favorite combos. I don't see the contradiction. It's a TASTE thing. NOT a calorie thing.

Merry Christmas

For a child will be born to us, a son will be given to us;
And the government will rest on His shoulders;
And His name will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God,
Eternal Father, Prince of Peace.
There will be no end to the increase of His government or of peace,
On the throne of David and over his kingdom,
To establish it and to uphold it with justice and righteousness
From then on and forevermore.
The zeal of the LORD of hosts will accomplish this.

Isaiah 9:6-7

Acapella

And traditional meets 90s boyband...



hat tip: Heather

And one just for the Big Dude that has nothing to do with Christmas...

I will put my laws into their minds, and I will write them on their hearts. And I will be their God, and they shall be My people.

Now the main point in what has been said is this: we have such a high priest, who has taken His seat at the right hand of the throne of the Majesty in the heavens, a minister in the sanctuary and in the true tabernacle, which the Lord pitched, not man. For every high priest is appointed to offer both gifts and sacrifices; so it is necessary that this high priest also have something to offer. Now if He were on earth, He would not be a priest at all, since there are those who offer the gifts according to the Law; who serve a copy and shadow of the heavenly things, just as Moses was warned by God when he was about to erect the tabernacle; for, "SEE," He says, "THAT YOU MAKE all things ACCORDING TO THE PATTERN WHICH WAS SHOWN YOU ON THE MOUNTAIN." But now He has obtained a more excellent ministry, by as much as He is also the mediator of a better covenant, which has been enacted on better promises.

For if that first covenant had been faultless, there would have been no occasion sought for a second. For finding fault with them, He says, "BEHOLD, DAYS ARE COMING, SAYS THE LORD, WHEN I WILL EFFECT A NEW COVENANT WITH THE HOUSE OF ISRAEL AND WITH THE HOUSE OF JUDAH;

NOT LIKE THE COVENANT WHICH I MADE WITH THEIR FATHERS

ON THE DAY WHEN I TOOK THEM BY THE HAND

TO LEAD THEM OUT OF THE LAND OF EGYPT;

FOR THEY DID NOT CONTINUE IN MY COVENANT,

AND I DID NOT CARE FOR THEM, SAYS THE LORD.

FOR THIS IS THE COVENANT THAT I WILL MAKE WITH THE HOUSE OF ISRAEL

AFTER THOSE DAYS, SAYS THE LORD:

I WILL PUT MY LAWS INTO THEIR MINDS,

AND I WILL WRITE THEM ON THEIR HEARTS.

AND I WILL BE THEIR GOD,

AND THEY SHALL BE MY PEOPLE.

11 "AND THEY SHALL NOT TEACH EVERYONE HIS FELLOW CITIZEN,

AND EVERYONE HIS BROTHER, SAYING, `KNOW THE LORD,'

FOR ALL WILL KNOW ME,

FROM THE LEAST TO THE GREATEST OF THEM.

"FOR I WILL BE MERCIFUL TO THEIR INIQUITIES,

AND I WILL REMEMBER THEIR SINS NO MORE."

When He said, "A new covenant," He has made the first obsolete. But whatever is becoming obsolete and growing old is ready to disappear.

Hebrews 8

My Grammy ... has always known how to please the hordes with GOOD cooking...

... and I am now in possession of her recipe box. Since I'm hosting Christmas Eve dinner this year, I decided to muck around in that box and find some goodies. First thing in the box was the original (the real original, not that silly microwave substitute that the current cereal boxes are sporting) Chex Party Mix.

So I made a BUNCH. 3 batches, to be exact. The house smelled good.



And while the mix was cooking and smelling all good, I decided to continue along memory lane thru the recipe box contents.

Here is my all-time favorite (when I was a teenager) salad dressing (clearly it was Papa's favorite, too). This reminds, I should really make a batch of this. Mmm mmm good!



Have you all heard of Beer Bread? Super simple. Super yummy.



How 'bout some Kahlua? Grammy and her neighbor nearly always had a jar of this stuff brewing under the deck.



Did you need the back instructions for that recipe? Remove bean after 30 days. Strain into dark bottle (if possible) using a very fine strainer. The end.

Oh, look. Here's a recipe I contributed to Grammy's box. She made it for us all the time, but never wrote it down. So I did. Ummm, my chicken scrawl printing hasn't improved much over the years.



Now, I don't know if Grammy just kept lots of recipes, like this one, in her head, or if someone (Mom!!??) raided the box before passing it on to me. But the box is definitely missing some of Grammy's staples: orange rolls, Cherry Pie, Chicken Tortilla Casserole (luckily every white-trash, church compiled recipe book has a copy of this recipe!), and her to-die-for chocolate chip cookies (the Toll House recipe plus oatmeal and cinnamon ... tho, everyone always accused her of not revealing her "secret ingredient" because nobody was ever able to reproduce the sheer excellence of her cookies.)

Wanna "meet" my Grammy? Here she is with my good friend, Darlene, in her much-used, little kitchen. She fed armies from that kitchen. And there was always a friendly pot of coffee ready for anyone who might pop in for a visit. Gosh, I miss her sweet little home on The River.



Isn't she cute?!? Oh. You wanna know what I looked like 18 years ago? Ok. Here I am with Darlene, and our friend Cathy. Gosh, that was a long time ago!



So, I've got lots more wrinkles and age spots now than I did then. I also have a husband and three boys. And you wanna know another of the bonuses of now vs. then? I don't anticipate any more friends asking me to walk down any aisles on their wedding days sporting the latest, greatest bridal attire!



Guess what? I never did have any occasion to wear THAT dress again! And yes, people did suggest that we would/could/should ...

Geesh. How did I digress from Chex Mix to bad bridesmaid dresses? Thus is the bunny trail of my meandering thoughts these days...

Our Annual Christmas Card

Can you tell?

photo credit: My beloved in-laws. I married into a very wonderful family!

And while they were taking my picture (and the Dudes' pictures), I was taking theirs.

Loving a rainy, cozy day at home...

And a book I forgot to mention in my last reading post:

The Thanksgiving Visitor by Truman Capote - a beautifully told, poignant, holiday story, perfect for read-aloud. Miss Sook is a character to fall in love with, here described by the protagonist Buddy:

"... a custody battle, that, for involved reasons, had left me stranded in this somewhat eccentric Alabama household. Not that I was unhappy there; indeed, moments of those few years turned out to be the happiest part of an otherwise difficult childhood, mainly because the youngest of the cousins, a woman in her sixties, became my first friend. As she was a child herself (many people thought her less than that, and murmured abut her as though she were the twin of poor nice Lester Tucker, who roamed the streets in a sweet daze), she understood children, and understood me absolutely. Perhaps it was strange for a young boy to have as his best friend an aging spinster, but neither of us had an ordinary outlook or background, and so it was inevitable, in our separate loneliness, that we should come to share a friendship apart..."

December Miscellany

Lego snowman made by Middle Dude, and Ceramic snowman made by Eldest Dude. :-)

He became to all those who obey Him the source of eternal salvation ...

For every high priest taken from among men is appointed on behalf of men in things pertaining to God, in order to offer both gifts and sacrifices for sins; he can deal gently with the ignorant and misguided, since he himself also is beset with weakness; and because of it he is obligated to offer sacrifices for sins, as for the people, so also for himself. And no one takes the honor to himself, but receives it when he is called by God, even as Aaron was.

So also Christ did not glorify Himself so as to become a high priest, but He who said to Him, "YOU ARE MY SON, TODAY I HAVE BEGOTTEN YOU"; just as He says also in another passage, "YOU ARE A PRIEST FOREVER ACCORDING TO THE ORDER OF MELCHIZEDEK." In the days of His flesh, He offered up both prayers and supplications with loud crying and tears to the One able to save Him from death, and He was heard because of His piety. Although He was a Son, He learned obedience from the things which He suffered. And having been made perfect, He became to all those who obey Him the source of eternal salvation, being designated by God as a high priest according to the order of Melchizedek. (Hebrews 5:1-10) ...

...And this is clearer still, if another priest arises according to the likeness of Melchizedek, who has become such not on the basis of a law of physical requirement, but according to the power of an indestructible life. For it is attested of Him, "YOU ARE A PRIEST FOREVER ACCORDING TO THE ORDER OF MELCHIZEDEK." For, on the one hand, there is a setting aside of a former commandment because of its weakness and uselessness (for the Law made nothing perfect), and on the other hand there is a bringing in of a better hope, through which we draw near to God. And inasmuch as it was not without an oath(for they indeed became priests without an oath, but He with an oath through the One who said to Him, "THE LORD HAS SWORN AND WILL NOT CHANGE HIS MIND, `YOU ARE A PRIEST FOREVER' "); so much the more also Jesus has become the guarantee of a better covenant.

The former priests, on the one hand, existed in greater numbers because they were prevented by death from continuing, but Jesus, on the other hand, because He continues forever, holds His priesthood permanently. Therefore He is able also to save forever those who draw near to God through Him, since He always lives to make intercession for them.

For it was fitting for us to have such a high priest, holy, innocent, undefiled, separated from sinners and exalted above the heavens; who does not need daily, like those high priests, to offer up sacrifices, first for His own sins and then for the sins of the people, because this He did once for all when He offered up Himself. For the Law appoints men as high priests who are weak, but the word of the oath, which came after the Law, appoints a Son, made perfect forever. (Hebrews 7: 15-28)

Excellent Recent Reads:

Ender's Game by Orson Scott Card - excellent characters, intriguing storyline, with ethical questions (not the least of which: do the ends justify the means, and at what cost?) sprinkled throughout. Eldest Dude also just read this and could hardly put it down (school suffered for a couple days). Not a blanket endorsement for younger readers, tho, due to some language, violence, and situations. Only downer for me: the story is wrapped around "video game" and battlefield scenarios. Not my fav. I skimmed a bunch. But still, a really good book.

Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury - a modern classic for good reason. Here are a couple quotes of note:

"Picture it. Nineteenth century man with his horses, dogs, carts, slow motion. Then, in the twentieth century, speed up your camera. Books cut shorter. Condensations. Digests. Tabloids. Everything boils down to the gag, the snap ending... Classics cut to fit fifteen-minute radio shows, then cut again to fill a two minute book column, winding up at last as a ten or twelve line dictionary resume... But many were those whose sole knowledge of Hamlet ... was a one page digest in a book that claimed: now at last you can read all the classics..."

"Clarisse McClellan? We've a record on her family. We've watched them carefully. Heredity and environment are funny things. You can't rid yourselves of all the odd ducks in just a few years. The home environment can undo a lot you try to do at school. That's why we've lowered the kindergarten age year after year until now we're almost snatching them from the cradle..."

"Do you know why books such as this [the Bible] are so important? Because they have quality. And what does the word quality mean? To me it means texture. This book has pores. It has features. This book can go under the microscope. You'd find life under the glass, streaming past in infinite profusion. The more pores, the more truthfully recorded details of life per square inch you can get on a sheet of paper, the more 'literary' you are. That's my definition, anyway. Tell detail. Fresh detail. The good writers touch life often. The mediocre ones run a quick hand over her. The bad ones rape her and leave her for the flies."

The Little French Girl by Anne Douglas Sedgwick - Heidi reviewed this wonderful book AND sent me a copy (and recommended each of the above books)! I'm so grateful. I'm loving this book. For all the reasons Heidi listed in her review. And because it's an almost haunting story. Every page is dripping with a big question, a mystery of sorts. But the unraveling of the story is subtle, mesmerizing, beautiful. This book has been like a tasty dessert to be savored. And so I am (I'm about halfway thru this book, as I type...).

Child of My Heart by Alice McDermott - this is a total "slice of life" type book. Alice McDermott is a skillful writer; each sentence is perfectly crafted. Definitely recommended.

And waiting in my stacks are the following books that I'm looking forward to:

The Good Husband of Zebra Drive by Alexander McCall Smith (part of the No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency series)

The Mysterious Benedict Society by Trenton Lee Stewart (another Heidi recommendation)

Villette By Charlotte Bronte (found at the library book store)

The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society by Mary Ann Shaffer and Annie Barrows (a Di recommendation)

Our Kiddos are RICH...

... in grandparents. What a blessing!

And we are rich in parents.

I Love Pioneer Woman!

Did you all already know that Ree (with the wonderful help of PS guru Doug Boutwell) just released another set of free actions for Photoshop?

I especially adore the Bring on the Eyes! action. Look how sparkly it makes eyes:

Here is the Seventies action (run at 80%):



Here is Heartland + Boost:



One more. Heartland + extra edge fade + Boost + Eyes



So much fun. So few hours in every day...

My Photography Journey

I'm occasionally asked how I moved from Point A (let's say, fully Auto shooting) to Point B (my current photography). Here are a few of my best pieces of advice to stepping up your photography to the "next level." Nothing I say is going to be earth-shattering or novel, but it is what has worked for me.

First: Turn OFF your flash. Try working totally with natural light for awhile.

First image is flash. Second is no flash. Ok, I admit: my poor, sick son looks miserable in both images. But, can't you see how much richer and full of depth the second image is?!? ;-). And there's no annoying, ugly flash shadow on the wall.

Second: Stop using Full Auto mode, and try instead using Aperture Priority mode. This will give you much greater creative license with your images in terms of what is in focus and what is OUT of focus (the parts you intentionally blur). I think Pioneer Woman has a tremendously helpful explanation of how to use aperture. Throwing a background out of focus helps to keep the focus on your desired object/person/etc.

Here's an example of what aperture does for a picture.

The first image is f/1.8. The second image is f/8. See how the background in the first image is blurrier?

Another example:

First image is f/1.8; second image is f/16.

Third: Along with using aperture priority, manually select your autofocus point (read your camera manual to discover how) and make sure to put that focus point right on an eyeball (preferably the eyeball closest to the lens). It's a rare occasion when you don't want the eyes in focus!

Fourth: Consider your perspective and get creative with it. I'm not creative by nature, so I have to study other's creativity to jumpstart my own. I find lots of inspiration perusing Flickr.com, a fabulous photography forum where people post their favorite pictures. Look around, see what images move you, and try to reproduce them.

So ... I'm kinda slow. I spent about a year just on step one (turn flash OFF), while still using full auto mode. Then I spent about half a year using aperture priority with manual autofocus points. THEN I began shooting full manual. And then I began lusting after a new camera with higher ISO capability. But, that's another story for another day.

If you haven't already, start playing around with aperture and without your flash. You just might be surprised how much you improve your photography.

A Nod to YouTube...

The other day Kat posted a bunch of YouTube videos that she enjoyed.

So, I thought of Kat today when I found THIS little gem of a clip on YouTube.



At least, it's a gem to me. The ballet teacher in the clip is MY AUNT!! She not only trains those gorgeous ballerinas, but she also choreographs the entire show, and designs and sews (with a small legion of helpers) every last detail of the costumes (my uncle puts up with a lot of glitter and beads sprinkled throughout the house). She's one talented lady. And those students are quite lucky to have her as their teacher.

2nd Annual Gingerbread House "Tradition"

Here are some pictures from our first annual "tradition":

Interesting fact: this time last year, I was swimming in lemons coming off my little lemon bush. This year? No lemons at all. :-(

And here's this year's house...








$9.99 well spent at Costco. I do get to count this as "art" for school, right? If so, that's a cheap "class." :-)

Jumping for Joy...

And not just my boys. Me too. Because Darcy did it again. She new and improved me. She redesigned my blog header and matched the fonts to my photography site. She gave me a wider main body and a spiffy navigation bar at the top that I can easily change or update whenever I want. AND ... she gave me three more columns, too. What? You don't see them? They're down at the bottom of my blog, where I'll have all sorts of fun filling them in with goodies.

Darcy-
I'm filled with gratitude all over again. Thank you so much!

What is man, that Thou art mindful of him?

Therefore we ought to give the more earnest heed to the things which we have heard, lest at any time we should let them slip. For if the word spoken by angels was steadfast, and every transgression and disobedience received a just recompence of reward;

How shall we escape, if we neglect so great salvation; which at the first began to be spoken by the Lord, and was confirmed unto us by them that heard him; God also bearing them witness, both with signs and wonders, and with diverse miracles, and gifts of the Holy Ghost, according to his own will?

For unto the angels hath he not put in subjection the world to come, whereof we speak. But one in a certain place testified, saying,
"What is man, that thou art mindful of him? or the son of man, that thou rememberest him?"

"Thou hast made him a little lower than the angels; thou hast crowned him with glory and honor, and hast appointed him over the works of thy hands:"

"Thou hast put all things in subjection under his feet."

For in that he put all in subjection under him, he left nothing that is not put under him. But now we see not yet all things put under him. But we see Jesus, who was made a little lower than the angels for the suffering of death, crowned with glory and honor; that He by the grace of God should taste death for every man.

For it became him, for whom are all things, and by whom are all things, in bringing many sons unto glory, to make the author of their salvation perfect through sufferings. For both he that sanctifies and they who are sanctified are all from one Father: for which reason he is not ashamed to call them brethren, saying,

"I will declare thy name unto my brethren, in the midst of the church will I sing praise unto thee."

And again, "I will put my trust in him." And again, "Behold I and the children which God hath given me."

Since then the children are partakers of flesh and blood, he also himself likewise took part of the same; that through death he might destroy him that had the power of death, that is, the devil; and deliver them who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage. For assuredly he took not on him the nature of angels; but he took on him the seed of Abraham.

Therefore in all things it behooved him to be made like unto his brethren, that he might be a merciful and faithful high priest in things pertaining to God, to make reconciliation for the sins of the people. For in that he himself hath suffered being tempted, he is able to come to the aid of those who are tempted.

Therefore, holy brethren, partakers of the heavenly calling, consider the Apostle and High Priest of our profession, Christ Jesus; Who was faithful to him that appointed him, as also Moses was faithful in all his house. For this man was counted worthy of more glory than Moses, inasmuch as he who hath buildt the house hath more honor than the house. For every house is buildt by some man; but he that built all things is God.

And Moses verily was faithful in all his house, as a servant, for a testimony of those things which were to be spoken after; But Christ as a son over his own house; whose house are we, if we hold fast the confidence and the rejoicing of the hope firm unto the end.

Therefore, just as the Holy Spirit says,
"Today if you hear His voice,
Do not harden your hearts as when they provoked Me,
as in the day of temptation in the wilderness,
When your fathers tempted me, proved me, and saw my works forty years."
Therefore I was grieved with that generation, and said,
"They do always err in their heart; and they have not known my ways."

So I swore in my wrath, "They shall not enter into my rest."
Take heed, brethren, lest there be in any of you an evil heart of unbelief, in departing from the living God.

But exhort one another daily, while it is called today; lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin.

Hebrews 2:1 thru 3:13

Purely Ornamental...

A little fun past bedtime..

Come morning, Littlest Dude showed me all the ornaments he wanted me to take pictures of ...

Thanksgiving Festivities....

While the football afficionados were all quietly settled in down below in the family room...

The rest of the family rocked on upstairs...

I introduce to you, our Guitar Heroes...



and the peanut gallery...



Well, at least until Littlest Dude discovered the mike...



The cousins nicely shared the sticks and skins...



Rock on Wayne ... Rock on Garth!



And so, the football dudes watched in peace while the rest of us rocked the joint as we all gave praise for all our blessings, knowing that, truly, we're all just Livin' on a Prayer ... badumdum!

(somebody, PLEASE!, get this song out of my head. especially that whole "ah-ooga-ooga-ooga-ooga" part. of course, it doesn't help that Eldest Dude hums this particular song/arrangement ALL DAY...)

How the Seasons Change in SoCal

Last week was sunny and warm. This week is sunny and warm. But my dining room looks different...

What a pathetic face!

Because his brothers and buddies abandoned him to play a different game...



And all he wanted to do was eat his candy cane, which I said he couldn't have until after dinner. I'm mean like that. Poor kid.