Second Day: Bryce Canyon

This place was, like, all, ooooh-aaaah around every corner. Not so for the Teenager - who was all, like, bah-humbug, is-it-time-to-go-yet?

We interrupt these travelogues ...

to present one of the treasures from my Mother-in-law's garden.



One of my favorite things to do in Spokane is peruse my M-I-L's garden and seek out all the hidden and not-so-hidden gems ...

Don't Die.

This is what I tell Big Dude each time he gets a twinkle in his eye and suggests a great shot. Observe:



Need me to zoom?



Oh yes. He did. (climb it, that is) And no. He didn't. (die, that is). whew.

Bryce Canyon. What a spectacular place. More to come ...

The Lesser Cousin

Sandwiched between Zion NP and Bryce Canyon NP is Cedar Breaks. The local literature calls it the "lesser cousin".

First Stop: Kolob Canyon, Zion NP

Everyone but Littlest Dude ...



The relatively short drive thru this canyon was stunning. And almost no one was there. And at this point all Kellers were healthy. This was before we ate at quite possibly the world's dirtiest Taco Bell in Cedar City, UT. And Middle Dude woke up, throwing up. So not fun. But, hey, it wouldn't be a Keller roadtrip without vomit. sigh.

ps. just to restate things succinctly: we DO recommend Kolob Canyon. we do NOT recommend Taco Bell in Cedar City. the end.

Big Dude wanted Black.

I wanted Copper. The Kia, that is. Oh yeah, it's HIS car. But he totally humored me.

I had visions like this in my mind as we shopped ...









This was our first stop on our summer roadtrip. It's Kolob Canyon, which is part of Zion National Park.

Summer. Business as usual ...

Been here a few times over the last couple days ...



I've got this in one hand:



I've got this in the other hand:



Big Dude's got his hands full:



Even Eldest Dude has his hands full:



And we've already seen some gorgeous, GORGEOUS scenery!



Life is good. (but the color on my laptop is not, so travel pics are pretty much SOOC, til I can edit again at home).

You are My people.

Awake as in the days of old, the generations of long ago.
Was it not Thou who cut Rahab in pieces,
Who pierced the dragon?
Was it not Thou who dried up the sea,
The water of the great deep;
Who made the depths of the sea a pathway
For the redeemed to cross over?
So the ransomed of the LORD will return,
And come with joyful shouting to Zion;
And everlasting joy will be on their heads.
They will obtain gladness and joy,
And sorrow and sighing will flee away.

I, even I, am He who comforts you.
Who are you that you are afraid of man who dies,
And of the son of man who is made like grass;
That you have forgotten the LORD your Maker,
Who stretched out the heavens,
And laid the foundations of the earth;
That you fear continually all day long because of the fury of the oppressor,
As he makes ready to destroy?
But where is the fury of the oppressor?
The exile will soon be set free, and will not die in the dungeon, nor will his bread be lacking.
For I am the LORD your God, who stirs up the sea and its waves roar
(the LORD of hosts is His name).
And I have put My words in your mouth,
and have covered you with the shadow of My hand,
to establish the heavens,
to found the earth,
and to say to Zion, "You are My people."

Isaiah 51: 9-16

Poor, neglected blog ...

BUT!! I'm all caught up for my annual "scrapbook". :-) This is the 5th annual family book I'm making.





















I really like to get some of my photos living somewhere outside the computer. (for anyone wondering, I print our family album thru My Publisher. The price is super reasonable and I'm satisfied with the quality). Also, in the way of getting pictures outside the computer, I just finished a HUGE canvas print order and Big Dude got busy hanging everything up. I'll share those pictures soon ...

"Over My Head" ...

is the fun, quirky theme this week at i heart faces ...



For sure head over and see Yolanda Lockhart-Howe's (whom I had the pleasure of meeting in real life at the Photowalk Across America!!) gorgeous overhead-themed picture at the top of the link. :-)

The Eyes of the LORD ...

For the eyes of the LORD move to and fro throughout the earth that He may strongly support those whose heart is completely His... 2Chronicles 16:9

O LORD, you have searched me and you know me.
You know when I sit and when I rise; you perceive my thoughts from afar.
You discern my going out and my lying down; you are familiar with all my ways.
Psalm 139:1-3

Nothing in all creation is hidden from God's sight. Everything is uncovered and laid bare before the eyes of Him to whom we must give account. Hebrews 4:13

The eyes of the LORD are everywhere, keeping watch on the wicked and the good. Proverbs 15:3

Where can I go from your Spirit? Where can I flee from your presence?
If I go up to the heavens, you are there; if I make my bed in the depths, you are there.
If I rise on the wings of the dawn, if I settle on the far side of the sea,
even there your hand will guide me, your right hand will hold me fast.
Psalm 139:7-10

"For I know the things that come into your mind, every one of them..." Ezekiel 11:5

If I say, "Surely the darkness will hide me and the light become night around me,"
even the darkness will not be dark to you; the night will shine like the day,
for darkness is as light to you.
Psalm 139:11-12

You have set our iniquities before you, our secret sins in the light of your presence. Psalm 90:8

My frame was not hidden from you when I was made in the secret place.
When I was woven together in the depths of the earth, your eyes saw my unformed body.
All the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be.
Psalm 139:15-16

"You are the God who sees me..." Genesis 16:13

Great is our Lord and mighty in power; his understanding has no limit. Psalm 147:5

Orange County Family Photographer – A New Family…

5 months later… (here they are 5 months ago)

Bela is happy, healthy, growing, learning …

She’s adored and loved …

She’s exuberant, elated, energetic…

Parenting changes you, deepens you, requires you to quickly learn self-sacrifice, fills & expands your heart in ways you never imagined …  Bela’s Mommy & Daddy are wearing this new lifestyle well.

It’s all just unspeakably beautiful.

And speaking of the beauty of new families, especially adoptive families, I still have openings for my two sessions benefitting two adoptive families who are bringing home sons from Ethiopia.  All the proceeds from these two sessions go straight to these adoption funds AND include $500 savings for the booking party – win win for everyone :-). 

Email me for specific pricing details and session date availability.

This is the way …

Isaiah 30:21

Bzzzzzz.....

Y'all know I love Lightroom. I also love Jessica Paige's One Willow Presets. Lightroom + One Willow Presets go together like a hand in glove. Today, Jessica is giving away TWO TRIPLE SETS of her presets at I Heart Faces. Hop on over and enter the giveaway!

Here are some examples of her gorgeous presets on some of my recent pics ...
SOOC is below or on left




Willowing + Burn + Clarify + Sharpen (Fairytale set)




Lavender Mints (Retro Candy set)




Vintage Chocolate (Retro Candy set)


Beloved (Fairytale set)