Christian Photographers Community

Liz, I have a cat with long fur also. I was trying to pick stuff off him earlier today. I think your cat looks so cute with the new fur-do and I'm considering the same thing for mine. It should make them cooler for the summer months too.   

I've enjoyed the music and the rest of the posts that I read. 

LaughingPeppers, I had never thought about the meaning of "Spring" before. I have a new outlook on it now, thanks to you. 

JudyB, I hope your new flower garden will be all you want it to be and more.

LOL Flower garden.  I still have 2 puppies.  One will be gone on Thursday that will leave one.  Well one got out and tore into my just bought ready to plant plants!...   I have lost one.  Babies...they don't know any better.  Still frustrating.

I am paying for doing what all I did today.  Shoulders are aching.  Oh well that will stop.

I am off to   

Hi everyone.  Getting an early start this morning.  At 10 am we are suppose to attend the Senior Golden Games closing luncheon.  This concludes the 2010 Senior Golden Games for this county.  There has been a lot of web work but think I have most of it done for this year.  There will probably be a few more results from individual events and pictures to be posted.

Our friends went with us last night and we had a most enjoyable, almost private, concert while we enjoyed dinner.  The food was good and the two brothers that played were excellent musicians.  One played the guitar and the other a mandolin and they could make them talk.  We were talking with them and usually there are 5 people in their blue grass band but three of them couldn't make it last night.  There were never more than 10 people dining while the band played.  The full band is suppose to be back next Tuesday evening and we decided we will go back next week.  You could look at the plate glass windows and see the airport runway.  There isn't a great deal of activity there in terms of flights.

I checked with another insurance company yesterday and found they could save me half of what I have been paying for my insurance package.  We will be making the change today. 

Etta Sue, I always figure that if someone comes to my home they must take it as it is and if they have a problem with anything they find then they are the one who has the problem not me. 

Judy, it sounds like you are quite a gardener.  Pat and I tried a garden one time and ended up getting no return.  Neither of us are able to do a garden anymore.  We are thankful for produce sections in the grocery stores.

Liz, I have watched the Dancing with the Stars or American Idol.  I don't watch much television except the news, Wheel of Fortune and Jeopardy. 

Marilyn, it sounds like your dogs were just doing what comes naturally for them in exhibiting their hunting instincts.  Glad you got them back under control.

LaughingPeppers, thanks for sharing your writing.  A very good message.

Janet, good news on your eyes.  I had similar results the last several times I have had my eyes checked.  I have only the early beginnings of cataracts.  It is probably time for another eye exam.  My father had gloucoma so try to keep a close watch for that.

The beautiful theme of our latest Mini Challenge: Angels Unaware, reminds me of one of the short stories that I have written for my (yet to be published) book, "Tales of The Laughing Peppers."

This is a story of a guardian angel, who had completed her divine mission in protecting a child. When you are in the mood or have the spare time to read this inspirational story, I would really appreciate it. And please if it's not too much to ask, your constructive comments are welcome.

Under The Wings of Light
A short story from "Tales of the Laughing Peppers"
by Mario Dimain

When Triple Hearts, a Christian based magazine announced the topic of Angels for its Short Story Writing Contest, the judges were in for an overwhelming response. The magazine's website was flooded with on-line entries from all over the world. It was beyond what the publisher had imagined. But that was not all; unknown to the magazine, it would get more than what it wished for.

On the closing day of the contest, a last minute entry mysteriously appeared on the reception counter of the Triple Hearts. Unlike all of the other entries, it arrived in hard copy. Written on the envelope's return address was an enticing phrase: 'Up in the clouds.' Enclosed were a soft white feather and the handwritten story. Everything seemed like a joke but when the story's opening lines connected to the eyes of the chief editor, the mystical words penetrated his soul. From an angel's full account, a heavenly story was about to be told.  
 
  My name is Anina. Although I have dwelled here amongst you, I cannot say that I am one of yours. I am not of this world. I came from beyond the universe. I am a soldier of Heaven's Army called Vanthai, a group of select angels who are guarding the gates of Heaven. I was sent down here by God for a divine mission, to guide and protect one of His chosen ones. The chosen ones are mortals with special gifts and calling from above. They are shielded by guardian angels from the dark forces of Dailim, the demons of Hell who will do anything to derail God's plans.
   I have fulfilled my mission. I completed the blessed duty of a guardian angel to a child who grew-up to become a great woman evangelizing the word of God through her gifts of inspiring people and spiritual healing. I must go back to my post in the gates of heaven.
  But before leaving this land of the mortals, I would like to share with you, the story of Napilia, one of the chosen ones to fulfill God's plans. From angelic point of view I will attempt to present myself as her friend in the most human way.
  I remember when Napilia was born. It was on the second day of the second month. It was also the day I received the seal as her guardian angel. God clearly instructed me of what I could do within the power bestowed upon me as well as the limitations that bounded it. I would be able to hear Napilia's thoughts, feel her emotions, see her dreams, and whisper my thoughts to her consciousness. But I was forbidden to touch or hold her, I did not have the liberty to appear to her, and lastly I was under the strict order to restrain my combat skills when attacked by the forces of Dailim. Although, I always carried my sword, battle was never an option in guarding Napilia. My sole obligation was to provide guidance and protection for the chosen one.
  Napilia's childhood would be marred with misfortunes and deprivations; that was God's plan. It may sound cruel but these two harsh elements are the very essence of her preparation in discovering her inner strength and resourcefulness in finding her gifts from God.
  Misfortune struck before Napilia could learn to walk, her good father died, leaving her in poverty with her mother.  It was the first of the painful events that she had to go through in life. With hardly anything to live by, the two of them managed to survive
  At age three while she was sleeping, an evil figure appeared before me and demanded that I give-up the guardianship of the chosen one. Like a mother goose protecting her young, I spread out my wings and stood my ground. My stance spoke louder, and within a second, he started swinging his razor-sharp weapon.  He missed; and he missed again. My defensive agility frustrated the assailant, sending him back to where he came from, only to be replaced by the three groups of Dailim's meanest warriors. They came in waves of six, totalling 18 monsters spread out in all directions. Napilia and I were quickly surrounded.
  Before they could make a move, I drew my sword and pointed it to the sky. A lightning bolt hit its tip and the spark swiftly formed two rainbow rings, encircling us from the attackers. By the time they charged, the rings' radiating lights turned into a tight ball, shutting down all entries from outside. The attackers were unrelenting, they did everything in their powers to break the walls but its unyielding rays kept them at bay.
  And when it was over, Napilia was still sound asleep, so at peace and unaware of the grave danger that she was in. I looked at her with the same joy as her own mother would have felt if she was there and witnessed it all. I felt some sadness that I could not hold and hug her.  
  Napilia demonstrated her keen resourcefulness at early age. When she was six, deprived of toys, she made her own doll out of clay and dressed it with wild flowers she picked in the meadow. Her creative ability made God smile; it reminded Him of the day He created Adam. From above, God watched Napilia play with her clay doll. He was pleased to watch her flap her arms like a pair of wings as she chased the colorful butterflies. Her innocent giggles expressed her sweet love for nature.
  Whenever Napilia was in her poignant mood, she would comfort herself by resorting to singing. Her beautiful voice had always amused me. I knew that she could sense her God-given talent; she sang like an angel. Music stirred up her imagination. While singing she would look up at the clouds and interpreted the shapes of the floating clouds. And there were times I whispered some hints to her consciousness when the clouds formation became too complex to figure out.
  One night, after playing her own game of connecting imaginary lines from star to star in the night sky, I heard her thoughts. She was wondering if the father she hardly knew was up there with God, she wanted to see him. Her child's curiosity moved me tremendously; I wanted to pick her up and fly her to the highest star in the galaxy . . . yes, I would have done it if only heaven had allowed me.
  When Napilia's mother passed away, my heart bled for her. She was only ten but her matured composure was remarkable. Her mother, the woman who taught her how to pray prepared her to be strong in facing pain such as losing someone very dear. The fear of being alone and the uncertainty of what lies ahead would have traumatized any little girl her age.
  In the years that followed, she was passed on to family relatives who were equally poor. The aunts who took turns raising her also predeceased her, adding more grief to her already battered life. But when she reached adulthood, at the age of 25, she met a wonderful man who made her feel happy again. He was a musician with incredible talent in playing guitar. They became good friends and soon became husband and wife. God blessed them with two children.
  Napilia's happiness was short-lived, interrupted by the most heart-wrenching loss in her life. The Prince of Darkness sent his evil doer and breathed fire on her house. Her husband died in vain trying to save their two children from their burning home. All the three of them burned to death in the blaze. It was during this horrifying night when I was overwhelmed by her pain and wept like a human. I could have saved her family but my shield could only cover Napilia. I had no control of the others' fate; I felt helpless as I witnessed the disheartening tragedy. knowing of what was coming next was even more alarming, the Dailim Prince would push his next move; he would put the blame on God to poison Napilia's mind.
  Drowned in sorrow, Napilia grieved for months. It was during this trying time when the bitterness of anger crossed her mind, tempting her to detest God. I intensified the vigilance, entered her thoughts and whispered a prayer. Thank God, she heard me. She gathered all her strength and picked up her husband's guitar; she gently touched it; slowly her fingers started to pluck on the strings. The sound of each note was like her husband's voice urging her to stay alive and be strong. Between tears, a faint smile appeared in her eyes. I could hear her soft voice harmonizing with the melody, and then . . . it happened.
  Her sorrow turned into a beautiful song that unlocked her gift of music. The glowing aura around her was the heavenly sign; it manifested her readiness to receive her calling from God.
  I stood aside and watched God took over. From that day forward, Napilia's protection and guidance would be straight from God. No evil power could stop her. She was on her way to evangelize the Good News, through her gifts of music and singing. Her spiritual songs will touch the hearts of the world; even the non-believers would listen.
  And so, before I soar to the sky, I say goodbye to this world and its people. May you all learn to love one another and appreciate everything that God has provided you. Use your gifts. Open your hearts and listen. God is always speaking to you.


Thank you for reading Under the Wings of Light.
And by the way, the illustration below is the book's cover design.
In case you are curios, you may want to read more about The Laughing Peppers.
Here is the link: http://laughingpeppers.blogspot.com/
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God will catch you

There is no one like the God of Israel. He rides across the heavens to help you, across the skies in majestic splendor. The eternal God is your refuge, and his everlasting arms are under you.


Deuteronomy 33:26-27 NLT

When you are at the end of your rope, God is there to catch you—but not before.

Erwin W. Lutzer

Mario, that is so beautiful!  Thank you for sharing it with us.   

Thanks, Jeanne. I am glad you liked it.

Today I saw the graphics that I posted yesterday that weren't showing for me right after I posted!!  My Firefox is up-to-date.  I post on CP fast without graphics so I am deciding that 1) CP isn't liking my graphics or 2) Photobucket is having a problem.  I am persistent.  I keep trying to post the graphics.

Euchre was fun yesterday.  No one noticed what all I had done for spring cleaning before Euchre but I know that this deep cleaning was done in the Spring of 2010!  At least, now I can rest knowing I have a clean home for a few days!  Housework is NEVER done!

Kitty wrote me an email asking if you can have gout in your ankle.  Hers is swollen twice its size, red and very painful.  I called Ivalou and she said 'Yes.  You can have gout in any joint.  Uric acid crystals and it will get worse before it gets better.  Tell her to call her doctor.  Go if she needs to go to get medicine and take a cane in case she can't bear her weight on it!'  So I called Kitty to tell her that.  And Ivalou realized that she hasn't had gout since being put on Allupurinol, the last preventive to gout the nurse gave her!  Praise God for that. 

Today is rehab and if it hasn't rained by the time we get back, I need to mow since it has rained that last three days! 

Edit:  Well, the 'preview' was quick/fast.  Now to see how the posting is!

Yay!  Success!  My post posted like old times!

I am a happy camper!!

Good Morning, I have to make this a fast post so I can get myself ready to to to the Beauty school to have my nails done and get my bangs cut shorter. I can't stand to have hair in my eyes and teasing it everyday is a pain.

Yes Larry the dogs definitely were following their natural instincts. Oh and I love Bluegrass music. I think that comes from hearing my grandpa and uncles  play all their different string instruments as I was growing up. My grandpa could fiddle like nobody's business and  pick the banjo  the same way.

Etta Sue I was all  in a  tizzy to get my house all deep cleaned before Keith's sister arrives on Tuesday; I was worried about the cat hair on the furniture. He tells me that she has cats and is used to fur everywhere and for me not to be so picky about the house. Well it seems that on one occasion she asked him in an email if I cleaned house. Apparently  the former wife was not a good housekeeper. Ever since he told me that I have been a lot more diligent about the housekeeping. He tells me it is clean but I keep finding little things than need to be done.

It is a glorious day here.  Have been working on the garden, now taking a breather and heading into North Bay.

Enjoy the weather, this is wonderful after a cold wet spring.

God Bless
Judy

I too like the comments on Spring.  We are blessed here at our house because during the Spring we can open our doors and windows, sometimes even sleep with them open.  Then when morning comes it is with bird song to wake us up.  What a glorious way to meet the day.

Gout - yes, my husband has been on Allupurinol (sp?) for several years and it helps immensely.  A flare up of gout has put him on the couch more than once.  It is VERY PAINFUL.  He also watches what he eats to help prevent flare ups.

Puppies and gardens - I laughed - what a delight at the same time that it is a pain. 

Bluegrass music - now that is a winner.  I too enjoy it!  I guess I got that from my Grandma who enjoyed listening to it.

I am washing my baby blanket  to see what happens.  This is my first finished knitted work. 

Happy Wednesday!
Becky

Hi, friends, I spent much of the day asleep on the couch, still recovering from this bad cold. Now, of course!, I'm wide awake. But, thanks be to our Father, the cold is better tonight.

Yes, Marilyn, I was able to save almost all of the photos, and now will set to work scanning them for my children.

No, the old house was not badly damaged this flood - it got into the 2-steps-down room that used to be the garage. Just enough to wet the chest containing those photo albums, plus many envelopes of snapshots that weren't in albums.

And, there's one wet cardboard box, but with this cold, I'll need to wait until I'm better and can wear a respirator mask to check that box and its contents out.

And, the R_x shoes they received today, fit much better than the first pair. I just couldn't handle those - much too painful.

Our kitty is limping on his right front paw, so I'm to go to my son's apartment early Saturday morning so we can get him checked and, likely x-rayed. He's so much company for my son that I really hope nothing's terribly wrong.

It's so good to see everyone posting.

May God richly bless all who come this way.

Ruth Ann

Ruth Ann be careful of mold.  The respirator sounds like a good idea.

I have another puppy going today.  That leaves one.  Kass and I picked up some good soil yesterday to add to the garden.  Today I put that in and the climbing seed that I bought.  those of you living in the south this seems late to be planting.  We are in zone 4 and normally we don't get our planting done till the first of June.  The trade off is we have longer days.  When we buy seed we get the seed that is 65 day seed.  The back of the package tells the growing time.

Today is another beautiful day.  North bay is due for rain this afternoon.  we are about 40 km south of the Bay so we may not get any. Around the area where we live is a ridge and in the summer it seems that ridge is where the rain stops.. 

I am heading out will be back later.

What is security?

Put on the whole armor, and take up your shield. Prepare for battle, and come to my aid.


Psalm 35:2 NLT

Security is our nearness to God, not our distance from danger.

Kenneth R. Hendre


In the gun sights

When Ira Sankey was at the height of his ministry, he was traveling on a steamer in the Delaware River. Some passengers had seen his picture in the newspaper and knew he was associated with evangelist D. L. Moody. When they asked him to sing one of his own compositions, Sankey said he preferred a hymn by William Bradbury, "Savior, Like a Shepherd Lead Us." One of the stanzas begins, "We are thine, do thou befriend us; be the guardian of our way."

When he finished, a man stepped out and inquired, "Were you in the army, Mr. Sankey?"

"Yes, I joined up in 1860."

"Did you ever do guard duty at night in Maryland, about 1862?"

"Yes, I did."

"Well, I was in the Confederate Army," said the stranger. "I saw you one night at Sharpsburg. I had you in my gun sight as you stood there in the light of the full moon. Just as I was about the pull the trigger, you began to sing. It was the same hymn you sang tonight," the man told an astonished Sankey. "I couldn't shoot you."
I. M. Anderson in Moody
Life is filled with near misses. We know only a fraction of the many situations in which God preserves us from severe physical and emotional injury.

I don't have the music for this but thought you would enjoy the words.

Rest assured the ladies playing Euchre did not find any dust or cobwebs in my house.  Maybe an occasional cat hair or two but then only on the back of my recliner where Ali sleeps and on my vertical blinds that acts as a cat hair remover when Ali passes by.  And I wish I could open my windows...but this year I am having a hard time with allergies and with the farmers planting, fertilizing and all, I don't want to take a chance of getting worse. 

I did get the yard mowed yesterday and my eyes burnt all evening from the newly mowed grass! 

Today Ivalou and I are going to go to Anderson for Art's Pizza.  Art's was the very first pizza pie place way back in the 50's!  I haven't been there for eons!  Then there is still a KMart in Anderson and we want to go there.  Remember when it was 'pizza pie' and not just 'pizza'?

It is bright and sunny today!  Looks delicious out since we have had so much rain and clouds lately. 

Oh, yes!  Kitty called her doctor yesterday about her swollen ankle and was told that you can't get gout in your ankle!!  But she is much better today so she must have turned/twisted it while weeding and planting flowers. 

Hi everyone.  It is a beautiful day here with mild temperature and no clouds in the sky. 

I had a really good day yesterday.  We attended the final event of this years Senior Golden Games.  Didn't win any of the door prizes.  Then I changed my insurance package, adding renters insurance for the apartment where our daughter lives and increased some other coverages such as doubling my umbrella coverage and still will save over $1,000 a year from what I have been paying. 

Then I finally realized that the failed computer my daughter day, for which I had gotten a new hard drive, had been mine initially and I should have a set of start and recovery disks.  I looked in my disk book and found them.  It took a little while but now this second laptop is in factory condition with Vista.  I intend to work with it a bit today to partition the hard drive and install Ubuntu (a Linus operating system) on the partition. 

Not much else planned for today.

Hi, everyone.  I thought of you this morning and wanted to check in.

My grandson, Kaleb, who is staying with gram for awhile, is home not feeling well.  I'll give him the extra attention and tlc that he needs.  No fever or sore throat or anything visable, so I'm not looking further, and decided to give him a break from school.  He's gone through some things lately, so I think he deserves a day kicking back with the Gram.

I'll try to check in here more....truly.  I run to Facebook because my relatives are all on there, and then check mail and do a photo shop lesson, and I'm done.  It's a matter or priorities, and God keeps reminding me of that.  You are certainly a priority, so pray that I listen to the Lord and gather with believers more.

Hi, friends, I've been out n about this morning, and am now inside, thankfully out of the thunderstorms that keep "thundering" across the sky! Nashville has had the highest amount of rain during the month of May than has ever been recorded, and of course, there are still a few more days before the end of the month.

Y'all have a great day. It's wonderful that you can have Kaleb with you for a while, Nita. Your deep faith and unwavering christian values will be worth so much to him.

Love to everyone.

Ruth Ann

Ruth Ann you can send some north to us!!!

Mario...AKA Laughing Peppers has taken a few pictures for Pat and I.. This is the church that Pat and I grew up in. 

Thank you again Mario!

Hi everyone.  I woke up to rain this morning and it seems to be intermittent.  I think it is to rain throughout the day.

Today we go to the Senior Center for coffee and then my schedule is clear for the day.  I have a couple of projects I need to attend to including canceling my old insurance policies and doing more work with the laptop computer I am redoing.  That is going very well and I just installed Ubuntu 10.04 within Windows Vista.  So far haven't figured out how to setup the internet wireless connection within it.  There was no problem with the Vista.  However, I can always use Ethernet with the Ubuntu.  Sure that is more info than anyone wanted to know.  Sorry.

I just looked at the pictures of the Baptist church where Judy and Pat grew up.  Certainly a beautiful church and I see they have a big pipe organ.  I have never had the benefit of attending a church with a pipe organ.

Ruth Ann, sure hope you all don't have more flooding with the heavy rains.

Nita, it is wonderful that you can be there for your grandchildren when they need special help and attention.  They will never forget.

Good morning.  A morning that is almost behind us. 

I have nothing to do today.  What a wonderful feeling!  I slept in late which felt great also.  Now all I have to do is figure out what to do today with my time!  Great! 

I did take Ivalou to Art's Pizza...and yes, it was a great lunch.  Then to KMart.  Both of us got a few items and were tired.  We stopped at a local gas station to put gas in Ivalou's car and I got us some cappuccinos.  We counted them as dessert! 

I watched some TV last night and then worked on my Bible Names Pronunciation on Word.  I am ready for 'I' now!  You certainly can't use spell check and I know there are many mistakes.  But...

Dr. Stork of 'The Doctors' was on Rachel Ray yesterday and now I know I am having some allergy issues.  Watery eyes, itchy eyes, and other symptoms that lean toward allergies instead of a cold.


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Good morning.  A morning that is almost behind us. 

I have nothing to do today.  What a wonderful feeling!  I slept in late which felt great also.  Now all I have to do is figure out what to do today with my time!  Great! 

I did take Ivalou to Art's Pizza...and yes, it was a great lunch.  Then to KMart.  Both of us got a few items and were tired.  We stopped at a local gas station to put gas in Ivalou's car and I got us some cappuccinos.  We counted them as dessert! 

I watched some TV last night and then worked on my Bible Names Pronunciation on Word.  I am ready for 'I' now!  You certainly can't use spell check and I know there are many mistakes.  But...

Dr. Stork of 'The Doctors' was on Rachel Ray yesterday and now I know I am having some allergy issues.  Watery eyes, itchy eyes, and other symptoms that lean toward allergies instead of a cold.


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It is almost 100 degrees F here in Fountain Hills, Arizona which is situated about twenty minutes NE of Scottsdale.  We have the air off, and fixing a few things in a condo.  Have been cleaning and rehabing some of this unit and then return in October, hopefully. 

Larry: Good for you for checking insurance costs and I am glad that you found a better price.

Pat and Judy:  Love your old church.  It has so much character and is beautiful to behold. 

WiFi is terrible here & the cell phone cuts in and out.  Isn't it strange to miss things that were not even available a few years ago? 

You're right Carol.  We get so spoiled so fast.  I'm even almost at the point where I don't want to read a detective/suspense story that was written before cell phones!   

You two are too funny.  I am thoroughly enjoying reading a series of historical fiction books that a friend gave us.  They are so wonderful.

Where is your desire?

Whom have I in heaven but you? I desire you more than anything on earth.

Psalm 73:25 NLT

Carol will you be able to get the same unit in October.  When we go to Sunriver we never get the same unit. This will be our third year going there. I really wanted to go someplace different this year and Keith has promised that we can next year. No telling how early I will have to make  the reservations to get a place that he will agree to go.