Christian Photographers Community

What a lovely song for us to sing for Jeanne. Certainly God saw Jeanne, his little sick sparrow, as she fell, and saw to it that she ended up at the hospital for care. Isn't it wonderful to know He cares SO MUCH for each of us!

Today's been really busy - birthday lunch with a former boss, then to the grocery, next to vote, on to the pharmacy to get my medications, then to meet friends for an early (or late, as the case may be) lunch/dinner with 3 other friends. After that, a haircut, then a stop by the bank.

NO Wonder I'm tired. Yep, someone told me I'd be busier after retirement!

G'nite, friends, I'm going to head for the bed soon.

Love y'all,
Ruth Ann

Here is a place we can post our good wishes and prayer for Jeanne.

I don't have time to mess with my animations. 

Bad electrical storm last night.  The lights went out at 10pm and didn't come on until 12:36am.  Then I was wide awake so reset all the clocks. 

Then I knew I needed to be up by 8am.  I woke up at 7:34, 7:42 and finally got up at 7:54!  I am all ready to take Ivalou to the DDS this morning.  Well, all but changing clothes and such. 

Hi everyone.  I have to leave in about 5 minutes to see the dermatologist for a yearly check.  Guess since I had the skin cancer this will probably to in the books for a few years. 

Judy, thanks for opening the special site where we can leave our comments to Jeanne when she is home and feels like looking at them. 

How do I know which way to go?

Show me the path where I should walk, O Lord; point out the right road for me to follow.
Lead me by your truth and teach me, for you are the God who saves me. All day long I put my hope in you.

Psalm 25:4-5 NLT

Pay attention and grow wise, for I am giving you good guidance. Don't turn away from my teaching.
Proverbs 4:1-2 NLT

I will teach you wisdom's ways and lead you in straight paths. If you live a life guided by wisdom, you won't limp or stumble as you run.
Proverbs 4:11-12 NLT


Facing options

Sometimes we're faced with several options, and we don't know which way to go. In Psalm 25, David asked God for guidance. Perhaps he remembered when, as a shepherd boy, he had to show the right path to his sheep who were wandering away. Just as he knew which path would lead to safety for his sheep, God knew the path that would lead to everlasting life. Just as those sheep that looked to him for direction were in the least danger, so David knew he needed to look to God for direction.

Today, God still leads us by his truth—his written Word and his Spirit, which helps us to understand it. Are you not sure which path to take? Pray as David did and read what God has already said in his written Word. He will show the right road to follow.

I pray everyone has a blessed day!

Thinking of Jeanne - thanks for putting in the clickable where we can send our notes to her.  

Larry:  This son will be having blood draws every six weeks and we are all praying that his bloodwork will be clear. Yes, it is good for you to have those tests as well. Take care and try not to get too hot.

Joyce:  I tried to put the recipe for the dessert into Recipes but I don't know if it would be called a New Topic or not.  If I can't get the instructions, I will just email the recipe to you.  Yes, it is worth the effort  

Janet:  You have been so quiet.  What is happening?  

Etta Sue:  Electrical storms  are beautiful to watch from a very safe place.  LOL on the two feet extra.

Don is in the basement fixing the water damaged wall of the shower and I have a call in for an estimate on a new shower upstairs.  It is hot - and rain predicted daily. A neighbor spotted 3 deer in out open space this week - I never see them here.  

Al:  It is so good to see your smiling face.      

Thanks for noticing, Carol.  This has been an unusually busy couple of weeks for me.  I worked at the fair for  three days, worked at the care home in between, and judged yesterday at Leoti; worked again today at the home, and tomorrow will judge at Garden City.  Also, our peaches are ripe, so we have been picking them.  Have you all eaten those little "donut peaches?"  That probably isn't the proper name, but tht's what we call them, anyway.  They are sort of flat, indented in the middle, and have a really tiny seed (for a peach.)  The seed is about two thirds the size of a marble.  They are white-fleshed, and very sweet and good.  We are having to battle the birds and the yellowjackets for them.  Anyway, I have been pretty tired when I finally stop for the day..

John is still here and he and Beth are having such a good time together.  I hope she won't be too let down when he goes home.  I am thinking she may be so tired she will sleep for a week!  

Etta Sue, don't worry about the graphics.  We will just enjoy them when you do have time to mess with them!

Somefriends have invited Darrel and me over for supper tonight, a special treat.  I took one of the cherry pies out of the freezer to take for dessert, as cherry is their favorite!

I keep thinking every time I work it will be the last time, but stuff keeps happening and they keep asking me to work.  As long as I feel good and they let me off to do my stuff, I guess I will help.

Joyce, good to see you.  How are you, Marilyn?

Larry, hope you're doing great.

Something is acting up with this computer.  See you later.

Today God has led me to remember this verse:

"Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things."  Philippians 4:8 KJV

I wanted to see what it would sound like in more modern English. Here's what The Message translation says:

Phil 4:8-9
"Summing it all up, friends, I'd say you'll do best by filling your minds and meditating on things true, noble, reputable, authentic, compelling, gracious—the best, not the worst; the beautiful, not the ugly; things to praise, not things to curse. Put into practice what you learned from me, what you heard and saw and realized. Do that, and God, who makes everything work together, will work you into his most excellent harmonies."

I really have no idea why God has laid this on my heart this afternoon, but thought I should share with y'all.

Love to all,
Ruth Ann

Hi everyone.
Janet thank you for  asking. I am doing fine. Just keeping busy with my creative groups and writing more PSP tutorials.

Today while we were eating lunch I looked up and saw a young doe  standing at the end of the driveway across the street. I told Keith to get his camera, he thought it was in his car, it was on the very table where were eating. So was mine so I grabbed my camera, he said take the picture through the window, No I'm going outside. About that time a car went by and frightened the deer and she  went back up into the brush. I wish I could have gotten that photo.

I am really enjoying going to the Fitness Center every day, Jane I and go at the same time, So far I have not  made it to the 30 minute workout. At least i am breaking a sweat. LOL  Janet do you still go to the gym.?

Please pray for my son Ron to get another job, He got laid off last week. He wrote to me on Facebook today. Through Facebook I have been able to make contact with him and two of his daughters. The others that are on Facebook of my family, I have tried to contact but they just ignore me. Oh well some is better than none Right? I Ask God to restore my family and but it is better this way than all at once. So I am grateful for what He has done. The rest will come in His time. Hallelujah!!!

Ivalou got a good report from the DDS yesterday.  The dentist removed the exposed bone that was dead and told her that in 3-4 days the skin would cover the spot and she would be good to go.  No charge and no more office calls!

We then went to Great Wall where she ate and ate.  She keeps saying that food doesn't taste good but when we go out she cleans her plate!

I came home and fiddled with the computer.  Seems to be running better today since I updated Adobe Flash Player.  Maybe my graphics will work better now. 

Then I mowed the yard.  Rested.  Weed-eated.  Rested.  Swept half the garage.  Rested.  Swept out the car.  Rested.  Backed the car out of the garage and swept the other half.  Rested.  Put the car back in and shut all the doors.  Rested while sitting on my outside swing.  Talked to a toad by the swing.  Watered the flowers.  When I came in the house I know there wasn't a dry stitch on me!  After eating Chinese and sweating I couldn't get enough to drink the rest of the evening. 

I slept so good last night.  Tired!

Today I am taking Ivalou to get her hair cut and probably eat somewhere.  Then Kitty and I will go swimming if she gets out of her doctor's office soon enough. 

Still wouldn't preview but it posted fast!!

Ruth Ann:  Well said - and that is such a perfect message particularly for me today.  Our SIL has been out of work for over six months for the first time in his life - there is nothing in his field as everyone is clamping down on hiring.  I could go on but you really touched a tender point today and blessings to you for sending it along. 

Janet:  It does sound like all good news for you except the little part where you say that stuff happens and you continue to go into work.  Isn't it just terrific when someone out of the blue just asks you to visit & dinner as well - that is so super. 

I have been downloading audio books to an old MP3 player.   One Beth Moore book is never available  - I have wanted to take her discussions at church but wouldn't you know that they are at the same time as the one I usually attend.  Not her - her book discussions.

Later, gator

Long day for me today.  I left early and drove to Garden City, judged at the fair, had lunch with the other judges, the 4-H kids who were helpers, and had a very nice visit with their Extension Agent who used to live in Hugoton and is good friends with my daughter Diane.  Good to catch up on her family and see how happy she is now.  Her husband divorced her a few years back, out of the blue, and  now she is remarried to a man she has known for many years.  She looks so happy it did my heart good just to see her!

After leaving the fairgrounds I went to Walmart, to the photo kiosk, put in a disc of photos of our whitewater rafting in Costa Rica, carefully selected the ones I wanted, out of 240 images, ordered them, shopped while they were printed, went back to get them......and the gal asked me who took the pictures?  I said, I did, and she asked, even the whitewater rafting ones?  I said no, they had someone take those for us.  Consequently, they removed those from my envelope and put them in the trash!!    Said unless I had a release of copyright from the photographer, I couldn't get them.     I told her they were taken in Costa Rica, no way could I get such a thing; they were taken for the express purpose of our being able to get the prints, etc.  But she was adamant, so I went away really disgusted with Walmart's "rules." 

So now I am back home.  Darrel picked the rest of the peaches today.  By the way, the proper name for those is Saturn peaches.  I will need to decide soon what to do with them.  And I finally thought of something roughly the size of their little seeds.  They are a little smaller than a garbanzo bean.

It seems this doesn't like for me to make a long post at all.  Flickering like crazy every time I type a letter.

I wasn't finished, so will make another post!

Marilyn, I am wanting to go back to the gym, haven't been there in months; but things keep happening to keep me away.  Thing like work, etc.  I like to go in the early mornings, as by afternoon I am too tired.  But mornings seem really busy lately.  But I WILL make it back!

I was just thinking that if I were not an honest person, I would have gotten my photos.  I could have said that "a friend of mine" took them.  But....honesty is the best policy.

Any word about Jeanne today?

No word from Jeanne!

I have been thinking about Jeanne all day and even ask Jane this morning if there was anything more  about her condition.

I know how you are feeling Marilyn.  As we think of her we can pray.

I had a rough night last night so tonight I am really feeling tired.  I am off to bed.  Night all!

I couldn't go to sleep last night thinking about swimming today.  I had swam 24 laps and walked two when Kitty got out of the pool.  I was concerned and asked her if she was okay.  She said, Sure.  I am done!  What?  She said, she had swam her 33 laps and walked 3 laps.  No way!  I was ahead of her on our 6th lap while we were swimming in the same lane.  Then the man next to us got out and she moved into his lane.  I don't think there was any way should could gain 10 laps on me after our 6th laps with me in the lead!  Maybe she only went 10 walk 3 walk and 10 walk instead of 10 walk 3 walk 10 walk and then 10 more.  I know she walked the last lap.  That would make sense.  Oh, well.  I am not swimming for speed anyway!  Trying to get my swimming form down pat.

Today is laundry and a surprise birthday party for Tony and Charlene's grandson, Donovan.  He turned 8 yesterday.

It is raining....raining on Donovan's mother's garage sale.  Hope it can be moved into the garage.  She's young.  A garage sale AND a surprise birthday party for her son the same day.  No me!

Perfect.  Previewed AND posted perfect!  Voila!!

Etta Sue:  Nice visuals.

Janet:  That is so strange that they would even ask you who took the pictures. 

A wild goose chase today.  I had found a washer and dryer used only two years in perfect condition with great picture.  We drove in boy's truck & got there & they were so scratched & marred plus the dryer has lost the padding on the door.  The guy kept telling us we were missing a great deal.  But, he was not truthful about the condition.  Craigslist need I say more?

It is always five degrees cooler at our house than the Denver temps.  Yesterday, we had two inches of rain in 30 minutes & was that a dilly of a storm. 

Beans are picked and prepared and frozen.  Dog is shaved, doesn't sound like much but I am beat!.

Tomorrow John leaves at 8 am.  It will be a long week.  I have more beans to pick on Monday and maybe the peas will be ready as well.

Have a great evening folks God bless.

How can I deal with feelings of hopelessness?

"The truth is that you will be in Babylon for seventy years. But then I will come and do for you all the good things I have promised, and I will bring you home again. For I know the plans I have for you," says the Lord. "They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope."

Jeremiah 29:10-11 NLT


A future and a hope

Jeremiah 29:11 is a favorite verse of many, but it comes in a context that may add even greater meaning.

It appears in the middle of the prophet's announcement. The people of Israel were going to spend a long exile away from their homeland—70 years—as God's discipline. After that, God would return them to the land. In other words, God had a plan for their future.

Our sinfulness often leads to dismal situations and feelings of despair. But we must always remember that hopelessness does not come from God. God is the author of hope. Even the Exile, with its seeming hopelessness, was part of God's long-range plan for his people. And his plans were good.

If you are facing hopelessness, you may be inheriting the results of some other person's sinful decisions and actions. Or you may be reaping your own bad rewards. You may not have really discovered the hope that is found in God's love for you through Jesus Christ. Reject despair and seek out God's plan—and his hopes—for you.

 

I hadn't heard that song in ever so long!  Thanks, Judy!

Etta Sue, I know from experience that it's really easy to lose count of the laps when you are swimming.  Maybe that's what happened to Kitty.

Carol, I was taken by surprise when they asked me that question, too.  I know they won't let you copy portraits taken in a studio, with the photographers mark on them, but really!  Those were for us to use any way we want.  I'm still a little  .  I took the disc to Alco here, they have a kiosk, but it couldn't find any images at all on the disc.    Betcha I get those pictures one way or the other!

Darrel and I put up most of the peaches this afternoon.  We skinned and froze them.

I wonder what Beth and John did today.  I didn't hear a word from them.  I have John's clothes all washed and folded so he can repack his suitcase.  That boy brought more clothes for a 16 day visit than I would take for three months away from home! 

My buddy Pat finally got home.  She'd been down in Lubbock, Texas for over two weeks, seeing a doctor and welcoming a new grandbaby.  Sure good to have her home.  She did my hair for me today.

I am being a Chatty Kathy, time to quit!

August oneth already!!

Janet ~ Do you suppose Walmart erased your disc of photos so you can't get them reproduced?  If so, I would really complain.  You could have printed them yourself.

The surprise birthday party for Donovan was cute.  He was really surprised.  Tony met Ivalou and I at El Rodeo before the party.  I really enjoy being with and talking with my son.  He makes me a proud Mama.,

I am ready for church and then will be home a few hours.  Then at 3, Kitty, Judy and I are going to the Open House at the State Fair to see how our photos ranked.  It has always been an honor to be hung but this year all the photos will be hung...just the ones the judges like the best will be hung in the regular area.  The rest will be hung on a different floor but all will be hung! 

Kitty and Bob are taking their grandson to St. Louis this week.  I will probably be swimming by myself a day or two.  She will swim in St. Louis.  Maybe I counted my laps wrong and did more laps than 12, walk one, 12, walk one and 10 more laps.  34 laps and walk two.  Oh well. 

I am praying that everyone has a great Lord's Day!!

Please continue to pray for my son Ron in NC for God to give him the inner strength he needs to deal with this layoff and get out of the fog  and  try to get another job. His expertise is in a very limited field and  people in this job have to travel a lot. He doesn't want to have to travel anymore.