Photography Fun

I finally got to do some edits that don't have people...These are so much easier for me...Just a simple effect on the editing programs does it for me...Might not be an elite photo, but hey, gotta start somewhere...

A few of these photos are from Nelson's ghost town I edited...The bridge one is a photo I've actually been wanting to take for a while...It's located in Parker, AZ...My BFF has an aunt with some land out there with tons of fun attached to it...I actually ran across the road through some dirt to get the angle I wanted...I was on the side of a busy road with my camera attached to my tripod...I bet I looked really professional to the oncoming traffic...It certainly felt like it, I just don't think the photo matches the feeling I had...HA!  

The red pump I took today at Staheli Farms in Utah...Super fun place...I remember first getting into photography and had a point and shoot and I took this shot...I tried to find it, but couldn't...

Giving thanks from the depths of my soul........

Yes, friends the depths of my soul...I'm screaming from the inside out and outside in with praise, honor and glory, yet it's still not enough...I look at my sweet little girl everyday and I can't believe she is ours, FOREVAAAAAA!!!

I learned so much, I've grown so much, I've cried so much and I surrendered much!!! Isn't that just the CHRIST walk, and more...I am grateful for this testimony I get to share with people...I know GOD intended for me, and us as a family, to share it, and the funny thing is, the thought of giving up the anguish and sorrow I endured, is not a question in my mind....I'm sure at the time I would have wanted it to, "just go away", but looking back and seeing all that GOD has done through me, and others, for that matter, was worth it and more...

I'm almost finished with a bible study by Anne Graham Lotz on the book of Revelation...In today's reading she described what John was seeing, which was Heaven...

John got to see his heavenly home and what a thrill it must have been when he realized all of his work and witness for CHRIST on earth, for which he has been beaten, imprisoned, and now exiled, had been stored up for him him in heaven as a glorious treasure!!!  She continued with describing the beauty of the earth, that we have grown to love, and all of the beauty we see was created by our Creator...And with that, the Creator is the same Creator who has prepared our heavenly home...How glorious will that be....

I guess my whole point is, no matter what circumstances the LORD has for you, the Hope to come is more glorious than anything you may endure...It took a great trial in my life to realize I'm not in control of this situation, and to look to JESUS for the Hope to come, which is Heaven....Only then, when I finally surrendered the trial HE allowed in my life, was I living abundant...As I read in the Anne Graham Lotz study what an abundant life is, it confirmed to me all that she listed, is all that I want to be in this life for CHRIST...

Here is what she wrote in reference to an "Abundant Life", and what Rev. 22:1 means when it states,  "And he showed me a pure river of water of life, clear as crystal, proceeding from the throne of God and of the Lamb." 

The river symbolized the eternal blessing of God.  And it flows from the throne.  The source of all blessing has been, is, and forever will be the throne, or the authority of God and the lordship of JESUS CHRIST! Abundant Life, rich blessing, deep satisfaction, permanent peace, all come from having a right relationship to the throne.  That will be true in heaven, and that is true today.

-When JESUS CHRIST is in full 
   authority in your life....

-When you have completely 
  surrendered yourself to Him....

-When His will is your will....

-When you deeply desire what He 
 wants more than what you want....

(that is a tough one for me)

-When you deny yourself, take up 
  your cross daily, and follow Him....

-When you live in a right 
  relationship to the throne....

THAT'S when the river flows & the Abundant Life is experienced!!!!

So, as I continue this journey the LORD has set before me, I rejoice in knowing when I fall short, to get back up and continue to chase after the Hope to come...So friends, look to JESUS who is, who was and who is to come...

A Day of Praise for the KING of KINGS!!!

It brings me overwhelming joy to be sending this post out...Since 2010, when we received the go ahead from the LORD to pursue becoming foster parents, we didn't think the "twists and turns" of this journey would come to an ending like this...Looking at GOD'S hand in all of this and seeing HIS timeline laid out from beginning to the end, is pretty spectacular...HE is faithful is all I have to say...I wish I could come up with flowery adjectives that could describe how I feel about the LORD in all of this...And now as I type, I remember the scripture verse Paul mentioned in 2 Corinthians 12 when he described Heaven as it being inexpressible and not lawful for a man to utter...Seriously? That is how magnificent GOD really is...We don't have the vocabulary or thoughts to speak how amazing HE is... I've never heard of another god described like that...

Well tomorrow is the day we adopt our Little Lovely!!! We've filled out paperwork and more paperwork and more paperwork...We sent papers in, waited for them to come back, to send them in again and again...What an amazing journey the LORD has allowed us to be a part of...We will be celebrating on that day with thankful hearts...Which reminds me to thank all of you who followed my blog posts and cried with me, sang with me and praised JESUS with me... 

As I was putting my Little Lovely to bed, I hugged her so tight with joy...I came to the end of my prayer realizing I didn't have to ask GOD to keep her anymore...I've been praying and rocking her in that chair for 2 years and here it is coming to a close... I look forward to hear what the LORD will tug on my heart to replace that part of my prayer...

I can't believe this day is here....Each time we got closer to adoption people would be overjoyed with excitement for us...They would ask if I was excited and I was, but very monotone about it...Maybe a shield I had up, I don't know...Anyway, today I confirmed with the lawyer on the time and court room number and I ask, "Sooooo, tomorrow is the final step, right?" "No one can come and take her from us, right?" She says, "Oh yeah, it's final?" I bawled my eyes out over the phone...I still tear up when I tell someone and I know tomorrow when the words finally come out of the judges mouth, I will just melt...

If you don't stop over or can't stop over to celebrate with us tomorrow...Please know that from the depths of our soul how thankful we are to all of you...Take this day to give the LORD extra praises for HIS faithfulness...

I love you all...

Your love, O LORD, reaches to the heavens, your faithfulness to the skies....Psalm 36:5

Nelson's Ghost Town

My husband is a native of Las Vegas and has never been to this place, which is one hour from Vegas...Super, duper fun!  I knew it was going to be a blast when I saw some pictures posted from my photographer friend, Katie...Except now, I'm posting pictures from the same place and I'm seeing I  need a lot more practice after looking at her pictures again....She's awesome!!

Since I took so many pictures, I edited them in ipiccy, because well, I'm still trying to figure out Elements 11 and now because of my other photographer friend Leslie, I'm trying to figure out Lightroom...Grrrr!!! :)

I felt important with my "big camera" when I saw a sign that said, "photographers, please check-in"... Well, I didn't check in because I don't think they were talking about people like me....Anyway, it was an awesome family day and definitely worth doing it again...They also have mining tours you can go on, which I heard were pretty awesome...So we might go back for that, and more pictures of course...

Welp, here they are....

A little Photoshop here, a little photoshop there.....ARGGGGG!!!!

Omgosh, this is so hard, this photoshop stuff...I mean really it does SO much...I was happy and content using my free and easy online editing programs (ipiccy & picmonkey)!!! Until, a fab friend of mine gave me Photoshop Elements 11 (thanks, Carrie)...I've only heard awesome things about my new friend Photoshop, but I was so intimidated to use it, I never bothered to take the time...

Well, after hanging out with another friend of mine, who knows a heck of a lot more than I do about everything in photography, gave me great photography tips and encouraged me to get to know my new friend, Photoshop! (Thanks, Leslie)...

So here is my RAW photo, in manual, edited in photoshop, bought some actions and applied it to this photo, put a frame around it, and I also made my own watermark...Good thing my son is amazingly handsome...HA!

Since this photoshop stuff took me, ALL DAY. I went ahead and edited the same photo in ipiccy in about 10 minutes...I really do like the simplicity of ipiccy, but I'm willing to challenge myself...I actually like the ipiccy edit better :-/

Faithful GOD!!!!!!!!

Today in service while worshipping my JESUS with tears to that song, "Faithful GOD", by Laura Story, I wanted to just fall to my knees in thankfulness to HIM...Gosh, HE is so faithful and I am so not...I don't know what brings me to tears more, HIS faithfulness to a wretched sinner like me, or my unfaithfulness to HIM?  Either way it pricks my heart to continue to give HIM the worship HE so deserves for HIS faithfulness, and for me to just simply love HIM so that I can stay faithful to HIS will...

As we sang this worship song, I couldn't help remember the desperate time of need I was in with my Little Lovely, and how I received HIS faithful love of comfort, in an instant...HIS faithfulness represents so many things and in this particular time of need, HIS love showered me...It's so true when GOD allows trials in our life how evident it is HE is testing our faith...When I mentioned HIS love of comfort came in an instant I say that in a way for you to understand that HIS love waited for me to respond...As I was in my desperate state of need is when my unfaithfulness would come into play...But when I would finally open my eyes to remember,  GOD is here along side of me orchestrating all of this, instantly, HIS love of comfort poured over me!! In that time of desperation I remember moment by moment I would forget and then moment by moment I would remember...The great thing was, as I practiced this moment by moment need for my GOD, it got easier and easier to stay in fellowship with HIM moment by moment and no matter what came our way I was covered!!! I pray that makes sense to you...

I almost feel like the apostle Paul when he explains Romans 7:14-20...HA! I know that I do, that I don't that I do, but don't do what I do, do, do...HA! 23 times he says some form of word "do"in NIV version...

Anyway, with all of this said, (I'm so dramatic) I wanted to share more about our Faithful GOD!! We found out on October 17th we will finalize our adoption of our Little Lovely!!!!!!!!!! Can I get a whoop-whoop?!?!??! The attorney called at first to tell me we would do the final adoption on Oct. 3rd, but she still had to confirm...So when she called to tell me that date wasn't available, I sighed...BUT, then she said she scheduled it for October 17th, immediately my frown was turned upside down... What's the significance of October 17th, IT IS MY BIRTHDAY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Happy birthday to me, happy birthday to me, happy birrrtthhhdayyyy, I got a present from JESUSSSSS, Happyyyyyy birthdayyyyy to meeeeeee!!!!!!!!! Sing it wit me friends!!!

So precious....I'm getting a hand delivered, special birthday present from my Sweet, Loving, Faithful, Amazing, Sovereign, LORD!!! 

Can't wait to celebrate, which I might add, I am making this an open invitation to everyone that stayed faithful in prayer for us...Invite to follow :)

 

Daddy Love

I have yet again, related to Romans 7:24 

 ^"O wretched man that I am! Who will deliver me from this body of death."

A couple of months ago while waiting for the trial date to come for my Little Lovely, I stayed at the mercy of GOD….I lived out scripture verses as the days came closer for us to find out if we have yet jumped another hurdle in the adoption of our Little Lovely…I could remember feeling so free from the oppression that would weigh me down…All I did during my days of waiting, was fellowship with GOD almost every second, took every thought captive and repeated HIS promises over and over in my head...Oh what a glorious time….

I miss it now…

I've been struggling a bit, since the trial, with that intimacy I had with GOD...It was a feeling I can't describe, but I know you can relate to what I mean…I'm still spending time with the LORD and I still have the intimacy,  but it's the moment by moment I want back… I remember when I was at the LORD'S mercy my boy would continually tell me how different I was…"Whatta mean, boy?"  "Well  Mom, I can't remember the last time you got mad or yelled at us." Gosh, that crushes my heart knowing how much I impact them when I'm frustrated…And now, it crushes my heart just realizing how hard it is for me to admit that publicly…That dang pride in me…

Anyway, I've been feeling that frustration again, pressing down on me for a while, and now my BFF kinda noticed it…She said, "I seem off." Guess you can't hide stuff from your BFF's...Praise be to GOD for that…I shared about being at the LORD'S beck and call during my waiting time for the trial and I explained to her how that feeling has faded a bit... I got what I wanted and now I feel guilty about missing that moment by moment intimacy...I know these feelings are from the evil one, I know GOD will not, has not and will not ever leave me…She shared about the apostle Paul and his thorn…Why did GOD allow this righteous man who has been through so much and does so much for the name of CHRIST,  yet have this thorn…Certainly, this could hinder Paul from doing what he was suppose to do…But did it? No, it did not…I'm so thankful she shared that with me…It showed me that the thorn in Paul's side was reminder of exactly why the word says what is says in

2 Corinthians 12:8-10:

"Three different times I begged the Lord to take it away.  Each time he said, “My grace is all you need. My power works best in weakness.” So now I am glad to boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ can work through me.  That’s why I take pleasure in my weaknesses, and in the insults, hardships, persecutions, and troubles that I suffer for Christ. For when I am weak, then I am strong.

BAM!!!!! I'm weak...

I love how the LORD shows us things through His people and His word…Maybe I could have become spiritually proud of where I was at with the LORD, maybe He saw boasting in a way that didn't bring Him glory, maybe He is doing something I don't know anything about?  But what I do know, is even though I am weak, then I am strong…His love is profound!!!! 

I attached this picture of my amazing husband and our sweet daughter because it inspired me to write this post and reminds me of how my Daddy in Heaven looks at me….Agape!