April 29th, 2008

It seems rather fitting that my camera and I would be sick the same week. But that’s not quite right, as she’s in the shop for repair and I’m just coping at home with three boys and the flu.

Our Ian turned eleven months old last Wednesday, but we’ll have to have our photo session a week or so late. I had known about the problem my camera was dealing with, and I had also known that the extended warranty that Peter paid for when we bought the camera was good til June but in order to use it I would have to pack it up and ship it out into the unknown. I really didn’t want to do that so I procrastinated. What I was feeling had no ground of reason but I didn’t care, I just couldn’t send it out. Peter let me take it to a shop in T.O. on Thursday and I took Mom up on an offer to drive us out there as it takes 40 minutes or more for me just to get out there. She drove us to Peter’s work and we were able to have lunch with him out by the lake, which was such a treat as he’s only been home for one evening this week. Mom knew just where the camera repair shop was and they knew just who I was, as I’m a rather nervous customer. They said they’ll have it ready for me just in time for my next photo shoot…I pray they will, and that my baby will be all better!

So I’ll tell you about who Ian is at eleven months old, as he has no pictures this week. He is climbing easily up onto the block box and then up into Seth’s bed, which bothers Seth. Ian also climbs onto the dinning room chairs and then onto the table. He climbs very quickly into the laundry room if I have not locked both the bathroom and laundry room doors, and he climbs a little more slowly up the concrete step outside because of the roughness of it. He has just this week started to throw fits. As he turns himself around on the floor plopping his bottom down and arching his back it has become quite clear that he does indeed have a sin nature. Why does it always seem to surprise me that my little cherubs are fallen creatures? As I’ve felt far from able to deal with him I’ve simply held him still until he calms down and then pick him up immediately. Although the other night when I couldn’t even do that much for him, he just fell asleep on the floor with his arms tucked under his head. Ian adores his daddy. I can’t even tell you how much he loves Peter. He will follow Peter around until Daddy picks him up but that’s usually right away. 🙂

Saturday I started feeling sick but Peter had to study and Gigi had offered to help me with some projects around the house so I went and picked her up. On the way home, however, we made quite a few errands getting the Brock’s newsetters out (thanks for all your help, Gigi!) and getting some groceries and making a deposit at the bank as I don’t go to the bank with all the boys in tow. As we were out I got a call from Peter about an estate sale, and through many misunderstandings (on my part) and great generosity on Peter’s part (and thanks to David for his help and the use of his truck), we now have a brand new washer and dryer set sitting in our shed waiting for school to let out! And thanks to Gigi for her generous heart and seemingly boundless energy I now have a floor in my bedroom! After many months of a gradually vacillating wardrobe I needed help sorting through it all, and Gigi offered to help me tackle my clothes as the first of several projects around the house. Thank you, thank you, thank you, Gigi!

Sunday I couldn’t even get up out of bed, so Peter took the boys to church, got the washer and dryer and cared for the boys all day. It wasn’t until the boys were in bed that he left to study. Thank you for serving us so cheerfully, Peter!

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April 21st, 2008

Catching up from the last week or so…

 Seth playing with his digger under the lantana and rose bushes…watching Ian coming around the corner. The tree is dropping oranges that have split on the ground and Ian loves to taste them. He’s also been known to bite right through the rind to get to the fruit, just like his brothers before him. :-) Jerome made a flag (designed, colored, and mounted all by himself) and was trying to balance it on his hand like his daddy. Seth watching the new additions to the bug collection. Swinging! Total enjoyment and trust. Abby comes by when she gets off work somedays and it’s such a blessing to have her take the boys to play as I’m getting dinner on. Thanks Abby! Ian loves to swing! And he loves Aunt Abby! I love this shot of Seth and Jerome together, and I thought I’d try for one of all my boys… but it wasn’t going very well. as you can see   this was the best we got that day. and here’s the reason. Mommy chose the wrong time for pictures!

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April 20th, 2008

When my twin sister married and moved two hours away I was seventeen. When I married and moved to California I was eighteen. Gigi is seventeen months younger than Vanessa and I, and when we were left without big sister we suddenly became very close. We came to know each other as if for the first time and became sisters in a new way.

I have always admired my younger sister for her ability to shine through any circumstance. She is aware of people around her like Daddy was, she reads people and loves people. You can’t tell when she’s hurting, and her smile lights up her whole being. Her loyalty is for life, her memories are sacred, and her laugh is contagious! The little sister I know now is a young woman striving after God and desiring to please Him in every area of her life. Gigi, you are an answer to my prayers and I thank God that He has sent you out here to me!

We didn’t have a lot of time on Saturday, but it was a special little hike and picnic lunch to celebrate Gigi’s birthday and we had both been looking forward to it all week! We had chicken curried salad in pitas with root chips and sparkling lemonade sitting on a low growing sycamore tree. We saw ladybugs everywhere and the boys wanted to catch them all! The chamomile growing on the path sent lovely fragrances up to us as we unknowingly stepped on it, and the warm sage was utterly California. The sun came out as we walked and it turned into a beautiful day!

I hope you had a wonderful day, Gigi, and I hope you know how much I love you!

 Seth found a stinkbug and flung it down and picked it up several times before leaving it. Gigi and the boys!

 I love this shot! Trying to keep up with Daddy. Sweet Gigi carrying a tired Seth. Ian’s perch during our picnic lunch. Jerome, our monkey. He didn’t jump. I love you, Gigi!

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April 17th, 2008

My day began with an e-mail from Kathy reminding me that we had planned a play date for today. How could I have forgotten such an exciting event? Jerome is often asking if he can have Gabe over to play with him and I love spending time with Kathy. Boy, what an incentive a play date is for getting our lessons and chores done! 🙂

Kathy, you made my day positively sunny! I love your honesty and openness and your heart toward God. You want to do the very best you can with what you have and by that you have encouraged me where I am right now. Thank you for your precious time!

And how could I have these beautiful children here without taking their pictures? Kathy, I’ll have your disc with me on Sunday, but it’s ready here if you want to come pick it up, too. Besides, I’d just get to squeeze your neck once more if you did. 🙂

 The youngest, Noah.   Gabe!   Elayna She was definitely shining for the camera!   Becca, the eldest of all these beautiful children!  And Kathy with her four blessings!

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April 17th, 2008

Peter is such a help to me! I couldn’t do digital photography without him. Honestly, I do the photography and he does the digital. At the last few weddings I’ve photographed Peter has set up a slide show on his laptop at the reception of all of the best pictures from the day’s events. People love to see wedding pictures! And I’ve been asked for my nonexistent business card and sent people away with crayon scribblings on napkins. :-/

So…I have a couple weddings this year and decided that I need to have something to send people with. However, I’m realizing this might bring me more business when more business isn’t what I’m after. I LOVE taking pictures of people and could do it every day, but I have three precious boys who need me more than I need business, so I’m praying over these cards asking God to send me only what He would have me do, and only the people He would have me invest in.

I made them on a website called Overnight Prints, and while I’m perfectly thrilled with the quality of the cards, I haven’t actually received my order. A couple weeks ago I got an e-mail from a gal in Ontario who had received my cards instead of hers and had I received hers? A couple days later I did, so we both wrote the company, asked for our orders, and shipped each other the mixed up cards. Hopefully she’ll get hers soon!

So, here are my cards!

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