Occupying Katie




1. Own a surley cat.




2. Allow her to prepare her own lunch of canned Ravioli.



3. Let her participate in the photoshoots.




4. Play Pick Up Sticks.





5. Annoy her. (Go!!!!)




6. Eat Sweet Peas.





7. I mean...play with peas.



8. Be





****




Sunday morning we went to see UP.



We loved it.

Emma, Katie and I cried three times. It has a very touching storyline.
I won't spoil it. I want you all to be as surprised as I was.

If your town has early viewing times, I highly recommend it.
Our tickets were only five dollars each. That is a great savings!


(pictures from Google Images)


Our weather forecast is for below 70 and rainy all week. So we will be doing a lot of inside things.
I don't think I will buy a big summer swim pass this year.

Can you imagine a summer when it doesn't warm up to 80 all summer?

Well. I can. It has happened. More than once. And we are on target for that this summer already.

I hope to be proven very wrong. ASAP.


Happy Tuesday!


Encourage one another,
Donna

Morning everyone.

I slept super late today. It's dark out and my alarm clock is silent until late August. So...why not?

As soon as I get up I head to the bathroom and weigh myself.

Today marks the end of week one. So official weigh in is due.

And the grand total is.....

11 pounds.

Hooray.

One more week on phase 1 and then one to phase 2.

Even tho this week has felt like a year... losing eleven pounds is a great reward and motivator.

It's hard. But you know what we say about hard. ;o)

If you are interested in The Fat Flush you can find it at your library or at any book store. (I borrowed mine.)


****

I have three people on my heart today. Three people who need prayer.

If you are a praying person, will you lift up:

Di's mom;
She is in the hospital and needs our prayers

Rachel Devine's little baby Clover;
She is in the hospital far away in Australia and needs to be able to keep her bottle down.
While it is far away for us. Prayer travels swiftly.

Young friend;
Recently diagnosed cancer.
Please pray for this young couple.





Do you remember the beginning of It's a Wonderful Life?
That's how I imagine our prayers going to God.


Thank you for lifting them all up.


****




Katie wore out her baby blue Converse over the school year...so a new pair was in order.

Emma said, "I want some too." So she got a black pair. They are cute.

When I was a Cheerleader at Wheaton Central High School. We got black Converse to wear with our uniforms. It was a big switch from saddle shoes and white keds. We thought we were very cool. And I think we were.



I have a new photography goal. I want to get more hands and feet in my pictures.

Wish me luck.







Reason 4 why I love my D700.
This picture was taken at 8:30 at night.

50mm 1.4
ISO 1000

I think I hear angels singing....



Reason 1,000,004 why I love Katie.
She writes encouraging, welcoming, loving notes on the drive-way in chalk.

Here she is writing a note for her brother who will be home in about two weeks.



How darn cute is that?




Encourage one another,
Donna

A day in pictures.



Katie and I rode our bikes to the pink park.
The weather was perfection.
I carried my camera in a Lands End tote, yet feared I would drop it the whole way.

My bike glides.
Katie has to peddle like crazy to keep up.

It makes me feel bad for her.

She doesn't care too much.



But this bike. I have a story to tell you about this bike.

Last spring we bought this bike. I loved how it rode. It is the nicest bike I have ever ridden.

But the seat kept sliding down.

Cute little paddle tighteners adjusted the seat. So every time I would ride and would go over a bump the seat would slip down to the bottom.

I was convinced I had exceeded the weight limit for this particular bike. They did not make it for people as big as me.

So I didn't ride it very much. Not much at all.



And then my kind husband said, let's take it in to the bike shop and see if they can fix that seat.
And I said I was too embarrassed to go into the bike shop and show my face.
The fat one who was too fat to ride this sweet bike.

So he did just that. I sat in the car while he took the bike in and explained the problem of the slipping seat.

Patrick came out in five or ten minutes with the verdict. The fix-it guy at the bike shop said that while these are great bikes, they come with a lame seat adjuster. Lots of people have trouble with them. He said they would be glad to give us a better clamp.
And so he did.

Since then I have been riding and gliding all over town with nary a slip.

I feel so much better about my bike now.





Now. Back to the park.



We call it the pink park because all of the climbing tunnel-y parts of the play ground have faded to pink.
The slide is still bright red. Look how it casts a red cast on the whole picture.



Then I took 25 more pictures of her.
Commented 25 times about how greasy her hair was.
And rode home.

After lunch and a shower for Miss Katie, we got an email from a friend saying the pool was open early.

So the girls and I dashed off to the swimming pool for some free summer fun.

It was great!

I didn't bring my camera to the pool. I was feeling off. It is hard to shoot in the noon day sun and get the nice light that I love.


When we came home at four I realized I needed to upload a session onto my website.
So I worked furiously at that for almost two hours.

In the mean time Patrick came home from work. He came home in the front door carrying a package.

He said, "What did you get yourself?"

"What do you mean?" I said, concentrating on uploading pictures.

"This box. From B & H. What's this?"

"I didn't order anything." I said, glancing over at the box.

Did I mention I was fanatically uploading pictures? Seriously I thought it was a promo gift from B & H.

Like. Thank you for buying the camera from us. Here is a lens strap. Or something like that.

But the next thing I know, Patrick is opening the box and exclaims, "It's a lens!"

I jump up from my seat and take one look at the box.

It's a 85mm 1.8 lens.

And I knew instantly. Patrick bought me a new lens. For no reason at all.
He says, I need it for my business!

I can not believe his generosity!
He just loves to buy me things. Nice, lovely, expensive things.

And I am so tight I squeak. I stay on budget and never veer off.

Not Patrick. He just loves to surprise me.

Lucky, lucky, lucky, blessed me :o)

So I took a few pictures.








Finished up my upload job.


And took some more pictures.



Katie danced.



And as the sun lowered I saw the light I had been waiting for all day.
And I asked Katie for just a few more shots.

This time I got a nice sharp shot.
And I was happy to stop experimenting for the day.



It's hard being my child. I tell ya. I am like a dog with a bone when it comes to getting the shot.

A dog with a yummy, delicious bone.





Encourage one another,
Donna

The Friday Five and a rebuttal


Yesterday in the comments, Lynn said, "I'm having a terrible time thinking of things to make for dinner and would love some new ideas. Any fresh brilliance out there? "

And so, a Friday Five was born.


List you top five late spring/early summer dinner ideas.

I thank you.
Lynn thanks you.


***



I have a nagging feeling, the girls are getting a bit tired of my new camera.


***


Yesterday, you may have noticed an unusual comment in the comment box.

"Religion is creepy, but I like your pictures."

Now that might be a common sentiment out there in the world and it doesn't surprise me or hurt me or even upset me.
It actually made me laugh because I thought the word 'creepy' was funny.

Because, you see, I am pretty much a Jesus freak. I gravitate to people who love Jesus. I adore people who love Jesus.
If you love Jesus, we have an instant bond. We are sisters in Christ. And that is the most precious thing in the whole wide world to me.

Nothing is more important to me than loving God and worshiping Him with my life.

I believe God is my creator, my redeemer, my biggest fan.

And the love of God is ...

Could we with ink the ocean fill,
And were the skies of parchment made,
Were every stalk on earth a quill,
And every man a scribe by trade,
To write the love of God above,
Would drain the ocean dry.
Nor could the scroll contain the whole,
Though stretched from sky to sky.
anon

Perhaps the commenter just hates organized religion.
Who knows what life experience makes one think religion is creepy.
That is too bad.


For me, I just go back to the center of it all and find Christ.

And I love Him and all that He has done for me.

And when you look at my pictures, you are seeing God working thru me.
He gave me my camera, my talent and my life.

My heart is full of gratitude for all that He has given.


So for me, creepy does not fit at all.

I learned a while ago, that we can not give our faith to others.
So I don't try.

I am just living my life kind of out-loud.
And this is what you will find when you visit my blog.

I am all about loving one another and encouraging one another here.

A wise woman once said to me, "You are called to learn God's truth and pass it on."

So on a good day, I will do that with His help.

And then one day a person comes along who thinks religion is creepy and I have the perfect opportunity to share what is really important to me and how it is the opposite of creepy to me.

And that's all I know and I am thankful for the opportunity to share what I believe.

Love you all.


Encourage one another,
Donna

The last day of school ended with a mass. The kindergartners served by reading the readings.
The church was crowded with parents before the children even arrived. Then when the children arrived they came to sit with their parents.
This warmed my heart and filled my soul with thanks.

I looked around and had to hold back the tears.

I am having a hard time explaining how holy the whole service felt to me.

Katie reaching out to hold my hand during the service.
Children snuggling next to their moms.
Respectful listening to the Priest.
Tearful goodbyes from parting staff.
Prayers of thanks and forgiveness.
Sincere words of appreciation.
A cheer for the teacher who has decided to stay home with her baby.
And a cheer for another teacher who would rush off to the hospital to greet a second daughter after mass.

A song sung with tiny voices.

1. Will you come and follow me if I but call your name?
Will you go where you don't know and never be the same?
Will you let my love be shown? Will you let my name be known,
will you let my life be grown in you and you in me?

2. Will you leave yourself behind if I but call your name?
Will you care for cruel and kind and never be the same?
Will you risk the hostile stare should your life attract or scare?
Will you let me answer prayer in you and you in me?

3. Will you let the blinded see if I but call your name?
Will you set the prisoners free and never be the same?
Will you kiss the leper clean and do such as this unseen,
and admit to what I mean in you and you in me?

4. Will you love the "you" you hide if I but call your name?
Will you quell the fear inside and never be the same?
Will you use the faith you've found to reshape the world around,
through my sight and touch and sound in you and you in me?

5. Lord your summons echoes true when you but call my name.
Let me turn and follow you and never be the same.
In Your company I'll go where Your love and footsteps show.
Thus I'll move and live and grow in you and you in me.


Text: John L. Bell b.1949; Graham Maule

Thank you, Lord, for this loving church...school...community.


*****

And then we were invited to lunch and the zoo.

And I didn't want to go because I would have to NOT eat while everyone else ate...

But I went because I figured I would not die of starvation if I didn't eat until 3:00.
And look. Here I am, still blogging. I did not die of starvation. Yay for me.



And I had enough money in my change purse for a "Lick a Color" Popsicle.




I also had a Rupee in there that I tried to pass off as a quarter. Well. Almost.
I noticed it and showed it to the young man working the Popsicle cart. He like seeing it anyway.








After dinner, Katie documented her achievement. (It's a hard word for a lot of adults to spell ;o)



Hooray for Graduation! Hooray for Summer!


Encourage one another,
Donna

The number one thing I am struggling with on the Fat Flush Diet is the ban on salt.

I would have thought I would be craving the bread and the sugars....

but no.

It's definitely the salt.

Emma and I went grocery shopping and bought tons of vegetables.
I bought a bunch of fresh radishes. I really like fresh radishes.
But it tortured me not to be able to sprinkle a little salt on them.
They just are not as good without a little salt sprinkled on them.

And by the way?

Do you sprinkle salt on your watermelon?
In our house, growing up, we did.


And then I made a special soup.
I put in ground beef, onion, garlic, green beans, spinach, tomato puree, water, celery and carrots.

Oh my. This needed salt so badly. So I added 1/2 teaspoon.
That was almost the only rule I broke yesterday.

I didn't take all my vitamins and I only had one tablespoon of flax oil, instead of two.
And I think I only drank six glasses of cranwater instead of eight.

But I did eat my two portions of protein and two portions of fruit and lots of veggies AND two eggs so that is a success.

And did I forget to tell you?

No caffeine on this flush.
That means NO Diet Dr. Pepper.
So yes, I am in a fog with a headache. But that should go away today.

RIGHT!?

I can barely stay awake until ten o'clock without my pop.

Do you realize how much 'zip' your daily dose of caffeine gives you?

It is very clear once you stop consuming it.

I don't like it. I like feeling alert all day and night.
I'll let you know when this sleepy feeling leaves.

It may be natural, but it's really annoying.




****


If you will indulge me....

All of these picture are sooc. No editing at all.

I am thrilled to pieces with the white balance and focus and iso in this camera.









I am in awe!



This one, I cropped. So it is not in the sooc category.
(I should edit that black jacket out of there.)

Did I say that I am loving this camera?

My D80 was a great camera but it was old and worn out and wouldn't do what I wanted it to do anymore.
And then my experience with the D300 just about sent me over the edge.

So you can imagine my joy at using a camera that is working at it's peak.
Unbelievable.

I'm still learning how this camera exposes and I keep bumping buttons which are placed where I use to hold my camera.
But those are very small challenges!

***

"Of all smells, bread; of all tastes, salt."
George Herbert, English poet (1593-1633)


"Where would we be without salt?"
James Beard (1903-1985)


"With all thine offerings thou shalt offer salt."
Moses, Leviticus


****

The camera makes you forget you're there. It's not like you are hiding but you forget, you are just looking so much.
Annie Leibovitz

So true, Annie.



Thank you all for the wonderful, thoughtful comments yesterday.
I really do love reading what you have to say.


Encourage one another,
Donna

Katie graduated to 4th grade. And I graduated to a full frame camera.

It was a very good day.

Except for the hunger and doldrums.

But those were greatly eclipsed by the kid and the camera ;o)

And the flowers I stopped to photograph along Gregory St. in Madison.
It's almost like the neighbors got together and decided to all plant iris'.

What a bountiful blessing of buds.






I do not know how to photograph white flowers very well. But I am determined to learn.
When I do, I will pass it on.




And there is a house on the way to school.
Oh my! the flowers in their front garden are so vibrant and pretty.

Really. All gardens should be in the front of the house. It brings so much joy to us passerbys.









This shot is kind of an overexposed mess, but I like the house in the background.



I will keep this camera. I know right away that it is a keeper.
All of the pictures in today's post were taken within an hour of taking it out of the box.
Except the last one. That was taken about three hours after I took the camera out of the box.



And for those of you who asked.





It's just a little bit bigger and a little bit heavier than my other camera.

The big difference is inside.

:o)

I am very grateful and relieved and happy.


And one last thing...

I wanted to share a little tidbit Stephanie sent to me yesterday.

losing weight is hard.
being overweight is hard.

pick your hard.

And on that note, I say, have a nice day ;o)


Encourage one another,

Donna

Spring being a tough act to follow,
God created June.
- Al Bernstein

June. The month of gardens and weddings and summer vacations.




This is Emma's best friend, Candace.

So beautiful!

She is getting married in August.



We had a really fun engagement session on Saturday!

My heart is ever at your service.
William Shakespeare

*****



Dear Black and White Film,

I love you to the moon and back.

Love,
Donna



My new camera should arrive today.
I feel very fortunate to be getting a new camera.

I am getting butterflies about it....


Or is that the water and lemon I drank this morning?
Or the long-life cocktail?


Why am I drinking these concoctions?

Yes. I have decided to do the Fat Flush again. I am having way too many aches and pains and I think they are due to being over weight. So here we go...again.....
again....
again....

I've been on a constant diet for the last two decades. I've lost a total of 789 pounds. By all accounts, I should be hanging from a charm bracelet. ~Erma Bombeck

Encourage one another,
Donna