I had a family photo shoot on Saturday out at Indian Lake.
When I got there...it was hard to spot any open shade,
most of the leaves had blown down so even the trees couldn't provide much
shade.

And the wind. It was Ca-razy!

When Holly and her family arrived, I warned her...this may not work...but we thought we would give it a go.

I think I riled the girls up too much by suggesting they run in circles. And then the wind and wide open spaces added to the feeling of excitement and thrill of it all.

But the pictures I did get...I love. Holly likes candid. Isn't that a bonus? :o)

















I was lying on my tummy...and somehow the girls decided to join in the 'yoga' and did their down dogs for us! haha





I like those shadows and those cute running feet.






no charge for the blurry ones, Holly! My camera can't keep up with me sometimes.




These too are just so gorgeous together! When I looked at these pictures for the first time, I felt like I was looking at a
fabulous engagement session. :o)


Katie said, "I like their dad's smile."
I thought that was awfully sweet.



It was a wild and wooly session...but sometimes those are my favorites!


Encourage one another,
Donna

Add To the Beauty by Sara Groves


We come with beautiful secrets
We come with purposes written on our hearts, written on our souls
We come to every new morning
With possibilities only we can hold, that only we can hold

Redemption comes in strange place, small spaces
Calling out the best of who we are

And I want to add to the beauty
To tell a better story
I want to shine with the light
That's burning up inside

It comes in small inspirations
It brings redemption to life and work
To our lives and our work

It comes in loving community
It comes in helping a soul find it's worth

Redemption comes in strange places, small spaces
Calling out the best of who we are

And I want to add to the beauty
To tell a better story
I want to shine with the light
That's burning up inside

This is grace, an invitation to be beautiful
This is grace, an invitation

Redemption comes in strange places, small spaces
Calling out our best

And I want to add to the beauty
To tell a better story
I want to shine with the light
That's burning up...





Redemption comes in strange places, small spaces
Calling out the best of who we are

And I want to add to the beauty
To tell a better story
I want to shine with the light
That's burning up inside.



Thank you Stephanie for sharing this song with me.
Thank you Sara, for writing something that has touched my heart, so deeply.


Encourage one another,
Donna

On June 12, 2009 I took this picture. I edited it with Totally Rad Actions. (Can't remember which one.)
That is why it is pinkish.



Camera Nikon D700
Exposure 0.001 sec (1/800)
Aperture f/1.6
Focal Length 50 mm
ISO 125



I also took this picture on the same day.
(I have this one framed in our upstairs bathroom.)

When Emma saw the top shot of Katie, she asked if I would make one of her.





Camera Nikon D700
Exposure 0.001 sec (1/1600)
Aperture f/1.8
Focal Length 50 mm
ISO Speed 400

So I did.

The stats are different because it was a different time of day. Few hours different.

It was a fun study. The picture of Katie is not my fave. I like her freckles but not her eyes.
For Emma's picture, I love her eyes. Love, love, love.

Each girl stood in our family room and looked out at the backyard.
I stood relatively close and shot just a few.

The girls are both aware that posing for me is a wonderful help to me in learning and creating.
I love them for this sweet gift.


***


I had my camera in the car yesterday because I was hoping to take a picture of the morning fog.
But there was no fog. Just rain.
But after school look what I ran into on Allen St.





I think it's fitting to see a black cat on the 13th.




On the way home I saw some clouds in my rear view mirror. I drove to a spot near the baseball field in town where I thought I might get a nice picture.


Yup. That's my day.
If you are looking for beauty.
I think you will find it.


Encourage one another,
Donna

I like faces.
I didn't realize how much.

But when I look back at the art I have loved and photographed and the photographers I have admired most,
the subjects have been people.







And do you want to know something weird?

I see faces on the floor, in the shadows, faces where there are really no faces.

If I am...um...going potty and happen to be staring at the floor,
I spot a face.

It's like I'm never alone.





Encourage one another,
Donna

I want to share this dance with you.
Sadly good dancers are going home on DWTS and terrible, very bad, awful dancers are staying.
There is less to watch (since I honestly fast forward thru Nancy, Chaz and Carson) but JR and Ricki are still
there are they are really good and fun to watch.

To tell you the truth, anyone who has Derek as a partner has a HUGE advantage since he is a fantastic choreographer.
JR is not shining as well as he could because his partner just isn't .... Derek.
But JR is the most beautiful dancer on the show.



~iphone

I went for a walk with a friend yesterday afternoon.
These bright vines stood out amid the crunchy brown leaves.



****

I have a movie recommendation for you.

Persuasion (TV 2007) BBC Video

It's Jane Austen.
I watch it over and over.

It's kind of funny...I watched and was not thrilled with the quiet story,
until the ending. The moment I saw the final scene, I couldn't wait to watch it again!


Persuasion is not one of Jane Austen's popular books made into a movie but I assure you that this is
such a fine adaptation, you will fall in love with it too.

Anne Elliot is played by Sally Hawkins and the handsome young naval officer Frederick Wentworth is played by Rupert Penry-Jones.




The music is lovely, don't you think?

Other than Pride and Prejudice, what is your favorite Jane Austen movie?

For a long time, I loved Sense and Sensibility with Emma Thompson and Kate Winslet second best, and really, that is such a delightful movie.

But Persuasion (with sally and rupert) is now neck and neck with Sense and Sensibility.

"With all my soul, I wish them happy."



Encourage one another,
Donna

Last weekend was gorgeous. The light is so beautiful, I am in love with autumn.






Katie's friends came over to play on Saturday afternoon.






I suggested they play with chalk on the driveway.






Their cribs were elaborate!!!

And Katie even had staff.
(bathroom attendant)

Huh?
Odd.



lovely girl in autumn light...



Encourage one another,
Donna

Heavenly Father, we remember before you those who suffer want and anxiety from lack of work. Guide the people of this land so to use our public and private wealth that all may find suitable and fulfilling employment, and receive just payment for their labor; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.


~Book of Common Prayer


Will you join me in this simple prayer for those we know and love who are unemployed and for those we don't know, but feel for just the same.

Thank you.



*****





Saw this commercial over the weekend and it sure made me smile! I love the woman on the street!!!

Let's all do this.

Wouldn't that be funny?

No?

Okay.

Next time Katie's volleyball team wins, I'm doing this.



And speaking of the Packers...

The Packers are 5-0.
The Brewers are in the playoffs.
The Badgers are winning and highly ranked.

This has never happened before, so for this brief shining moment, let's just call it like it is....

Winsconsin




Encourage one another,
Donna

Leymah Gbowee: An Interview With the 2011 Nobel Prize Winner





I have only just 'met' Leymah Gbowee.
I am very curious to learn more about her.

Have you heard of her?

****


Thank you for your thoughtful and heartfelt comments on yesterday's blog.
I will be checking all weekend to see if anyone else has joined in the conversation.

I appreciate you all so very much.

Thank you!!

Encourage one another,
Donna

Funny thing; for me this was what I was thinking when I stayed home with our children.
Not one career goal, had I.

My heart and intuition told me what to do.


This kind of advice bothers me a little. I think it can be hurtful.
Circumstances don't always allow us the freedom to choose to follow your heart and intuition.


But Steve Jobs was saying this to college graduates, on their graduation day.
It was appropriate for the occasion.


I still think it is the lucky ones who can follow their dreams.

And even then it is not all butterflies and rainbows.
Because bad things happen.
Real, unexpected, out of your control...life happens.

Where is this heading?

I started out thinking about how fortunate I am that I got to do what I wanted for most of my life.
But gosh. Many things could have prevented that from happening...that would have been way out of my control.

Perhaps being aware that you should proceed in the direction of your dreams...but
you better also know that you are not in control of some really, really big things.


What if my desire was to be a mother and I was infertile and too poor to adopt?

I would have to readjust my dreams. My heart and intuition would be kind of crushed, wouldn't it?

What if I wanted to be a singer....and I had an average voice?
What of my heart and intuition then?

I don't know.

It's something I've actually grappled with for many years. That, going in the direction of my dreams even tho I know that
I am ultimately not in control.

It is really hard, isn't it?

So you know what I do and where I get my peace about this?

Proverbs 3:5-6

Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding.
In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.



If I can look back at the decisions I have made and know that they have been made with love and
prayer and obedience, I have peace.


Everything is going to be alright.

You can always dream new dreams...




What do you think?







Encourage one another,
Donna

Know what you believe.
Believe what you believe.

Think about it again and again.
How can you not.



Life is a handbreath.




Beautiful and short.




What's it all about?





Once you've figured that out. (mostly ;o)

Say thank you.




And delight in the days.

The sweet, beautiful, delightful days.




Yes. It is strange and uncomfortable and painful and unfair.





But take it from me...


Delight in the sweet days.

The Love of God.

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.

***





HT to Annie A.



I am thankful for music.
Joyful and full of fun.




Live what you believe,
Donna

"October's the month
When the smallest breeze
Gives us a shower
Of autumn leaves.
Bonfires and pumpkins,
Leaves sailing down -
October is red
And golden and brown."










October gave a party;
The leaves by hundreds came-
The Chestnuts, Oaks, and Maples,
And leaves of every name.
The Sunshine spread a carpet,
And everything was grand,
Miss Weather led the dancing,
Professor Wind the band.

~george cooper/partial



Encourage one another,
Donna

Each month the students in Katie's classroom memorize a poem or prayer (as was the case this month)

Katie recited it to me on the way home yesterday.





St. Thomas Aquinas

Creator of all things,
true source of light and wisdom,
origin of all being,
graciously let a ray of your light penetrate
the darkness of my understanding.

Take from me the double darkness
in which I have been born,
an obscurity of sin and ignorance.

Give me a keen understanding,
a retentive memory, and
the ability to grasp things
correctly and fundamentally.

Grant me the talent
of being exact in my explanations
and the ability to express myself
with thoroughness and charm.

Point out the beginning,
direct the progress,
and help in the completion.

I ask this through Christ our Lord.
Amen





Is there a sweeter word than charm?



Encourage one another,
Donna

p.s. I don't remember the 'double darkness' stanza.
I wonder if they skipped that.

At least 180 people came to celebrate!!!
Sher set up four stations so visitors could see what Justembrace does.
Birthday Party station, Small groups, Family dinners, and Soul Care Clinics.







It all started with baking brownies and taking them to Union Station in Chicago.




Deb Hirsch spoke so brilliantly. I wish I could transcribe it for you all.
At least I remembered the scripture she shared.



Isaiah 58

True Fasting

1 The Lord says,
Shout as loud as you can! Tell my people Israel about their sins!2 They worship me every day, claiming that they are eager to know my ways and obey my laws. They say they want me to give them just laws and that they take pleasure in worshiping me.


3 The people ask,
Why should we fast if the Lord never notices? Why should we go without food if he pays no attention?


The Lord says to them,
The truth is that at the same time you fast, you pursue your own interests and oppress your workers.4 Your fasting makes you violent, and you quarrel and fight. Do you think this kind of fasting will make me listen to your prayers?5 When you fast, you make yourselves suffer; you bow your heads low like a blade of grass and spread out sackcloth and ashes to lie on. Is that what you call fasting? Do you think I will be pleased with that?

6 The kind of fasting I want is this: Remove the chains of oppression and the yoke of injustice, and let the oppressed go free.7 Share your food with the hungry and open your homes to the homeless poor. Give clothes to those who have nothing to wear, and do not refuse to help your own relatives.

8 Then my favor will shine on you like the morning sun, and your wounds will be quickly healed. I will always be with you to save you; my presence will protect you on every side.9 When you pray, I will answer you. When you call to me, I will respond.

If you put an end to oppression, to every gesture of contempt, and to every evil word;10 if you give food to the hungry and satisfy those who are in need, then the darkness around you will turn to the brightness of noon.11 And I will always guide you and satisfy you with good things. I will keep you strong and well. You will be like a garden that has plenty of water, like a spring of water that never goes dry.12 Your people will rebuild what has long been in ruins, building again on the old foundations. You will be known as the people who rebuilt the walls, who restored the ruined houses.




Deb encouraged us to go to strange places. She said that we would find Jesus already there.
She said that we would bring out the best in one another....

something like that....

wishing for a mind like a steel trap right about now....

I can not do it justice at all....if Emma writes about it, I will link it.

It was a beautiful and moving and fun launch.


Encourage one another,
Donna

Whirlwind Weekend # two in a row.






We are heading to Chicago today for a very important get together.

And guess what?

You are invited. yup. all of you.

Justembrace kick off party.

Saturday. Oct 1.

Uptown Baptist Church
1011 West Wilson Ave.
Chicago,IL 60640

3:00 to 5:00

I'm sure Sherilyn Sheets and Emma Boucher won't mind a bit that I invited everyone on my blog :o)

I'd love to meet more of you in person and celebrate this really cool non-profit with you!









Living, loving, caring and making friends with the people in Uptown.




Have a wonderful weekend!!!


Encourage one another,
Donna