Don't fall for my smile

Every year I love to find that perfect place to take fall foliage pictures. This year it was Promised Land State Park.

That bench was so inviting, It was like it was saying "come sit a spell"…so I did.

Wasn’t long and I found myself a friend…a furry one of course.

And I totally enjoyed watching him play in the water.

I did have a none furry friend with me. This is how I found her at one point when I came around a stone wall.

This was her view of that shot. Love the polish girl…LOL

The next few shots are her work…not bad for a newbie!

Sweet stuff Gina :)

Lord only knows what she looked like to get that shot…LOL

I’m enjoying my camera but like I said to my girlfriend …”I’d smash it with a sledgehammer if it meant I could have my Richard back”.

Enjoying myself is so bitter sweet right now…there is always a held back tear behind every smile.  

 

                           

My mini me

Shannie decided my old camera is now her new camera.

She looks pretty comfortable there don’t she? I guess it’s in her genes.

So is this...

…and impromptu hallelujah dance!

There is a scripture in the bible that says “Direct your children onto the right path, and when they are older, they will not leave it.” I don’t believe that is just in a spiritual way…which of course is the most important.  But I also believe it means... find the thing that they show an interest in and feed it when they are young. It just may be the call of God for their life.

The next two shots Shannie took :)

But I’m still given myself the “cutest” picture of the day award. Hehehehe

He looks like I feel

Not that I’m in a bad place…I just feel quiet…like I need to be still.

Even the photos I shot today were pictures of stillness…

I think I treasure quiet and stillness more than ever because my life has become so busy.  A lot of exciting good busy but still busy. So when I can just sit and take a deep breath and listen to quiet stillness I feel recharged. Looks like the dogs were enjoying themselves as well…

In quietness and confidence is your strength. Isaiah 30:15

Remember us?

 One of the reasons Mommy started this blog. 

 I thought while I was testing my camera it would be a good time to give an update on the dogs.

We are all learning to find our new normal. The dogs in fact are adjusting much better than I thought they would. Richard was such a part of what we do here and the dogs adored him. I’ve had a few issues that show signs that the dogs are stressed pop up, but nothing major. His Jasper was the one I was most worried about but he is doing so well. The best they all are of course is when Shannon is here…especially Jazzy.  She has always been his other love so soon after Poppy went home to Jesus I told Shannon that Jasper was now her dog and I know that is what Poppy would want. She squealed with delight and said, “Now I have Gwenie and Jazzy and I’m going to treat him just like Poppy did”! Actually I didn’t tell her this… but I’m not going to let her do that because that boy spoiled this dog rotten! LOL.  However her love is good for him and he is his normal happy self when she is around. Which is a beautiful thing?

So I just wanted to update and thank all my blog friends who started reading this blog when it was just our happy little life in dog rescue and journeying with me through this life shattering time as God rebuilds our world of ashes.  And I know out of theses ashes beauty will rise... And I promise to blog it all J

  

(This song was composed after this man tragically lost his little daughter.)

These last two pictures are for my blogger friend Sarah… Girl I’m not responsible for any malfunctions your keyboard may have from drool. LOL

Still making my dreams come true

My husband was my greatest cheerleader. Whatever I chose to pursue he backed me up with every ounce of his being and every resource he had. But like most wife’s I had dreams that were well beyond our resources. However that never stopped Richard from dreaming with me and praying with me for these dreams to come true. Richard was an astonishingly thoughtful man in life and even in his going home. Although he was just 53 he had his affairs in order and made great provision for me to be taken care of and even pursue some of my dreams.  

On the 30th day anniversary of Richards’s home going I started pondering a story in Joshua. It is where the Lord is instructing Joshua to go into the promise land with Gods people. So I went and read it...one verse that jumped out to me was. “Moses my servant is dead; now therefore arise.”  Joshua 1:2 (God said that to Joshua after he and the people mourned for Moses “30” days. There are no quinky dinks with God.)

I know that scripture may sound harsh but to me it was comforting. I knew right away what God was saying….and it was not that he was saying, “Ok buck up…no more crying… no more snotting… Richard’s gone… forget about him and move on”. NOT AT ALL! In fact I felt what he was saying to me was quite the opposite. I felt like he was saying…“I know you’re going to always miss your beloved this side of heaven, and I am collecting ever tear because they are so precious to me but I have a wonderful future for you and a promise land for you… so my sweet child I need you to get up and start moving forward”.

I know this is what God wants for me and also my beloved Richard because he has left me in a position to now purse a long time dream …one he believed so much in and prayed so often for. I know God is honoring his prayers for his wife. Even when we are gone from this earth God doesn’t forget the prayers we prayed for our loved ones. I’m sure prayers of loved ones long gone are still shaping my life this very day…and I pray my prayers will shape my generations to come.

This picture may look like nothing special to most people but to me it is the beginning of my dream. It is my last picture with my Nikon D60 for now. Because I upped all my camera equipment to a professional level and I’m going to purse my dream to glorify God with the gift he has placed in me. Where this adventure is taking me I don’t know…but I do know its ultimate end is my promise land.

(Indecently the first place I’m going to try out my new camera is a literal place called “Promise Land” I realized that as I was writing this blog… How awesome is that and how awesome is the Lord! Again there are no quinky dinks with God.)

Flesh of my flesh

I can’t tell you the joy I get from seeing this beautiful life growing inside MY baby!

What an amazing, God timed perfect gift for our family!

Oh God you are so kind and so good to me.

In the midst of such sorrow you are chasing me down with blessings. I truly understand what David meant by these words in Psalms 27:13

I would have fainted, unless I had believed to see the goodness of the LORD in the land of the living.

Silent Sunday