My church is full of quite possibly the cutest children on the planet. Tonight many of them sang in a Christmas choir and they did a wonderful job due to the efforts of their fearless leader Vikki Power (thank you, Vikki!). Here is a shot of my buddy Josh who recited a giant portion of Luke 2. If you are like the rest of us lazy hacks and haven’t actually memorized the passage, here it is:
1 In those days Caesar Augustus issued a decree that a census should be taken of the entire Roman world. 2 (This was the first census that took place while[a] Quirinius was governor of Syria.) 3 And everyone went to their own town to register.
4 So Joseph also went up from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to Bethlehem the town of David, because he belonged to the house and line of David. 5 He went there to register with Mary, who was pledged to be married to him and was expecting a child. 6 While they were there, the time came for the baby to be born, 7 and she gave birth to her firstborn, a son. She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger, because there was no guest room available for them.
8 And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. 9 An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. 10 But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people. 11 Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord. 12 This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.”
13 Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying,
14 “Glory to God in the highest heaven,
and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests.”
15 When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let’s go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about.”
16 So they hurried off and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby, who was lying in the manger. 17 When they had seen him, they spread the word concerning what had been told them about this child, 18 and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them. 19 But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart. 20 The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things they had heard and seen, which were just as they had been told.
Image from today’s photo shoot with Joseph Whittle, in honor of his Eagle Scout achievement. I hope his mama loves this shot, because I sure do!
A pirate’s gotta do what a pirate’s gotta do. And sometimes a pirate needs to sit in her pink comfy chair and sharpen a pencil. Don’t question it—just go with it.
I keep meaning to write about the internal changes (within me) that occurred due to other internal changes (within the house). In prepping our house for sale, we threw a lot of stuff away. A lot. Some of you know just how much stuff we had acquired over the past 10 years because you help me spend hours upon hours sorting and throwing and donating. I am grateful for all that help! I feel so liberated by getting rid of the piles and boxes and stuffed closetfuls that owned me. Because I was just a few steps away from being cast on Hoarders, I didn’t know what I had and where it was. That Modge Podge that I know I picked up recently? Could be in the craft armoire. Could be in the craft boxes in the basement. Could be in the bottom drawer of the bureau I never use. Go figure. I hated that. And now I feel so free from it.
Tonight, my pirate and I prepped her room for new Christmas toys. It’s taken seven years, my friends, but the day has finally come where Livia wants to let other kids love on a few toys and babies. We organized four bags for the City Mission, one bag of dress up clothes for a little friend, and one super heavy bag that went straight for the trash. For the first time ever, I feel prepared to let new toys enter our house. Yay!
I was the recipient of a fabulous birthday present from my friend Maralee. Today we got pedicures. And boy are our feet happy. Maralee is a only a few days away from her due date with a little boy we affectionately call Baby Bean. It seemed extra appropriate that her feet get rubbed and scrubbed and treated so kindly as they so faithfully carry this baby, who is a bean size no longer. Tonight I tried to impress Livia, who refers to my feet as elephant feet, with the incredible softness of my heels. She claims they were only a little better than normal. First graders—not easily impressed!
There’s nothing like taking a phone call while your daughter is snapping your picture. Thanks for ignoring me, Dad. I realize that being ignored is precisely what I want my subjects to do for me. Now, how to make that happen? Gotta think those photog-ninja thoughts again.
The last few days have been chilly and rainy. The snow on the ground has almost melted entirely and some mornings feel almost springlike outside. The darkness and general dreariness make me want to hole up inside with hot beverages and good books. However, work calls to me and even when I ignore it, the internet and DPP are always calling my name. Taking shots of people every day is indeed a challenge. Some of my energy and drive has ebbed away with the daylight and I feel I’m getting to the hard part of the December Photo Project! Yet, I know that pushing myself is really healthy and that sometimes it exposes creative thoughts and energies I didn’t know I had.
Here’s to tomorrow and the days beyond! Press on, fellow DPPers. We can do this!
I love the people of Redeemer. Featured here are two fabulous musicians. Brittany just happened to have a night off of playing music (and thus was sitting in the perfect location for me to snap her picture) and Josh, well, Josh pulled out the banjo for a few songs. I love that banjo business. Thanks to both of them, and the rest of our musicians, for leading worship week after week. Singing praises to God corporately is always a great way to soften my heart to focus on Jesus.
There’s just nothing like a grocery store for a little photographic inspiration. Um, kidding. Though I will admit the vivid colors of the supermarket look great through my lens.
I try to avoid the grocery store at all costs on the weekends (something I can do as a freelance photographer, writer and partial SAHM mom). I found myself at a local HyVee today voluntarily decorating tables in their club room. Turns out they have a nice space on their second floor for catered meals, and my friend Leigh of the Foster Care Closet needed a second pair of hands to take care of table decor.
While I was upstairs I couldn’t help but spy on the plebeians below. A few were doing good deeds as bell ringers.
Others were merely shopping for fruit, unaware of the photographer in need of a photo one floor above them.
I decided that shooting from behind glass was for weenies and I pulled out my camera after going through the checkout lane. This dude was a little taken aback by the impromptu portrait… “Wha??” Poor guy. I know it was a little surprising. My apologies. I hope you don’t read View From the Prairie Box.
The Redeemer Christmas Party was tonight. Such a great time of hanging out with fun folks. The top shot is my friend Tara, who is also a DPP participant. The bottom shot is the lovely Ashley modeling her white elephant gift.
