Friday Foto: Seasonal Sigh

*phew* *sigh* Another busy season is over, and I am able to finally begin enjoying fall.

Hope you are as well.

And God said, Let the earth bring forth grass, the herb yielding seed, and the fruit tree yielding fruit after his kind, whose seed is in itself, upon the earth: and it was so.

And the earth brought forth grass, and herb yielding seed after his kind, and the tree yielding fruit, whose seed was in itself, after his kind: and God saw that it was good.

Genesis 1:11-12

 

Finally...A Friday Foto

I recently took the plunge and got a smart phone.  I'm still leery of most apps, but one I'm learning to love is Pixlromatic. Here's one reason why:

To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven

Ecclesiates 3:1

There has definitely been a chill in the air the last week or so here in Ohio, and I am loving it. We've received warnings of a harsh winter, and I am thrilled! I was so disappointed last year that we never really got into wool sweater weather. Not that I would ever want to hurry my favorite season, but I am beginning to dream of snow.

Hope you have a very blessed weekend!

Friday Foto in Bloom

Hello & Happy Friday to you, my friends! Today's pic was snapped with my point & shoot earlier last week. As I was heading out of the office to my car to go grab some lunch, I was struck my this beautiful sight. Ahhhhh, spring! Or at least a taste of it. Last week we had summer temps, and then were plunged back to cold temps early this week, but we're slowly making our way back up the ol' thermometer now.

The people which sat in darkness saw great light; and to them which sat in the region and shadow of death light is sprung up.
Matthew 4:16

Friday Foto On the Road

With March Madness still in full swing, I thought I'd share a photo I snapped on my cellie as my dad and I took the scenic route home (thanks to GPS Lady, but my g'pa would be so proud) from Pittsburgh, where we cheered his fave college team, The Ohio State University Buckeyes, on to the Sweet 16. And yes, the "The" is capitalized and an official part of the name. I know. Makes me groan a bit, too. ;) But I must admit, the Buckeye's mascot, Brutus, was sensationally entertaining - as only an anthropormorphized horse chestnut can be. :)

Our time on the road together was wonderful and blessed. I love to spend time with my dad and this was no exception. But the other aspect that was almost as sweet was the time in the car. To be quiet and reflective. To take stock. To look within. To look without. To silently commune with the Lord.

Sow to yourselves in righteousness, reap in mercy; break up your fallow ground: for it is time to seek the Lord, till he come and rain righteousness upon you.
Hosea 10:12

Friday Foto on the Road to the Final Four

I love college basketball. Love it! Now, I don't know if it's a girl thing or age, or what, but I'm not the kind of fan who can tell you what number jersey someone wore in 2003. I can tell you that the memory of watching my Michigan State Spartans win the Championship in 2000, led by Mateen Cleaves and a group of gents dubbed the Flint-stones (Ah, Mo Pete!) is still sweet. I can tell you that watching him close out that victory hopping on a sprained ankle was amazing and inspiring. I can tell you that I cheered with enthusiasm watching the Izzo Goes to Broadway musical at the Wharton Center, and that when I'm watching games on TV, I'm always delighted to when the camera pans to a shot of his wife Lupe. And I can tell you that this year, despite my early season doubts, the Spartans are Big Ten co-champions, Big Ten Tournament Champions, and the No. 1 seed in the West Region in this year's NCAA Tournament! And that for me, this time of year I will be heard proudly shouting "Go Green!" and it has nothing at all to do with St. Paddy's Day or the environment. :)

So today's Friday Foto is another oldie, taken in 2006, with the oldie cellphone.

Happy Hooping!

Friday Foto

This is an oldie (and you'll surely be able to tell by the graininess) that was snapped on a family trip to Lake Tahoe in 2005 with my first camera phone. PTL the technology and my photog skills have improved since then. ;)

I will lift up my eyes unto the hills, from whence cometh my help. My help cometh from the Lord, which made heaven and earth.
Psalm 121:1-2

I have a verse-a-day calendar on my desk at work, and this was the verse from Monday. When I read it, the Lord brought to my mind a series of photos I took one beautiful afternoon during our trip. It was before I was saved, but even then God was working on me. I just had this need to be alone in nature, so I parked at a lookout near where we were staying, hiked/walked down toward the water, found a big beautiful boulder and had a seat. I stayed there for a few hours, and soaked in the sun, trees, mountains, water, and sky. And was as at peace as much as an unsaved person can be. What a blessing God's creation is to us, even when we we don't recognize it as His at the time.

Hugs & Blessings,

Friday Foto: Looking to the Heavens

I know I said no more sky shots, but I have to make an exception for two reasons:

1. Busy season is officially upon the office, and I had limited photo-snapping opportunities.

2. I've been desperately searching for the good side of this non-existent winter/rollercoaster weather we've been experiencing. Honestly, I'm none too thrilled about the minimal snow and mild temps, but I'm trying to stay positive...and God delivered this beautiful scene as a coworker and I walked out to our cars Wednesday evening. I just had to share.

Praise ye the LORD. Praise God in his sanctuary: praise him in the firmament of his power.
Psalm 150:1

Have a blessed weekend!

Friday Foto Goes Floral

My coworker received a beautiful (and big) bouquet of lilies for Valentine's Day, and has been kind enough to keep them at the office for all of us to enjoy. And let me tell ya, it has really brightened our busy days! While I just couldn't seem to remember to bring in my DSLR (or take it out of the box even), I have been carrying my point & shoot, and was able to snap a few pics. In a few days (or weeks... you know me), you'll see how I get crafty with some of them, but for today, I'll just share this one.

I was totally amazed at the detail my camera captured, and seeing it reminded me of why I've decided to venture into the confusing and intimidating world of hobbyist photography: the opportunity to recognize, capture, and contemplate the Lord's magnificent creation. Wow! and Amen!

All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made.
John 1:3

May your weekend be a blessed one!

Friday Foto: Something Sweet

What's sweeter than a soft & furry dog? One made out of white chocolate, of course! Even sweeter than that would be one made of dark chocolate, but since I am sooo not up for venturing into candy molds myself, I'm very thankful for a church friend's kindness and warm-hearted gesutre. Especially since she is a cat person. :o


This candy cutie came with some homemade cookies and a few milk & dark wrapped chocolates. Yum!

Hope your Friday is equally sweet and filled with unexpected kindness. ((hugs))

A friend loveth at all times, and a brother is born for adversity.
Proverbs 17:17

Going Grey for the Friday Foto

Hello, friends.

Two promises kept on this one:
1. No more sky shots for the Friday Foto.
2. Sticking to the "Going Grey..." theme with a black & white pic.

This is our new dog, a black lab, about 5 years old. He is adorable. But he presents a photography challenge in that he is all black. 100%. This is my favorite pic of him so far. I love the look of the snow, falling ever so gently and beautifully. And of course, ya gotta love the ears in sillhoutte.

Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean: wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow.
Make me to hear joy and gladness; that the bones which thou hast broken may rejoice.
Hide thy face from my sins, and blot out all mine iniquities.
Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me.
Psalm 51:7-10

And for the curious...no, he's not in a doggie straight-jacket. It's called a Thunder Shirt and soothes the nerves by providing a gentle, reassuring hug. (It also helps break things up when he and Cyrus get a bit too crazy during their play sessions.)

Have a blessed weekend!

Friday Foto

I can see by the overwhelming number of comments ;) that you are all loving my sky shots. Well, this will be the last for a little while. But be warned: there will be more photography posts as I experiment with/figure out my new Canon Rebel T3. It's my first DSLR, so pray for me!

I took this with my point & shoot several months ago (I'm thinking sometime in the spring/early summer). It's a late afternoon sky and I was just awestruck by the size of those huge clouds.

I will praise thee, O LORD, among the people: and I will sing praises unto thee among the nations.
For thy mercy is great above the heavens: and thy truth reacheth unto the clouds.
Be thou exalted, O God, above the heavens: and thy glory above all the earth;
Psalm 108:3-5

May your weekend be blessed.

Friday Foto

Hello, again. Another sunset, another cell phone pic. This one really took my breath away because when I saw these contrails in the evening sky, I immediately thought, "Doesn't that look like a pathway up to heaven?" And it blessed my heart to have that little bit more insight into what Jacob must have envisioned in his dream. (It makes it all the more dear to me that from this angle, the path begins right over my home.)

And he dreamed, and behold a ladder set up on the earth, and the top of it reached to heaven: and behold the angels of God ascending and descending on it.
Genesis 28:12

Wow! God is great and His creation never ceases to amaze. I hope you are able to enjoy it this weekend, and I sincerely hope that if you are uncertain of how to get to heaven yourself, you'll stop into a Bible-based church and ask about God's Simple Plan.

Friday Foto

I don't know if anyone else is still doing the photos on Friday thing, but this was just too lovely to keep to myself, and I hope it does your heart good.

I snapped this gorgeous sunset with my cell cam last week.

The mighty God, even the LORD, hath spoken, and called the earth from the rising of the sun unto the going down thereof. Psalm 50:1

May your weekend be blessed. (((hugs))))

Friday...with Foto

*gasp* Okay, granted I took a professional exam on Monday this week (and passed - PTL!). And was out of town on business the week prior. And had a spiritual conference the week before that. And was recovering from a cold before that. But still. I can't believe how long it's been since I posted. Or that it's September already.

Anywho, I ran home on my lunch to check on the pooches, and rather than do his business, Cyrus decided he'd lounge on the deck. Only Cyrus would consider it relaxing to go out in the stiffling heat & humidity we're experiencing today. Is it possible he knows it's Labor Day Weekend?!?

Of course Charlie might be even wiser, since he decided he wasn't leaving the A/C for any reason, full bladder or no. I don't blame him. It's not my favorite weather either.

Enjoy your weekend & be safe! (I hope mine, and yours, includes crafting!)

Foto Friday...with a cold

I.

Have.

A.

Cold.

Today is Day 7.

Still, I couldn't resist playing along with Lori Boyd's Foto Friday.

Besides blowing my nose, taking whiffs of lavender oil left & right, doing the nasal rinse, and snorting saline, all I've managed to do this week is work. I'm too tired for fun...aside from noticing how appropriate my PC wallpaper is for "Fighting" a cold. I've spared you the used tissues, but here's my sick desk. I've been sure to drink plenty of fluids...the more caffeinated the better.


Hope you'll stop by again when I'm a little less snotty ;) Have a blessed weekend!