Do I... Don't I... Do I...

I am thinking about starting up a photography business but haven't had the clearest sign if I'm to pursue it of not. I love capturing photos and seeing the end result from the editing but do I take the risk to make it a business... It seems like now-a-days everybody is starting to get into the photography thing and I feel like it not as special... I am hoping that God will give me a clear sign whether I'm to pursue this dream or not. I have been praying hard about the different steps I would have to take and the push I will need. I would like to use my gift as a witnessing opportunity and do pictures for people who can't afford the "nice" pictures. You know what I mean. Todays society is crazy! Everything is sooooooooo expensive!!!!

If anyone has any ideas or thoughts PLEASE let me know :)

It's Planting Time!

Today we finally got to plant into our very LARGE garden! That's one plus about living on a farm! I grew up on one but we never had a garden this BIG! Last year our garden consisted of pole Lima's, green beans, yellow beans, potatoes, tomatoes, peppers, leaks, lettuce, beets, squash, celery, herbs etc... This year we need to freeze and can as much as we can. It helps with our grocery bill and tastes so much better! We got the green beans, yellow beans and beets. We plan to have as much as we had last year plus more!

This year we had a very special helper! Miss Rhya loved being able to crawl behind her daddy as he planted the rows of vegetables! She watched in all at the sights and sounds of the outdoors. I was able to snap some pictures with my phone of her surveying her surroundings. What a blessing it is to be able to watch her grow in this amazing and beautiful world God has created for us!

Here I come Daddy!!!!!!!

I know I'm a little biased but I thinks shes one of the cutest little girls I've ever seen!!!!!

Pictures with my sister!

I had an awesome day on Sunday! First Alan and I were able to get away to a horse show then I was able to take Kate and Geoff's engagement pictures! I am so excited to be able to be practicing and learning this new hobby! I never really had the chance to play around with the camera and now that I have my own, I'm LOVING it! Here are a few samples of what I've come up with!

Love is NOT selfish

It seems to be apparent that in today's society everyone has to chase to the highest level of "happiness" possible. When your driving you see a lot of drivers with the "me first" mentality! It drives me crazy! I can't stand when someone pulls out in front of you when there's no one behind you! I try to think that they must need to be somewhere really important and thank God that I had eyes to see.

Almost every sinful action ever committed can be traced back to a selfish motive. It is something that we are born with and will struggle with it every day of our lives. Why do we hate this trait so much in others but justify it for ourselves. Everyday we are bombarded with obstacles, each of which we have to choose a selfish or unselfish way to resolve it.

I was blessed to be able to compete in a horse show earlier this evening and I am so glad I can still walk a little! (I'm soooooooo sore) I noticed there were many selfish actions throughout the evening. I wouldn't have noticed much before I read my devotion for the day. It opened my eyes and allowed me to see what many of us don't want to. For instance... When your riding around the ring and there's plenty of room on the rail... please move to the rail so the judge can see EVERYONE in the class... There were a few people that would ride around and block the judges view. Maybe its just me but I was bothered.

" Do nothing from selfishness or empty conceit, but with humility of mind regard one another as more important than yourselves." - Philippians 2:3

When you prioritize the well-being of your husband, there is a resulting fulfillment that cannot be duplicated by selfish actions. This is a benefit that God created for those who truly demonstrate love!

My challenge today was to buy something for my husband that says "I was thinking of you today" ... I tried but only found one pair of jeans for Alan at salvation army. I plan to make a card for him before I go to bed... He will find it in the morning and hopefully it will boost his spirits for the day :)

Love Is Kind

Be kind to one another, tender - hearted, forgiving each other, just as God in Christ also has forgiven you.- Ephesians 4:32

Today my dare consisted of being patient as well as being kind. Kindness is love in action... Our actions and body language are sooooo powerful. This made me reflect on the kind gestures that my husband as well as other people have done recently in my life. Whether it be watching Rhya during the day so I can have "me" time, a simple note of encouragement or even simply helping with farm chores that are difficult to complete with an 8 month old.

I am so blessed to have such wonderful people surrounding my family.

The love dare has opened my eyes to see more than just my relationship with Alan but also with my relationships with other people. There are 4 core ingredients that make "kindness"

1: Gentleness: Am I talking to Alan and others with sensitivity... Do I speak the truth in Love?

2: Helpfulness: Do I serve others when needed?

3: Willingness: Am I agreeable? Do I jump first, Then ask questions?

4: Initiative:Am I the person who greets first, smiles first, serves first, and forgives first?

Each of these questions I asked myself as I read through today's devotion... I am re-evaluating myself as a person and a woman of God. My challenge today was to do at least one unexpected gesture as an act of kindness... Here is what I did!

Today Rhya and I went and bought Alan 3 pairs of pants... He had been asking for jeans for a while now but neither one of us had enough to buy new jean. They are so expensive now-a-days. Anyway, I was strolling through Ollies and found Jeans! 13 dollars a pair! I know that's still not cheap but I keep looking when I'm at Salvation Army and they NEVER have his size! Beggars can't be choosers. He was thrilled! He actually has pants to wear that don't have "homemade " air conditioning in them! I also surprised him with mailing labels. I created and printed mailing label so he didn't have to write all his addresses out.

I also noticed today how unkindness can effect your mood for the "moment"... I was checking out at Ollies and the older lady ringing me out must have been in a fowl mood. I was holding Rhya (who was being impatient,poor thing was hungry). She was clingy as usual, her diaper bag, my purse, two blankets and trying to get my visa card out of my wallet. Meanwhile this lady SLOWLY wrapped and bagged the glass cups I purchased (couldn't she see that I had a squirmy baby in my hands?) Then when the receipt printed she proceeded to try and hand it to me! My hands were sooooooo full! She could have put it in the bags of things that I bought but noooooooooooooo she had to hand it to me!

Now... Yes I'm glad she handed it to me and not Rhya (who would have ate it). She then turned around to talk to another worker about whether or not a fellow co-worker left, all while I'm struggling to get the bags into my hands... I was so frustrated! I hope she was just having a bad day... As I left I said "Have a good day" in as happy of a tone you could get right before your about to cry. She grumbled something... But I was to far to hear. The rain today didn't help :(

Hopefully tomorrow will be a better day...

My Love Dare

I am starting to read through "The Love Dare" again... I feel that it might help my relationship with Alan a little more. I am hoping that I will get more out of it than I did before.

Today is the first day I will start this new journey myself... hoping and seeking for something that I am hoping God will reveal as I read, digest and pray over this book.

Day one: Love is Patient

Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love.- Ephesians 4:2

Being patient is something I have been working on my whole life. I have noticed that its easy for some areas of my life to wait but in others I feel like rushing. I have learned that love is built on two pillars... Kindness and Patience. By being patient I am showing the one I love that I am willing to listen and won't overreact in angry, foolish and regrettable ways. "He who is slow to anger has great understanding, but he who is quick-tempered exalts folly." (Proverbs 14:29)

Today I am going to try to watch what I say, how I say it and determine if I even need to say anything at all... I do not want to say anything I will regret

~~Later~~

My dare today was to practice patience and so far I've snapped at Alan only once... Hopefully the only time...

Here are a few points that I gathered from my devotion today:

1: Love is built on two pillars that best define what it is. Those pillars are patience and kindness.

2: Love will inspire you to become a patient person. When you choose to be patient, you respond in a positive way to a negative situation.

3: Love helps you settle down and begin extending mercy to those around you. Patience brings an internal calm to an external storm.

4: It is a choice to control you emotions rather than allowing you emotions to control you, and shows discretion instead of returning evil for evil.

5: Patience makes us wise.

6: As sure as a lack of patience will turn your home into a war zone, the practice of patience will foster peace and quiet.

7: Few of us do patience very well, and none of us do it naturally.

THATS A GOOD STARTING POINT TO DEMONSTRATE TRUE LOVE!