Fun With the Boys

Today, Christian, Jonathan, and I were outside in the early afternoon, enjoying the glorious fall weather and I was experimenting with my friend's SLR camera!  I am still getting used to not having a flip screen and needing to use the viewfinder for all of my photos, but it is really fun to learn about such a complicated camera and to actually use it. 

Christian and Jonathan were raking the yard and I took the opportunity to get some pictures of them.  I am so thankful that they were in a cooperative mood today!  :)  I have some really wonderful brothers (if you didn't already get that from everything else I've said about them!).  I am so thankful for brothers that are such a blessing and an absolute joy to be with.  Praise God for the undeserved gift of brothers!

Sunday...

Yesterday, Sunday, we went to church, and, as the weather was simply beautiful, we went outside after the fellowship meal to enjoy the fall colors and to play some Frisbee.  I was also able to get some photos of the kids.  In the late afternoon, after everyone had left, we went to the Richter's house.  We ended up staying for a couple of hours, which was not at all what we had originally planned! :)  We picked some apples and I actually have a pie in the oven as I write this...yummy!

Here are a whole bunch of photos.  I hope that you enjoy them!

Hunter 

Some of the kids.

L-R

Jeddy, Isaac, Lauren, Ashley, Ashlyn, Hunter, Abigail 

Daddy's boy. 

Just like mommy.

If you look closely, you can see a hunter walking down the road. 

Li'l Jonnie pumpkin boy. 

Me, being goofy.  :)

"Kynna"

Fallen apples.

These guys went up in the bucket of the tractor to pick apples.  They were somewhat daring (at least from our perspective on the ground) and Mr. Richter jokingly said to them "They're just apples and not worth risking your life for!"  I thought that it was pretty funny!  :) 

Ashlyn

Warrior, bobbing for apples. 

Ever heard of a horse that does that!?! 

Psalm 147:1

 Praise the LORD!
         For it is good to sing praises to our God;
         For it is pleasant, and praise is beautiful.

Rosie Gone Wild

Here is a really funny (ridiculous?) video that I took earlier today.  She is going after a spot of light on the ceiling that Elijah reflected off of a piece of plastic.  My suggestion is that you turn off the sound the first time that you watch it. 


I am posting this especially for a friend who tells me that her cat acts somewhat like this (eyes dialated, all intense, etc.) when she is chasing a laser - maybe that's what we need to get for our dog!

ENJOY!  :)

Mama's Wedding Dress

Mama and Papa were married 22 years ago, on May 13, 1989.  Tonight, I was blessed with the opportunity to actually try on Mama's wedding dress!  It was so neat to get to wear something that was and is still so special to her.  Though it did not fit perfectly, it was still a wonderful experience.

 The boys are out of town and Elijah has my camera, but a friend let me borrow hers, so that I can read the manual and then teach her all about it - it is an SLR and quite complicated!   THANK YOU, Mama for taking all of the photos of me.  I love you so much and praise God for you each and every day.

Mama looks an awful lot prettier in the dress than I do!

Meditation

Psalm 1:1-3

Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor stands in the path of sinners, nor sits in the seat of the scornful; but his delight is in the law of the LORD, and in His law he meditates day and night. He shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that brings forth its fruit in its season, whose leaf also shall not wither;  and whatever he does shall prosper.  

I took this photo of my Grandpa in 2008, and although the focus and quality is so bad that I had to  make it a watercolor on Photoshop, it is still one of my favorites and a photo that I will always treasure.

Scripture and Photo Edits

Micah 6:8

 He has shown you, O man, what is good;
      And what does the LORD require of you
      but to do justly, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God?

This is the original photo.

Amanda and I had some free time one day that we were at their house, so we went out into their field and took some pictures. None of the photos that she took of me turned out (I am so un-photogenic!:), but I was really happy with the ones that I got of Amanda. I have been messing around on Photoshop lately, trying to learn a little bit about the program. I'd be so happy if you would tell me which edits you like the best, what I might change, and it would be great if any of you have an understanding of Photoshop if you could share some of that with me! I would appreciate both positive and negative feedback. Thanks y'all!

This is the original photo.

This is the original photo.

 

My Devotions and Random Photos from Today {Happy September}

Today is one of the warmest days that we have had for quite some time.  As a result, the boys are enjoying a refreshing swim in our pool.  Here are some of my favorite shots:

Elijah and Christian were playing a game together and I think that Christian was enjoying it!

Jonnie consented to jump off of the diving board for me!

And Jeremiah was kind enough to make lots of splashing for me!

Christian didn't know that I was getting these pictures,

which makes them that much cuter!

As I was doing my Bible reading this morning, I read Ephesians 4:1

"...walk worthy of the calling with which you were called."

and Philippians 1:27

"Only let your conduct be worthy of the gospel of Christ..."

I was so convicted!  So challenged to actually live a life worthy of the gospel of Christ.  As I thought of the way I live my life, I was so ashamed.  I am not living as if I really love my King.  If I really, truly loved Him, my life would look so much different, be so much different!  We Christians have the highest, most holy calling of all humans, to glorify God (all humans carry out God's purposes to His ultimate glory in one way or another) and to enjoy Him forever (only Christians have this blessed privilege!).  We are to preach the good news of the gospel to all men, definitely an area that I fall far short in.

I asked myself the question "do I live my life as if I really love Christ and do I, in my words, actions, and attitude etc. always seek to glorify Him?"  The answer was an emphatic "NO".  I am ashamed of that, terribly ashamed.  Since my life's goal is to glorify God, why do I not strive to do so with every breath!?!  This sin alone, not including all of the others that I have committed, is enough to separate me from Almighty God for all eternity, but, because of His Son, my future with Him is assured.  My hope is in Christ and in His work ALONE, I will not glory in myself, but in Christ!  Christ ALONE is my hope of salvation.  His perfect life fulfilled the law, and His perfect death assures life to all of His elect.  God could have left us in our sins to perish, to bear His holy and perfect wrath forever, but in His mercy, He has made a way for sinners to come to Him, through the blood of His Son Jesus Christ. 

I am so thankful, happy and blessed to be alive today, because I know that my life has a purpose and I know that through Christ, my life does do credit to the gospel, my life is being sanctified, and I am becoming more like Christ.  I know that I have a High Priest who is interceding for me before the throne of His Father (Hebrews 4:14-16), and that is hope and joy beyond words.

"This is the day that the Lord has made, let us rejoice and be glad in it!"  And let us, by God's grace, strive to live a life worthy of the gospel and worthy of the calling with which we are called.  I am not worthy in and of myself, but Christ has covered me with His blood and I am now seen as worthy and righteous before the Father.  Praise the LORD!

To God be the Glory,

Hannah