The Most Fun I've Had in Ages

This incredible woman asked me if I would help her build a modeling portfolio. My response?

"Let me think....YES...How about right NOW?!"

I've been trying to work through a dry spell as far as my passion for photography goes. But today's shoot took care of that - I had such a great time!

She's simply stunningly beautiful. Go see more of the shots we got today over at my photography blog.

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What Does the Teacher Say?

Maybe it's the Easter season. Maybe it's the fact that I have friends and family who do not know the Lord. Maybe it's the knowledge that the path is narrow and few will choose it.

Whatever the reason, I'm feeling almost overwhelmingly compelled to tell people about Jesus.

One of the most popular arguments against the salvation message of Jesus goes something like this:

"I respect Jesus and who he was. I believe he was a man sent by God to teach us how to live. He was a great teacher, and I try to follow his example. Since I try to follow his example of loving everyone and living a good life, I'm a Christian and will go to Heaven some day."

Let's talk about this for a moment, shall we? In fact, let's look at Jesus as nothing more than a teacher. If all he came for was to be our teacher, it would be wise (if you respect him as a teacher) to really look carefully at what this teacher actually TAUGHT. Even if we completely disregard much of the Bible, and read only those words in red (Jesus' actual words), we can learn Jesus' teachings. Here we go...

"If you had known Me, you would have known My Father also; from now on you know Him, and have seen Him." John 14:7 (Jesus is God - how else would they have *seen* the Father?)

"Now My soul has become troubled; and what shall I say, 'Father, save Me from this hour'? But for this purpose I came to this hour." John 12:27 (speaking of his impending crucifixion...the REASON he came was to die)

"I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father but through Me." John 14:6 (there is no way but through the work of Jesus on the cross to enter Heaven)

"Truly, truly, I say to you, he who believes has eternal life." John 6:47

"For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life." John 3:16 (belief = eternal life, whoever = open to everyone)

"Indeed, the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Do not fear; you are more valuable than many sparrows. And I say to you, everyone who confesses Me before men, the Son of Man will confess him also before the angels of God; but he who denies Me before men will be denied before the angels." Luke 12: 7-8 (God loves us and knows us intimately. Jesus will not save everyone. He CAN save everyone, but the ones who deny him will be denied by him before God)

"Do not be afraid any longer, only believe." Mark 5:36 (he then went to the home where a girl had died and brought her back to life - he was far more than an ordinary teacher!)

"You will be hated by all because of My name, but the one who endures to the end, he will be saved." Mark 13:13 (Does this sound like the words of a simple teacher of peace and love? Why would people be hated for following Him, if he was just came to teach us a nice way to live?)

"The Son of Man is going to be delivered into the hands of men; and they will kill Him, and He will be raised on the third day." Matthew 17:23 (a mere gentle teacher who could foretell the future?)

"Do not think that I came to bring peace on the earth; I did not come to bring peace, but a sword." Matthew 10: 34 (Jesus' message is divisive because it is a teaching of sin and salvation...a message of being saved by faith and by God's grace)

Okay, I could go on for much longer because there are lots and lots of red words in the Bible! Yes, I left many out. And yes, there are many teachings of Jesus that DO speak to the way we should live...about following in Jesus' footsteps in the way he lived his life in complete obedience to God, about loving people, about being generous, about prayer, etc.

But we must do things in order!

If we live a life of trying to follow in the footsteps of Jesus' example as our good teacher, and THEN expect to go to Heaven because we lived a good life...we are out of order. In this order, we live our life in the best way possible, and expect God to reward us. The person and their good deeds comes first...and then they expect God to respond to THEM and their efforts to be good.

Instead, based on Jesus' teachings....

First, there must be a genuine belief in who Jesus said he is (God) and what Jesus said he came to do (die as a full and sufficient and perfect sacrifice for our sins). It is a humble belief in these things that save us - that allow us to enter Heaven some day. Once we've accepted these beliefs, then we do our best to live the way that Jesus showed us. We live in a way that honors Him out of our love and gratitude for Him and what He did. In this order, God comes first - His goodness, His grace, His salvation...and then we respond to God.

Do you see the difference?

God and His ways come first, and we respond to Him.

NOT...Our ways first, and God responding to us.

It might seem like splitting hairs, but it's crucial. It's the difference between a prideful attitude toward God and a humble attitude before Him.

It's the difference between obeying that great Teacher, or not.

It is the difference between eternal life and death.

Do you agree with what I've said here? Disagree? I would love to hear from you - please leave a comment or email me directly to chat more.

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Fix it Friday

Hello, my name is Daiquiri, and I'm a photography junkie. I love all things photography. Photography gear (especially Nikon - I really really REALLY want this camera), photo software (Lightroom and PS Elements are my favorites), Rangefinder magazine (which you can get FREE), amazingly talented photography friends, and most of all...beautiful images that capture a little slice of time for us to keep forever.

The problem is that not every image is beautiful. There's something just a *little* off....it's not quite the perfect capture of the moment we'd hoped for...the setting on the camera wasn't quite right...etc.

This image is a perfect example. It's a great shot - excellent composition, very sharp, interesting perspective. But...just a little flat. It's a bit too dark, and those beautiful brown eyes get lost. It just doesn't have that magical sparkle that makes you catch your breath and whisper "wow" when you see it.

Enter...photo editing. Did I mention that I love this stuff?

I love this stuff.

Here's the image after I played with it a bit in Lightroom, and removed a few distractions in PSE. I considered taking the snow off her hat because it tends to grab my eye, but I decided to leave it since it adds to the feel of the moment captured.

Check out her amazing eyes!

Do you have any photographs that you love, but that you're just a tad disappointed in? Images that are special to you, but that need a little help?

Well, I'm here to help.

I'm now offering Photo Editing and Restoration services as part of my business. Drop me a line or give me a call if you'd like pricing info.

Ahem...I might even do a couple of images for you for FREE since I'm trying to expand my portfolio in these new areas...I said might...that means maybe...(wink,wink) ;-)

Hop on over to I ♥ faces for more fix it fun today. Thanks for stopping by!

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Jesus and Samantha

My little Samantha has been doing some deep thinking lately - asking lots (and LOTS) of questions about God and Jesus and Heaven. She started one recent conversation by stating out of the clear blue sky that "I'm a'scared of Jesus cuz he's a stranger."

Indeed! I suppose he is a stranger until you take the time to know him. What a simply profound way of stating how so many people must feel about him.

I was overjoyed to see her older brother and sister jump right in and say, "Oh, well I know him, and you don't have to be afraid. Just ask him to come be with you and you'll see!"

Each time Sammy asked her questions, I'd be sure to let her know that Jesus loves her very much and wants her to love him too. I always ended the conversation with "Would you like to ask him to be with you now? I can help you if you'd like."

Her answer was always something along the lines of "no", "not now", or "maybe later".

I'm here to answer her questions when she has them, but I'm not going to try and scare her, convince her, or pressure her to welcome Jesus into her life. So...that would be the end of the conversation.

She had me laughing out loud today. We were on the way home from my Wednesday morning Bible study - she has a little class of her own to go to while I'm in my study. On the way home, she was showing me the coloring sheets she did, and asked me to read the words to her. It said something about Jesus' love for all children.

"Jesus loves you, right Sammy?"

"Yup!"

"Do you love him too?"

"Well, sometimes. Mostly just on his birthday....I WUV Christmas!"

Hehehe!

And then this afternoon....oh, I'm covered in goosebumps as I type!

A neighbor girl came over to show Sammy an Easter project she'd made. This little girl knows the Easter story in GRAPHIC detail. She and Samantha sat at the table while I worked in the kitchen, so I heard the whole exchange. The little girl told her all about the nails that were pounded through Jesus' hands and feet...about the crown of thorns jammed on his head...how Jesus was mocked and laughed at...about the spear that was thrust through his side and the resulting gush of water and blood that flowed out of him.

I finally had to step in and ask that some of the details be spared. Sammy's just 4 years old, and I didn't want her to be totally terrified!

But Sammy didn't seem phased. She looked on, wide eyed, and simply said "They KILLED him? Jesus is DEAD?!"

"No Sammy, that's the BEST part! He was dead, but then he came BACK alive and lives in Heaven right now!"

Samantha looked to me with questioning eyes.

"Yes," I said. "Jesus let them hurt him because he loves us very much. He decided to be punished so that we wouldn't have to be punished. It's sort of like Jesus sitting in time out for you so that you wouldn't have to. He sure loves you a lot!"

The little friend (who was clearly being used in a powerful way by God this afternoon while she sat at my table with her pretty brown hair cascading down her back) jumped in and said "Don't worry Sammy, Jesus is alive in Heaven right now. He died for our sins, so that we could go to Heaven someday too!"

Sammy's wide eyed response was, "He did that for ME?"

"He did," I said. "And if you want to, you can go to Heaven with Jesus some day. When you ask Jesus into your heart and life, Jesus comes to be with you forever. He'll even bring you to Heaven forever after your time here is done. Do you want Jesus to be with you and to bring you to Heaven with him some day?"

I was fully expecting a "no" or "not now" like she always said. But her blessedly simple response?

"Sure!"

It was then that the theme song for Cailou erupted so rudely from the TV. The conversation was done as Sammy dashed into the living room to watch her favorite cartoon.

And then, about an hour later, after mac and cheese for lunch...Sammy was playing in the back yard. I was watching out of the corner of my eye, as I ate my lunch. Sammy and her friend hopped off the swings, made their way to the top of the swing set, and sat at the top quietly. They seemed to be having a pretty serious conversation. I had the passing thought, "I wonder what's going on up there?"

It was just a few minutes later that Sammy, her face glowing and her silky blonde curls bouncing in their pig-tails, came sprinting to the patio door to make her announcement:

"Mama! I asked Jesus to come be in my heart!"

I scooped her up in my arms, hugged her, and told her how brave she was....how proud of her I am. We called Daddy on the phone. We talked about Heaven and Jesus and how wonderful it will be to be there all together some day. We talked about how happy Jesus was to be welcomed into her life, and how angels were singing happy songs for her.

(After talking with the older child Sammy was playing with: Sammy had been telling her about what she'd learned of Jesus earlier in the day. Sammy said that she wanted Jesus in her heart. The friend offered to pray with her right then. They climbed up the top of the swing set, bowed their heads, and prayed together.)

My heart and soul are just filled to near bursting today! My baby girl...she's safe. Forever. Safe in his arms. I can't think of any place I'd rather she be.

Oh, Good Lord, thank you! Thank you for this little girl. Thank you for whispering into her heart and mind with that tender and loving voice of yours. Thank you for piercing her little shell with those bold and certain words of her Godly friend. Thank you, above all, for loving us all enough to save us - to sacrifice and endure so much - to give us this certainty of eternal safety. Thank you, Lord. Thank you for saving my little girl. Move powerfully in her life, and help her to be a mighty woman for you.

If you confess with your mouth, "Jesus is Lord," and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it it with your mouth that you confess and are saved.

Romans 10:9-10

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Brand New Me

I've been on a Mommy vacation - I flew to Wisconsin all by my SELF, and spent almost 5 full days away from my wonderful little family.

To be honest, I was hesitant. I was fearful. What I didn't know was just how worn out I'd become. Now that I'm home, I'm realizing how fearfully little time I'd been spending hugging my kids...talking with them (lots of talking AT them, which is very different and much less fun for everyone)...looking up and out and really SEEING them. I'd fallen into the familiar mommy-rut of just getting my stuff DONE...getting the day DONE.

Oh boy. I really needed that break!

On the way to WI, I sat and watched a movie on my iPod touch and wasn't interrupted once. During my layover, I at at a cafe at which there was no paper wrapper on my food, the glass was actual glass (and the plates too!). I strolled leisurely through the airport without hollering at anyone to stay close, without carrying anyone's stuffed animal or car seat. I also didn't have to sing a single round of itsy bitsy spider on the plane or hold anyone's barf bag. It was grand.

And then, during my visit, I wasn't in charge of a single person besides little ol' me. I worked hard, I slept late, I enjoyed being with my parents who I love and admire and cherish now more than ever, I read a good book, I prayed.

I even had a dream that felt an awful lot like God whispering something into my heart that I feel hesitant and nervous about....but also strangely excited and humbled. It'll be interested to see what He has in store for me. It feels so good to know that I'm in His hands and that He has a plan for me that is more spectacular than anything I could dream up on my own. Life has true and lasting meaning with Him in charge. I'm so thankful to be His kid!

I'm yours, Lord. Do what you will.

Somewhere during my vacation, I started to feel an emptiness that seemed to be right in the middle of my chest. My break was necessary...wonderful. But this mama just doesn't belong so far away from these children. And when God made me one with my wonderful husband, He meant it for keeps. I'm just not whole without my Luke...not myself.

How can I belong in two places at once? It broke my heart to leave. I fought tears all the way down the terminal....visions of my Dad's kind eyes and the sharp suit he wore to work....his kiss on my cheek....the turtle sundae that I enjoyed with mom, her hug that feels like coming home way down deep in my soul. Home is with them. Home is in Wisconsin - trees and water and old traditions. AND home is in Idaho - fresh air and open spaces.

Ugh.

As I stood at my gate to get on my plane to Boise, I watched people. I was especially fascinated by a family...a mom and dad and their son. He had the typical dark suit with a name badge on his chest that read "Elder XYZ". It always cracks me up...these 20 year old young people calling themselves "Elder". His parents had gone to pick him up, and they were flying him home now that his 2 year mission for the LDS church was over. I respect the commitment they make - the passion with which they spread information about their church. But I admit...I hope that the young man was a complete and utter failure when it came to convincing people to join the LDS church.

There was another young missionary on the plane to Boise too. He was traveling alone. I found myself wondering if I should try to talk with him, but not really feeling like it. I wanted to sit quietly and read my book the whole way home. Mind my own business.

But guess who God had seated right next to me? And guess what that unsuspecting young man asked me? "Have you ever taken time to learn about the LDS church or talked with any missionaries?"

It was all I could do to keep myself from laughing out loud!

"I have", was my only response. I didn't really want to open a door to this conversation.

But the kid didn't let up. Evidently, the door was already open, and I was being dragged through it whether I liked it or not! Okay Lord, help me out here...

We talked for over an hour. I'll spare you the details. If you think of it, pray for a young man named Mike. God knows who he is.

When I asked him his name, he said "Elder XYZ" (I can't remember his last name). I asked him if he would share his first name with me..."Mike", he said with an awkward shrug.

"What's your name?", he asked.

It was all I could to to keep from saying "Princess Daiquiri" or "Saint Daiquiri" ;-)

I played nice though.

He left the plane with a few questions from me that he said he'd have to think about and research...and my name, phone number and an invitation and directions to our Bible teaching church. Wouldn't it be amazing if he'd come to church with us? Oh, I'm praying!

And now... I'm home. After a few days at my parent's home, I have a new appreciation for just how unorganized I've let this house become. And how quickly my kids are growing up. And how crazy I am about this man that God's given me. And how much I love my Mom and Dad.

I'm rested and refreshed...I feel like a brand new me :-)

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All Bundled Up

One of my favorite sites, I ♥ faces, does a weekly photography challenge. I've never participated, but thought I'd jump in this week. The theme for this week's challenge is "bundled up".

Although this little one is too tiny to be playing in the snow, she spends plenty of time bundled all snug in her sweet blanket. Doesn't she just look cozy as can be? I'm hoping this qualifies as an official entry even though there's now snow suit involved ;-)

It's fun to see all the entries - go check it out at I ♥ faces!

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Why I Want You to Become a Christian....

Most will bristle at the title of this post. "My faith is private," they'll say. "I live a good life and I'm not worried about going to Heaven," others will proclaim. "You're no better than I am, don't talk to me like you have something to teach me," yet another will demand.

Please hear me out for just a moment.

It wasn't so long ago that I was not a Christian. I knew of Him, yes. My family raised me to serve Him, yes. But I didn't really know what it was to turn myself over to Him. I resisted. I fought. I tried to think my way logically OUT of being able to believe what the Bible says of Him. And finally, I heard Him whisper into my nearly closed mind, "Daiquiri, you know enough. It's time for you to make a decision. Right now." I leapt. I chose Him. And my whole life changed.

I want you to be a Christian. Not because I *think* the Bible is true, and the main character in that book might be real. I'm here to say that the man and God named Jesus that the Bible describes IS real. I've encountered him. I've come to recognize his voice, and it's a voice that brings me to tears of overwhelming joy. He's healed my body. He's healed my mind. He's told me things that I wasn't expecting. Do you know me to be a reasonably intelligent person? Do you know me as a logical thinker? Do you know me to be honest and trustworthy? Then hear what I say: He is real.

I want you to be a Christian too. Not because I think I have all the answers. I don't. But He does. And if you're looking for answers, He has some to offer that will fill a void in your soul that you didn't even know was there.

I want that feeling of completeness for you.

I want you to be a Christian. Not because I want to see you live your life tied up in chains of Christian duty and obligation. I want you to be a Christian because I've experienced the soaring freedom of being in Christ, and there's NOTHING on this earth like it! Are you working hard to live a good life? Whether working to earn a stamp of approval from your church, or just working to live the "good life" standard you feel in your gut. Life without Jesus Christ is hard WORK. I want you to be a Christian because

I want you to feel the incredible feeling of rest and peace brought by God's grace.

I want you to be a Christian. Not because I want you to see how hopeless you are. I want you to be a Christian because I've experienced a hope in Him that is just...beyond words. Hope for this life, yes. All things are possible with Him in your life. But hope for even eternity. I've seen parents stand with their arms in the air as they sang praises to this Jesus...while they stood not 10 feet away from the casket that contained their child. Do you know strength like that? Do you know hope that makes you *rejoice* even in death? That's the kind of strength and hope that Jesus offers.

I want that hope for you.

I want you to be a Christian. Not because God or His Kingdom needs you. God will get by just fine without you. He loves you, yes. But He will not force Himself on you, and His plans will come to be with or without your participation. But if you jump in and ask you you might contribute...you'll find a meaning and a purpose for your life that will breathe a new life into you! Without Him we're left doing our best and searching for the next thing that makes us feel good or satisfied. Many people to great and wonderful and generous things on their quest for success in life. But I humbly and respectfully submit the idea that those people working so hard to live a good and meaningful life feel just as empty as I did before I invited God to fill that God-shaped void in my soul. My life has a new and everlasting purpose.

I want this satisfaction and contentment for you too.

I want you to be a Christian. Not because I'm better and I want you to be better too. I've done things in my life that I'm not proud of. I've thought things, felt things, said things that I'm not proud of. In short, I've sinned. I'm a sinner. Whether you're a murderer or someone prone to little white lies....I'm no better or worse than you. Sin is sin is sin. We are all at least a little less than perfect (In my case, I'm a LOT less than perfect!).

No matter where you are or what you've done or how you're living now, Jesus is for you. He simply says "Come to me"... NOT "come to me once you've got your garbage all sorted out and fixed". Just come. I can say first hand, you can trust Him. He loves you. He has wonderful things planned for you. Once you're His, He'll begin His gentle work in you. He might guide you to change your language...your thoughts...your feelings of fear...your sexuality...your selfishness. Who knows. I'm often surprised by what He wants me to work on next. I'm always surprised by how gentle and loving He is. Again, you can trust him.

I want you to know the peace of being in His hands. I want you to know the impossible joy of being loved and forgiven. I want you to know the courage in being led by Him. I want His plan for you.

I appreciate that matters of faith are a private thing for many people. I still want you to be a Christian. You don't have to discuss it with me or with anyone else. But you need Him all the same. Take Him into your heart and life in private, if you must.

Yes, you live a good life. You do your best to be kind and considerate...to do more good than harm. Most of us do. But Heaven is a very specific and very real place where a very Holy God resides. He alone sets the criteria regarding who can go there. Perfection is the only requirement.

If holiness is in communion with sin, is holiness still holy? Nope - holiness is perfection....being set apart. To let imperfection into a perfect place immediately changes the very nature of that perfect place. It's no longer perfect!

Let Him make you perfect...He loves you and wants you to join Him. But He will not force Himself into your life. Only when you turn to Him in humility and say, "I don't understand...I don't even really like this arrangement...but God, I need you. I can't be perfect on my own. I invite you into my life. I choose you over my ways."

Here's the very bottom line: I know Him. By His grace, I know Him. And the joy... purpose... peace... contentment.... courage... hope... rest that He brings is simply beyond words. His presence in my life is like drenching rain to parched earth. And friend, I want Him for you.

I want you to become a Christian.

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Fix it Friday

UPDATE: Sorry for re-posting, just couldn't resist cleaning it up a bit more and adding a texture. My final edit is at the very bottom.

I haven't participated in I ♥ Faces in a while, and this one looked fun :-)

Before:

This one was a bit trickier than I expected. This little sweet-pea has fair skin and red lips (in the pic, at least) - if not adjusted just right, she has a tendency to look a little....creepy ;-)

After cropping to an 8x10 and adjusting the lighting in Lightroom:

In PS Elements, I got rid of some stray hairs and a distracting white section in the middle of the green. If I had more time, I'd even out the whole background and maybe add some texture.

Before and after:

Final Fix:

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The Walmart Blues

Just got back from a torturous trip to Walmart, which included plenty of the standard Walmart creep-o factor. I wonder...how many times do I have to shop at Walmart before I become part of the standard set of Walmart creep-os myself?

Clara looked at me this morning and said "you're going to the store...like...THAT?" And I admit it, in my mind I actually had the thought "I'm fine - I'm just going to Walmart." I suspect that's how it starts. Just great.

We also had the mandatory "I hafta go to the baffwoom NOW," while at the very back of the store getting milk. Honestly - would it be too much trouble to put another set of bathrooms at the back of the store? So we did the pee-pee dance all the way to the front of the store so that I could bring my two precious little babes into the germ pit of hell.

Good grief - as if Walmart isn't bad enough - the bathroom makes my skin crawl. The lady in the stall next to us must have thought I was a complete raving-lunatic-mean-mommy-monster as she listed to me screech "THOMAS! STAND HERE WITH YOUR BACK ON THE WALL AND DON'T TOUCH ANYTHING! NOTHING! TRY TO HOLD YOUR BREATH! HURRY SAMMY! LET'S GET OUT OF HERE! WASH REALLY WELL - SCRUB LOTS OF BUBBLES! THOMAS!!! DON'T! DO. NOT. TOUCH. THAT!!"

And the shoes - Thomas has been complaining about "ouchies" when putting on his shoes lately. They're too small on him. So - being the good and brave mama that I am - I endured the torture of shoe shopping at Walmart with a little guy who would NOT stay within a 15 foot radius of me once I let him out of the cart.

Added to the joy of the shoe shopping experience, was the fact that there was not a foot measuring thingy to be found ANY. WHERE.

I finally wrangled Thomas enough to try on a shoe that was 2 sizes bigger than what I put on him this morning. I figured they'd be a little big, but that he could grow into them and we could make them last through the summer.

We made it to the cash register with our cart full of "low cost leader" groceries. No wonder the groceries are cheap - you make it home with bruised fruit and squished bread once Miss Grumpy Pants at the cash register gets through with them!

And then...back to the shoes. She rang up the total, and I turned to my purse to get the money. I turned around to see her fiddling with Thomas' new shoes...when she pulled out a giant wad of tissue paper from the toe of one of the shoes.

"There was paper in those shoes?"

"Well, yeah", as she waves it in my face with a "what are you a Walmart creep-o?" look on her face.

"Um, I didn't know that. I tried the shoes on him with the paper still in the toe!"

"Well, did you measure his foot?"

"No. I couldn't find a measuring thing."

Long, incredulous pause as she looked at me.

"Well, there WAS paper in the toe. Do you want the shoes or not?"

"Could I have them for a second, please? I'll see if they fit him."

"Fine" She hands me the shoes with one hand while planting her other hand firmly on her hip with an exaggerated (and rather smelly) sigh.

Of course - the shoes were far too big on him now.

"They don't fit. I'm not going to buy them after all. Sorry for the trouble."

"Well, there was paper in the toe, you know."

"Yeah - so what's my new total?"

She gets me the new total for my now bruised apples and squished bread. I pay her. She gives me the change.

And then for good measure, she says "There was paper in the toe of those shoes, you know."

"Yeah. I get it. That's why they don't fit him. That's why I didn't buy them."

"Yeah, because there was PAPER IN THE SHOE."

(am I on some sort of hidden camera show? please tell me this lady is not for real.)

"Yes, there was paper in the shoe. Okay. Bye now."

And as I walked away (really!):

"The shoes didn't fit because you left the PAPER IN THE SHOE when you tried it on him!"

Good grief - I half expected her to chuck those little blue and white tennis shoes at the back of my head as I walked away!

The truly sad part of this story is that I know I'll go back. I find regularly priced items at Walmart that are cheaper than the SALE items at other stores. How can I waste our money by shopping somewhere more expensive? And the really scary part is this: I know that every time I shop at Walmart instead of at the other (far more pleasant) store, I'm casting a vote. I'm voting FOR Walmart. I'm contributing to the possibility that the other (cleaner, less stinky, smaller creep-o factor) stores in my area will go out of business, and we'll be left with nothing but Walmart to shop at. Of course, if they're the only store in town, they'll likely raise their prices simply because they CAN.

The only thing worse than the Walmart experience is the Walmart experience at higher prices.

But what to do? They're truly cheaper. Ickier, yes. Smellier, yes. Scarier, yes. Dirtier, yes. But CHEAPER. And these days? Cheaper means a whole heck of a lot for our family of 6.

Besides...where else can I shop looking like...THIS?

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These are the Days

My Mom tells me from time to time "Enjoy this time in your life, Daiquiri. It's the best." with a wistful sigh in her voice. It's not that she's not enjoying her life NOW - quite the contrary. Mom and Dad are having a BALL. I think what she's referring to is memories like this:

Soft little cheeks, slobbery kisses, small little bodies that fit so snugly against mine...and surprise sweet snuggles on the couch. Who knew that the best time of life would involve nearly this much noise, chaos, strange smells...and HOW can that much toothpaste be stuck to the side of the sink? I'm not sure it will ever come off.

I'm not worried.

Maybe I'll leave it there forever to remind me of this time in our lives. Some moms save sweet little handprints and other art projects. Me? I'll chip off the 15 pound piece of dried toothpaste and use it as a centerpiece when my adult children come to dinner some day. HA!!

Today is filled with hustle and bustle. One of the cars has been in the shop, so I got to shuttle hubby around this morning (nice to spend a little extra time with him).

Just booked a ticket to fly to Wisconsin next weekend. Mom and Dad are doing a remodeling project, and I get to go out and help them shuffle stuff around and get settled back in. In other words - I'm taking a trip ALL by my big girl self! My husband is a sweet and gentle and considerate...ROCK STAR of a husband and daddy.

If I'm extra good, maybe we'll even find time for a Sheboygan steak sandwich while I'm there.

I'm trying not to be fearful. It's so easy for my neurotic brain to jump immediately to horrific scenes of something happening to me and my family being left without a wife and mommy. I keep trying to remind myself...if it's my time, then it's my time. If it's not, it's not. Either way, there's not a whole lot I can do about it.

Just in case: To my dear Luke - you are the love of my life and my greatest blessing. Thank you for loving me. I'll see you soon! To my babies - you made me whole. You are wonderful and lovely and perfect. Trust Jesus. I'll see you soon too!

Okay - enough of that.

In other news - still doing the Weight Watchers thing. Sorta sick of the points, but it's easier to keep track of one number than all the numbers associated with fat, protein, calories, fiber, etc. Not to mention the number on the tag of my jeans and on my scale...which was getting downright frightening!

I've lost 5 pounds, but more importantly, I've learned that a serving of pizza is one (or two) pieces...not 5. I've also learned that there's no need to be hungry as long as I fill up on lots of veggies. I've also learned that the Walmart "egg white product" makes me gag. Literally - the first food I've ever eaten that literally make me wretch and spit it back out.

I couldn't eat for hours after that for the churning in my tummy. Maybe that's a diet fad in itself...the "Walmart Gag" diet. There's a Saturday Night Live skit in there, I just know it.

Another fun thing today - I'm meeting with a prospective wedding client! I've always shied away from shooting weddings - just so darn SCARY. But I'm finally to the point where I trust myself and my gear enough to think that I can do this. I've also been praying like crazy...if this is NOT where I should be going, then slam the door, please. I'm so thankful that my life is in His hands.

My passion upon passion is photographing infants. Oh, there's just nothing like it. But I haven't tried the wedding scene yet - we'll see what happens. I might love it even more.

Well - off to straighten the house, get my little ones dressed, and (maybe) get a shower before noon. It's gonna be a great day!

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Belated Birthday Pics

It's March! And I haven't put up Clara's birthday pics yet! Ack!

Well, we had a smashing party for our girl in honor of her 7th birthday. Yaya and Papa even made it all the way from Wisconsin (we celebrated big with the other Grandparents on/around her actual party - fresh donuts...even the ballet!). She was spoiled rotten, as she should be.

Just look at my beautiful and wonderful toothless wonder of a girl:

My girls - nothing warms my heart more than seeing my kids' love for each other.

Me and my girl.

And Clara and her Daddy - this little girl is going to grow up and fully expect to be loved, adored, and cherished...because her Daddy has done a spectacular job of showing her that a man loves a woman, and that she is lovable. I love that my kids have this man for a Daddy:

Yaya and Papa - no one brings smiles like this quite like the grandparents :-)

Of course, no birthday is complete without the "birthday spanking":

We had her party on Valentine's Day this year, so Clara chose a "Heart Party":

We decorated heart necklaces with all sorts of glue-able goodies:

Wait, where did all the men go? Oh, there they are. Why are they crowded into that little corner of the kitchen?

There's the reason...do you see the reason now??

We had some fun games to play. One of my recent favorites is to under-inflate balloons and then have the kids use their bodies to pop the balloons. All the balloons have a piece of paper in them, but only one has a paper with a sticker on it. The person who gets the sticker wins a prize.

The best part though, is watching them struggle to pop the balloon :-)

Opening gifts - I love the looks on the kids' faces as they watch:

The whole gang:

I had fun making a heart cake - confetti cake with strawberry frosting - yum!

Clara got her very own camera for her birthday, and she's been documenting everything since. Here she is capturing her cake (atta girl!):

Holding her hair back before blowing out the candles...we were at a party a couple of years ago where the birthday girl's hair CAUGHT ON FIRE as she leaned forward to blow out the candles - it made quite the impression!! (thankfully, the parents acted quickly and the little girl wasn't hurt at all...just a couple of strands of hair)

Big brother - what a silly little punk he is lately! Love him to bits!

So there you have it - Clara's 7th birthday party - her "heart party". We're so blessed with wonderful loving family and friends who spoil us. I pray that this year will bring my sweet Clara a couple more inches on the growth chart (she grew about 4 inches this past year!), a few healthy front teeth, and lots of good times with the many people who love her.

God is good!

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Beautiful Brown Organic Eggs, Anyone?

I've been enjoying my very own photo "fix it" project this morning. One of my wonderfully talented family members has started an organic egg business, and he posted this photo on his Facebook page. I, of course, just couldn't resist putting my touches on it :-)

Here's the before picture:

Here's my edit:

What fun, eh? Don't you just want to grab one of those beautiful eggs and cook it up?

If you're anywhere near Royal, Arkansas then you're in luck! Here's the contact info for the farm:

Nubbin Ridge Farm

1913 Nubbin Ridge Road

Royal, Arkansas 71968

phone: 501-802-3660

Give him a call and tell him Daiquiri sent you :-)

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Watch Out World - On My 3rd Cup of Joe!

Well, I've decided that if I'm going to keep this little old blog going, I can't wait to always have something "big" to talk about - some topic on my mind. Instead, you just get me and my ramblings and an occasional picture.

Since I started this grey and dreary with quite a bit of coffee and can't seem to get my thoughts to flow into beautiful and smooth paragraph form, I'll shoot them off in a list instead:

1. Coffee is a good thing. Now that I've decided that Splenda is not from the devil, I can enjoy my coffee without calories. I haven't developed a brain tumor yet, so it's possible that I'm right about Splenda being just fine.

2. Cheese nips, however, ARE quite possibly a delicious and cheesy temptation straight from the pit.

3. Why all this talk of food? Well - a confession: I've joined Weight Watchers. Now, I've never...I mean NEVER...struggled with my weight until just the last year or so. One of the problems with never having struggled with my weight is that I've developed an unhealthy habit of eating whatever I want whenever I want. Now? Now that I'm closer to 40 than I am to 30, and now that I've had 4 babies...NOW I have a problem with my weight.

4. I came across my notes from my first couple of pregnancies yesterday and discovered that a week ago (when I started WW), I weighed 10 POUNDS MORE than I did when I went into labor with my 2nd child!!

5. Now, I weigh 5 pounds more than when I went into labor with my 2nd child. That's right - I've lost 5 pounds! But this is hard work, people. I hate it. I LOVE nachos and chocolate and fried anything. Sure, I can eat all that stuff, but it leaves me with nothing else to eat for the day but dry salad or boiled vegetable soup. It's just not worth it.

6. Did I mention already that Cheese Nips are from Satan himself?

7. On to a different topic - we've recently made some financial decisions that seem completely against reason or logic...but that are very Biblically sound. We both felt called to make these choices, so we *finally* obeyed. It's truly a liberating and exciting feeling to put another part of our lives in His hands!

8. It's raining like crazy here today. I was sipping coffee from my travel mug and enjoying a piece of dark chocolate melting on my tongue as I drove on the freeway to bring Sammy to preschool this morning. We hit a puddle. For an instant, we were not driving, but floating down the road (going 60 miles an hour). I thought "Wow, this is it. Hey, at least I'm going out with the taste of chocolate in my mouth and the sounds of worship playing on the radio. Dear Lord...spare the babies please."

And then we were back on our tires as if nothing happened. "What was THAT?," Sammy asked. "We just drove through a puddle, sweetie"..."Well it felt FUNNY". I'm thinking it felt funny because there were a couple of angels carrying our car.

I'm not saying that I want to die...I don't. But I am ready to go. It was an amazing and exciting thought - the thought that I could be Home at any moment.

9. Oh! I have to leave to go get Samantha from school now. A friend recently brought this band to my attention - they sing the Psalms in such a new and beautiful way, I could listen to them all day long! Enjoy:

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