Lately, I haven't been blogging as much. I haven't been blogging as much because I haven't been taking pictures as much. I haven't taken many pictures for two main reasons: 1) My home has been absorbing all of my creative energy...and 2) I haven't taken very many good shots. And I just found out why.
My camera is broken. There is something wrong with it, and now I need to send it into Nikon. I think that there is something wrong with the light meter, and so it will be out of commission for a while. I am sad. Honestly, it seems that technology is getting a shorter and shorter life span these days. But, it may all have something to do with the fact that Caleb somehow got a hold of it and dropped it. Crazy kid. And Julia, if you are reading this and still haven't bought your new camera...one thing to add is that the more expensive the camera, often the more difficult and expensive it is to fix.
Minutes after I realized this, I shattered our patio door. There are literally huge shards of glass protruding from it, and I am not sure how I will keep Caleb away from it. Thankfully, however, God reminded me yesterday once again of how He really does care to answer prayers about such things. After over a week of a massive plumbing problem, an amazing plumber (the second of two to attempt it) fixed our drain after two days of work and only charged us $100. I thought we would have to break into our emergency fund. We were amazed.
"Cast all your cares on Him because He cares for you." 2 Peter 5:7
Wednesday, February 25, 2009
Monday, February 16, 2009
A Weekend to Remember
When we were married, Brandon and I committed to try to attend some type of marriage enrichment event every year. This year, we were able to do it the weekend of Valentine's Day!**
Family Life, a ministry of Campus Crusade, has an amazing marriage conference called A Weekend to Remember. Because we are on staff, we get to go for free. So, of the almost five years we have been married, we have been to three Weekends to Remember, one Love and Respect conference, and a weekend in a cabin with some friends and our nursing infants. I am so grateful to have a husband who values our marriage so highly.
I HIGHLY recommend this conference. Family Life's materials have been such a significant help in our relationship, and this weekend was one of the best of our marriage.
**NOTE: We were only able to do it this weekend because Caleb's favorite babysitters, Denise and Trevor, sacrificed their Valentine's Day to take care of our little boy. It was their first V-Day as a married couple, and they gave it up for us! Thanks so much, friends!
Friday, February 6, 2009
My 25 Things
On Facebook right now, a lot of people are posting "25 Things." The idea is to list some things that people might not know about you so that they can get to know you better. After weeks of reading the lists of others, I made one too. I am posting it here in hopes that it will get me in the habit of blogging again.
1. I am a big fan of change, and I strongly dislike routine. I hate getting ready every day, and the only reason I feed my child three times a day is because it keeps him alive…and I like him.
2. I love reading classics because I know they’re good, and I won’t be wasting my time. I don’t have much.
3. One of my life dreams is to hike the Appalachian Trail. Georgia to Maine.
4. I am notoriously horrible at keeping in touch with people. My closest friends are the ones who practically chase me down to talk to me, unfortunately.
5. Someday I would love to live in a foreign country again. I LOVE other cultures, landscapes, and languages.
6. Almost all of my best friends are people I have lived with in some form.
7. I love color…and need lots of it in my life.
8. I am married to an incredible man. He is a wonderful balance of grace and truth in my life…and he bought me flowers a few days ago.
9. I am a huge fan of Pandora.com. It has replaced itunes in my life. Right now, I am listening to a U2 station, and it is lovely. This website knows me so well. ☺
10. I took a test called the Birkman a few years ago and was very surprised to learn that I tested highest in the artistic category. I was told that the reason I love hiking so much is because I love and need the beauty of God’s creation…not because I need to be outside. It’s so true. And since then, I have loved making things with paper…and now I am playing with photography. It’s been so good for me.
11. I love my job. Being a mom is the best ever...though he does make me crazy sometimes.
12. I don’t miss Indiana weather, but I miss Indiana people.
13. I can flip my eyelids inside out. Brandon doesn’t like it too much.
14. When I was born, my parents chose my name because they liked it and nobody else had that name. But, then I was always in school with at least three other Amandas.
15. I detest running but joined the track team and cross country team in high school because all of my friends were on it. I lasted one year.
16. My favorite passage in the Bible is Psalm 63.
17. Guadalajara, Mexico was the last place in the world I wanted to go after I graduated…and I decided to go because my mom wasn’t a fan of all the land mines in Kosovo. But, now I cannot imagine what my life would be like now if the Lord had led me elsewhere. In Mexico, I met some of the most wonderful people on this planet, experienced God as I never imagined I would, and met my husband. In the end, it was clear that God definitely knows what is best for us.
18. I can’t sing...but I really appreciate people who can.
19. I have a blog that I have been very bad about updating lately.
20. We have a cat named Millie who used to lick my eyelids while I was sleeping.
21. My son is obsessed with the guitar, and we spend a lot of time each day practicing. ☺
22. I met one of my best friends, Heather, when we were in second grade and we traded jelly bracelets on the playground. We have been through many stages in our friendship: unicorns, dolphins, the Monkees, New Kids on the Block, and now photography.
23. I always round up when I tell someone my age…to the point where I really have a hard time remembering how old I really am.
24. My parents still live in the house we moved into on my first birthday, so I had lots of consistency growing up. They are still happily married, and my mom stayed home with us when we were kids. The older I get, the more grateful I am that God gave me the family He did.
25. Jesus changed the course of my life when I was eighteen years old…and now I don’t know how I lived all those years without Him.
1. I am a big fan of change, and I strongly dislike routine. I hate getting ready every day, and the only reason I feed my child three times a day is because it keeps him alive…and I like him.
2. I love reading classics because I know they’re good, and I won’t be wasting my time. I don’t have much.
3. One of my life dreams is to hike the Appalachian Trail. Georgia to Maine.
4. I am notoriously horrible at keeping in touch with people. My closest friends are the ones who practically chase me down to talk to me, unfortunately.
5. Someday I would love to live in a foreign country again. I LOVE other cultures, landscapes, and languages.
6. Almost all of my best friends are people I have lived with in some form.
7. I love color…and need lots of it in my life.
8. I am married to an incredible man. He is a wonderful balance of grace and truth in my life…and he bought me flowers a few days ago.
9. I am a huge fan of Pandora.com. It has replaced itunes in my life. Right now, I am listening to a U2 station, and it is lovely. This website knows me so well. ☺
10. I took a test called the Birkman a few years ago and was very surprised to learn that I tested highest in the artistic category. I was told that the reason I love hiking so much is because I love and need the beauty of God’s creation…not because I need to be outside. It’s so true. And since then, I have loved making things with paper…and now I am playing with photography. It’s been so good for me.
11. I love my job. Being a mom is the best ever...though he does make me crazy sometimes.
12. I don’t miss Indiana weather, but I miss Indiana people.
13. I can flip my eyelids inside out. Brandon doesn’t like it too much.
14. When I was born, my parents chose my name because they liked it and nobody else had that name. But, then I was always in school with at least three other Amandas.
15. I detest running but joined the track team and cross country team in high school because all of my friends were on it. I lasted one year.
16. My favorite passage in the Bible is Psalm 63.
17. Guadalajara, Mexico was the last place in the world I wanted to go after I graduated…and I decided to go because my mom wasn’t a fan of all the land mines in Kosovo. But, now I cannot imagine what my life would be like now if the Lord had led me elsewhere. In Mexico, I met some of the most wonderful people on this planet, experienced God as I never imagined I would, and met my husband. In the end, it was clear that God definitely knows what is best for us.
18. I can’t sing...but I really appreciate people who can.
19. I have a blog that I have been very bad about updating lately.
20. We have a cat named Millie who used to lick my eyelids while I was sleeping.
21. My son is obsessed with the guitar, and we spend a lot of time each day practicing. ☺
22. I met one of my best friends, Heather, when we were in second grade and we traded jelly bracelets on the playground. We have been through many stages in our friendship: unicorns, dolphins, the Monkees, New Kids on the Block, and now photography.
23. I always round up when I tell someone my age…to the point where I really have a hard time remembering how old I really am.
24. My parents still live in the house we moved into on my first birthday, so I had lots of consistency growing up. They are still happily married, and my mom stayed home with us when we were kids. The older I get, the more grateful I am that God gave me the family He did.
25. Jesus changed the course of my life when I was eighteen years old…and now I don’t know how I lived all those years without Him.