Photo Shoot

I mentioned in an earlier post that I would be taking photography classes during the month of February. I finished up my last class last Tuesday. The classes were very basic and were more about learning to use a DSLR camera rather than the art of photography. I am excited that I actually know how to use my camera on the manual setting. At our last class we all had to bring 2 or 3 pictures that we had taken using the manual setting - no auto photos allowed. I still have a lot to learn, but I did manage to get several cute pictures of Nate.

Let it Snow!

The Dentist

Nate went to the dentist for the first time on Tuesday. It was an okay experience - he could have been better, but he also could have been worse. I had hoped to get a picture, but I held him the entire time that they cleaned his teeth and examined him. Everything looked great. Nate still has a paci at nap time and bed time and I was expecting to hear that we needed to get rid of it ASAP. The doctor actually said that it wasn't that big of a deal as long as we get rid of it by age 3. That's only a few months away and I dread that battle.

The Hens are Laying!!!

Today Darren discovered three eggs in the hen house. These are the first of many to come, hopefully.
You'll have to forgive me for all of the pictures. We got a Nikon D3000 several weeks ago. I am taking three classes next month to hopefully help me understand all of its great features. Right now I am just using the automatic setting, which is still a vast improvement over our point and shoot camera.

Confession Time

God has been teaching me so much the past several months. It is very exciting but also very challenging. One of the biggest things I have learned is how truly self-centered I have been... my entire life. I have ignored the lost and the poor, while I have focused on myself, my family, my friends and my stuff. It is obviously important for me to focus on my family and be a Godly wife, mother and friend; but it is not okay for me to get so wrapped up in my richly blessed life that I forget that there are millions of people in the world that are lost and living in extreme poverty. The Bible is filled with scriptures concerning this issue. A couple of my favorites are James 1:27 (Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world.) and Isaiah 1:17 (Learn to do right! Seek justice, encourage the oppressed. Defend the cause of the fatherless, plead the case of the widow).
Darren and I are currently praying about how we can live out these scriptures. We want to be wise in our decision making, but we also want to act urgently since thousands of children die each day from hunger and preventable disease.

If you feel compelled to give, here are a few suggestions (these are all Christ centered organizations that are extremely reputable)...

http://www.compassion.com/ - Compassion International

http://theglobalorphanproject.org/- The Global Orphan Project

http://www.lifelineadoption.org/templates/cuslifeline/default.asp?id=26708 - Lifeline Children's Services

Hooray for Warm Weather!

Darren was off yesterday and it was a beautiful day. We were so excited to spend some time outside. Nate had a great time and had plenty to keep him busy.

Helping Daddy put out hay for the cows



Chasing the chickens




My favorite picture from the afternoon





Just a swingin'

Playing in the leaves

Then, it was back inside for a breathing treatment...yes, we're doing those again

Haiti Relief

Haiti, one of the poorest nations in the western hemisphere, has been devastated by one of the strongest earthquakes to hit the Caribbean in decades. Please pray for the people of Haiti. If you would like to do more than pray, click on the following link.

http://www.samaritanspurse.org/index.php/articles/responding_to_haiti_earthquake/