Africa

Please keep my husband, John and the team he's going to Africa with in your prayers!!! Here are a couple of specifics...

1. Positive attitude and a servant’s heart as they minister to the people in the village of Kanuwloe

2. Health and safety as they travel, do construction and work with the children

3. That they will take every opportunity to share Christ’s love with every one they meet

4. That God will be glorified in all they do and say

Although I am terribly bummed not to be able to go with them on this trip, I am keeping very busy and time is sure to fly while we're apart!

Family Portraits: The Johnston's

A good friend of mine asked me to take some pictures of her and her beautiful family. I do LOVE playing Photographer!!!!

A wrench was thrown into my photo editing since we got the iMac for Christmas. With no more PC in the house, I discovered that Corel products are not made for Macs-- boo!! So I uploaded a 30 day free trail of the cheaper version of Adobe Photoshop to see if it would suit my needs. It totally does! I'm thrilled that I don't have to start saving for the $600 out of reach Photoshop CS4 and that the $80 Photoshop Elements 8 is just what I was hoping for!!!

Here are a few of my fav's!

Inspiration turned to reality!!!

With the new year HERE(!!!), I don't think I'm alone as I reflect on the past year and ponder how to make the next one even better. For my resolution (I don't formally do the whole yearly resolution, but more I have ongoing desires/goals) I have been particularly inspired by this blog I stumbled across. I've always wanted to be the kind of mom that takes the kids out to learn from experiences and have fun doing things together. Until now I have felt like Riley was too young to benefit from the activities that I had in mind, and although he still might be on the early end of understanding I am ready to get going!!!! We started our adventures with pudding painting, which come to think of it, I remember seeing this on Jon and Kate +8 too. Anywho- here was the result...


1 box vanilla pudding: $2
Food coloring: $3
1 Clean Tub: Elbow Grease
One happy toddler: Priceless!!

These are a few of my favorite things...

1. Wonder-Under!

I am just beginning to experiment with this fun crafting tool but I am finding that it's very versitile and I love trying my hand at new things. Wonder under enables... Appliques. Yay!! Which has helped me with a couple stocking stuffers for some little tots that I will be surrounded by this Christmas- yes.. My tot is one of them!


2. Bath time!!

Staying home with Riley has been such a joy and I just love the little parts of our days and weeks that are filled with laughter and smiles!! Bath time is one of these times!!

... which leads me to my next favorite...

3. My Camera!

I got it for Christmas last year from my wonderful husband, but that gift just keeps on giving!!! For those who wonder, I have a Canon Rebel EOS XSi and I am still unlocking all the possibilities of what this camera is capable of. The limiting factor is without a doubt ME! And on top of the camera, I love the editing software I use- Corel PSP! Too bad it bogs down our crappy PC... but not for much longer!!!

4. Bumps, Jumps and Kicks

I love the point in pregnancy when you can actually feel the tiny life inside moving around! I've been feeling the quickening for the past few weeks, but it's finally getting strong enough that John can have a shot at feeling our daughter too!!! One of these days he'll get lucky!

5. Christmas!!!

What a beautiful event to celebrate God coming down as man to save us from our sins. I LOVE the lyrics to this song "I celebrate the day" from one of my favorite bands, Relient K.

And with this Christmas wish is missed The point I could convey.
If only I could find the words to say to let You know how much You've touched my life,
Because here is where You're finding me, in the exact same place as New Year's eve
And from a lack of my persistency, We're less than half as close as I want to be

And the first time That You opened Your eyes did You realize that You would be my Savior
And the first breath that left Your lips Did You know that it would change this world forever

And so this Christmas I'll compare the things I felt in prior years
To what this midnight made so clear That You have come to meet me here
To look back and think that This baby would one day save me
In the hope that what You did That you were born so I might live
To look back and think that This baby would one day save me
And I, I celebrate the day That You were born to die So I could one day pray for You to save my life

I hope all of you are enjoying this miraculous season and are able to spend it with family and loved ones!

God Bless and Merry Christmas!!!!

Family Photography- The Battema's

I've always thought that the best job is something you enjoy doing and oh by the way, you get a little cash thrown your way too!! Well I feel extremely blessed to be dabbling in my hobbies and making a little on the side! Since September, my Flybagz site has been going nuts (which is a pretty cool problem to have) and has me sweatin' this holiday season trying to finish bags!!! Aside from the bags, I was asked to take family portraits for a friend of mine and fellow air force wife.... and we actually picked a time and did it! It was a lot of fun for me (and quite a bit of learning too) and I am pleased with the shots (of course I had an obscene amount to choose from). Here are a few of my favorites of their beautiful family!

IT'S A......

That's right!! We're having a little girl!!!

I am thrilled (someone to do crafts with me!!!) but John is absolutely terrified!

And since I love when my preggo friends post updated pics of themselves and their growing bellies.. here I am at 19 weeks.


P.S. I hate the "chubby" stage!

Pine

Alright. This is horribly late but I find myself putting it off because I just don't have the time to tell my tale of a trip to Pine. So, I'm not going to tell much tale and just do what I do best... throw up some pictures.

These two are some of my favorite pics.. Friend, Carolyn was tossing Ri around and I love the way the sun hits and just the candid moment it captured!

Cliff Notes Version:
Our Life Group (church friends) headed up to Pine and stayed at a woman from our church's cabin. She is an older lady and a widow since last year so we took on a little work project to clean up her yard. After a hard day's work, we (by we, I mean Tiffany and Emily) planned a Halloween "murder mystery" which we all dressed the part (theme: literary characters) and acted out during a delicious dinner.

Here's our work party at work.

Mid-work break into song... Thriller came on. What can you expect?!
First attempt at Thriller- pathetic.

In sync!

The guys kept busy by cutting down dead trees on the property. They stocked the fire wood pile and even made a beautiful fire ring!


Snow White and Pippy Long Stocking
The Hood's- haha
Robin Hood and Red Riding Hood.. oh and the butler, of course.

The Madd Hatter and Alice in Wonderland

Big shoes to fill.