Photo Hunters - Book(s)

Believe it or not, this week's Photo Hunters theme of "book(s)" was a tough one for me. It isn't as though we don't have books to photograph. We definitely have a lot of book-lovers in our family and therefore a plethora of books. We have books everywhere! I just couldn't think of a creative way to make the theme interesting.

Then I remember this photo that I took of my kids last November during a brief stop while we were on a road-trip. Works well for the theme but is also a fun photo. Plus, the book featured is one of my all-time favorites.

Photo Hunters - Book(s)

I love this picture. My kids are characters.



I'll be really interested to see all the other books this weekend.

Some Gave All

these words feel inadequate,
but I will say them and will never forget
this sacrifice given freely so that I may be free...

thank you

Photo used by permission. www.fotolia.com

Photo Hunters - Plastic

The Photo Hunters theme of the week was "plastic."

Remember these old toys? Lite-Brite

You poke the plastic pieces through the black paper and the light from behind creates a beautiful picture. I had one when I was a kid. I can even remember the tune of the jingle from the commercial..."Lite-Brite, makin' things with light. Outta sight, makin' things with Lite-Brite." Hasbro has made an updated version but I found this original version at a garage sale and picked it up for my kids. They love playing with it as much as I did.

Photo Hunters - Plastic

More plastic things.

Thematic Photographic - Human

This photo just spoke to me. What could be more human than napping the trip away, the sun streaming in, the landscape zipping by?

They do everything else together. Why not sleep side-by-side in exactly the same position?

Thanks Carmi, for the inspiration and encouragement to look at the human side of things.

Photo Hunters - Painted

Photo Hunters were searching for something "painted" this week. Should be an interesting full of diverse and amazing photos.

I chose this photo.

Photo Hunters - Painted

This was sculpted and "painted" by my cousin, Harry Benjamin. He calls it, "The Left Foot of Budda" and it stands outside his home and gallery, The What's a Pot Shop.

I especially like it for our theme this week because it appears that the toe nails have been painted red.



Please do stop by TNChick's Place for great links to all sorts of "paintings" this weekend.

Skywatch

Sunset
Silver City, New Mexico

Skies - SkyWatch Friday.

What I want for Mother's Day

What I Really Want for Mother's Day

adapted by the song, Grown-up Christmas List by David Foster (music) and Linda Thompson-Jenner

No more lives torn apart
That wars would never start
And time would heal all hearts
and everyone would have a friend
And right would always win
And love would never end

The Production

Without these guys, I wouldn't even be a mom.

Photo Hunters - In Memory

Photo Hunters - In Memory

...a quiet moment with the past...

Masonic Cemetery
Silver City, New Mexico
March 2009

Pay your respects at TNChick's Place.

Photo Hunters - Walking

When I heard what this week's Photo Hunters was, I couldn't stop thinking of the chorus to that old Nancy Sinatra song:

These boots are made for walking, and that's just what they'll do...

And then this picture became obvious.

Photo Hunters - Walking

I know. They look intimidating, huh? Downright scary. They were modeling their most fierce "super hero" look.

So lookout bad guys!

One of these days these boots are gonna walk all over you.



More walking over at TNChick's Place.

A Ring

When I saw these rings at Marty's Etsy Shop - Silver Pie Jewelry - I knew that I wanted one.



So I asked Pastormac if I could buy myself one. And he said, "Sure!" (like I knew that he would.)

The catch was that I wanted him to decide what would be stamped on my ring. I didn't want it say simply, "Married" or "Princess". I wanted him to choose what my ring would say. It would be more meaningful to me that way. At a glance I would see his message to me. You can imagine my pleasure when he told me his choice just a moment after I asked him.




Much like the message for me from the ring he gave me twenty years ago tonight, when he got down on one knee and asked me to be his wife. Twenty years(!) ago when he slipped an engagement ring on my finger and promised to marry me. The message didn't need to stamped on that ring; and tonight just like that special night, it says the same thing to me, "beloved."

Marty was fantastic to work with and I would heartily encourage everyone to buy something from her shop.

She graciously stamped a message on the inside of my new ring too.



I'm so blessed that I said, "yes!"



Thematic Photographic, Love Thursday

Photo Hunters - Protect(ion)

Photo Hunters were hunting for a photo of "protect(ion)" this week. Immediately, for me, something came to mind.

Photo Hunters - Protect(ion)

See that look of determination? He's saying it with his face. He wants to make sure you know: "This is my sister. You want to mess with her? You'll need to mess with me first."

He is her big brother even if it is by only four months. He has built a strong hedge of protection around her, always looking out for her. If you're leaving, you better have said goodbye to her first. Are you giving out something, he'll make sure she gets her share. Are we going somewhere? She's coming along, right? Thinking of playing a game? Let's see what she wants to do first. He loves her with a fierce, loyal, protective love. And she loves him right back. The feeling is mutual.

They weren't brother and sister until they became members of our family. Had never laid eyes on each other until they were moved to the care center where they'd spend six months together waiting for us to come get them and bring them home. God knit their hearts together in ways that I know are nothing short of mysterious and miraculous.




Drop by TNChick's Place for a look at more "protect(ion)".

Photo Hunters - Purple

Photo Hunters - Purple

Sometimes life feels like this


More Purple Things.

Thematic Photographic - Edible

Carmi's Thematic Photographic challenge of the week was edible. So many interesting ways to photograph something that is "fit to be eaten." Some delicious. Some not-so-much. I suppose, in many ways, "edible" is in the eye (or mouth) of the beholder.

By all accounts (well, most accounts anyway) these are definitely edible.

The Sacrific Lamb

THE SACRIFICE LAMB

(Joel Chernoff)

Have you ever heard Messiah has come?
It says in His Word to cleanse every one
Atonement He made iniquity bore
That we can find life in Him evermore

The Sacrifice Lamb has been slain
His blood on the alter a stain
To wipe away guilt and pain
To bring hope eternal
Salvation has come to the world
God's only Son to the world
Jesus the one for the world
Yeshua is He

The prophets of old speak much of Messiah
His death is foretold the purpose is clear
Isaiah did say 'twas for an atonement
To give us a way that leads not to death

The Sacrifice Lamb has been slain
His blood on the alter a stain
To wipe away guilt and pain
To bring hope eternal
Salvation has come to the world
God's only Son to the world
Jesus the one for the world
Yeshua is He

So brothers of mine look not to yourselves
For we are but one we all need His help
We've broken the Law but He paid our debt
That we can find life by Yeshua's death

The Sacrifice Lamb has been slain
His Blood on the alter a stain
To wipe away guilt and pain
To bring hope eternal
So final atonement has come
And brought us new hope by God's Son
If you will believe in your heart
Yeshua you'll know

Amen!

May your Easter be blessed with the joy of the Resurrection.

Photo Hunters - Triangle

PhotoHunters were in search of "triangles" this week.

This weekend rather than search my archives for a picture that might work, I decided to take my camera out with me, and with "triangles" in mind, see what I could photograph that would fit the theme.

At first, my search was seemed fruitless. I was looking all around and not seeing anything. Then I happened to glance out my window at the car sitting next to me in traffic and noticed something. "Hey!" I thought. "How about that?" Suddenly there were triangles all around me. So once we got to where we were going, I took the first chance I could to snap this picture.

Photo Hunters - Triangle

Check out all the triangles at TNChick's place.

Skywatch Friday

My mom was laid to rest here, almost 6 years ago.
Silver City, New Mexico

Gaze at more skies - SkyWatch Friday.

Thematic Photographic - Reflective

Reflective - Carmi's Thematic Photographic challenge of the week.

Mom

Scribbit hosts a monthly writing contest and this month's topic is, "Mom."

Lucky for me, she allows past writings to be submitted, because that means I can enter, this post. It means a lot to me and I'm pleased to post it again.

Are you a mom? Write a post about what it means to you and enter it. Or you have a mom, right? Well, write a post about that. So many ways to write about "Mom," why don't you give it a try? Drop by Scribbit's blog for a look at the details.

Photo Hunters - Stripes

"Stripes" were on tap for the PhotoHunt this week.

This was a really tough one for me, until I remembered this photo I have of Pastormac, that a good friend took for me. He was taking a break from a drama he was doing for a Vacation Bible School program.

I consider this picture a precious gift.

Photo Hunters - Stripes

Don't forget to drop by TNChick's place for a look at more "stripes."

Photo Hunters - Hands

The PhotoHunt had us in search of "hands" this week.

I chose "holding hands."

Photo Hunters - Hands

TNChick has more hands.