Kingdom Jewels

Happy Birthday Shari!

2009-07-09T05:00:00.001-05:00

We left the Sleeping Bear Dunes area July 5 and drove up to see my cousin Shari & family who were at their family cottage near Torch Lake. Today is Shari's birthday - she's now my age for a few months!

Our kids, all 3rd cousins, had a very lovely lunch together while the adults ate out on the deck overlooking the lake. We talked and talked.

We "facebooked" each other about the get together, and "texted" afterwards about how we wish we lived closer. We also had this good-bye portrait taken. What a fun time!

The Annual Dune Climb Challenge

2009-07-08T05:00:00.002-05:00

This is the 3rd year that Edward has attempted his own dune challenge on the steep, 450-foot drop dune on the Pierce Stocking Drive of the Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore! His 2006 time was 9:07 and in 2008, he did it in 8:31. The average person does it in 45 minutes, it would take me a few weeks. Could he break his record? John & Brian were also up for the challenge.

One thing that is nice about the area is that while they are gone, there are pictures to be taken of the surrounding scenery.

The sun was about to set. Would he make it?

Here he comes. He touched the sign at the end at 7 minutes, 39 seconds for a new record! I should also add that he was up early for a 5k in which he received a medal for 2nd place in the 19-24 age group and he ran about 8 miles in the afternoon. I don't know how he does it. Brian & John also made it up a bit later...

Celebrating the Sunset

2009-07-07T05:00:00.002-05:00

The sunset over Lake Michigan is one of the great things about this state we live in, and last weekend, we saw a couple of them. But first, we celebrated John's sister's July 3rd birthday..."Aunt Susan." We always think Maria looks the most like her Aunt Susan.

She received a couple of big puzzles as gifts...

The 4 girl cousins are always happy to see each other!

We went to see the sunset after supper. As we were waiting for it, I turned around and saw a sight just about as beautiful, maybe even moreso, at least to me...

The sun set again and another day was done...

And Bridget jumped for joy.

More Jumping Cousins!

2009-07-06T05:00:00.001-05:00

The cousins on John's side of the family are jumping for the USA this past weekend in front of a Lake Michigan sunset

Happy Independence Day!

2009-07-04T05:00:00.000-05:00

July 4, 2007 up north with John's side of the family waiting for the parade

Flash Back Friday 124

2009-07-03T05:00:00.002-05:00

Edward, Maria & Bridget 1999

I flashed back to this before but today I wanted to show the same park where I am now photographing chairs. It was good practice for this:

Down by the River

2009-07-02T05:00:00.001-05:00

I haven't posted much from last Saturday's photoshoot yet. I loved how Deirdre described the event. It truly was great fun! We ended up going to a river which I loved - it's such a great metaphor for life. I took a few shots which showed the movement of the river.

This shot shows the movement of the geese:

I wanted them to hold their heads still a minute but they wouldn't cooperate. Finally, I managed to get this one:

They did this with their heads for a split second too:

I did a zoom technique and got this photo which makes me think of the Garden of Eden, kind of dreamy:

I think this one shows a bit of a silky flatness:

And I couldn't get enough of the green reflections in the water:

I'm looking forward to our next outing!

Senioritis

2009-07-01T14:29:00.003-05:00

I mentioned that I went out last week to do senior photos for Katie, the daughter of a former co-worker. I took hundreds and edited about 40-something - Katie was a great model/prop for me!! We're going to go out again later this summer for more.

Chair Assignment

2009-06-30T18:19:00.006-05:00

Last Saturday, I went out with Deirdre in the morning at 6:30am with the assignment to photograph a chair in a creative environment from Digital Photography School. We had planned the chair outing before we knew of the assignment and it turned out to be way more than just the chair with photos of fields, early sun, a rushing river, geese, LUSH green and huge trees. We even stopped for brekkie at Arnies! Fun, fun times.

These are the details of this photo!

Life in the Fast Lane

2009-06-29T05:00:00.000-05:00

Jewels in a 1953 MG

Last week one evening, I was downtown taking senior pictures for the daughter of a friend and we happened upon this car. The owner let us use it for a prop and I had to take a turn too.

Tunnel Vision

2009-06-27T12:25:00.004-05:00

Dierdre shoots through some playground equipment

This morning I woke up before 6am to go out on a photoshoot with my friend Deirdre. We took hundreds of photos and I soon discovered that she, like me, does not tire of taking them! So tunnel vision is a most fitting title. We did stop for brekkie for awhile but we're meeting back up at 4pm for more. Fun times!

Flash Back Friday 123

2009-06-26T06:47:00.002-05:00

Maria & Bridget, aka the Nellies, 2005

The Jumping Cousins

2009-06-25T05:00:00.000-05:00

A friend of mine commented that she collected photos of people jumping, so here are a few more. I can't tell you how fun these are to take!

The Queen Mother at the Beach

2009-06-24T05:00:00.000-05:00

It was a hazy day at the beach and mom & I decided to try to get some cool pix.

Life with Four Daughters

2009-06-23T05:00:00.002-05:00

Mom told Dad when they were dating, and I quote, "I want 4 girls." Lo and behold, 4 daughters were born. Only the Queen Mother could get her wish.

Well, the girls grew up and each had a boy first and a girl second. Amazing. But then John & I went and had another girl, but that is because we moved so far away. Soon the oldest grandson got married and that would even things out again.

Life sure is colorful with 4 daughters...

DC

2009-06-22T05:00:00.001-05:00

Last week, on our way to the Outer Banks of North Carolina, we stopped for an overnight stay near Washington DC. We got together with our friend Joanne who is working at the Department of Agriculture for her summer break from grad school. We had supper at Union Station and walked around the city at night. Beautiful!

In the morning, we met her for a church service at the National Cathedral. I took a few indoor photos, but the outdoor one is from last year.

Happy Father's Day!

2009-06-21T08:05:00.004-05:00

The Four Sisters wish Dad a Happy Father's Day in the OBX!

Wishing John a Happy Father's Day also!

Jumping for joy for the great dad we have!

These Never Cease to Amaze Me

2009-06-13T05:00:00.001-05:00

I mean, can you believe anything can be so beautiful? They always remind me of this poem by Mary Oliver. I've posted it before, but I will again because of how it captures their wild and perfect beauty the way I try to in the photos.

Peonies
This morning the green fists of the peonies are getting ready
to break my heart
as the sun rises,
as the sun strokes them with his old, buttery fingers

and they open ---
pools of lace,
white and pink ---
and all day the black ants climb over them,

boring their deep and mysterious holes
into the curls,
craving the sweet sap,
taking it away

to their dark, underground cities ---
and all day
under the shifty wind,
as in a dance to the great wedding,

the flowers bend their bright bodies,
and tip their fragrance to the air,
and rise,
their red stems holding

all that dampness and recklessness
gladly and lightly,
and there it is again ---
beauty the brave, the exemplary,

blazing open.
Do you love this world?
Do you cherish your humble and silky life?
Do you adore the green grass, with its terror beneath?

Do you also hurry, half-dressed and barefoot, into the garden,
and softly,
and exclaiming of their dearness,
fill your arms with the white and pink flowers,

with their honeyed heaviness, their lush trembling,
their eagerness
to be wild and perfect for a moment, before they are
nothing, forever?
-Mary Oliver

Flash Back Friday 122

2009-06-12T05:00:00.001-05:00

June 2008, Outer Banks, NC

Tomorrow we leave for the OBX again...for a week of listening to the ocean, taking pix and visiting with the fam.

Love Thursday

2009-06-11T05:00:00.002-05:00

John & I are celebrating our 21st anniversary today!!!

Last night I said, "Who knows what tomorrow is??" Bridget said in a monotone, "Your anniversary".

So I said it at a higher pitch to be heard over the baseball game and John said, "Is it the day we got Leo?"

He's still the funniest guy I know.

Bursting Into Bloom

2009-06-09T13:38:00.003-05:00

“And the day came when the risk to remain tight in a bud was more painful than the risk it took to blossom.” -Anais Nin

Silver Medal

2009-06-08T13:44:00.003-05:00

Edward's silver medal for the 25K River Bank Run finally came in the mail so he posed for me because he knows (and accepts) how I am.

Rockstars

2009-06-06T15:07:00.005-05:00

Michael, Vinson, Eric, Ben, Seth, Jeremiah, Daniel & Bob

Friday afternoon, Bridget & I went downtown to meet John for lunch and went to watch our church's band perform in the annual Grand Rapids Festival of the Arts. They were so awesome and I had the fun, fun job of photographing each of them under the bright midday sun! I won't forget this gorgeous day filled with their beautiful music. This is one of the songs they sang which rang through my head the rest of the day:

Everyone needs compassion
Love that’s never failing
Let mercy fall on me
Everyone needs forgiveness
The kindness of a Saviour
The hope of nations

Saviour
He can move the mountains
For my God is mighty to save
He is mighty to save
Forever
Author of salvation
He rose and conquered the grave
Jesus conquered the grave

So take me as You find me
All my fears and failures
Fill my life again
I give my life to follow
Everything I believe in
Now I surrender

Shine Your light and
Let the whole world see
We’re singing
For the glory of the risen King
Jesus

Flash Back Friday 121

2009-06-05T06:42:00.005-05:00

2004 2006

I just came across Edward & Maria's 8th grade graduation pictures. Yes, John & I were wearing the same thing.

A Legacy

2009-06-04T05:00:00.002-05:00

Tuesday evening, Bridget participated in the 8th grade graduation ceremonies of Legacy Christian School. It was a blessed occasion, complete with a 16 hour trip by the Queen Mother, Opa, and Beatrix. We were also joined at the ceremony by John's mother & step dad. We looked at Bridget's 8th grade project which included a 9 page paper called "Christ Followers and Kingdom Builders" where she showed how God is at work in every subject. We were so, so proud of her and she loved every minute of it.

Bridget's class sings their class song, "In Christ Alone"

Bridget plays in the orchestra for the prelude

Bridget with her proud, happy family

Bridget with her proud, happy grandparents