Grateful

Though most of my posts are dark recently, because this is where I go to, when I just need to vent or air the darker hurts I do have a ton of things I am grateful for and I am afraid that all I am posting is not the only part of my life and or feelings. I do have more to be grateful for than hurts. I do not want the only memories of my thoughts to be the side I am working on forgiving,and working on changing.

My daughter Julionna in her wedding gown. (I am a photographer and got to take her wedding pictures.

My daughter in law Baylee (Pauls wife) I was honored to also take their wedding pictures.

My daughter in law Jozie (Gabriels wife) ♡

Me and my kids my son Gabe on left, me, my son  Paul, my daughter Julionna and my son JustenBelow is Leon by Onna. Onna holding Noel amd Leon holding Abel. Far left Jozie and Gabe, and Paul and Baylee. Justen far right.

My kids, my new daughhters, my new son in law. my grands. God gave these precious treasures to me. I will always be blessed by these gifts. They are the reason I get up, the reason I keep fighting the battle each day. I pray each of them know how much I love them.

Since Dec 2010 I am behind at posting!! (sorry all)

To my surprise I heard from a reader of my motorhome life blog: http://motorhomelife.blogspot.com/ I did not know people were still reading that blog. I left it going but assumed that  know one really reads it or even see's it. I am so thankful the Lord still uses that part of my journey to witness to others. The Lord has ways of truly touch lives by working through us. Not because we ourselves are anything. But God uses our hurts or sins, our pain and turns it around for His glory! I love that the Lord has grace and is so forgiving.
Being so long since I have posted there has been many things happen in my life.

3 of my kids are older since posting last My daughter Julionna is now 13 years old. My son Gabe is now 12 and my oldest Justen is 20 will be 21 in December. Justen is natural at art and in college is getting a 4.0. He did this one painting I must share with you

This painting is called 'Kristallnacht" Night of Broken Glass. Learn more about it here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kristallnacht it is an oil painting that really moves me personally. I am a avid reader of WWII and the survivors of the Holocaust. He does have it for sale, as a mom of course I want to keep it myself I have to admit. But want him to be successful so will let him sell it :) I am pretty proud of Justen. He made it to the college deans list and was approached by beta phi (will add right one later hahaha my memory is not working today)
I have been homeschooling my youngest kids. I can tell you it is harder then I ever thought it would be. Getting your own kids to keep focus and listen is so hard. They know my weaknesses and take total advantage of it! I know its best for me to teach my kids, but I am struggling badly this year! Lord help me.

Then my photography is so slow I am not sure if I will ever have my own studio. I have been practicing on other things because I am stuck at home and never see anyone to do anything. Those ways it feels like my whole life is on hold. Has to be that others are either sacrificing raising up their kids or I am just not doing something right!  In some ways it feels like a dream that will never happen. But to share here are a few things I have taken since 2010

 

Plus I am doing Project 52 (1 photo a week for 52 weeks)

There are more I did not add I had done

Anyway that is slowly but surely going..(but have been studying and learning)

Hubby and I had a wonderful time on our 18 year anniversary in March. We visited the Oregon Coast aquarium

 Since posting last I also purchased a nicer pro camera. Will be ready when its time!

Well this Sat is my 38th birthday. Nothing planned. My my plan is to have my kids around me is all I could hope for.

I have been seeing a heart doctor however, doing stress tests and such. My heart has been feeling like it is stopping. The heart doctor says it is beating extra beats. But we are still checking it all out.
Well this is about it for now..will post more often I hope!

Visiting the Coast

Our family does not very often go on a family vacation. But this year we finally did. We spent 3 days and 2 nights in Manzeneda, OR  right on the coast. it was beautiful!! We had a blast. We got to witness a beautiful sunset (as seen in the 3rd picture) I literally took over 500 images. There are so many pretty images. God's creation is magnificent! Brian and I took a stroll around town, there was music and on the porch of one of the houses down town was a family playing music together. It was AWESOME. The town had lots of character. Small touristy little town but adorable all in its own little cozy area. Had such a neat feel about it. The beach line was nice too. On the way back we got to witness some beautiful scenic too. Lots of old barns and buildings which I love. I think our family is going to make this a tradition and plan for something each year. My kids were so happy and it showed in the glowing in their eyes. It was wonderful to see them so happy!
Hubby chipped his tooth and cracked another one on the bottom of a pool at the motel we were staying at. Poor guy. But he was a trooper and insisted on a good time!

What have I been up to since posting on this blog last

Well the day after my grandma was buried, it was valentines. My hubby took me on a date. We went out to eat at a Chinese restaurant, then we went to Barnes and Nobles in Corvallis, OR we always try and go there when we go to Corvallis. I got 2 books and am reading one of them now. Its a book about the Holocaust. I am fascinated how people can survive such atrocities. Its so important that, that never happens again. We must be careful that we do not make our country a socialist one. Did you know Hitler was a believer of socialism?

Anyway I am off subject. We also stayed the night out and the kids stayed with my niece Ashlee. We had Madi and baby J the evening before. We had such a good time with them. Snuggling with Madi all night was simply amazing! She is such a sweet little girl. And it was so fun to watch baby James wear my kids plum out. He ran and ran and by bed time my kids were begging him. It was such a satisfying thing (pay backs lololol). I did not take pictures of them while they were visiting..darn it!

I recently took some newborn pictures of Saxon. Saxon is my sister Kim's nephew. What a doll!! I had a blast doing this. I hope to take many more in the future of him.

Madi recently got out of the hospital for yet another brain surgery. Her first shunt in her head failed. Apparently this one is doing really good!! Madi will need this surgery every 3 yrs anyway, but sometimes the shunts can fail. Ashlee and James have a pretty special girl. She is a blessing in our family. We love her so very much.

Well that is about it.

The things that keep me busy and thinking

My Animals keep me busy, there is always a picture to take. Animals are such a big part of my personal life.
I have been working on my photography skills. I am having a blast creating works of art I hope bless others. I am just an amateur, but am passionate about it. It seems so new in my life, but never had an opprotunty until now to bring my passion for photography out until now.


This morning was a gorgeous morning for picture taking. It was just breath taking. The above picture is a beautiful seen of some fog settle on the ground. in person it was beautiful. When you live next to a river we get allot more fog, but it can be stunning to see. Everything is beautiful and just glorifies our creator.

I have also been working on the end of the year receipts for HAIN . Keeps me busy this time of year. Plus our newsletter is also needing work!

I started a sock but may take it out. I found a beautiful pattern I will try and post it on my knitting blog HERE. Plus I found some neat patterns for sheep/lambs on ravelry . I love, love that site!
Then of course Fabebook keeps me busy too. Ok I admit I am addicted :) . I can meet all my friends and family in one place. Some near and some far. Its nice to have a place to share pictures and your thoughts!
Then in church we are keeping busy with the experiencing God study. Pretty good, but very basic study.
Will post more later......

taking pics and having fun

This is my niece Ashlee and me being silly

Its been awhile since I have posted in this blog..busy, busy, busy. Been busy going to church, enjoying family and learning new things in photography.

This is the sunrise I got to see this morning. Soon after I took this, it was gone. So pretty. It almost looked like a fire behind the tree's it was so bright!

God's Glory

Here are a few pictures of the sunrise I took this morning while getting the kids ready for school. It was gorgeous in person. Its just a reminder of the glory of God. He created this just for us. Painting the skies so we can be reminded of His love for us.

What have I been up too?

Well I took maternity pictures for my niece Ashlee. James and Ashlee are pregnant with a baby girl named Madeline (Maddie). Maddie has allot of struggles in the womb and will be born needing brain surgery. She will be whisked off right away. Maddie also suffered a stroke in womb and the doctors will not know the severity of that stroke until after Maddie is born. Maddie will be surrounded with love and she will be spoiled.

What else
I have several of these plants growing in my garden and had to share how interesting the leaves are. I found out they are a type of potato plant. Yup the ones we eat. We planted several types of potato's this year but in the past only planted white ones so the plant looks totally different. Cool huh?

And this is Opie, he is the baby goat that lost his momma.

Opie is doing a little better. He is learning to get along with the other goats. He still thinks of me as his other momma so he runs up to me and cries. But he is better then he was before. He was crying so hard his voice would run out. Opie boy is a sweetheart!!

4th of July

I have lots of beautiful firework pictures but don't want to post all 50 of them lolol they were so pretty what can I say :)

This is my beautiful daughter Julionna

There was a plane that dropped 4 sky divers that landed in a field close by. It was pretty cool

And this has nothing to do with the 4th except it was on a tree close by where we were sitting. A dragon fly.

4th of July is one of my favorite holidays. It is the celebration of our independence here in America. Thank you Soldiers and their families who keep us safe here at home.
Thank you Past, present and future soldiers who keep us free, independent and safe here at home!

Clay Pigeon Shooting

i
Few shooting pics. We had fun! All the kids but Paul tried the shotgun. Fun times..

Birds

So we thought they were all female Mallards...one is not apparently..Its molting and its colors are changing!! HOW COOL IS THAT?Anyone want a Mallard duck when they have babies?

If you look closer you can see baby chicks eating and drinking with one of our bunnies. They get along great.

Babies and momma outside for the first time together. So fun to watch!!


EDITED June 26th
This morning I found mom with a bunch of feathers missing and her baby chicks all gone. We are not sure if we have a weasel or a fox but whatever it is has been eating our eggs and some of my mom's chicks, pulling them through a whole. Not sure if its the same animal as the one doing it to my mom's chickens or not. Whatever it is only goes after the babies and eggs.

Family Get togethers

My son Gabe and his cousin Shania goofing off..I remember my cousins and I having fun times like this. Both of these two are clowns.

Brian holding our nieces son James

Gabe and me

Visiting my youngest sisters grandma, and who all I ever knew as grandma growing up.

Fishing

We had fun fishing this week-end. It was perfect fishing weather. We also went swimming in the Calapooia River but I did not take a camera when we went there. I wanted to get wet too ") It is so beautiful here in the spring/summer

Family time at park

Julionna holding my nephew James, Paul, my nephew Cayden and Gabe in the back

Testing out the waters

Playing in small water fall

God's beauty and awe..Gabe

Julionna and my nephew James

Beautiful week-end and random

My baby ducks enjoying one of their first swimming lessons outside

My cottontail
Spring is here! YEAH!

My daughter Julionna