Little Adventures 2011

Scavenger Hunt- February 26th

2012-02-26T05:35:00.000-08:00

LOVED this weeks clues!!!!!! so out of the box.... here is what I came up with:

1. Crossed

these tresses were very important... my Daddy built them.. and i thought they crossed each other beautifully

2. A Glimpse


Water has always been soothing and thought-provoking to me.. Heres my Glimpse!

3. Handwritten

i LOVED this clue! :) I immediately thought of love notes!

4. Bliss

Bliss... Angels, Flowers, and Prayer-time! :) What could be better than that?

5. Gray

this seemed so winter-y to me! :o) and just screamed GRAY

Hope you enjoyed my interpretations! :) I sure did enjoy taking these photos!!!

Scripture & a Snapshot- Week 75

2012-02-26T05:18:00.000-08:00

Treasure of Nature and More!

2012-02-25T05:21:00.000-08:00

In my life this week…

This week was pretty amazing... I ended up with three "friend" dates. Monday, Wednesday and Thursday! Friends are so important! Seeing them
changes your entire outlook for the rest of the week! So that was pretty great... I organized yesterday... talk about SORE... forget exercise... go organize your closets LOL I guarantee you that you will not be able to move good the next day! LOL must be all the bending, standing, moving, pushing, pulling (hair out LOL) ..... HAHA no but seriously! I feel muscles i forgot existed this a.m. but feel very accomplished ... isnt that always nice?

In our homeschool this week…

Homeschool was also really fun this week... We have been doing a few more "Montessori" style activities... Torch loved them. He especially loved the pouring water ones and we did one where he had to get water out of one bowl and into another but only could use the turkey baster LOL he thought that was fabulous! He is doing amazing with his sight words... and writing ... last night he called his daddy to come see he had written "is" on his white board! :o) and pretty darn good too! makes a momma proud thats for sure!

Helpful homeschooling tips or advice to share…

Be patient, and be proud of what you are doing with your kids... because they are getting a private tutor who cares and loves for them more then any other person on this earth could!

I am inspired by…

So many of YOU. Each day i find NEW and AMAZING moms out there that are doing homeschooling and sharing with the world! And thats what I want to do too! :) so thank YOU

Places we’re going and people we’re seeing…

Havent been GOING too much this week ... enjoying lots of walks ... The other night we went for a walk at night and Torch loved seeing the stars....

My favorite thing this week was…

Seeing the PRIDE and ASTONISHMENT written across Torch's face when he wrote words on the white board .. and could read what he wrote! :)

Things I’m working on…

Getting next years curriculum purchased, and then will start working on getting it all planned and put together :o)
Also, non homeschool related, will be continuing organizing the house! Todays project is "PHOTO albums" my goodness! I am running over with them! I am changing to photo boxes PRONTO!

I’m reading…

Just finished a 15 part series called "SWEEP"... it was really great.... I think I will be starting a new book today! Got my books on my entertainment finally! :)

I’m cooking…

I came across this awesome site the other day ....
GOOD FOOD RECIPES HERE
Her site is pretty awesome! check it out!!!!!! myhubby says I HAVE GOT to try these! :) haha

I’m grateful for…

A handful of people that I can count on hands down .... These ladies are amazing
and they listen ... and they LOVE wholeheartedly!!!! And i wouldnt trade them in my life for anything!

A photo, video, link, or quote to share…

Each week I participate in "Shoot, Edit, Submit" ... So here is my entry for this week:

This was taken with my Macro Snap on and I like to call it "Treasure of Nature"

linking with:

Edit Me Challenge- Week 8

2012-02-22T07:23:00.000-08:00

Our guest judge this week is Bree from His Honey & Her Mommy. Here is a little bit more about her:

My name is Bree. I am a 30 something working mommy of a 2 ½ little girl and a wife to an amazing husband. I have lived in Utah all my life. I have a passion for photography. On the side I have recently been taking family pictures and portraits. I love learning new things and practicing. It s rare to see me without my camera. I also LOVE decorating my home, gardening, crafting, camping, rock crawling, and 4 wheeling. I also LOVE to travel and have big plans on making sure my little girl gets some of that under her belt. I despise laundry.

Tutorial Tuesday- Waterdroplets!

2012-02-21T09:03:00.000-08:00

This weeks tutorial was TOO fun! I have always LOVED water... A few years back I got some pretty neat droplet shots... but Had never intentionally put something behind to get a shot! :o) I practiced with some fun colors washcloths, and a towel :o) Here are my faves :

And using Kims Felicity Texture ... heres another one:

Color Me Weekly- #8- feb 20th

2012-02-20T05:36:00.000-08:00

i seriously LOVE color me weekly! IT IS So fun making these palettes! :o) here is mines for this week ....

Scavenger Hunt Sunday- Feb 19th

2012-02-19T05:21:00.000-08:00

This weeks clues were very challenging.... they were out of the box.. and really fun....
Here are my views on them:

1. LOVE

On Valentines Day, I heard a knock at the door... and was VERY surprised
to find my big brother.. standing there holding this single red rose... and said, "
I just wanted you to know how much I love you little sister". MELT my heart!
thats gotta be LOVE right there! :o)

2. DUPLICATED

I was out in the yard, and was looking at how many times throughout my yard these little "weeds" had duplicated evenly over the lawn...

3. TRENDING

Ok this one seriously kicked my butt... I could not find anything that I use
that is trending on twitter LOL made me feel VERY old-fashioned.. so i said
hey why not take trending back a few years... DO you see what my son is holding?
YES thats a beanie baby... LOL my parents were nice enough to indulge me during
that craze... and we now have hundreds of "loveys" for my son to use... They were trending
at one point right?

4. PAPER

This was a paper valentines bag I used for my sons little surprises :o)

5. PLASTIC

Plastic Cars anyone? Oh and the M&M case is plastic :P

Scripture & a Snapshot - Week 74

2012-02-19T05:03:00.000-08:00

I was browsing for a verse for a different photo this week... and all the sudden came across the verse I ended up using.. and remembered the perfect photo for it! Hope it brings you as much comfort as it did for me!

Shoot Edit Submit- Wildflower Love

2012-02-17T06:04:00.000-08:00

Wow... Last week I won another Top 5 Winner at Shoot Edit Submit! I LOVE IT! ... I feel so honored entering with so many gorgeous photos! It is very surreal when you see your photo there!

Thanks Ladies!
Heres my submission for this week:

Taken with my new Snap On Macro Lens! :o)

Educational Toys Galore

2012-02-15T05:30:00.000-08:00

Good morning World,
I don't know about you all, but I know with Torch we do lots of little activities throughout our school
morning to spark more education but he thinks he is getting "playtime" ...
So i thought I would do a post with my FAVE educational toys that we have been using throughout the year in between writing, story time, learning, and outside play...
Who knows ... maybe you will find something you havent seen or maybe you already own all of these... whichever it ends up being...
I hope you enjoy Little Adventures Top "toy" list!

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Torch just LOVES these... We make sight words, sing ABC songs, its so

much fun....


Alex Little Hands String My ABC's

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Our world would not be complete without LEGO...

we seriously have BINS of these...


for This particular set click here

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We LOVE leapfrog products...


Bubble Wash

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

And another leapfrog fave on our toy shelf...

Fridge Phonics

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Torch LOVES playing shoppe... so one of these comes

in REAL handy...

Cash Registers

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I cannot SAY enough good things about Melissa & Doug products

Seriously if you do not own any .... please .. do an amazon search for them

there stuff is SO educational but Torch LOVES them and has

learnt to much... here are just a few of our faves...

Post office is SO fun

This one IS super fun

Fish Puzzle ...

Such a cute puzzle

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Everyone needs a doctor kit right?

Torch and I gather up lots of patients...

and play this for hours...

he just loves it ...

especially when we make someone better

with a few M&M Rx's hehe

Doctor Kit

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Seriously, Who doesnt LOVE playdoh?

I tape Parchment Paper to our dining room table ..

and let him make up a mess ....

and the best thing?

Untape the paper and VOILA.. no MESS moms...

PLaydoh Set

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I Hope you have enjoyed some of the things that keep us busy during our days....

There are so many more activities...

but these are a few of our "staples" that we try to always have fun with each week...

Have a Blessed Day!

Edit Me Challenge- Week 7

2012-02-14T19:14:00.000-08:00

This week's judge is the amazing Rosie of Leavesnbloom Studio.

Heres her original (Isnt it GORGEOUS? i LOVE the sheep laying there ):

and heres my edit:

Steps to get this:

Cropped close to the house....
Then used one of Jills beautiful textures from Tutorial tuesday on www.ashleysisk.com today
Layer Mask- added the background
Erased the tree line and cloned out the rest
Cloned the wall and grass to make it stretch a bit further ...
added some green at 68% opacity to the foreground

This photo just screamed fairy-tale to me... I loved it!

Love is in the air

2012-02-14T17:37:00.000-08:00

This weeks tutorial was AMAZING... i mean REALLY! Thank You Jill... I had been messing around
before.. but I just LOVED the free bokeh backgrounds... they brought some of my pics to LIFE!
here are a few before and afters that I played with today:

This is my sons valentines pics that I took today :o)
Original

And my edit with the new background courtesy of Jill:

and then here is another Before & Afters with my flower photo I took last week in the yard...

original:

and edit:

I JUST LOVE how this came out! :D :D

Also Linking Up with:

Flowers make me Happy! :o)

used my new texture Cherish! :) thanks Kim!!!!

Have a Beautiful Love-filled Valentines evening!

Scripture & Snapshot-week 73

2012-02-12T06:23:00.000-08:00

The way of the sluggard is blocked with thorns, but the path of the upright is a highway.
Proverbs 15:19

Scavenger Hunt Sunday- Feb 12th

2012-02-12T06:17:00.000-08:00

1. Facial Feature

My darling pillow pet... lol... It was sitting on the couch the other night and I am like AH Facial feature.... :o)

2. Shadow

I take only the credit of being in the right place at the right time for this shot. It was a cloudy day, just rained, i pointed it up to the sky and snapped.. and bam... :o) Sooc ... I was SO in love with the dreamy look of it!

3. Spicy

I was trying to think of Spicy this week and remembered we had picked an entire zippie of bird peppers :o)

4. Gold

These were across my yard in a field of peas :o)

5. Fabric

My beloved Mickey Mouse throw... the colors caught my eye and I couldnt pass up using it for this clue

5-minute Friday- Trust

2012-02-10T08:31:00.000-08:00

As The Gypsy Mama so eloquently puts it:

Around here we write for five minutes flat on Fridays.

We write because we want to, not because we have to. We write for fun, for joy, for discovery.

This weeks topic: TRUST

START: 11:25am

Proverbs 3:5

“Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding.”

Trust.

There is something so simple and yet so complex about it.

It is so difficult to gain and yet so easily lost.

In one moment, the loss of trust can break a friendship,

put rifts in a marriage that were not there,

put doubt into our minds that never existed before,

One second, and bam, its gone.

When we are broken and hurting,

it is SO difficult to open our hearts

again

because our mind naturally wants to put up

walls of defense,

shields and barriers in order

to protect our hearts from

getting hurt again.

However, it takes time to realize that in order to ever

truly FEEL again after we are hurt...

we have to lower those walls, weaken those shields and barriers,

lay down those burdens of defense,

otherwise,

we live a lonely life of never letting people get that close,

to that pivotal moment in our minds where we feel

"oh no, they are getting in, gotta strengthen those walls a little"

Nobody can ever truly love us if we do not open our hearts

to the reality that they may get hurt, broken, bruised, at one time

or another...

God wants us to be relational. He wants people in our lives.

He put us here not to be lonely,

and he doesnt like when we get hurt...

but he is always there for us... like nobody here on Earth can be.

Trust in him, let him help us open our hearts, when they get battered and bruised....

Let him help us get through the pain,

and see that rainbow through the rain.

He is worth it.

And in time, your heart will heal, and you will find happiness in the choices

you made even if there were a few bumps along the road that brought

you pain or anguish.

STOP: 11:30am

Shoot Edit Submit- Week 4

2012-02-10T08:18:00.000-08:00

Edit Me Challenge- Week 6

2012-02-08T05:10:00.000-08:00

Todays Edit Me Challenge is from a very talented supermomma :o) ... (arent we all?).... She takes beautiful photos ... and offered up this one for us to edit! what a gorgeous shot... even in the original!

Here is her original:


Gorgeous right?

Here is my edit:

- First I cleaned up the tree top line.. taking any thing that caught my eye out

- removed the green sun flare (although after crop.. it didnt matter)

- ran an airbrush very lightly over the brides back/face and grooms face

- decided to crop it close to grooms shoulder

-added in a paper layer into the sky for texture

- Ran Field of Dreams Action on the bottom portion of the photo

(compliments of oh so posh photography)

- Adjusted Color Curves and Exposure

-added the stitch frame

and i think that's it! :o)

LOVE wedding pics!!!!

linking up with:

Tutorial Tuesday- Its Food Week!

2012-02-07T07:06:00.000-08:00

This weeks tutorial was how to photograph FOOD and make it look as YUMMY as it tastes... I love love love all the reading with this week... I love food magazines and food shows (who doesn't?) and always wondered how they get their food to look amazing... well it isnt just let me grab the camera and snap a pic at the pot! Some serious time goes into making the PERFECT food shot!

Here is my tropical take on food photography....

and it must have worked because when I showed my three year old these pics..

he says

"Oh mom, that looks yummy, Can I have some?"

And some fruit to go along with it?

Adventures of Nature and more!

2012-02-07T05:49:00.000-08:00

I love days that just ,even with their imperfections, seem to be a beautiful day.

Having the blessings (and luxury) of being a homeschool mom,

It is SO nice when we can take advantage of the

beauty that surrounds us.

There are no long waits for the bus,

scrambling to get breakfast down their throats,

savoring those last few moments

that you are "Mom" in the morning,

only to not see those beautiful faces for hours later.

These chaotic moments are replaced

with an ease in the morning,

(Hmmm SOME mornings)

allowing the pace to be set by how everyone feels that day,

being allowed to take pajama days where you read alot more,

make forts, play legos, or as Torch and I did,

survived the treacherous ocean, saved each other from sharks,

and managed to escape to our Castle in Reading Village.

Torch is three and a half, but I LOVE the expression on his face when mom

jumps in our boat (a.k.a. the bedroom rug)

and tells him "Hop in hunny, before the sharks come"

He got so excited, we played for an hour ... weaving and driving through

the uncharted waters of "bedroom valley".

Finally, we made it to the Castle mote and was able to carefully

and quite crafty I might add jump into our humble abode

where we read for another hour.

These are the moments I love.

Earlier in the day, we took a break from school time, and we got some fresh

apple and set out on another adventure in the stroller to find whatever we could find.

On our journey, we came across

Sir Stare-Alot

He was guarding his fortress. We dared not mess with him.

Then we came to the gardens of plenty...

and of course Maiden Mommy of Camera-ville HAD to stop on our journey

to capture the beauty that we found... growing in the bushes of our jungle we like

to call the neighborhood.

and we finally braved Thorn-thicket

and found this amazing Rose,

before we decided to head home to our beautiful cottage on Castle Drive...

^Linking up with Kim's Texture Tuesday- Used Poetic & Musiclovin^

Homeschooling is not about control, or sheltering our children

from the world as some like to think it is...

We are not harming them,

we are molding them,

shaping them,

and teaching them of the world.

Allowing their imaginations to remain intact,

Our children are given an opportunity

to actually remain children.

We are building stepping stones,

not stumbling blocks

to their future!

I hope you get to enjoy adventures every day with your kids

whether you homeschool or not,

Choose what is best for you and your family,

and allow me to do the same for mines.

Blessed Be.

Palettes & Macro Oh My

2012-02-06T06:10:00.000-08:00

I am totally in LOVE with all of these photography link-ups throughout the week. It is something to look forward to ... meeting new blogging friends... and getting back in touch with "fun" photography ... that is something just for me ...

Here is my palette for this week.... I loved these Chickens... My friend A and I went out to the family farm this weekend and got some super awesome shots! :o)

I LOVED the rich dark hues of this photo!

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Also, linking up with another Macro Site...
Waiting on my snap on macro lens... but for now used my 300mm
and found a cotton tree ...

Scavenger Hunt Sunday- Feb 5th

2012-02-05T05:20:00.000-08:00

This is my first time participating in Scavenger Hunt Sunday! I thought it looked SO fun when I came across this on Ashleys site last week. and obviously by the amount of thumbnails its a fave for a lot of other people out there too! Heres to reading between the lines... and searching through life for the clues of these hunts...
This weeks clues were so fun.... so here they are:

Strike a Pose

This beautiful creature was just hanging on for dear life in the wind... and I thought it was a beautiful "pose"

Footwear

This lady was ROCKING the chicken VIP footwear

Hobby

Nothing better than a cup of tea and a really good book (in this case THE best book)

Shiny

I just LOVED how the light hit the skin of this baby pomegranate

Color Me Green

I LOVE nature... so many beautiful things to capture...

Well theres my take on the clues for this week.... Looking forward to this meme ... it was

really fun !!!!!!

Capturing my Everyday Adventures- Week 5

2012-02-04T09:42:00.000-08:00

Its Saturday! And that means time for some of my fave moments that I have captured throughout the past week.

Please feel free to join us ... Grab one of the buttons... and Share some of your amazingly, perfect, little yet oh so big memories from the past week. And Then Come back and pop the link in the Meme at the bottom! :)

Scripture & Snapshot- Week 5 2012

2012-02-04T04:34:00.000-08:00

Color Me Weekly- Feb 3

2012-02-03T12:20:00.000-08:00

Trying this link up for the first time :)

Self Portraits, Pampering and More!

2012-02-03T06:10:00.000-08:00

In my life this week…

I am so so so excited ... i finally get to get some pampering this afternoon. I have had bad luck with hair appointments for months... Either i graciously gave it to my mom LOL or something came up and had to cancel. Thankfully, my hubby offered to keep Torch so that I can go today! Hooray! :o) Happy Momma. this week I also received my diploma from Ashworth ...Yay... and was nominated for Delta Epsilon Tau Honor Society! I was SUPER excited and very surprised. 4.0 GpA. I also got to spend yesterday with my Daddy. He injured his foot and couldnt get around too well, and he is NEVER home. such a hard working man. So it was a blessing from God for Torch and I to spend the entire day with him! God works in mysterious ways.

In our homeschool this week…

Well our jobs month ended. Torch and I had so much fun getting a glimpse into so many careers. This month is SOOOOO cute. Everything has hearts, and looks so sweet. We are "climbing into Nursery Rhymes"

Helpful homeschooling tips or advice to share…

Go with the flow. Yesterday when we took care of my Dad... i felt like it was way more important to push school till later in the day (we ended up doing it during cooking time) and Torch was able to see first-hand that sometimes things in life gets set aside to take care of family.

I am inspired by…

Each week I award a blog that has given me inspiration that week my award ... :o)... This weeks Award goes to...

Grab your Award button and display on your blog if you like! :D Thank you for being such an inspiration to me each week.

Places we’re going and people we’re seeing…

My friend and I are going on a camera photography date tomorrow. Super Excited.

My favorite thing this week was…

Hands down taking care of my Daddy yesterday. Nothing could top that.

I’m reading…

The Bible this year. JOIN ME ???? See the button --------------------> over here....
I would love it if you read along too!

I’m cooking…

Tonight is Grilled BBq Chicken, Baked Onion Rings, and Cole Slaw!

I’m grateful for…

New Friends, New Experiences, and New Adventures

I’m praying for…

My Daddys Foot to heal, my mom to finish up her dental work and get home safe next week (we miss her) and I always love to ASK you ... What do you need prayers for? email me :o) and let me know! i would be honored to pray for you too!

A photo, video, link, or quote to share…

Dont ya love self portraits? lol

Macros, Photos, and Real Life!

2012-02-03T05:37:00.000-08:00

I [Heart] Fridays. It is FULL of blogging fun, link-ups, photo fun, and the day that brings us to the weekend where hubby is home all weekend from work.

Here is my photo for Shoot Edit Submit this week.... Congrats to the winners of last

week :o) the photos are amazing!

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I also found this site called Blogging From Bolivia and she hosts Macro Friday... I have yet

to get a macro lens or clip on one... but I use my 300mm and can get pretty close (if I stand pretty

far away) so heres my photo for that...

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I have SO loved Gyspy Mamas 5 minute friday the past few weeks...
this weeks writing prompt for 5 minutes of totally unedited, fresh, clean
straight out of your mind writing is:

REAL
Start: 8:30

I love the way that children think. I love the simplicity of life to them.
It is simply remarkable how their curious minds can take in so much
each day and retain it.
Each day is not just a day, it is an adventure.
The bed can be a magic carpet one day to transport them to
magical worlds and the next day a bustling pirate ship filled
with "Argh Mateys" and "Walk ye Planks".
The blocks that parents trample over are castles, and parking lots,
and homes to so many that these little minds take in.
The dining room table is a tent in the woods keeping them safe
from woozles, and bears oh my.
A regular towel out of the cabinet can be transformed into a magical
cape that makes them invisible to the human eye, and then in an instant
can be the roof of the most intricate castle in the forest of "living room".
I just LOVE to see the day to day adventures that can be so overlooked.
Each adventure is a time to captivate our childrens minds and play along
to enforce that beautiful imagination of theirs. It is when we see
the adventures as "REAL" life, that we truly be given a gift.
It is the gift of a special sight that only parents get offered when
they are willing to play, and get dirty, and crawl as bugs,
and jump like rabbits, and kangaroos through the Australian Deserts.
It is the gift of not criticizing and tearing down dreams.
It is the gift of innocence.
It is the gift of imagination.
Hold tight to it.
Dont let it go.
Your children are only little once. Let each day be an ADVENTURE, not a chore.
Let each day be something NEW and Fabulous and REAL.
Bring those dreams alive.
Make them reality.

Stop: 8:35

Have a Beautiful Friday!

Texture Thursday (oops i mean tuesday)

2012-02-02T12:15:00.000-08:00

What a day today has been... and you know what? I wouldnt change one bit about it. I had to take care of my Daddy for a while today ... he injured his foot and if you knew my Dad, sitting home with a hurt foot is like shooting him in the foot. Seriously.
He is THE hardest worker I know in my entire world. He works from sun-up to sun-down every day of his life... never asking for help and usually not taking it. But today, my Daddy needed me. My Daddy needed me to help ice his foot, feed him lunch, drive him around, and I loved EVERY moment. Because every moment I spent today with Torch and I taking care of "poppi"... was time spent with my HARD-working Daddy whom is not home that much. Remember my post a few days ago? I felt that God had TOLD ME TO STAY HOME. not to set out about my plans, to reign myself in. Well this is why. He knew what was ahead. He knew my Daddy needed me as much as I always need him. He knew it was going to be a moment where the child gets to take care of the parent. He knew. He always knows. So although today has been a rush about, busy, crazy, imperfect day, I would not trade a single moment of today for anything under the sun.
Sometimes, God needs us to WANT to be there with him, just as our parents sometimes need our help, our companionship, our love. They take care of us from infants, raise us and send us out on our beautiful spread wings to soar above on our dreams. But remember, sometimes the Father needs the child to come back, stay put, rest those wings, and take some time taking care of the ones who have spent their time taking care of you.

Here are some photos I took yesterday in my Daddys yard :o)

Edited using Kims Texture Simplicity.

First time linking up with:

My Month in Photos: January 2012

2012-02-01T10:49:00.000-08:00

Can you believe its February already?

I am linking up with this awesome blog Simple as that :o)

to showcase a collage of photos from each month this year!

I will be printing and scrapbooking them throughout the year.

This month we did:

more art projects

got outside alot more

ran our toes through the grass

snuggled ALOT

read tons of books

and I enjoyed all

of life's simple moments with

the people who matter most!

Happy February 1st!

Edit Me challenge- Week 4

2012-02-01T06:39:00.000-08:00

EDIT ME CHALLENGE

I SO look forward to this challenge each week... the photos are always beautiful... and the best thing is I get to meet new photographers out there... and visit more and more blogs... and expand my virtual "family" even bigger then imagined.

This weeks photo is coming from Coach House Crafting :o) Isnt it just BEAUTIFUL?

This is her original:

and here is my edit for this week:

- Cropped the photo vertically

- Sharpened but erased the sharpening on the foreground

- added some brightness and contrast to the sky

-ran simply charming action (oh so posh photography) for a touch

of color

-Added border and quote

Have a Great Day!

Tutorial Tuesdays- Watercolor Effect

2012-01-31T11:33:00.000-08:00

This weeks tutorial was about creating a watercolor effect on a photo! It was really simple and fun and creates a beautiful look to any photo! Here are the ones i played with ... adjusting the opacity on the different layers to get the desired look!

Enjoy!

here is my before:

and after:

And I wanted do another one since i loved it so much, here is the before:

and my after:

thanks for stopping by
and
Be sure to check out Ramblings and Photos who is hosting this link up...

Let God Guide Us

2012-01-31T05:52:00.000-08:00

Over the past few weeks, I had been preparing for a trip. It was just a small vacation to go and see some friends of ours as they vacationed themselves in Florida. Well, as I was getting plans made, it was one of those "yes we can go" then "no we cannot get it to work" oh "yes we can go". It seemed as if all the plans were fitting together like one big puzzle.

Everything seemed perfect.

Then the unraveling began.

Things that normally would be considered "small" started to overcome me.

The fact that the hotels were too expensive for us, there was little to no room at my grandmothers home as her and my mom were there, my mom was going to be having more dental work, and my grandmother needs cataract surgery.

Some of these things are BIG but i mean to most they would just be bumps.

Things to say "oh well we will make it work".

But what if these bumps are more like "god-bumps".

What if these things that make us think and ponder and question and ask ourselves "are we doing the right thing?"

is the hand of God pushing us to change our mind?

I started to feel all these emotions about this supposedly relaxing vacation. I was

super excited to see our friends, take a little trip, do a little shopping (if you know the Bahamas

there are VERY LITTLE SHOPS here), maybe see a movie with another best friend of mines

who lives in Florida.

I was OVER-excited.

But these small things kept coming up. I wasn't sleeping. I was having a hard time focusing.

They were guiding me to say "I think we shouldn't go".

Then my son and I got colds, granted just a head cold but I was looking within and just

seeing this big stop sign standing in front of this vacation I had planned.

And I finally said, "I am listening God, I am listening"

To solidify my decision, I have been reading the Bible every morning and have been

CRAVING MORE,

so I have said before in a post, I am well ahead of January 31st, but I am in the

absolute PERFECT place for me,

because each day when I read, there is something that strikes me very hard, very strong

and very DEEP in my heart.

God speaks to us through his Word.

Clearly and Confidently

This mornings scripture was Numbers 8-10. Here is an account of the particular passage

that spoke so strongly to me:

When the cloud moved, they moved (Numbers 9:15-23)

15 And on the day that the tabernacle was reared up the cloud covered the tabernacle, namely, the tent of the testimony: and at even there was upon the tabernacle as it were the appearance of fire, until the morning.
16 So it was away: the cloud covered it by day, and the appearance of fire by night.
17 And when the cloud was taken up from the tabernacle, then after that the children of Israel journeyed: and in the place where the cloud abode, there the children of Israel pitched their tents.
18 At the commandment of the LORD the children of Israel journeyed, and at the commandment of the LORD they pitched: as long as the cloud abode upon the tabernacle they rested in their tents.
19 And when the cloud tarried long upon the tabernacle many days, then the children of Israel kept the charge of the LORD, and journeyed not.
20 And so it was, when the cloud was a few days upon the tabernacle; according to the commandment of the LORD they abode in their tents, and according to the commandment of the LORD they journeyed.
21 And so it was, when the cloud abode from even unto the morning, and that the cloud was taken up in the morning, then they journeyed: whether it was by day or by night that the cloud was taken up, they journeyed.
22 Or whether it were two days, or a month, or a year, that the cloud tarried upon the tabernacle, remaining thereon, the children of Israel abode in their tents, and journeyed not: but when it was taken up, they journeyed.
23 At the commandment of the LORD they rested in the tents, and at the commandment of the LORD they journeyed: they kept the charge of the LORD, at the commandment of the LORD by the hand of Moses.

God guided the Israelites.

When the cloud moved, they moved,

and when the cloud appeared, they stayed put.

How powerful.

Don't you wish sometimes that we had a cloud appearing and telling

us when to move and when to stay?

However, we do have it.

God guides us through His Word, other people, conversations and more.

He helps our heart know right from wrong yet he lets us make the final

decision. He does not stand there telling us what to do.

He tells us and gives us the guidance for what is right to do.

We have to make that final move.

We have to let his Hand be our cloud, and when it lifts, we go out

and do the things he has called us to do, and when it is placed upon us,

we are to pull back and stay put.
I may be saddened that I cannot see two of my very best friends,
but I want to listen when God tells me to stay put.

Have you felt Gods guidance within you ??

Look Closer...

Look Deeper...

and FEEL his guidance

to help you with your decisions each day.

Have a blessed Week!

linking up with:

Scripture & a Snapshot- Wk 4-2012

2012-01-28T18:17:00.000-08:00

May your week be filled with love, laughter and lots of "living" your memories in the making!

Shoot Edit Submit- week 3

2012-01-28T17:56:00.000-08:00

i love getting OUT there and finding such amazing details in nature... Today I was out to my little studio waiting on some clients.. wondering about what I should submit.. and all the suddens.. the heavens opened up.. and it rained... and I knew ... I would wait.... and see what I could find all sprinkled with a little bit of heaven... :o) I will share more of my findings another time... but for now ... here is my submission photo for this week! :D

P.S. i was in the TOP 5 last week! :D what an honor!

Capturing my Everyday Adventures- Week 4

2012-01-28T07:41:00.000-08:00

This week was filled with good friends, laughter, game nights, and relaxing with hubby....

In the day Torch and I spent the days on our back deck when we werent doing school.. making

forts with a big box ... :o)

Here are some photos from our week:

bubbles :o)

enjoying the little cave we maded

went up the hill for a playdate :o)

a painting project i did for a special little girl ... one of my

friends daughters.. but she is like a niece!

Have a Blessed Week!

5-minute Friday- Tender

2012-01-27T14:54:00.000-08:00

Writing out of want not necessity ... unedited ... and fully from the heart....

START- 5:48pm

Ephesians 4:32

Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.

Tender Hearts in the making.

I Crave a tender heart for our family.

It is so easy and yet so difficult for many in this world to be compassionate and kind

towards others, and to bring with them in any and every situation

a kind and tender heart.

God wants us to forgive others for every thing they do to us just as he

forgives us.

He is the remember-er. When our acquaintances, strangers, family and even friends

forget promises they have made to us. God doesn't. He remembers from the bottom

of His heart what he promises us.

Gods heart is as tender as they get.

He is just, and kind, and compassionate, and forgives each of us for our daily sins,

and yet he never forgets us even when we forget him.

Look to Him when your heart starts to get hardened and angry, and ask for him to change

all our hearts to one of a tender nature.

God Bless.

Stop: 5:53pm

HMJ- Games, Friends, Curly & More!

2012-01-27T14:36:00.000-08:00

In my life this week...

I started a fun Monday "club" with one of my friends... is it a club with two people? LOL oh well... its a time in the week we can come together and do crafts, make our meal plans for the week so we are accountable to each other, and just spend time with a girlfriend and have some one on ones. they are OH so important.

I also got the fire i have been searching for with my weight loss... I have not over pointed once this week and proud of it! I also have walked more miles this week then I have in months.
Wednesday night we had some friends over to play games on the back deck... It was so relaxing with the cool breeze... an OFF candle lol, and we played Sequence and Taboo! so fun!
So i have been walking around with perma-smiles on all week!

In our homeschool this week…

This week we finished up our month of "dress up". Torch had a BLAST learning and really understanding that you can be anything when you grow up. We had never really brought that topic up before and it was nice to see how he took to it. From what I have seen, he is either going to be the BEST banker or the most fly wall street journal dude... because he was in LOVE with banking day and the vault. LOL I laugh when i say that because let us hope he loves the vault for the PURE reasons LOL

Helpful homeschooling tips or advice to share…

HAVE FUN and dont get upset if you have to take a "hookie day"

I am inspired by…

This weeks:

Goes to ...

I LOVE her 5 minute friday meme! She is very inspirational. Check her OUT!

Places we’re going and people we’re seeing…

We are so excited to be heading off to Florida next week to visit with one of my besties. She lives in NY but they vacation and I couldnt miss up the chance to see her. So we are pretty excited... and Torch's grandma and great-grandma are over there too!

I’m reading…

The Bible :o) Why dont you join me?

I’m cooking…

Tonight is BBQ grilled Chicken, Corn on the Cob (grilled), Oven Fries (Super Healthy) and Cole Slaw made healthy :) YUMMY

I’m grateful for…

LIFE. Love. Laughter.

I’m praying for…

All of YOU. What do YOU need prayers for? Let me know amylillianphotography@gmail.com and I will be sure to add your special requests to my list.

A photo, video, link, or quote to share…

Meet Curly ... Our new little friend who visits us on our back deck...

Edit Me Challenge- So Adorable

2012-01-25T08:26:00.000-08:00

Time for the Edit Me Challenge Again. These weeks just fly by don't they?

- This week the photo is coming from this talented lady.... Ashley S. Please check out her blog by clicking the button below! I spent some time browsing through some of her blog and I just LOVE it so I know You will TOO! -

She gave us this photo to work on and edit:

Isn't He ADORABLE with a capital A?
I tried All sorts of different looks... but I finally came to this one over and over again...
Here ya go:

Steps to Achieve this:
- A little retouching with the airbrush
Very low opacity because he is SO cute just to soften it up a bit
- Ran my FAVE actions from the Bohemian collection
from oh so posh photography
Simply Charming & Bed of Roses
-Bumped up Hues/Saturation a bit
- Cropped the Image

Hope You like it! :o) I had so much fun editing this little cutie pie!

Linking Up with:

I hear you, God.

2012-01-25T06:40:00.000-08:00

Last week i started this amazing weekly get together over at Getting Down with Jesus. The post gave

me goosebumps *ahem* I mean "God-bumps" as she calls them. During that week, I felt

Gods presence as I found fellowship with a dear, new friend of mines. Well

this week, yet another "god-bump" happened to me. This one was even more personal,

hit home even harder, and I would love to share it with you.

It was a normal day and a normal evening, well as normal as my life truly gets, but
for the most part it was a wonderfully imperfect, perfect day.
I sat down to have a little time with Mr. television, as I do not sit down much of the
day to spend time with him. I don't know if you have ever seen David Tuteras Wedding planning Show, My Fair Wedding, but if you haven't,

It is really a GREAT show.
He helps ladies not only get the wedding of their dreams, but he instills in them
a love for themselves, a power to walk down the aisle and a hope for a beautiful future.
It is really very sweet. He has a way about him that everyone can love him.
These couples walk away feeling inspired from every show. People from all walks of life and
many different circumstances find hope through his help.

This particular show I was watching the bride had anorexia... and I thought to myself the entire
time i watched this, how here i am struggling with my weight loss, and this poor girl
battled such an awful disease where she had to overcome it in time to even be able
to eat her wedding cake. So at this point, im listening but the God-bump hadn't hit yet.

Well that one went over, so we headed in so I could get some sleep. Mommas need that you know!
If you are a new mommy, you may be asking yourself, "What is she talking about? What on earth
is sleep?" Trust me If you are there, I have been there too, It eventually comes back to you.
I promise.
Anywho, back to the story, I had been having a bit of a struggle the past few weeks ~~Months~~ getting
back on the weight loss wagon. I lost 50 lbs last year but when November hit, emotionally
I was dealing with death in the family, miscarriage, vacations, christmas, etc...
I couldn't get that spark back yet I wanted it so badly. I just needed that one moment that put me
back on that train.
When the New year arrived, I started the read the bible in a year challenge. I have fell in LOVE
with every chapter and I believe this morning I am up to February 15th (LOL) I cant put it down.
I thank God for that fire under me to focus and I have been praying hard and strong to
give me that push to continue another 50 lb goal this year.
Well, I sat in bed, ready to go to sleep and another "My Fair Wedding" came on, so I said, let me
see what this one is about and then I will go to sleep.
This beautiful girl came on the screen with her fiance and in the opening sentence, "I am twenty (some) years old and my highest weight was 279 and I had a stroke and almost died" She continued talking, but I immediately looked up to heaven and said,

"I HEAR YOU, GOD"

He was speaking loud and clear. That was the FIRE I needed. To know that I was about 10 lbs over her highest weight last January. And I managed to lose fifty pounds last year with the help and love of God and supportive friends and family and an amazing husband who cut back too.
My weight had been a struggle since 2005 when I found out I was allergic to bc pills. There went seventy pounds in a few short months. I was depressed, I was sad, I was hurt, I was shocked that
a medicine could put THAT much weight on me. Then over the past six years between emotional eating over death, loss of friendships, seven miscarriages, one healthy pregnancy, one c-section,
and endless feelings of inadequacy over my weight gain, I landed myself in one big emotional wreck last January. As I shed those fifty pounds, I shed all those feelings, I mourned each loss over again as I revisited weight goals, and Here i am only one 10% goal away from my wedding weight in 2005 and then maybe two more till my goal weight after that,
That one fact, that I could have a stroke and DIE.
That is it.
Enough.
No more excuses.
I got my Weight Watcher books back out... got my weekly planner to write my food journal in....
and have gotten up every day this week and back to my walking at home, cardio, aerobics, and I feel BACK ON TRACK for the first time since November.
I do not feel as if I am struggling. I feel as if I am LIVING and LiVING STRONG.
Thank You God, because I am LISTENING.

I

hear

You

loud and clear

Have a blessed day!

linking up with:

Giveaway from Kristen with Love

2012-01-24T06:19:00.001-08:00

I love giving ... and I love to see others give... It just makes me smile.

Check out this fabulous giveaway at

She is doing a giveaway for reaching 100 followers! :) check her out! Her Blog is so fun and fresh! :)

Menu Plan Monday- Week 4-2012

2012-01-23T17:08:00.001-08:00

Monday- Breakfast for Dinner

Tuesday- Southwestern Chicken & Rice

Wednesday- Beef & Broccoli with Whole Grain Rice Medley

Thursday- Baked Salmon with Baked Potatoes

Friday- BbQ Grilled Chicken and Oven Fries

Saturday- Grilled Steak/Grilled Grouper with Scalloped Potatoes and Veggies

Sunday- breakfast for dinner

Shoot Edit Submit- week 2

2012-01-22T06:43:00.000-08:00

Scripture & a Snapshot- Wk 3-2012

2012-01-22T06:34:00.000-08:00

1 Corinthians 13:12

Now we see things imperfectly as in a cloudy mirror, but then we will see everything with perfect clarity. All that I know now is partial and incomplete, but then I will know everything completely, just as God now knows me completely.

Linking Up With:

Capturing my Everyday Adventures- Week 3

2012-01-21T06:14:00.000-08:00

Please click HERE for more info and button codes.

This week has been a beautiful nature filled week with lots of walks and fresh air!

This particular morning I was working and Torch was spending time in his room
and it got VERY quiet... and when i went to check on him... I found this
masterpiece of cars!

this is Torch's signature pose! all momma has to do is say "PICTURE TIME" .. and he will prop
that little hand up anywhere!

Here is a little friend we met this week on one of our walks!

dumping sand out his shoes LOL

Having fun at the playground! (hotel behind him)

The HMJ- Normal

2012-01-20T08:21:00.000-08:00

In my life this week…

Normal.

Just getting back into somewhat resemblance of a routine has been amazing. It is so nice to get out of it for a while, but I think even nicer when we get back to what our "normal" is... even if its not normal to the worlds standards. It is quite perfect to me.

In our homeschool this week…

This week we continued our trip down

job lane! Yesterday was SO fun learning all about Banking. Torch made a little vault, and learned all about combinations and why its important to lock the money in the bank up! He was really intrigued! Future Math lover? Maybe! Today is all about hair :P so that should be interesting.

I am inspired by…

Time for Our Weekly Winner.... Drum roll Please...

I am finding so many amazing blogs out there each week... but this week it goes to...

This blog is so inspiring! Check it out if you havent already!
Congrats girl! :)
You Inspire so many out there! Your award graphic
is on the sidebar ------->

Places we’re going and people we’re seeing…

I am VERY excited about some special people we will be seeing VERY soon... more details to come! :) Super Excitement here! Perma-grin!

My favorite thing this week was…

Our nature walks together (Torch and I) It is our quiet time to revel in the beauty around us ... with nothing but the sounds of nature to listen to and each other to talk to! :) Its an amazing time!

Things I’m working on…

My Goals for 2012 :) I have printed them out and posted them near the computer and the other im going to post on the fridge!

I’m reading…

Bible :) Every morning in my quiet time with God! and continuing my study of 31 Days to a Better Spouse- Click HERE for more info on that!

I’m cooking…

Tonight is Turkey Meatloaf, Mashed Potato and VEGGIES! Yummy!

I’m grateful for…

Gods amazing Love for us .. and his power of prayer and power of bringing people together in our lives that may have never crossed paths but could not imagine life without them for an instant!

I’m praying for…

What do YOU need prayers for? Let me know! I am happy and honored to pray for whatever is going on in your lives or the lives of someone you know!

A photo, video, link, or quote to share…

Had to share a photo I took yesterday in my fathers yard! This is a native Sour Orange! It is the BEST seasoning Ever for chicken, fish, cabbage slaw, etc...! I love the bokeh in the background ...

Five Minute Friday- Vivid

2012-01-20T07:24:00.000-08:00

Who Better to describe this then the creator of it?
For only five short, bold, beautiful minutes. Unscripted and unedited. We just write without worrying if it’s just right or not.
I love how she worded that!

this weeks topic is: VIVID

START: 10:14AM

Vivid. I love to paint and take photos. It brings true joy to my life when I have a camera or a paintbrush in my hand. I miss it when I don't have these things occurring frequently. It is an escape.

In painting, I love using beautiful, bold, and bright colors.

In our lives, arent we much like a painting?
Each stroke of that paintbrush giving our canvas a deeper meaning and creating it into something unique. Each shade of the paint we use brings our canvas to life.

Do we want to live a dull life with no deep strokes or shades of character? I definitely want my life to represent Gods VIVID palette of paint that he uses when he creates each of us in His image. God is never dull, never dreary, never plain. He gives us amazing shades of talent and character to use and take action of each day.

Take action of Your talents that God has placed amongst your beautiful painting of your life.
He has made us each unique using the same paints, the same hands, the same love, Yet we are all different and creative and vivid in His eyes.

STOP: 10:19am

Source: dontcallmebetty.tumblr.com via Nicole on Pinterest

Have a blessed Day!

Edit Me Challenge- Which Bridge are You walking today?

2012-01-18T07:26:00.000-08:00

Have you ever noticed that a million different people can take a photo in the same vicinity and yet the final product, the final vision, is very different?

I LOVE that.

Seriously.

I find it SO fascinating that you could line people off on a bridge and tell them all to take a photo

but because each of them are in a different spot, with a different mind, Their photo will

have totally different properties within.

Isnt that true with life?

We are each made unique. God ensures that we each possess talents and gifts.

What we do with them is our decision, but God has placed these gifts within

our hearts for us to mold and nurture us into the people we are meant to be in His eyes.

I am participating in this challenge,

Each week, they offer a new photo that is sent in from someone, and everyone gets a shot at

editing that same photo. check it out.

Check out the AMAZING differences within each photo. They all start the same,

yet end up uniquely changed and looking "different" then the one before and after it.

I remembered when I saw this weeks photo, submitted by

Marilyn at The Artsy Girl Connection

that I had been there before,

Only I was on a different bridge, on a different journey, at a different time.

Look in the photo I posted above, Do you see the bridge in the distance?

That is the bridge that the photo below was taken.

Do you see that sometimes when we stand afar from things, other objects are hidden

from our view?

If I had only taken a different course that day, I too would have found myself

on that bridge, with this view:

Beautiful Photo isnt it? Beautiful View.

In our lives, we can get up close to all our decisions and see the beauty before us,

yet sometimes we need to take a step back,

take a journey on a different bridge,

and see the big, beautiful, picture in entirety.

Gods Hand is always upon us...

No matter which bridge we choose to walk,

He is there to Save us, Bring us from darkness to the Light.

What bridge do you need to be on today?

The one that takes a step back to see things more in entirety,

or do you need to take a step forward to look at things in your life

more CLOSELY?

You choose!

But Whatever bridge you walk upon today... Make sure You ask God to guide your way

so that you choose the right path that God wants you on!

Blessings!

Here is my take on the challenge photo:

~My Steps to Achieve the Above Results~

-Cropped Big Time, taking out alot of the things to focus on
-Cloned out the people sitting there (Sorry people)
-Cloned out the reflection of a big tree in the bottom right corner
-Used Carnival Lights Action on Photoshop from the Bohemian collection
(Oh so posh photography, THEY ARE awesome btw)

And I think that was it! :-)

__________________________________________________________

Also Linking UP With:

God-Bumps- Listen to Them

2012-01-18T06:23:00.000-08:00

God works in mysterious ways...

we all know it...

we all see it at some point or another..

but most of all we all

FEEL

it around us.

All the time.

I found this amazing post last week and thought I want to join that, I want to be a part of that, and I waited

patiently throughout the week and you know what?

It did not take long, before i felt one of those God-bumps.

Sunday morning started like most of my Sundays do. I got up, read my Bible, made my

menu plan for the upcoming week.

The past few months I have been awful at going to sunday service.

When I was not sick, there was something else and I know they are all just different forms of

"Excuses"

There is nothing that feels greater then when you step out of church and that feeling

of fellowship is upon you.

God wants us to feel that closeness to Him.

Well I was dressed, and sitting there, and I know its silly but I do not like going

to church by myself. I hope I am not the only one who feels this ...My mom was away
dealing with more health issues and she is normally who I go with... so I called

one of my new neighbors (New family, New Friend) She married into our family

and moved here last year... and we are getting pretty close. Everytime we get together,

I feel rejuvenated and my faith in friendships is restored.

Well I called her up, and she said the same thing.
Go Figure.
I'm not alone.
It was ten minutes before

church was about to start, and we decided that next time we felt that way, we would

of course go together. I hung up the phone.

Then one of those "God-Bumps" happened, I immediately jumped online and sent her a message

and asked her "if youre not busy, and want some company, lets have a cup of tea/coffee".

She said to come on over.

I might have missed the fellowship in church Sunday,

but God touched these two hearts in this new friendship that day,

And I FELT IT.

I could FEEL Gods presence while we chatted, drank a cup of tea/coffee, and confided

in each other.

Gods hand on our hearts is so evident if we open our hearts/minds up to FEEL his hand

on us.

1 Corinthians 15:10
But by the grace of God I am what I am, and his grace to me was not without effect. No, I worked harder than all of them--yet not I, but the grace of God that was with me.

I know that God does not care for the excuses, but I know he understands my heart. I know that
despite the morning turning out different then I had planned for myself,
the end result ended up touching my heart and soul,
and giving me this power for a new week like no other.
He guided our two hearts as friends together, and has placed each other in our lives,
to create something new, lasting, and an amazing friendship when we both
really need it.
Isn't that what believing means? Trusting that every decision we make leads us a little
closer to Gods plan for us. His overall plan, not the one we make for ourselves,
but the one He has destined to us.
If I had gotten up, stuck to my plan, and went to church by myself, I undoubtedly would
have come home with an amazing outlook on the new week as well, BUT
the bond between me and my new friend would not have been strengthened as it was
Sunday Morning.

Jeremiah 29:11
For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.

Although we can tweak our plan,
and still get a desirable outcome,
It may not be the outcome that God intended for us. We have to trust in him
and all that He is. Listen to those "god-bumps" along the way, and let God
lead our hearts to where He wants them.
I felt His presence during my Sunday Morning fellowship with my dear friend,
and I trust God with all my heart to bring us even closer together.

“Friendship is unnecessary, like philosophy, like art… It has no survival value; rather it is one of those things that give value to survival.”
C.S. Lewis

Have a Blessed Week!

linking up with:

Create, Learn, Together

2012-01-17T13:53:00.000-08:00

Source: Uploaded by user via Olivia on Pinterest

I LOVE when our day leads us into the kitchen to cook together.
Torch and I enjoy ~~hands-on~~ learning
and all that it entails.
Yesterday we made a neat recipe that was given to us by Mother Goose Time ...
the preschool system we are working through this year.
It looked TOO yummy to pass by.
So we set to work.. and it was SO amazing to watch his little eyes concentrate and focus on the task at hand, and then to be able to eat something,
DELICIOUS i might add,
that he had a part in creating.

One of the best lessons to learn is how blessed we are and how amazing it feels to accomplish a task and create something new. Here are some pics from our fun cooking lesson...

I hope you enjoy them as much as we enjoyed "LIVING" them.

And our final Products:

linking up with the Hip Homeschool Hop:

Menu Plan Monday- Week 3-2012

2012-01-16T05:27:00.000-08:00

I love planning our meals. Seriously. It saves time, energy, endless worry over what to cook each night and keeps me on track for my Weight Watcher Plan because I know what to expect for dinners. Each Saturday evening/Sunday morning we sit down and plan what will be on the menu for the upcoming week ... and we sit with a mound of recipe books ~~quite funny actually if you saw us~~ and choose whats best or looks yummy to try.

Monday- Sweet & Sour Pork, lots of veggies, White Rice

Tuesday- Chicken Cordon Bleu (which includes stuffing), Salad

Wednesday- Beef & Broccoli with Wild Rice

Thursday- Caribbean Fish Nuggets, Cabbage Slaw and Oven Fries

Friday- Turkey Meatloaf and Mashed Potatoes, Salad

Saturday- Baked Salmon Filet (for me), Grilled Steak (for hubby)- Baked Potatoes, Grilled Veggie Kabobs, Salad

Sunday- Curry Shrimp with Noodles

Re-Birth

2012-01-15T16:46:00.000-08:00

I love when things are sprouting ... it just reminds me that the world keeps going ... keeps on growing no matter what elements are out there to try to stop it....

So true for people too... So many forces out there that are (or can be) against us... and yet our lives continually keep going... we keep growing... and if we look back years ago... (sometimes even just weeks or months ago) we can see growth....

"And let is consider how we may spur one another on toward love  and good deeds. Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the  habit of doing, but let us encourage one another -- and all the more as  you see the Day approaching" (Hebrews 10: 24,25)

Linking Up with:

And:

Capturing My Everyday Adventures- Week 2

2012-01-14T08:24:00.000-08:00

Playing in his Step2 Car :) One of HIS fave things to do! He is Content and Peaceful!

Using his new volleyball as a kick-ball! Running through the yard with him makes my heart so happy!

Life isnt only about the "clean" ... :)its about finding the ADORABLE in the not so clean!

playing with his plane! :)

Movie Time on a Saturday Morning! :) This week his fave is "Princess & the Frog" I LOVE IT TOO!

Please I would LOVE if you join me ... Grab the button from above... and Share some of your amazingly, perfect, little yet oh so big memories from the past week. And Then Come back and pop the link in the Meme below! :) THANK YOU and blessings to you.

HMJ- Wk 2

2012-01-13T06:56:00.000-08:00

In my life this week…

We got to visit with some family from Illinois :) It was nice... I hadnt seen them in six years so in the past six years alot had happened in my life :) They got to meet my son... and He Loved them!

Other then that, just enjoying cooking more, now that Torch occupies himself alot more in the afternoons... I get a chance to fulfill my lots more of my kitchen loves. Its nice.

In our homeschool this week…

Continuing our month of "Jobs"
Torch has decided (for now at least) that he wants to be a Farmer like his Papi :)
I thought it was super cute!
He also added, "to", "can", "be" and "you" to his list of sight words he knows!
Always such a blessing when I see him noticing more and more words throughout books that we have learnt together.

I am inspired by…

Week 2 of 52

goes to ....

Her words are thought provoking and BEAUTIFUL and her style is so evident throughout her posts! You will LOVE her if you dont already read because if you Already read her blog.. you are already a SUPER fan of her and her beautiful mind.

Things I’m working on…

My Three P's :)
Patience
Persistence
Prayer

I’m reading…

The Bible :)
31 Days to Pray for Your Spouse (kindle version)
A mom after Gods own Heart by Elizabeth George! (VERY AMAZING)

I’m cooking…

Tonight is Ground Turkey Sloppy Joes :) with Baked Oven Fries! :) Yummy!

I’m grateful for…

GOD. Life. The Arts. Ability to Read, Write, Love. Power of Prayer. and SO much more!

I’m praying for…

What do YOU need prayers for? Let me know and I will add you to my prayer list... Prayer is such a Powerful thing! lets join together and PRAY for one another!

A photo, video, link, or quote to share…

A quote that I thought ALL moms out there would chuckle at...

Source: Uploaded by user via Millie on Pinterest

The World Around Me...

2012-01-13T06:03:00.000-08:00

Finding Happiness & Joy in all of the "little" things in life is truly an eye opener.

A few months ago, I had had enough. I was tired, worn out, feeling under-appreciated and much more! I was not enjoying taking photos as much as I once did... I felt I had lost that passion. I sat my camera in all its glory in its case and shut it. I cried. It felt like a chapter of my life was closing, but I didnt know It was only the beginning. By taking that pause from something that was VERY evident as a love in my life, I was able to remember the "WHY" in Why I started taking photos to begin with. It was not to get as many photo shoots as I could each year, It was not to upstage anybody else, It was not to be the best. I had gotten to where I felt as if I was trying to prove myself as a photographer to the world, when the more I tried the further I got from my style, my passion, and my love for the craft itself. I needed to put it away, to remember the "simplest" faves of taking photos.

1. Capturing moments that would likely be forgotten in years to come
2. Spending time with other families
3. Capturing the love between a mother and her child(ren)
4. Laughter during a photoshoot
5. Exploring the world through my 300mm lens
6. Finding beauty in the littlest of Gods creations
7. Capturing the BIG in this amazing, remarkable world God has given us
8. Feeling the JOY when a baby sits in front of you and gives you the BIGGEST smile, the real ones, not the fake ones
9. Capturing photographs that the people are "living" in and not posing in
10. Freezing Memories for people to cherish for all time
11. Going on Photography walks and taking photos of textures, colors, shapes that shock and inspire me
12. Just capturing everyday life that surrounds me
13. aNd in honor of Friday 13th :) my 13th FAVE of photography... is ...

The Joy in Finding my own personal style while enjoying #1-#12 of my LOVE for
Photography and the world around me!

Deuteronomy 10:14
To the LORD your God belong the heavens, even the highest heavens, the earth and everything in it.

linking up with:

Just Breathe...

2012-01-13T05:30:00.000-08:00

Linking Up With thegypsymama's 5 Minute Friday for the first time... Basically you write unscripted, unedited for 5 minutes and she gives you a prompt to focus your thoughts a bit. It sounded perfectly ME. So Im going to give it a try. Here Goes:

8:22 START

Awake. It is blaringly known that I am awake.

Do You ever find yourselves staring at the clock wondering to yourself when is Mr. Sandman going to visit you?

I find sometimes that once I pass that "slumber" moment, that is it.
Hours upon Hours will pass before my body enters that mode again.
My two boys in the house (hubby and son) will have been sleep for hours at this point...

and I am up

working,
           designing,
                         editing photographs,
                                                        or starting movies WAY too late for comfort.

Awake.

I take a deep breath and just let it out.

I turn off all "technology",

And I Just BREATHE.

I try to quiet the endless thoughts in my mind...

You know those thoughts that NEVER stop.. If you are a thinker/ponderer/worrier...
Then You SO know what Im talking about...

Just Breathe.
For Just a few moments the world is silent....
And before I know it ...

Im Awake, Again.
Only this time, Its a NEW day. Its a FRESH start. Its Morning-Time!

End: 8:27am

I want to be a...

2012-01-10T10:46:00.000-08:00

Source: flickr.com via M on Pinterest

DENTIST DAY!

Yesterday, Torch and I dove into a new week of new jobs. Dentist was a very fun day for him.
It was complete with learning proper tooth care (which he has already been doing in his bedtime routine) and also about the parts of the tooth! We kept it simple... but so fun!

We even made a row of teeth (blocks) and pretended to put a "brown" one in which represented a cavity. He got to pluck the tooth out which of course to my three year old was HILARIOUS. He kept putting the cavity back and saying, "uh oh... its back".

He did some tracing... of letter D .... and had an overall amazing morning brushing his "block" teeth and learning all about the Dentist.

What do your kid(s) like to "pretend" to be?

Its nothing I love better then to watch my son use his imagination.

Source: imgfave.com via Janet on Pinterest

When they use their minds to create worlds that are filled with hope and fun ... its like their perspective on the world is transformed into a world where anything is possible. I for one LOVE encouraging it... and joining in as well.

Encourage your children to open up that beautiful mind that God has given them... and embrace all the possibilities that tag along with it!

Have a blessed Day!

God is "Overseeing"

2012-01-09T07:08:00.000-08:00

Source: google.com via Gretchen on Pinterest

This mornings message was so powerful. How often do we ask ourselves or others "Why bad things happen to good people?" or "Why do ~~bad~~ people get away with things that are so ungodly or horrible?".

I have been continuing my journey through the Book of Job. Wow. This man has had everything taken from him in one instant, mere seconds. One bad news after another, and yet this man continues to keep his faith and not blame or ask God questions he need not ask. His friends come to talk to him and break him down in more ways then one. Who needs "friends" like that? Really. Sometimes when a friend is suffering, its best to say nothing then to start talking and it sound like you are putting blame on them or asking what is wrong with them. Among the conversations, Job replied to his friends:

"But he knows the way that I take;

when he has tested me, I will come forth as gold.

My feet have closely followed his steps:

I have not departed from the command of his lips:

I have treasured the words of his mouth more then my daily bread."

Job 23:10-12

He kept his heart and words on God. Isnt that such a huge lesson to learn from?
Chapter 24 goes on to explain how the wicked sometimes prosper... and who are we to ask God why they are able to continue to succeed in life when the righteous (or Good honorable) people in life seem to have one bad thing happen after another?
Job put it in such an amazing way that I know God shared these words through Jobs lips... Yes bad things happen to good people, and there are awful sins out there... but the word of God says,

"But God drags away the mighty by his power:

though they become established, they have no assurance of life.

He may let them rest in a feeling of security, 

but his eyes are on their ways.

For a little while they are exalted, and then they are gone;

they are brought low and gathered up like all the others;

they are cut off like heads of grain."

Job 24:22-24

God is always overseeing the righteous and the wicked. He sees and knows all. He views things from an eternal perspective. In his perfect time, (even when we do not understand his timing), He WILL bring the wicked down and raise the righteous up. Have faith in Gods plan. It is not our place to judge the wicked as hard as that may be not to do. We need to focus on OUR hearts and OUR journey of living a life honoring God with our emotions, attitude and actions.

Blessed Be.

Menu Plan Monday- Week 2-2012

2012-01-08T20:24:00.000-08:00

I am loving the closeness my husband and I are getting this year... New attitude about life... revived focus on the Lord, and spending lots more time in the kitchen ~~TOGETHER~~ cooking up new recipes... It not only is a blast, but keeps my weight watcher plan focused for dinner time.

Heres our plan for the upcoming week:

Monday- Ham & Swiss Pizza with O.J 

          (what could be better than Eggs, Ham, Cheese, and    veggies on top a pizza crust?) 

Tuesday- Orange-Crumbed Chicken Breasts with Mashed 

                       Potato :) and Veggies!  

Wednesday- Baked Ham with Potato Salad

Thursday- Grilled Shrimp Teriyaki with White Rice

Friday- Turkey Sloppy Joes with Baked Oven Fries & Corn

                  on the Cob 

Saturday- Grilled Steak, Baked Potatoes, Sauteed Onions

                        and fresh mushrooms!  

Sunday- Lemon-Garlic Chicken with Stuffing and String
Bean Casserole

Source: etsy.com via Michelle on Pinterest

Scripture & Snapshot-Week 2-2012

2012-01-08T08:02:00.000-08:00

Romans 15:4-5
For whatever things were written before were written for our learning, that we through the patience and comfort of the Scriptures might have hope. Now may the God of patience and comfort grant you to be like-minded toward one another, according to Christ Jesus.

Capturing My Everyday Adventures- Week 1

2012-01-07T11:53:00.000-08:00

I want to share this new link up with you that came to me
during prayer time this morning.
How often we walk past so many amazingly-imperfect moments throughout the week
because they are totally ordinary to our life, when our
"ORDINARY"
is just so
BIG and BEAUTIFUL!
Pictures can say more then a thousand words ... so
I present to you
my first ever...

And a self portrait :)

Please feel free to join me ... Grab the button from above... and share some of your amazingly, perfect, little yet oh so big memories from the past week. And Then Come back and pop the link in the Meme below! :) THANK YOU and Blessings to you.

And the Winner is.... (Wk 1)

2012-01-06T07:06:00.000-08:00

Each Week, I find SO many amazing NEW blogs...

(Well NEW TO ME)

These are Blogs that just inspire projects,

or instill beautiful thoughts into my mind,

thought provoking blogs that I am SO Blessed for...

So I decided this year..

ONCE A WEEK on Fridays,

I will ANNOUNCE

a new winner of

the

Little Adventures 2012 Inspiration Blog Award!

Once You've been awarded, please feel free to go to the sidebar and GRAB your

award button that will link more amazing, inspirational blogs that follow YOU,

I am so THANKFUL for each and every one of you out there

who blog... Seriously...

It is the highlight of my internet time....

Reading,

Learning,

Growing Through Your Eyes.

so THANK YOU!

Drum Roll Please...

This week I have spent SO much time reading through this blog... and It has spun so many

projects throughout my house... and SO many "want to do's" ...

So This Weeks Inspirational Blog Award goes to...

Jen
at

THANK YOU

for all the work you put into your blog...

I have found myself LOST within your projects and thoughts

about organizing and cleaning up the house!

HUGS

HMJ- Wk 1- Fresh Starts

2012-01-06T06:10:00.000-08:00

In my life this week…

New Year, Fresh Start to so many things in my life... I started back pointing again... Actually signed up for WW new Points Plus 2012 :) I am LOVING it. I was ready to get back into it ... and finally get some more of my goal accomplished this year! Last Year I lost 48-50 lbs :) And this year I am striving for the same... Slow and Steady wins the race.

The Christmas decorations were all taken down the last week of December. The house was cleaned. ORGANIZATION. Holy Batman. LOL. I have been cleaning out and still have SO much more to organize and clean. Have been loving Pinterest and searching through other mommy blogs for ideas and inspiration. Overall, It is a fabulous start to a year I am determined to be even more FABULOUS.

In our homeschool this week…

January is all about jobs. Torch is LOVING IT already and so am I. Each day is something different he can be when he grows up. The Songs are ADORABLE. And with this new "aura" in our home... this uplifting.... spiritual.... peaceful feeling... School is running smoothly ... we were both ready for some "ROUTINE" to be put back in our lives. The Holidays were filled with so many emotions and situations that I was so ready for a New Year to bid farewell to 2011. Excited about what this New Year Holds For Torch and I with his homeschooling.

I am inspired by…
This year i thought I would do my inspiration category a bit different. Each week I am going to announce a winner to "Little Adventures #1 Inspiration" Award to a new blogger that I find during that week. I find SO many of you inspirational... but who doesnt love a good award? So I will be creating a cute little graphic ... and I hope that if you are awarded.. You will place it on your blog! :) with a link back here so I can find MORE amazing Blogger Moms/Friends out there! :) Stay Tuned... Will be creating the Graphic and will announce my Weekly Inspiration Award!

My favorite thing this week was…

Watching Torch pick up a book and put his finger along the bottoms of the words, and read, "I am a cow" .... Seriously Proud mommy right then and there! (as if im not always proud)

Questions/thoughts I have…

HMJ asked if there was ONE word that could describe the ENTIRE year of 2012 ... what you hope it to be ... your thoughts on the upcoming. My word for 2012 is:

UPLIFTING

Things I’m working on…

My Goal list :) for 2012 ..... Keeping Organized.... Checklists....

I’m reading…
The Wonderful word of God :)
Doing a chronological read of the entire Bible this year :) Join Me! :)

I’m grateful for…
ALL OF YOU! That God has brought you into my life .... HUGS

I’m praying for…
Doing the 31 days to pray for your spouse :) LOVING IT! :) I recommend it .... You can Search it on FB and sign up! :) or buy the book to read! Its seriously amazing!

Is there anything you need/want PRAYERS for? Let me know and I can pray for you too! HUGS

A photo, video, link, or quote to share…

May Your Journey be paved with strength, patience, love, kindness

and the HOPE of God :)

Blessings,

(Friday) favorite things...

2012-01-06T05:31:00.000-08:00

This is the FIRST Friday Favorite Things for the New Year
I thought I would simply put a few photos
and some of my FAVE things from this past week...

Being Blessed with another new Year from God
to spend with the people who matter most!

Prayer

Source: pixelperfectblog.com via Amy on Pinterest

Escape
Did you ever realize what a WONDERFUL escape reading is?
This past week I have set my reading to more focused,
GOD-based reading... and it has been a WELCOMED escape from just the
every day ordinary.

Source: bluepueblo.tumblr.com via Miinemost on Pinterest

Getting Back into the Points System
This week has been so fabulous... getting back on track for the New Year
I owe my dedication to God putting everything 100% in His Hands!

Source: shine.yahoo.com via Haley on Pinterest

[LOVE] the weekend
This time of the week, although I cherish every day, is so important to me. We
get the entire weekend to do family activities as my hubby doesnt work on the weekends.
I love the time spent doing things together or Torch and his Daddy get some time
to do fun Daddy/Son activities which leaves Momma to get some "Me Time" which
is ALWAYS appreciated when that time comes.

Source: isleofview-facesoflove.tumblr.com via Daryl on Pinterest

Linking up with:

My Prayer for Us All

2012-01-05T06:41:00.000-08:00

Source: s3.amazonaws.com via olives! on Pinterest

I have started a chronological read of the entire Bible this year. It has changed my world in only 5 days.... The word of God is SO powerful... I also started this challenge called 31 Days to Pray for your Spouse! It has been so amazing! The closeness, the love, the patience we have for each other just from praying for each other! The last two days I have been reading Job. And It struck my heart so much. If you havent read Job...

Heres a short account: (but I encourage you to open up those Bibles and go to the book of Job.... I think it will touch your heart as well)

Job was a God-fearing, amazing man... and Satan went to God and said i bet if you TEST him, he will curse you ... so God said, "Very well, then, everything he has is in your hands, but on the man himself, do not lay a finger" Satan took his crops, his children, etc... What did Job do? He fell to his knees to worship God. He did not sin by charging God with wrongdoings. Satan came another time and told God that he bet man will give all he has for his own life. So God Said, "very well then, he is in your hands, but you MUST spare his life." Satan filled JOb with Sores and made his life miserable. His wife asked him "Are you still holding on to your integrity? curse god and die" Job replied very calmly, "you are talking like a foolish woman, Shall we accept good from God, and not trouble?"

I urge you to read these passages... especially those of you who are dealing with so many trials... That seem to continue. We often ask ourselves WHY, HOW COME, but who are we to QUESTION Gods plans? Nothings ever the same again when we lose loved ones, go through divorces, lose friends, etc... sharing the suffering, we wonder Why God would allow this to happen. Jobs wife thought God was being UNFAIR and believed her husband no longer OWED God his loyalty. Her faith wasnt strong but JOBS WAS... He could accept anything from God because he TRUSTED that God is GOOD and WISE.... Every situation we are placed in .. is an opportunity as a test of faith, even the painful ones, to grow closer to God.

I PRAY that each and every one of your hearts may be strengthened so that no matter what lies ahead for 2012 ... or the years after.... You can grow closer to God .. and KNOW that he has a plan .. even if we cannot understand or see it NOW... There is always something int he works for each and every one of us.

Have a BLESSED DAY my friends!
XOXOXXOXOXOXO

Menu Plan Monday- Week 1- 2012

2012-01-03T20:52:00.000-08:00

I find such GREAT ease with my Weight Watchers each week when I plan my meals. Back in the end of October... I dealt with some very big losses... and well I struggled on that Weight wagon for a while. Then came vacation, Disney, then Christmas and then New Years! Thankfully, through all of that, I came out of it about five pounds more then my weigh in the last time in October! I was uber proud because It could have been WAY worse! I managed to knock fifty off last year ... and will be working on another fifty this year. Slow and Steady wins the race right?

I was browsing through some blogs and came across a fabulous one called Boasting in my Weakness.

She was linking up with Menu Plan Monday ... hosted by another fabulous blogging lady, Laura, and you can find her at her "AMAZING" blog HERE

Well enough chit-chat .... Here is my menu for this week! :)

Monday- (Last Night)- Curry Pork with White Rice and Lots of veggies

Tuesday- Tonight- Light Alfredo Pizzas on Betty Crocker Crust with loads of fresh veggies

Wednesday- Frosted Flakes Coated Chicken Strips with Honey Mustard Dipping Sauce with Caribbean Rice and steamed veggies

Thursday- Olive Oil-Italian Seasoned Bow Tie Noodle Mix with Loads of fresh Veggies and Garden Salads

Friday- Turkey Burgers and Home-made WW French Fries

Saturday- Grilled Steak for Hubby, Grilled Salmon Filet for me, Baked Potatoes and Grilled Veggie Kabobs

Sunday- BREAKFAST for Dinner Night- Egg Whites, Smart Bagels, Turkey Bacon, Fresh Fruit :)

Happy Cooking! May your kitchen be blessed with amazing aromas, delectable tastes and scrumpdiliumptious foods! Blessings to YOU!

When I grow up...

2012-01-03T13:21:00.000-08:00

Source: pagingmissjones.tumblr.com via Catherine on Pinterest

When I started browsing this months theme, "Dress Up", I immediately got excited. Torch has such a HUGE imagination. I love to watch him play and we have worked hard to try keep the toys he plays with what I like to call "classic toys". Blocks, puzzles, coloring books, crafts, play-doh, mr. potato head, and alot of cars, trucks, balls, sand toys etc... Sometimes he finds GREAT happiness from product boxes... They become Hotel Garages and Three Story Homes. It brings me such Joy and Happiness to watch his ~~BIG~~ mind just expand more and more each day.

Each day this month, we are going to be learning about different jobs he can ultimately have when he is older. I love the fact that each day this month (and for the rest of his life) I can continue to instill the message that we can be WHOEVER we put our mind to be... and that with the help of our Lord... He can help our talents SHINE like a million stars in the sky.

I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me. Phillipians 4:13

Source: etsy.com via Jamie on Pinterest

Scripture & Snapshot- Week 1-2012

2012-01-01T07:39:00.000-08:00

"Be still and know that I am God." Psalm 46:10