Have you ever...

...felt like your best efforts just weren't good enough?
...wished you could change a situation but were totally powerless to do so?
...felt like you were alone?
...felt like your friends were slipping away?
...just felt sad a lot?
...gotten frustrated at the littlest things?

You have? Yeah, me too.

Have you ever believed that things won't always be like this?
...asked God for help?
...trusted that God has a plan and will make things better in His time?

No? Try it.

And check out Lamentations 3:22-25:

22 Because of the Lord's great love we are not consumed,

for his compassions never fail.

23They are new every morning;

great is your faithfulness.

24 I say to myself, "The Lord is my portion;

therefore I will wait for him."

25 The Lord is good to those whose hope is in him,

to the one who seeks him..."

How may I pray for you today?

Get to Know Your Camera - Week 1

I'm learning how to use the different modes of my camera this summer with this Summer Photography Series. Today I went out with Emma and Norbert for my first challenge. It's not challenging AT ALL for me to take photos of Emma, but doing them in a certain way makes it a little more difficult. Luckily, Emma is more than willing to have her picture taken. Norbert's a little more difficult, but what do you expect from a dog?

Today's challenge was to use a mode on my camera other than the Auto mode. I used Sports mode to catch Emma running; Portrait mode to get some cute shots of Norbert laying in front of me; and Macro mode to get some super-close ups of Emma, Norbert, and a little angel we have in front of the house.

Here is the link to all the photos I took today (minus the few that I didn't like and deleted already). But here are a couple of my favorites.

I'm excited to learn more about how to use my camera to its full potential. And mine, too!

As days go by...

Time flies when you're having fun. Isn't that what they say? I've found that's certainly the case with Emma. And I've also found that time slips away and sometimes takes things with it as it goes.

I was watching a commercial for McDonald's, and it made me think of how Emma calls it "Old McDonald's". You get it. Because of the song.

She has a cute way of saying things sometimes, and it's always so sad when you realize she's grown up and no longer says those things that way anymore. She used to say "sebee" for "seven". One, two, free (back when "th" was "f"), four, five, six, sebee, eight, nine, ten. And she said "lellow" instead of "yellow". It broke my heart the day I realized she didn't say lellow anymore.

So I'm going to keep calling it Old McDonald's. Our whole family does, and we will probably do so forever now. Try it. It'll bring a smile to your face.

Life as I know it

I'm ashamed of myself for letting so much time pass since my last post. Time sure gets away from you, doesn't it?

I thought about listing my weekly schedule, but I know when I do that it won't look as full as it feels. Nonetheless, we have several things going on right now. Emma and I still have dance class ... we're in the final stretch before the big recital on Saturday, June 4. Chris and I are part of the new worship band at our church, and we have practice once a week. Emma just started having t-ball practice each week. Her games will be each Saturday starting June 4, and the "season" will last for 7 weeks. And it just so happens that Emma's practices are at the exact same time as band practice, so I will be taking a short hiatus from the band.

Usually something else comes up each week on one night or another. Plus Chris's work has really ramped up, and he is going to have to be out of town from time to time in the coming weeks.

This Saturday, Chris and I are going to the X103 May Day concert. Chris got two free VIP tickets (and VIP parking!) from his work. High falootin', huh? And then we have the big Heacock family race party on Sunday. Hopefully the weather cooperates.

I know it will only get worse as Emma gets older and into more activities. But I will make a concerted effort to blog more.

Emma and I are off to the dentist today for cleanings. Fun times.

Graffiti

You know what they say: The family who does graffiti together stays together.

Or something like that.

After dinner on Thursday evening, Chris, Emma, Norbert, and I went for a walk around our end of the neighborhood. And since the weather was so nice, after we got back home, we brought out the sidewalk chalk and decorated not only our driveway but also our house and the brick pillars out by the road.

 She wrote "Daddy poops," then Chris put "EMMA" above it. Thanks for teaching her to spell that word, Daddy!

 My two favorite graffiti artists tagging our house.

 Norbert even joined in on the fun. He didn't even lay on the chalk this time.

 Chris did the "LOOK BOTH WAYS," and Emma added her own flair.

This was a contribution of my own.

Emma even drew a portrait of Norbert. Pretty good likeness, don't you think?

It was so nice to be outside as a family. I'm such a lucky girl to have such a great family!