Recent Photo Shoots…

For those of you who are interested, I’ve posted some of my recent photo shoots on my photography blog:  raevenphoto.blogspot.com. I’m praying the Lord will guide me as far as if this is something I should continue to do as a business.  I enjoy it so much, but to continue to have this as more than a hobby I need to actually make some money from it.  I don’t want to become one of the outrageously expensive photography companies, I just want to make enough to keep it going and pay for the expenses (equipment, time, website, etc).  So we’ll see where the Lord leads me in all of this. 

Stretching a chicken...

Thanks to my friend, Mandi, who posted How to stretch a chicken....I'm stretching a chicken today.

What are you up to??

32 years...

Happy Anniversary Mom & Dad! Although, I doubt either one of them will ever see this post :) They don't go online much, unless they have to and only check email if they have to. Funny how they are in their mid 50's and somehow have managed to stay out of the whole email/facebook thing. Probably because they don't have time. They keep busy enough with lots of other things that to sit on a computer that they don't enjoy figuring out, is a waste of time.

I found out the other day, that this 90+ year old man checks blogs, facebook, and email. I was quite impressed. I don't know too many 90, or for that manner 60-80 yr olds that go on a computer much, if at all.

Amazing to think how times have changed. Most people I know get on their computer at LEAST once a day if not many more. I for one, am on it probably too much. Would really help if I didn't facebook, blog, etc. But then I wouldn't know the things I know. But how important area they, really? It just keeps me connected. Connected to those around me or even far from me.

My parents life has changed over the past 32 years, but never drastically. They have 7 children, live in the same house that they moved into right after they got married. Still go to the same church. My dad still has the same job. My mom stays at home and has done things here and there on the side, like childcare out of her home and sewing/alterations. Not too much has changed, other than they and their children have grown older and time seems to go by really quickly.

Some verses that come to mind are in Romans 8. May we not find comfort in the things that are constant in our lives, but in the never-changing love of Christ.

^"31What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? ³² He who did not spare his own Son but gave him up for us all, how will he not also with him graciously give us all things? ³³Who shall bring any charge against God’s elect? It is God who justifies. ³⁴ Who is to condemn? Christ Jesus is the one who died—more than that, who was raised— who is at the right hand of God, who indeed is interceding for us.³⁵Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or danger, or sword? ³⁶As it is written,"For your sake we are being killed all the day long;we are regarded as sheep to be slaughtered."37No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. ³⁸For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, ³⁹nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord."

9/11 - A Day We Will Never Forget...

Amazing to think that it's been 10 years since that fateful day. I remember I was in my car, on my way to work and heard it on the radio. I got to work and we listened to the radio almost all day. I don't think any of us got any work done that day. My boss was with his wife in Europe and they heard it all while they were there. I remember going home for lunch and turning on the TV and watching people jumping from the buildings. Everyone was in shock over what was happening. It's hard to understand why these things happen, especially for those who don't understand who God really is. Those that don't know that he is in control of all things. He has a purpose, even in times of tragedy. He can use evil men, for his good. He can use a time, an event, such as this to turn people to him. People who were running from Him, those who did not know him. He used an event like this to turn their hearts to Him. For where else could they go????

Here is a prayer I came across that I thought I would share.

September 11. A day we will always remember. A day we will never forget what happened. It was a day that effected our entire nation. I pray for those who lost loved ones that day. Those that have endured heartache and pain. Those that have awful memories from that day that they can't get out of their head. May we all turn to our Lord, and fall to our knees, in prayer. He is the one who controls ALL things. To God Be the Glory.

CrAzY Weather...

We've been living in NW Georgia since the 1st of the year now and I have to say that we've had some crazy weather while living here. Tornadoes, wind storms, hail, August was the driest month on record and now September has begun and we've had a record amount of rainfall. As I sit here and listen to the rain falling and the house creaking I am thankful. Thankful for all the many blessings God has given me. My family, our home, our jobs, etc... God has blessed us. It's been a long year between moving two times, being far from family & friends, having some financial strains, me having a miscarriage, yet through all of this we can be thankful. It is now getting quite windy outside and it's kind of like life.... ups and downs, twists and turns, yet God is in control of it all. For that we can be very thankful.