Renewal & Healing

As the first blanket of snow now covers the fallen leaves and autumn turns to winter, I'm once again reminded of the change of seasons. I'm so grateful for the change of seasons and what each one brings, both literally and metaphorically speaking. Right now I'm going through a change of sorts. As I give in to those changes, which include waiting for the next season, I'm sometimes impatient. "Hurry spring, I'm ready."

I'm looking forward to that new season, but just as the fallen leaves still lie frozen beneath the new snow, some of that old season continues to remain in me. Though the winter may be long and arduous and limbs may freeze and crack, it will go; and when it does, it will bring with it...spring. Tender sprouts will bravely burst out in the glory of their Maker with new life and purpose." However long the winter, renewal and new life will come. I'm anticipating that time for myself.

The most important renewal one can have is to receive Jesus Christ as Lord Savior and receive the New and Eternal Life that only Salvation brings. I've already done that, so I'm speaking now about physical and even emotional renewal. A physical and emotional winter can bring harsh blows. Blows that can only be somewhat healed and forgotten with the coming of spring's fresh rain and warm sunshine. Just as with God's other creations, my own change of seasons can only come with the help of God's power.

This song by Nichole Nordeman really should be my theme song. The words are behind all that motivates my own life and photography. God's creations, His wonderful change of seasons, and all that has been made by His loving hands and in fact the very voice of God himself. He is in, and in fact is, every season. I hope you will find renewal as you listen to this song and watch this gorgeous video.



"Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come!"

1 Corinthians 5:17

Check out my new bird blog!

I was posting so many bird images on my blog, I decided to start another blog to devote just to birds and birding and learning all about birds as well as a place to share my images.

Check it out and don't forget to FOLLOW ME on my new blog! CLICK HERE to go there now.

Autumn Bridge

Fall is here! Pumpkins, leaves and scarecrows have been placed indoors to celebrate the season. As the Scentsy bricks heat and melt, the aroma of pumpkin spice fills the air causing me to dream of freshly baked pie. The fireplace gives off it's warm, romantic glow. Outside, however, it's a much different story. There's a crisp breeze in the air, and the leaves are turning to bright yellows, oranges, and reds. With each gust of wind, more leaves detach from their suspended home and float down to the ground below. Short-term guests arrive in our yard as the birds stop by for water and nutrients they will need for their southward flight before the cold of winter arrives; but they will return.

I so enjoy the fall; and photographing it is always such a peaceful, enjoyable, even worshipful time for me. I am glad God created the season of fall, with all of it's beauty and wonder. I have so many images from the weekend that I want to process and share, but this one will have to do for now. I took this image in Payette, Idaho, this past weekend. I almost got run over by some locals taking this one.

Enjoy the fall colors. If you want to see more of my fall images, CLICK HERE.

What's that sound?

I was recently eating cereal when I heard an unfamiliar shrieking (bird) noise coming from our backyard. When I heard it again, I had to see what it was. I thought the Northern Flicker that was here the day before had returned, but the noise was not that of a woodpecker.

Upon looking out, I didn't see anything and all was quiet. Our yard is usually filled with backyard birds, so I was unsettled as I continued to finish my cereal. I was still bothered by what I heard, so I decided to go look through my bird blind (my upstairs window in our laundry room, now covered with dark material) When I looked out, there was a juvenile sharp-shinned hawk (aka sharpie) finishing its own meal. Upon seeing this, I realized that what I heard was the kill. The small bird it was finishing up, was one of my very own backyard birds. Thought it saddened me, I know its just "nature's way" to quote Steve Irwin.

I took some images from upstairs and then when it flew down to the fence from up on my trellis, I took more of it on the fence as it proceeded to clean his beak by rubbing it on the fence; a behavior I realized I hadn't seen before.

There are probably more images in this sequence than most people care to look at, but I know there are those that will appreciate the sequence. I hope you enjoy looking at the images, whether you view 1 or all of them.

I have more birding and raptor images on my website. If you want to go there, just hover over the slideshow and click on Visit Gallery. From there you can go to my home page. There are birds in my Portfolio and View Only Galleries.

Filming of On My Own

Day 1- Filming began early in the morning at Willow Lane Park, a very nice place to film (except for the creepy crawlies). Osprey and their young could be seen and heard as they nest in the lighting fixtures at the baseball field nearby.

Being a low budget film, these tents served as our changing rooms.

Here's some of the crew; costumes, AD (assistant director), hair

Cast members hanging out.

Bryce, a little bewildered after waking up in the woods.

Filming in progess.

Main characters, Bryce and Adelaide, with Adelaide's servant.

I really like this shot through the trees. :D

My daughter, the director of the film.

John and Bryce.

We finished up filming at Northview Family Worship Center, in the big domed building.

The a/c felt good.

In this scene, the youth group hangs out before going indoors.

The director talks with the actors about the scene.

Day 2 was a hot, fun and unique day for us.

We began our filming at Meridian High School, where we (mostly) homeschoolers pretended to be public schoolers.

I got to play the irritated teacher and that was a blast.

Some of these kids really looked so different from how they normally look and dress.

Matt is so proud of his grade.

The AD, Director and Matt.

Hallway scene. These kids really enjoyed pretending to go to high school.

Here's the Class of 2009ish!

We had kids from Jr. high up to some that were already graduated.

We took a much smaller crew back to Willow Lane Park, in the afternoon, to get a couple scenes on the balcony. It was so hot and humid!

Bryce and Adelaide, on the balcony.

First "On My Own" Images

What a busy summer I've had. Two straight weeks of shooting just for this film. Far more shooting than post processing going on. I can't believe how much I have to do and we start another year of homeschooling tomorrow.

I've begun going through photos from the shoot for the independent, family film, "On My Own" due to premiere next summer. These shots were taken for the premiere program and DVD cover. I'm not sure which shots the director will use, exactly, or if she'll want them to be in color or black & white though.

Meet John, aka Arronn, one of the movie characters. John is serious and mysterious . I love the shirt and belt combo, and the hat nicely completes the his character's look.

Meet Captain Gaunt, aka Robert, another one of our male characters. I just loved the costumes for this film, designed by the director and made by two volunteer seemstresses. Robert pulls off this bad guy character beautifully.

Hopefully, I'll have more images from the movie to post soon. Stay tuned...

Yearning to be Free-The Inevitable Empty Nest

A friend of mine told me about some hummingbirds that had nested on her porch. When they first hatched, (the usual 2 eggs that were laid) I was in the middle of shooting stills for an independent film (a 2 week committment-photos from that to come) and couldn't get there until they were just about ready to leave the nest.

Whenever I'm photographing nature, I ask God to show me His glory and I have seldom been disappointed. Today, God once again showed me His glory through His creation; from the amazingly small quarter-sized (or silver dollar sized at most) nest that was an architectural masterpiece, to the way the mother watched over and fed her chicks, to the amazing way the chicks stretched and tested their wings for the very first time.

The mother bird was on about a 20-30 minute feeding schedule and in-between feedings the chicks would nap or squirm around in the nest. They would preen their wings and tug at the nest in an effort to fit more comfortably in it. The larger chick (which hatched first) stretched and fluttered its wings for the first time while I was there. Soon, the chicks won't need their mother's care anymore. They will be out on their own and her nest will once again be empty.

As the mother of one child that has graduated from high school and another with only three years to go, I can't help but think about how similar my situation is to this mother bird. My mostly grown children are also tugging at the nest and testing their wings and getting ready to fly. My role to watch over without hovering and take care without smothering is growing increasingly harder, as my own children try to free themselves from our "nest" called home and as they crave their independence. My need to "feed" them and their desire to "feed themselves" is certainly a strain and a struggle. I hope I am watchful and caring, but giving my "chicks" room to stretch and grow as God indends. As a mother, I take great comfort in the fact that this is all a normal, natural process. God says in His Word that He feeds and cares for the birds of the air and I know He will also take care of my children when they leave home and I have no need to worry. I'm so glad that my children will still come home at times and will still call or text me for advice when they leave my "nest", unlike the hummingbird chicks. God, in His wisdom, knows how vital that parent/child connection is and I am grateful.

"Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life." Matthew 6:26-27

If you want to read what I wrote about each photo, just hover your curser over the slideshow and click on link to go to the gallery.

If you want to know more about the independent film I shot stills for, CLICK HERE!

Downtown Falcons

While we were downtown this morning, I met some folks, Bob and Robin, on top of a parking garage. They were there to watch "our" (Boise's) peregrine family and its newest member taking flight. I only got one picture of the falcons as they perched, since I was there to take stills for a music video my daughter was filming. They were kind of far away for the lens I was using, but it was cool to see them. Wish I could've stayed and just watched them and taken some more pictures of them. You can read more about our downtown falcon family on Bob and Robin's blog. Here's the link.

Here's a slideshow of some of my raptor images...

Happy Independence Day America!

Just Flowers

Summer is not my favorite season, I must admit. I don't enjoy hot weather, nor do I enjoy bugs and wasps. There are some things I do very much enjoy about summer, though. I love the mild evenings and shady breezes. I love snow cones, ice cream and ice cold sun tea. I love bar-b-q's, no school, birds and butterflies. I love beach parties, lazy days, and the sound of the ice cream truck. One of my very favorite things about summer (and spring and fall for that matter) is flowers! I love their colors, their textures, their delicate nature. I've posted a slideshow of a collection of my favorite flower images. I hope you enjoy them as much as I!