Thinking Summer: Memories from the Past

Lately I have been thinking a LOT about warm(er) weather...(I wonder why?).  And so when I saw these pictures, it totally got me excited about summer time again, and I thought I'd see how many other's I could get started thinking about Spring :}  (All Photo credits go to Daniel and Bethany Crawford...Thanks!!!)
     These pictures are from the church picnic that we had on Memorial Day, 2011 (someone correct me if I'm wrong).
      I have so many fun memories of this day.  It started out with a rousing game of...you guessed it! Duck, Duck, Goose (one of our favorites :).  The circle started even smaller then this, but quickly expanded...

"...run Elvin!" 

"Joshua vs Marlene"

The parents were sitting behind the circle (in the shade), enjoying watching the game...or so they thought.  But in this game, it didn't matter if you were part of the circle or not...nobody was exempt from getting tagged! 

Jesse vs Josh

"me vs him"

"Daddy vs John Austin"

"Father vs Son"

"So close"
If I'm not mistaken, Daniel was trying to get pictures of people all the way off the ground...
He finally succeeded!

"Daddy vs Lamar"

"Not even Brian was exempt from playing..." 

"Jesse vs Manny" 

"duck...duck...duck......"

"watching the excitement..."

We had an absolutely beautiful (warm) day...and what a better way to cool off then a....

.....WATER BATTLE!!!

"the filling station"

"oops Jason, that didn't quite work right did it" 

At times, things just didn't work out the way you had intend them to... more then one got "their" water dumped on them... Maybe you should pick on somebody your own size next time... 

Wilma vs Jordan

Oops, now that REALLY didn't work out so well...I was innocently coming back for more water, when Wilma decided I wasn't wet enough yet... oh well, it is a free for all, so why not... 

Even the photographers weren't safe...ok, that was just a threat! 

"Note the extra bucket in mid air, I wonder where that came from..." 

"One popular spot!"

By the time it was over...the poor well was coming to the end of its supply!  But we all had a blast, and got enough water spread all over the yard to keep it watered for awhile :)
"Precious memories, how they linger..."

I'm thankful for the good, long, cold, winter we had, but at the same time...I'm glad
that its over, and spring is coming...

"While the earth remaineth, seedtime and harvest, and cold and heat, and summer and winter, 

and day and night shall not cease"  --Genesis 8:22

Thanks for coming by again, and hope you enjoyed the pictures as much as I did...
  This was one of those events that make summer so exciting...

Anybody up for a game duck, duck, goose, or better yet...a Water Battle?

MiKayla Grace

And I'm back, with an exciting announcement to make!  

My little cousin, MiKayla Grace Slabaugh, was born on March 18th.  Isn't she cute?  

I had the privilege of taking pictures of her last Friday while we were in Virginia for a visit!  

And then tonight, I designed the card.  I needed a stress reliever, and this was just the ticket!   And here are several other pictures.  Hope you enjoy!  

Thanks for visiting again, love to hear from all of you! {hint hint}   Till next time  ~ Jordan

Back Again...and no, I didn't blow away!!!

I know most of you are wondering if I just vanished off the globe.  And the answer is no, I'm still here.  And hopefully I'll be blogging a little more faithfully in the future.

I'll start out with a few family pictures that I have been working on lately...

And then I also got to design the birth announcement for Jesse & Barbie's new baby,

 which was a LOT of fun!!!  

"Birth Announcement"

Here are some individuals from the shoot... 

This little girl was so brave, it was really cold, but she smiled sweetly when we told her to
...she was really glad when it was over though!!! 

Jethro... Love his smile!!!   

"Ukulele" 

Gotta Love this little guy... 

"Sheldon Daniel"

awww... 

      

His mama says he smiles a lot... I'm still not convinced, maybe it was the big black thing 

that I was holding over him...and just to clarify, it wasn't the "brand" of camera that was the problem!!!

Also, right now there are four new babies at church, so last Sunday we got a picture of them all together.  I just love it, they are so sweet!!! 

So, there is a bit of my photography from the last month... stayed tuned for Couples Night Pictures, and more... Also, I'm planning on going to Europe, I'll let you know about details soon!!!  Thanks for coming by, and I'd love to hear from you all...its as easy as 1..2..3...or just about!      

Till next time ~ Jordan

Storms, Thoughts, etc...

Hello to all!!! 
      I know its been a long time since I posted, and so I'm sure you're all wondering where I went... well, the answer is, not very far :)  Actually, nowhere, but I had a really full and busy month. So, for several different reasons, I decided not to post for the month of January.  
     I had the privilege of going to the School of Christ at church during the month of January.  And I could fill pages and pages with what I learned, and went through, but I won't, although you probably will be hearing bits and pieces it.  It was an amazing month, a challenging month, and probably not the easiest month ever.  But the God of the Mountain is still God in the Valley!!!  

     To the joy of some, and the sorrow of others, winter is still here! On Monday of this week we had about 8" of snow. Then on Wednesday we had an ice storm that coated everything with...thats right, Ice.  It made for some absolutely (freezingly) beautiful pictures.

Suet feeder outside our back door

This morning I was reading in Luke, and thought I would share this with you.  

Luke 12:24-31

24. Consider the ravens:for they neither sow nor reap; which neither have storehouse nor barn; and God feedeth them:how much more are ye better than the fowls? 
25. And which of you with taking thought can add to his stature one cubit? 
26 If ye then be not able to do that thing which is least, why take ye thought for the rest? 
27. Consider the lilies how they grow:they toil not, they spin not; and yet I say unto you, that Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. 
28. If then God so clothe the grass, which is to day in the field, and to morrow is cast into the oven; how much more will he clothe you, O ye of little faith? 
29. And seek not ye what ye shall eat, or what ye shall drink, neither be ye of doubtful mind. 
30. For all these things do the nations of the world seek after:and your Father knoweth that ye have need of these things.
31. But rather seek ye the kingdom of God; and all these things shall be added unto you.

Covered!

I was also reminded of this quote 

"The answering hand of God waits for the lifted hands of a man..."   

Abstract Pattern...actually, this is our chicken fence wire, it was totally amazing!

More wire...

Not sure why I got so many random shots...

    I was also challenged with the thought of waiting.  As we seek the Lord for direction, it is so important that we don't just sit around, and wait for something to happen.  Waiting; it is so much more then the passive, and sometimes impatient waiting for a train, or bus, that we usually think of.  Quite the contrary, it is more like a waiter at a restaurant, as they "wait" on the table, they are serving it.  Waiting on the Lord shouldn't be "down time", rather, it should be a time of serving others.   

Icicles hanging off the trampoline...

Galatians 6:9-10
9 And let us not be weary in well doing:for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not.  As we have therefore opportunity, let us do good unto all men, especially unto them who are of the household of faith.

And the famous "washline" picture!  

So now you know all about what's happening with me, whats new and exciting in the part of the world where you live? And yes, this is the usual "plea for comments" section of the post :)   I'd love to hear from you again!  A great way to do that is at the bottom of the page, or email me, and if you need my email, just ask, and I'd be glad to give it to you!!!  

God Bless each of you, and I pray that you would be encouraged to go on with the Lord, and seek him always!      

 Till next time ~ Jordan 

Baby+camera=cute picture

Here's a picture I took of my cousins little girl... she is 4 months old, and the sweetest little thing...

...taking pictures of little babies is so fun, and this was no exception!!!

Thanks to all my who helped with props, lighting, baby care, and keeping her smiling (or trying to) etc.

2014 -- A New Year

    A year is gone, and a new one has come.  What I do in it, and with it, is still to be seen. It is a blank page in the book of my life.  It is so easy to try to pick up the pen, and write a line on my own, but then I get ahead of the story, and find myself asking, "why Lord?" and the Lord gently reminds me... "my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the Lord." Isa 55:8.  I have a plan for your life, although you may not see it now, but if you will trust me, I will lead you!  And then I lay down the pen, and say again, Lord, you write this story...   

     I, of course, don't know where many of you are in your lives, but one thing I do know, God cares about each of you, and wants SO much for you to cast yourself on Him, and trust him in every area of your life.   I want to encourage you to keep seeking the Lord, read the Word of God faithfully, and talk to him on a daily basis!

"Thy Word is a Lamp Unto My Feet, and a Light Unto My Path" 

As I was thinking about the new year, and the possibilities it holds, I was reminded of this statement made by a young African pastor.  It was found among his possessions after he was martyred for his Faith.  I want this to become more of a reality in my life this year...

I’m part of the fellowship of the unashamed. The die has been cast. I have stepped over the line. The decision has been made. I’m a disciple of His. I won’t look back, let up, slow down, back away, or be still.

My past is redeemed, my present makes sense, my future is secure. I’m finished with low living, sight walking, small planning, smooth knees, colorless dreams, tamed visions, mundane talking, cheap living, and dwarfed goals.

I no longer need pre-eminence, prosperity, position, promotions, plaudits, or popularity. I don’t have to be right, first, tops, recognized, praised, regarded, or rewarded. I now live by faith, lean on His presence, walk by patience, lift by prayer, and labor by Holy Spirit power.

My face is set, my gait is fast, my goal is heaven, my road is narrow, my way rough, my companions few, my guide reliable, my mission clear. I cannot be bought, compromised, detoured, lured away, turned back, deluded or delayed. I will not flinch in the face of sacrifice, hesitate in the presence of the adversary, negotiate at the table of the enemy, ponder at the pool of popularity, or meander in the maze of mediocrity.

I won’t give up, shut up, let up, until I have stayed up, stored up, prayed up, paid up, preached up for the cause of Christ. I am a disciple of Jesus. I must go till He comes, give till I drop, preach till all know, and work till He stops me. And when He comes for His own, He will have no problems recognizing me – my colors will be clear!

Are my Colors clear, is the way I live, and the things I do, bringing glory to Jesus Christ my Lord?  And maybe its time to, again, hand the pen back to God, and say "Lord, you write this story".

May God Bless each of you in this coming year, as you draw closer to him, and walk in his ways! 

 ~ Jordan 

 Psalm 115:1 "Not unto us, O Lord, not unto us, but unto thy name give glory, 

for thy mercy, and for thy truth's sake."

Photo-A-Day #26 -- The End...

December Photo-A-Day

Day #26 -- The End

Wow,  is it really over?  The photo-a-day has really been a lot of fun, its forced me to go out and take pictures, when I would much rather have kept doing what I was, rather then go try and get something... Also, I want to say Thank you, to all of you that have been doing this with me, its made it fun (and a lot easier to keep going), if you want to see some more Photo-a-Day pictures from Sara Ann, you can check out her blog HERE.   And to all of you that were emailing me pictures etc, Thanks.... it was lots and lots of fun to see your pictures... Keep up the good work!  Looking forward to more photos in the future, anybody up for a 2014 Photo-A-Day...???