CAMP OBED GIRLS PLUS SOME!

KIM.. THOUGHT YOU'D ENJOY SEEING THESE GIRLS CONTINUING THEIR ROPING AND RIDING!

FESTIVE NEIGHBORS

CHECK OUT THIS TREE... OH MY GOSH...THAT'S ALL I CAN SAY...HEEHEEHEE

Wild Bird in the Gardens

The winter gardens at UNCC are filled with birds and deer this time of year because they have planted so many varieties of plants that bear colorful berries and winter fruits that they can eat.  I don't know what kind of bird this is but I thought the background was pretty in contrast to her feathers.

David's Commissioning

David graduated from NCSU yesterday Magna Cum Laude with a Bachelor's degree in Aerospace Engineering.  He was also commissioned as a Second Lieut. in the Air Force as a Pilot candidate hours later.  This is a picture of him with his girlfriend Megan (from Columbia, SC) after the final ceremony of the day in Raleigh.  I still cannot believe he is now a college alumni.  I am proud of all of his hard work and determination.  I am excited for him and the adventures ahead of him.

COWBOY

I took this picture when I was at a Rodeo in West VA this past summer....

these shots are my favorite kind to take and then play with!

YOUNG FRIENDS

I took this shot at the Saluda High School Ring Ceremony... hard to believe Jacob's a junior in high school!

COOKIES!

This was Abby's first time decorating and baking cookies with Grace and I! Doing the holiday girlie stuff.... I cherish these moments!!!

Bee

This guy is scarier up close than he was in person.  I love that the camera speed could capture his wings moving.  I am so glad for automatic technologies cause I could never have manually captured this shot without them!!!

Goose

I usually don't care for Geese.  They have on more than one occasion chased me around and always seem to leave nasty droppings everywhere they roam but I thought this one was so pretty swimming on the lake.  

pretty in red

My girls all dressed in red... looking so pretty... bribed Abby that if she would smile we would play on the slide.... cheesin' ain't she? LOL Mary Kathryn is my niece who seems like my own! Her and Grace act more like sisters than cousins.

Kendall's Last Game

Kendall's last soccer game bought a mixed bag of emotions for us this week.  She has been playing since Kindergarten and  has worked very hard to be on the club's Red team in her age group. She turns 16 this January and wants to drive and date and do all the things teens love to do and we simply have to make some transitions.  We will miss the excitement of her playing but hope as she moves into working and concentrating on academics she will find some new hobbies and friends. 

Hawaiian Flower

This flower is from Hawaii and can bloom all around the perimeter of the pink stem.  There was only a single bloom remaining on this one today but the petals were all over the ground from where it had bloomed out earlier.  I am sorry I missed it in its full array but isn't the contrast stunning. I love God's creativity.

SHE'S A "MESS"

Just in case anyone wondered what I do all day....

Pansies

Pansies grow throughout the winter months around here and these yellow and purple beauties are my favorite.  I took these pictures from the gardens on campus because I simply cannot afford to buy any such luxuries for my yard this year.  I miss having flowers outside my front door but maybe in the spring things will be different.

CHECK OUT ONE OF THE LITTLE BOY'S EYES...

Hey... I was doing all my editing on this particular photoshoot and when I saw this one I just LAUGHED at one of the boys lookin' at his brother... cute huh?

Ali Bug

Ali brought it to my attention today at her Family Photoshoot that I didn't have any pictures of her on my website so... I'm honoring her by placing her photo on my blogs ... she looks so grown up!

Icy Cold Weekend

It was an icy cold weekend...My daughter played soccer in a tournament in Atlanta this weekend and this was a shot of the icicles from the fountain in the park.  BRRRR.

Strange Winter Flora

This strange flower was blooming in the gardens on campus today.  I could not find the species plate but thought it looked cool and would make an interesting picture for our blog...

PERSIMMON TREE

I would rather take shots like these than people ... all day long!

Rays of Light

Sunsets always fascinate me.  They cast shadows that make us look at the world around us in a different light.  We have to squint a little harder, concentrate a little more and I don't know about you but I always sigh when the sun leaves for the day. I am left  in that new darkness wondering about the future and struggling to leave the past behind me.

PRECIOUS BABY GIRL...

Little Miss Campbell was such a joy Sunday during her familie's photoshoot! Thought I'd share this cute picture of her.... she's 4 months old ... what a precious age!

Movies

I love to go to a good dramatic movie.  I seldom see a great one but every now and then I am surprised.  This is the theatre around town with the best seating arrangement and atmosphere. It is in the heart of an area they call Birkdale Village.  There are always lots of people around shopping, eating and drinking coffee.  It is very family friendly with apartments located over the shops.  It is very festive during holidays and the summer.

Determination

This is Grace's first attempt at Goat Tying... The Junior Wrangler and High School Rodeo girls do this sport along with barrel racing, breakaway roping and pole bending! All I could say was... Poor lil' goat! haha

My Trusted "Red Pony"...

Cody is and will always be the most trusted horse I've ever owned! I've put a ton of kids on him ... mine and others ... and have always been able to predict his every move. I will be turning him over to Miss Abby in a year or so as I want each of my children to be on horses they trust, enjoy and bond with! Grace started riding at 3 so I will most likely start Abby at that age if she seems ready.... if not she'll still be right there in the saddle with me until then...

"To Cody... the best horse I know!"

NCSU-Go Wolkpack!!

Jamie and David are both students at North Carolina State University.  I was so thankful to have them home over Thanksgiving.  I miss them terribly during the school year.  I am very proud of them both.

Kendall

This was my favorite picture of Kendall Thanksgiving Day.  My little girls is not a baby anymore but she will always be my baby.

Sunset on Mtn. Island Lake

I just love this color purple on the water....I have very rarely seen it without heavy cloud cover.  I was mesmerized by this view this evening.  

Praying Mantises

It is strange how I keep seeing these little guys around  where we live. I don't know much about them yet but am going to start asking around!  I played with this little one for nearly 30 minutes he/she was so interesting to watch and hold.

BRRRR.......

Grace and I were warming the car up the other morning before school and she said she thought this would make a cool picture... .she was right.....
Wonder what caused the line of frost? hmmm....

I miss this look....

This is the last time Jacob roped with us ... I miss this look on his face. I miss my son and the mother-son relationship we had!

Control Panel

You know you can tell a great deal by watching a panel like this but you cannot tell everything.  You can tell this in not a new car by the mileage displayed.  You can tell  the engine has been running for a while because the temperature gage says it warm and not cold. You can tell  the wheels were not moving yet the engine is running by the speedometer and rpm meter.  You can see I did not have my seat belt fastened and that the gear shift is in the parked position.  You can even see how much gas my tank says it has....but you cannot tell the state of the driver or car's condition or the see anything concerning their past or future states except the distance it has already travelled.  One can only view the current state of affairs by the interpretation of the available displays.  How like our lives this display really is.  How many people, friends, and strangers do we meet and judge by such outward tools and means of measurement on a daily basis?  As I sat in this car in the cold dark night waiting for my daughter to come out of the movies I had to stop and think about life and how I determine the state of it.  It is not an easy question to answer to consider when one feels in flux.  Can I really trust my gauges and are they measuring anything substantial really?  

ALL DRESSED UP AND NOWHERE TO GO...HA

Abby is soooo tired of being in the house... Dr's orders to stay in but I have to walk her around a little outside or you can't stand her. She wears these boots with EVERYTHING....can't get them off of her!

THANKFUL TO GOD TODAY!

On Monday night my little one of 20 months old was eating parched p-nuts with her sister and got tickled... she aspirated this piece of a p-nut into her lung. Dr. Reddy at Palmetto Richland Hospital was able to go in and remove it. I wanted to say most of all how very grateful I am to God that my daughter is ok but also for being my Father... a Father I can cry out to when all is chaotic around me... and being the only "trust" I know with the three most cherished things in my life... my children. Good or bad outcomes... He's still my Father... good or bad outcomes they are still my children.... what I trust is that He's there listening... comforting...I don't know how to trust other than the trust I have in Him. Hmm.... it's hard to put that into words....

Camellias

Beautiful  species of Camellias grow all over UNC Charlotte's campus. Today as I was walking by I was captured by these white bushes in the ravine near the entrance to the arboretum.   They were so white I did not recognize them at first.  I have seen lots of pink varieties but these were just beautiful.  They say Camellia Tea oil is quite nutritious and tasty though I have never tried it.  It comes from the seeds of the flower when they are crushed and is often flavored and served with bread.....

SUNSET AT THE BARN

I happened to be at our vet's office at sundown and had my camera with me thankfully....it was so cold outside but this sunset was way to inviting ...

Sea Gull on Lake Norman

It is funny to me how there are always sea gulls hanging around Lake Norman.  I don't know why they choose to be here instead of at the beach but this one has got to be cold by now!!!  There was a heavy frost last night and this one was out and about early in the morning  cloudless sky.

ROW CROPPIN'

I was extremely busy today and didn't get to take my "picture adventure" as I normally do so.... thought I would share a picture from our Jackson Hole Trip last October. This field was in Idaho. We stayed in Wyoming and drove through parts of Idaho and then spent the rest of the time in Yellowstone. Most gorgeous place I've ever seen.... David & I both were just awe struck the entire trip and still yearn for that crisp Teton air...

Gazebo

This Gazebo located in Jetton Village in Cornelius, NC is located across from my physician's new office.  As I was driving through there today I realized I needed a moment in a quiet setting to just reflect.  It was a nice refuge in the center of what is ordinarily a buzzing, busy public space.

SHE'S HER DADDY'S GIRL....

I took this shot today at the SRA Finals in Asheville, NC.

We left here spur of the moment with just enough time to get there before they started and made it with plenty of time. We were sitting waiting on the Rodeo to start when I caught this picture of Grace and her Daddy.

L'Chaim Connection

This is the necklace I treasure most.  It is my simple symbol of the fulfillment of the commandment to be bound to the Word of Life.  It is crafted in the shape of the letter that symbolizes life in Hebrew.  Inside it contains a scroll with the S'hema written on a parchment.  On the top of the letter it has two stones that are the stones that represent the time under the stars which I was born...it also relates to my particular Torah portion that day.

HOPELAND GARDENS IN AIKEN, SC

This is the most serene place I think I've ever been... absolutely breathtaking...the Live Oaks are magnificent! Kim... you'll love the water gardens there... I thought of you when I saw them.

I think Mom really enjoyed being with her granddaughters today.

Gracie Boo

My cat was named Gracie Boo because she even as a kitten was very sleek and graceful and yet she could creep up on you and scare you  in her quiet elegance.  She is an accomplished hunter and was a great mommy in her day.  She is nearly 13 years old now and loves to walk the top of the fence to avoid the dog's harassment.  She will follow us all around the yard and will even go for walks around the neighborhood with us.  I hate that she is getting old.

Church Doors

I love deep doors like this one... especially with big wooden doors with those black hinges and door handles... it is like it's a secret little hiding place... and I know this picture is in black and white but why are all Lutheran church doors red? hmmm... If anyone knows the answer to that question... write me! Kim... do you know?

MOO!

Most every day I have to take Abby out for a ride to see the cows.... she loves 'em! I love ... living in the country!

Bubbles

I love water falls and water gardens and love to just sit and listen to rushing water move.  These bubbles  have appeared in my pond as the weather has gotten colder.  I could sit and listen to them forming all afternoon.  They soothe my racing thoughts and remind me that forces are always at work in the background of our lives even if we are too busy to notice or acknowledge them.

TWO VIEWS

I must admit I had to use a picture from another day... been with the farrier all day with my horses.

So.... this picture was taken looking outside of the car through the side mirror... I looked in the mirror going down the road and saw that gorgeous sunset and just had to stop (yea in the middle of the road) and take this shot ... didn't have time to get out and get it straight on so that's how it ended up in my mirror... pretty neat though I thought....

Tallit Fringes

This the fringe off of a small child's tallit.  I bought this garment in Israel in 2002.  I bought one as a symbol of how young G_d brings us into the understanding of the Word.  I am excited that this year I am entering into learning Hebrew and learning to be intimate with the Word like never before.  May I be found worthy of such a pursuit as I seek the origins of my beliefs.

Wedding Rings- Goodbye

These are the wedding rings that we shared for the last 24 years. It was painfully difficult to remove mine this past summer.  On that late June night that it was evident the marriage was over  I removed it permanently.  It was even harder today to find he had left his behind not even wanting the memory.  I have had this box for only a couple of years but decided to store them together here in respect of the little good that was...