yes, Papa, it's all yours.

halloween (which is REALLY reformation day...)

i've shared before what prompted our family to dive into the halloween tradition.  it isn't that we love it so much (and i'm astounded every year by the way grownups with no kids around get so into it!), but that were convicted a few years ago that we would leave our home on the one night when all our neighbors were guaranteed to visit.  we don't generally get to share the gospel, but we build relationship, and it makes my heart glad.  and it's a time when we totally let go and say "have at it!" for as much candy as they feel like... uggh!  :)

some might say they're too old, but we wanted to let them be kids as long as they can.  the four oldest sewed their own costumes from patterns they found online for a dumb cartoon they all like.  :)

we did meet one family while trick-or-treating who said, "we call it reformation day..." which led to a sweet moment of fellowship.  in discussing it with our oldest, he said, "mom, did you notice we never say 'happy halloween,' but rather, 'merry Christmas' or something like that?"

How about you - what do you do at this time of year?  Hide out, reach out, or just hang out and let it all ride on by?



silly and fun...

love the crazy-laughing-in-the-wind that only happens at the beach... a was helping with a session and very nearly got blown across the gulf, i think!  :)

art and passion {fine art children's photography}

for a while, i've had a desire to take some of my portrait work and infuse scripture into it... i also had a desire to try to sell some art pieces in the local Christian bookstore.

dear martha invited me to bring in some pieces, and when i brought her some florals (which i thought were unique and original) she gently said, "this isn't your passion.  why don't you incorporate your babies and your children's work?"  out of an inspiring conversation came a vision for what i'm calling the warrior series.  i pray that these pieces will be an inspiration to those who see them, and to us, when i hang these pieces on the wall as a reminder of how small we are, and how big our God is, and how large we become in the universe against darkness when we are in His will....

now, lest you think my photographers'-children-models are perfect and well behaved all the time, i present an outtake.  this ain't nothin' compared to the faces he made while the waves lapped at my clothes and the lighting malfunctioned and i acted oh-so-human and very nearly forgot the passion and vision with which we'd tromped to the beach to create these images.  :)

oh yes, and love the swim trunks hanging out.  he's wearing big brothers trousers because in our mad rush we forgot anything besides the orange floral swim trunks, and can you tell how happy he is about that wardrobe impediment to his preschool freedom of creativity?

..."i have hidden your Word in my heart, that i might not sin against you..."

my heart longs to hold onto your truth, Papa, and yet i focus on the little things of this world that distract.  i want your word before me...

it's an awards contest! {homeschool blog awards 2010}

oh my goodness!  i'm jumping-up-and-down excited... someone reads me!  despite my photography blog getting waaaay too much attention over the fam one (this one, duh!), my online heart-sister (whom i'll meet in heaven someday if not here) emailed me today to say she'd voted for me at the homeschool blog awards.  i didn't register that i'd been nominated - but whoever did it, THANK YOU!  (i am quite sure i missed an email somewhere...) 

and on that note, if you are a voting-kind-of-person, i'd love if you take a minute in your busy day and vote... since i'm nominated, and all.  just click here to visit the site!  scroll down and click " best variety blog" and then select dancing with my father (well, if i'm your fave in that category.  :)  )

go, now!  check out all the fabulous blogs that've been nominated... it's a feast of inspiration that will be sure to fill up your bookmarks list... enjoy!

(and vote for me... weeee!)