Marinda is a woman whose life truly radiates what Christ has done. She is sensitive to following God’s will and acting in obedience by faith. Her life is a continual outpouring of grace.
During one of our many wonderful conversations together this last week, she inspired me by one simple word: intentional. I think its my new favorite word.
2010 Christmas card designs are now here!
All cards are flat 5×7 in size with envelopes. Text and images on front and back are completely customizable. Cards can be printed on standard, art linen (my personal favorite), or pearl. If you don’t know which one to pick, I’d be more than willing to let you feel and see for yourself the texture and fabulous paper quality!
$40 for 25
$70 for 50
$100 for 75
$140 for 100
Winter Bliss
(The image on the back and front do not need to be the same. It was just for sample purposes.)
Candy Cane | Vertical
Candy Cane | Horizontal
Rustic
Winter Wonderland
Cabin in the Mountains
Bethany is the youngest of our family and full of personality. Growing up, we used to call her “Tigger” and “Slug Bug Motor-mouth.” I can only imagine why. 
Though she isn’t quite the talker she once was, she still has her moments where we all eye each other with, “Who gave her the sugar?”
She is blooming into a beautiful young lady full of grace and poise, and I am honored to call her my sister and friend. I love you BR!
Rebekah is one of the sweetest girls I know. I’ve watched her mature into a beautiful and gracious young woman, full of personality and spunk. She’ll tackle any task head on.
This morning felt a bit on the chilly side to be taking pictures, but that sure didn’t keep the warmth away from her smile!
It was a delightful surprise for my sister and niece to join my brother-in-law in visiting us for a few days. Knowing that it might be a while before all of us four sisters would be reunited again, we quickly snapped some shots in the beautifully filtered autumn light.
3 generations of radiant beauties.
This one is so precious.
My brother took the next couple pictures for us…
[Sisters | Youngest to Oldest]
My oldest sister is expecting her fourth child next Spring. Here’s our imitation of her.
This past summer I had the opportunity to return to a land that I love: the Dominican Republic.
For the majority of the six weeks I was there, I taught summer school to children who are sponsored by Kids Alive International — 1st grade Bible, Geography, Math, and Language in the mornings, and 5th-8th grade Photography during the afternoon.
Though summer school was a bit more relaxed than the normal school year (no grading), I decided to step it up a notch.
Stickers were definitely a driving incentive for each of my classes to complete assignments to my approval. Whoever had the most stickers by the end of the summer, showing they had completed their assignments, would each receive a Spanish Good & Evil book. It is an extremely well put together Bible in comic form. Talk about a serious motivator! Few children ever receive a book of their own. What better way than to share with them the Truth.
Here’s a slideshow I put together that gives a broad summary of my time down there. Keep your eyes peeled…you might see a few pics of yours truly! 
My summer was not short of challenges. But those challenges were rewarding. God is faithful to show Himself strong during those times.
The children who were the hardest to love became the most precious to me. When children are most unlovable, that is when they need love most.
My prayer was that God would use me to make a difference in those kid’s lives.
I’m grateful God allowed me to join Him in the work He was already doing down there and I look forward to seeing how He continues to work.
I love 1 Corinthians 3 where it says…
“I have planted, Apollos watered; but God gave the increase.
“So then neither is he that planteth any thing, neither he that watereth; but God that giveth the increase.
“Now he that planteth and he that watereth are one: and every man shall receive his own reward according to his own labour.
“For we are labourers together with God: ye are God’s husbandry, [ye are] God’s building.
“According to the grace of God which is given unto me, as a wise masterbuilder, I have laid the foundation, and another buildeth thereon. But let every man take heed how he buildeth thereupon.
“For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ.”
Soon I’ll be uploading a video slideshow of my time in the Dominican Republic this last summer, but until then, here’s a sneak preview.
A few weeks back, I joined some photography friends to practice new techniques on each other and try out each others lenses. I just bought a new fish-eye lens, so the next three pictures show some of the funky effects you can do with a fish-eye!
Here’s Paul showin’ off some gear…
And Alex with his beastly lens…
Alex took the next two shots as an example of how you can change the appearance of the background with a zoom lens while keeping the subject (me) pretty much the same size in the frame.
The first one he stood way back and zoomed in, making the background seem closer. The second he stepped in half the distance and zoomed out, making the background seem all the further away.
Photo by Paul
And here’s Paul tryin’ out my fisheye…
Such a fun day to experiment!
Behind the scenes: David’s brother and sister came along to watch…or so we thought.
Just like daddy 
