Melissa Weisbard Photography

I'm Hanging In There

2011-11-10T17:32:00.000-05:00

I haven't abandoned you. I've just been dealing with some interesting issues in my life recently and its taken a toll on me. It's a long story, so I hope you have some time to spare.

One day this past February, I was sitting at work doing my normal stuff when all of a sudden I got so dizzy that I thought I was going to pass out. Then my arms started tingling and my palms started sweating. I had to call my husband to come and get me from work. The next day I went to the doctor and she told me I had a middle-ear infection and prescribed antibiotics. I took my antibiotics and everything seemed to be fine. A week later I was sitting with my husband watching a basketball game on a Friday night. I started having the dizzy spells, tingling, and sweating again. Plus, I was feeling a tightness in my chest and I felt like I couldn't catch my breath. I tried to ignore the symptoms, but it wouldn't let up. I got concerned that perhaps I was having a heart attack, so I had my husband take me to the emergency room. They did an EKG and a CT scan of my head and they didn't see anything. The doctor said that I probably had vertigo and prescribed Dramamine. I continued to have these dizzy spells on and off so I just kept taking the Dramamine. This went on for a few months. I was beginning to suspect that I was having anxiety attacks, but since I had never experienced anything like this before, I really wasn't sure.

In August I started having the dizzy spells, tingling, and sweating more frequently, but I just tried to ignore the symptoms. One day I was driving home from work and the dizziness hit me so hard that I thought I was going to pass out. I pulled into a parking lot and called my Mom so someone would know where I was if I actually passed out. Then the tingling arms and sweaty palms started. I also got a tightness in my chest and started having chest pains. Once I got a little less dizzy, I drove to pick-up my husband and then I had him drive me straight to the ER. They did another EKG and a chest x-ray, but they didn't see anything. They decided to admit me so they could monitor my heart overnight. I spent a very uncomfortable night in the hospital being monitored, trying to eat terrible hospital food, and having my blood drawn every few hours. The next morning I had a consultation with a cardiologist. He said he thought I was having anxiety attacks, but he wanted to be absolutely sure to rule out any underlying heart condition. So, I had an echo cardiogram, wore a holter monitor for 24 hours, and had a PET scan. After all those expensive tests, my cardiologist determined that there is nothing wrong with my heart and I have developed a panic disorder.

This is a very strange turn of events for me. I'm a very calm person by nature. I don't yell and scream and I don't get worked up over things. It feels like such a betrayal by my body when all of a sudden I'm scared out of my mind, dizzy, sweaty, tingling, and thinking I'm going to die. It makes absolutely no sense. I could just be sitting there reading a book and everything is fine and the next minute I'm having an anxiety attack. Even when I wasn't having an anxiety attack, it felt like my bones were being rattled all of the time. You know how you feel when you get really gold and get the chills? Well, that's how I felt every minute of the day. It was very disconcerting.

So, my primary care doctor prescribed Paxil and Xanax. I take a half a Paxil a day and a half a Xanax as needed for breakthrough anxiety attacks. I'm finally getting to where I can function and my bones don't feel like they're being rattled. I still have a breakthrough attack about once a week, but its nothing that a half a Xanax can't handle.

I hate that I have to be medicated to function, but I know I'm not alone. There are millions of people out there who suffer from anxiety disorders. It runs in my family, so I guess I can't escape genetics.

So, to explain my absence: I've been really distracted the last few months. I've hardly taken any photos and I haven't taken the time to post on my blog. I miss my blogger friends, I just needed to get my health sorted out before I could wrap my mind around anything else.

I'm feeling much better these days and I'm ready to get back into the swing of things. So, please hang in there with me. I love it when people stop by my blog and read my posts and check out my photographs. I'll be stopping in to read other blog posts from my friends soon.

Leave a comment if you'd like. I'd love to hear from you!

Feeling Blue

2011-08-09T15:24:00.000-04:00

Yeah, I know I'm not posting often enough. I've been going through a little funk lately. It seems like all I do is work. I have weekends off, but I spend those running errands, doing household chores, and maybe trying to spend a little quality time with my husband. My week goes like this:

Monday-Friday: I'm up at 5:30 am to get ready for work. I leave for work around 7 am and I get home at 6 pm.  Cameron and I try to figure out dinner, which takes anywhere from 30 minutes to an hour. After dinner has been prepared and eaten, maybe I watch some TV and do a load of laundry. 11 pm is bedtime and the process starts all over again.

Saturday and Sunday: I try to get a little sleep to make up for the sleep deprivation I've suffered through all week. I don't sleep well when I know an alarm clock is going to wake me. I wake up repeatedly throughout the night and look at the stupid clock. Saturday mornings I balance the checkbook, pay some bills, and run errands. Saturday evenings I usually go to church and out to dinner with my hubby and maybe some friends. After dinner, maybe we go over our friends' house to play cards or watch a movie, or we go home and watch a movie. Sundays are spent doing laundry, cleaning house, and cutting grass.

I feel like in a week that has 7 days, I only get Saturday night to have any fun. I don't expect to be entertained constantly, but shouldn't I have more than a few hours each week to have fun? I spend about 12 1/2 hours of each day getting ready to go to work, working, and driving to and from work. I get about 4-5 hours each evening to myself, and those usually don't involve too many fun activities.

I think one of my biggest problems is that I haven't had an opportunity to take any photos. It's been well over 90 degrees with high humidity in Kentucky for most of the summer.  You can have a heat stroke very quickly, so I haven't been spending much time outdoors.

Another one of my problems is that I always need to have something to look forward to, like an upcoming vacation, and I don't have that right now. We usually go on vacation in February, but we've been saving up to buy a car. If/when we find a car to purchase, we probably won't be able to afford a vacation after that expense. That depresses me more than I can even express. I live for our annual vacation, even though we usually just go visit relatives in Arizona. I love to travel.

I know that I have many blessings in my life. I'm grateful for all the Lord has given me. I just wish that I had some exciting plans to look forward to. That is what seems to help me get through the day-to-day chores of every day life. If I have something to plan and a trip to look forward to, then I'm a happy girl.

We've been struggling to find a reasonably-priced used car. The car market is ridiculous right now. People want way too much for cars that are older with high mileage. We need a dependable, somewhat fuel efficient, four-door sedan, with air conditioning.  Car shopping has not been an enjoyable experience thus far. With the way the market is right now, I don't think it will get any better.

I feel like I spend so much time working that I don't get to enjoy life.  Is life really supposed to be this way?

Blue Bird on a Fence

Blue Bird Watching Me

Right now I feel about as blue as this bird. I know its a temporary thing. I'll get over it. I just need something fun in my life. The Kentucky State Fair is coming up next week, so that should be fun. Plus, my husband's birthday is on Friday. I'm sure we'll do something fun this weekend to celebrate. I just really wish I had a vacation planned. Besides loving the Lord and my family, traveling and taking photos of beautiful places is what brings peace and joy in my life. I could really use some of that right now.

Wedding Photography

2011-06-07T17:19:00.000-04:00

Yes, I know its been a few weeks since my last post. Its been really busy for me the last few weeks. Between weddings, graduations, household chores, work, groceries, and life's every day obstacles, it feels like I've hardly had time to breathe. Please hang in here with me. I promise not to desert you, even if it takes me a couple of weeks to put up a new post. I like to try and put up a post at least once a week, but as you've gathered, that doesn't usually work out so well for me.

On May 6th I photographed a wedding for my brother-in-law's cousin, Angie. It was only my 2nd time photographing a wedding and I was extremely nervous. I also photographed the bridal shower, the wedding rehearsal, and I followed the bride the entire day of the wedding. It was a lot of fun and a lot of work. I took over 1400 photos and it took me several days to sort through and edit them. I'm always of the mindset that I'd rather take too many shots of the same pose than risk taking only one or two shots of a pose and someone blinks or moves and the shot is ruined. All in all I think the photos turned out pretty good and the bride and her mother were pleased, so that's the most important thing.

Usually, after I take photos, I upload them to my laptop and then I back them up to a 1.5TB external hard drive. I especially want to make sure that the portraits and wedding photos I do for people are protected. I noticed that the hard drive on my laptop was almost completely full, so I decided that I would backup my external hard drive online with Carbonite so that I could delete most of the photos off my laptop. My external hard drive is hooked up to an older desktop and networked wirelessly to my laptop. After I paid for and downloaded the Carbonite software to my desktop, I quickly found out that you can't backup an external hard drive with Carbonite. After a stressful call to tech support, this fact was confirmed. So, after some discussion with my husband, I ended up buying a new 1.5TB desktop computer. Now I can safely upload the photos onto the desktop and back them up on the Carbonite online software. So, buyer beware...you can't back up an external hard drive with Carbonite.

These are the wedding photos of Angie and Joel.

The Dress

The Back of the Dress

The Bride and Bridesmaids

The Bride and the Fussy Flower Girl

Kids are so funny. This is my niece, Raelee. She is 2 (soon to be 3). At the rehearsal dinner she informed us that she WAS NOT going to walk with her cousin, Dallas (the ring-bearer), in the wedding and she WAS NOT going to have her photo taken. She also said she WAS NOT going to throw flower petals on the ground. She lived up to her word at the rehearsal dinner and had to be carried through the rehearsal. She also had to be carried through the pre-wedding rehearsal. However, minutes before the ceremony, the bride (Angie) made a deal with Raelee. If Raelee would walk with Dallas in the wedding, Angie would do the chicken dance with her at the reception. Much to our amazement, Raelee walked hand-in-hand with Dallas through the aisle, down the stairs, and stood next to her mom, Wendy, who was one of the bridesmaids. She DID NOT throw any petals on the ground. If she accidentally dropped a petal, she would stop and pick it up and put it back in her basket. She stood next to her mom for a few minutes, then she decided she was bored and wanted to visit with the bride's father, Timmy. She sat on his lap for a while, then she got down and untied his shoes and then tried to tie them back for him. She would turn over her basket and dump the flower petals on the ground. Then she would gather them up and put them back in the basket. After a while, she walked up the stairs and went to sit with my mom (grandma). She didn't cry and although she wandered off the plan a bit, she was so cute that no one minded the diversion from the plan. One thing she would not budge on is photos (as evidenced by this photo above). She DID NOT want her photo taken and made a huge fuss about it. This is actually one of my favorite photos from the entire photo shoot. We all couldn't help but smile at Raelee's refusal to cooperate for the photos. You'll notice her absence in the remaining photos. And yes, the bride did live up to her promise and did the chicken dance. Raelee refused to dance. As they say, kids will be kids.

The Groom and the Groomsmen

The Wedding Party

The Bride and Groom at the top of the Stairs

Angie and Joel

The Ring

The Kiss

A Peck on the Bride's Cheek

A Kiss Under Cover

Mr. and Mrs. Rhea

Angie and Joel by the Lake

Angie and Joel - Unity

This past weekend I photographed my cousin, Nicole's wedding. After I finish editing those photos, I'll put up a few shots of those as well.

Leave a comment and let me know what you think. Thanks for stopping by!

The Last Legal Form of Descrimination

2011-05-16T10:43:00.000-04:00

In this country it is illegal to discriminate against someone based on their race, religion, sex, age, disability, or sexual orientation. However, it is still perfectly legal to discriminate against someone because of their weight. How is this possible? Why are overweight people excluded from the protection of the law?

I was reading a blog post last week from Shrinking Kenz where she discussed how she and her mother were publicly humiliated by Southwest Airlines employees because of their weight.

Nothing will tear down an overweight person like publicly making fun of or drawing attention to our weight.  A Southwest Airlines employee in Phoenix, Arizona publicly humiliated me in front of hundreds of other passengers. I was so mortified by the experience that I never reported it or even discussed it with anyone. After reading Kenz's post about her experience, I think its time I talked about my experience.

A few years ago, my husband and I traveled via Southwest Airlines from Louisville, Kentucky to Phoenix, Arizona. We travel to Arizona every year to visit family in Tucson. Before travelling, I looked up Southwest Airlines policy about overweight passengers. Their policy essentially states that if your hips will fit in the seat with the armrests down, then you don't need to purchase another seat.  My hips fit in the seat, but the seat belts don't always fit and I sometimes need a seat belt extension. I had flown from Louisville to Phoenix with no problems. However, while we were waiting for our return flight from Phoenix to Louisville, the end of my vacation turned into a nightmare.

I was sitting in a crowded area at the boarding gate in Phoenix Sky Harbor Airport. My husband and I were chatting about our vacation when a thin blond woman approached me. She was a Southwest employee. She stood over me and then bent over and peered down at me like I was a child. Then she announced in front of everyone "You will probably have to buy another seat because you won't fit in just one seat." I WAS MORTIFIED! I tried to be calm and I said, "I fit in the seat. I flew out here a week ago on Southwest and I didn't have a problem." This didn't appease her. Her response was, "That doesn't matter. It is MY determination on whether or not you will fit in the seat. I get to decide if you need another seat or not." Then she began telling me that I would have to pre-board so that she could see if I fit in the seat or not. I told her again that I didn't have a problem when I flew out the previous week and I knew I fit in the seat, but she kept telling me it was "her decision" on whether or not I could fit in the seat. It didn't matter what had happened the previous week. At this point I was crying because I was so embarrassed. She just kept lecturing me about how "she" had to make the decision if I needed another seat and it didn't matter what had happened the previous week. The she made me get up in front of everyone and walk on the plane with her so she could "see for herself" if I fit in the seat.  After meeting HER requirements, she didn't even apologize for humiliating me in front of all of the other passengers. I cried the entire flight home. All 4 hours of it. I was so humiliated. I was just devastated. (Also, it turns out after reading a follow up post by Kenz, a Southwest representative told her that if you were allowed to fly without purchasing a second seat on a flight, then they couldn't require you to purchase an additional seat on a return flight. Apparently, the employees at Southwest aren't even familiar with the company policies and they make their own determinations based on their own biases about overweight people.)

What made the situation even worse is that everyone looked at me as they got on the plane. There was a very large man sitting at the gate with us and she NEVER SAID A WORD TO HIM.  He was much taller than me and much rounder than me, but she never approached him about having to purchase another seat.

It wouldn't have been so devastating if she had approached me quietly and asked me to come to the ticket counter or to step aside somewhere to discuss the situation. Instead, she leered over me like she was disciplining a child and her voice got louder every time I tried to explain that I had flown out the week before with no problems. It was the most humiliating experience of my life. I was so upset by the ordeal that I couldn't even work up the nerve to call and report her behavior. I just wanted to forget about it. The only problem is I HAVE NEVER FORGOTTEN ABOUT IT.

I'm not trying to get anything from Southwest by posting this. I'm just trying to bring awareness to the last legal form of discrimination in this country: weight discrimination. It happens every day in this country and its time for it to stop.  Obese people have feelings too.

I know that there are jobs that I didn't get because people made assumptions about my work ethic based on my weight. Or maybe they just don't like fat people. You can see the look on their face and know that no matter how qualified you are for the position, YOU WILL NEVER GET THE JOB.  And unless they say "You aren't going to get this job because you are fat", there is no way to prove they are disciriminating against you. And even if they did say that to you, technically the law doesn't cover weight-based discrimination. You can only hope to get it covered under the disability discrimination law, and that is probably unlikely to happen.

I know this happens to people every day in this country.  Its not okay to discriminate against people because they have a disability. Its not okay to make fun of people who have an alcohol or drug addiction. Why is it still okay to make fun of someone who has an endocrine disorder or a food addiction? Food addiction is the same as a drug or alcohol addiction. People overeat to soothe emotional pain. If you make fun of an overweight person or lecture them about their weight, all that happens is that they turn to eating to soothe the emotional pain they are feeling.  It is my opinion that a food addiction may be worse than a drug or alcohol addiction.  With drugs and alcohol, you can quit them completely. You can't just quit eating. Imagine being a drug addict and someone telling you to only take 3 hits a day. Could you stop at 3? Well, that is what a compulsive over eater has to deal with. A compulsive over eater can't just stop eating completely. They have to try and limit themselves to 3 small meals a day. If you factor in a thyroid disease like hypothyroidism, which slows down your metabolism (which I have), and an endocrine disorder like polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS) which makes your metabolism almost non-existent and turns food directly into fat (which I also have), and then you add in someone who eats to soothe pain, then you have an obese person. As an adult, I've learned to eat healthier foods in small portions, but because of my thyroid disease and PCOS, it still makes losing weight very difficult for me. Please take a moment and click on the links above about these diseases and educate yourself about what other conditions may factor into keeping someone obese.

Please stop making fun of or telling jokes about overweight or obese people. It is hurtful and humiliating to them. It is just another form of bullying and discrimination. We are people too. We deserve the respect that everyone else is afforded.

I know that there are people who are discriminated against because of their race or sexual orientation despite the existing laws to protect them, but it is generally not socially acceptable to do these types of things. People frown on it and therefore it doesn't happen as often. However, it seems that it is still socially acceptable to make fun of fat people because its their own fault, right? Well, it isn't always their fault. And even if they are overweight because of a food addiction, you don't know what has happened in their lives to cause them to turn to food to soothe the emotional pain they feel. Don't just assume that obese people are lazy and eat all day. That may not be the case at all. And even if it is, they may be depressed or emotionally hurting and that is the reason why they eat. Help them, don't hurt them by making fun of them, cracking jokes about fat people, or singling them out in front of hundreds of people in a crowded room.

PLEASE STOP DISCRIMINATION AND BULLYING AGAINST OVERWEIGHT OR OBESE PEOPLE!!

Butterfly Feeding on a Flower

Somewhere inside the cocoon of weight there is a butterfly waiting to emerge in every obese person. Please help them to find that butterfly.

I'd love to hear your thoughts on this subject. Please leave a comment.

Happy Birthday To Me

2011-05-11T16:39:00.000-04:00

Today is my 36th birthday. This morning I woke up, took a shower, and got ready for work as usual. As I was getting ready to leave to go to work, I stepped in the bathroom to grab my glasses and took a glance in the mirror. I've been pretty fortunate in that I've escaped the crows feet around the eyes that plague my family (so far, anyway), but there are two visible signs that I am aging: 1) Random gray hairs are appearing on my head; and 2) I seem to be losing collagen under my eyes so they look sunken in. Its pretty depressing overall. I was lamenting the fact that I was losing collagen under my eyes this morning and Cameron replies, "Well you should have went to COLLEGE N you wouldn't have that problem." Ha ha, very funny honey. Then he suggested that if it bothered me I should get Botox. I'm just not an artificial kind of girl and I can't see myself getting injections of Botchulism in my face. It just doesn't seem like a good idea.

I know that aging is going to happen and I think in the scheme of things, the bags under my eyes should be the thing about my body that worries me the least. However, having been an overweight person for most of my life, I always felt like my only presentable bodily asset was my face. So, of course you can understand my displeasure at seeing my youth fade away. I have learned to accept myself as I am as I've gotten older, but I still always want to look my best. Oh well, vanity is pointless, I guess. I should concentrate on more important things like family, friends, Jesus, and serving others. Those are the really important things in life. Not the silly bags under my eyes or my graying hair.

It's been a crazy couple of months for me. There have been family birthdays, the Kentucky Derby, parties, showers, and a wedding. Last weekend I photographed my 2nd wedding. I was very nervous because I always want to get the best photos possible. I took over 1400 photos, which is a bit excessive, but that's what I do. I always want to make sure I have multiple shots of the same pose in case someone blinks or frowns or moves or something. The mother of the bride and I took a preliminary look at the photos on Saturday and they look good. I'm pleased with how they turned out. I hope to put up a few of the shots once I have finished sorting and editing the photos, which may be in a week or two.

In the mean time, I'm going to post a few photos from my road trip last summer. These are photos I took in the great state of Arizona.

Fire-damaged Tree in the Catalina Mountains

In 2003 or 2004 (I can't remember for sure), there was a very large fire in the Catalina Mountains that burned acres and acres of forest and completely destroyed the little town of Summerhaven on top of Mount Lemmon. Summerhaven is beginning to rebound and the trees are growing again, but here and there you still see these trees that were ravaged by that devastating fire.

Wet Plant after a Rain Shower in Madera Canyon

Ski Valley on Mount Lemmon

Mountain Stream in Madera Canyon

Stream in Madera Canyon

Rocky Waterfall on Mount Lemmon

These photos were taken in Madera Canyon in the Santa Rita Mountains to the south of Tucson and in Summerhaven on Mount Lemmon in the Santa Catalina Mountains to the north of Tucson. Tucson is generally pretty dry and you don't see many running streams or rivers unless there is a pretty heavy monsoon rain. However, you can often find running streams in the mountain ranges surrounding Tucson. When I lived there, going into the Catalina Mountains was almost like going back to Kentucky for a little while. It always made me homesick, but I love every moment up in the mountains. Cameron and I used to go up the Catalina Mountain Highway and stop at look-out vistas and have picnics at different scenic views. We still do that when we go back to visit every year. I have lots of fond memories of Arizona. You should visit Arizona if you ever get a chance. It's beautiful there!

Until we meet again, thanks for visiting and leave a comment.

Yes, I'm Still Alive

2011-05-09T13:59:00.000-04:00

I've been crazy-busy lately, but I'm hoping to post some photos in the next few days. I just photographed a wedding over the weekend and as soon as I sort through them all, I'll get some up here.

Right now I'm reading a new book suggested by my friend, Lauren. It's called "It Sucked and then I Cried." I just started reading it today, but its a memoir from a fellow blogger, Heather B. Armstrong. I'll let you know how it is after I've finished reading it.

Please stand by for new photos and more of my meaningless rambling coming soon to a blog near you ....

Back to Colorado

2011-04-12T16:09:00.000-04:00

It's springtime here in Kentucky. It's my favorite time of the year. As I drive to and from work I see trees blooming in white, pink, purple, and yellow. It's gorgeous! Hopefully, it won't rain too much this weekend and I'll be able to get out and get some photographs before the blooms are replaced with various shades of green foliage. Yesterday it rained ALL day in Louisville. Today the sun is making a reappearance, but I have so much to do that it is unlikely that I'll have time to take any photos. I've got a severe case of spring fever right now and I'm itching to be outside in the lovely spring weather. That is if it will stop raining on the weekends!

If I can get a clear weekend or even a few hours on a sunny weekday, then you will soon see some photos of the spring foliage of Kentucky.

In the mean time, here are some more photos of Colorado from my road trip last summer for your enjoyment.

Mountain Lake and Green Hills

Colorado Landscape

Colorado Log Cabin

Colorado Log Cabin in Black & White

Thanks for stopping by. Please leave a comment. I'd love to hear what you think of my photos and my blog posts!

Arizona

2011-04-07T13:55:00.000-04:00

Our final destination on our road trip across the USA last year was Tucson, Arizona. My husband, Cameron (aka Eric to his family and co-workers), is from Arizona. I lived there with Cameron for about 2 years before we moved back to Kentucky to be near my family. If you don't know the story of how I met my husband, just click here.

I love Arizona and I miss it dearly when I'm not there. If I could only convince my family to move there with me, I'd go back there in a moment's notice without hesitation. Of course, if I moved back to Arizona, then I'd miss Kentucky (as was the case when I lived in Arizona). I'm caught between the love of two cities about 1800 miles apart from one another.

Each year my husband and I travel to Arizona to visit his parents and his brother, who live in Tucson. Every year we talk about going to California to visit my sister-in-law, but we always go to Arizona. I think both of us get a little homesick for Tucson, so it always wins out.

One of my favorite things about Arizona is the sunsets. When the sun sets behind the mountains and the skies light up in pinks, oranges, and reds, it is just spectacular. The only sunset that can compare is when the sun sets over the ocean (at least that is my opinion - I'm sure you may have your own choice of the most beautiful sunset). Here are just a few of some of my favorite Arizona sunset moments:

Sunset Looking at the Santa Rita Mountains

The Santa Rita Mountains are at the southern edge of the city of Tucson. The city is surrounded by four mountain ranges. The Santa Catalina Mountains to the north, the Rincon Mountains to the east, the Tucson Mountains to the West, and the Santa Rita Mountains to the south. When I took this photo, I was at a scenic lookout on the Santa Catalina Mountains looking south.

Sunset in Northern Arizona

I took this photo in northeastern Arizona. We had just left Colorado and I think we were driving west on Highway 160 somewhere near Red Mesa, Arizona.

Sunset over the Mountains in Northern Arizona

I think this photo was also taken somewhere on Highway 160. We were driving west to get to Highway 191, which goes south to I-40.

Sunset over Tucson with a Storm Moving In

In Tucson, from July to September, the monsoon rains come in every day sometime around 5 pm (sometimes later). This photo was taken from my mother-in-law's backyard (facing northwest) as a summer monsoon storm was moving in.

Storm Clouds Spilling Over the Rincon Mountains

These clouds were just amazing! I could literally watch the storm moving in from the east and spilling over the top of the Rincon Mountains (looking east). The sun was setting to the west and the effect was spectacular!

Stormy Sunset with a Rainbow

This photo was also taken from my mother-in-law's backyard, looking northeast. The sun was setting and storm was moving in. You could feel the humidity in the air and hear the thunder rumbling. Rainbows are a fairly common occurrence in the desert because you have such a clear view for miles and miles as the sun sets.

We are hoping to get back to Arizona this fall. We typically go in February, but since I had just started working again, we didn't think it would be advisable to take a vacation. These photos make me nostalgic and I hope we can get back to Arizona soon.

I'll be posting more photos of my home-away-from-home, Tucson, Arizona, in my upcoming blog entries.

Thanks for stopping by! Please leave a comment. I love to hear from you!

Red Mountain Pass

2011-04-06T13:18:00.002-04:00

Before I got distracted by life, I was telling you about my summer drive across the country. We had just started talking about the Red Mountain Pass in the San Juan Mountains of Colorado. The pass is located on US 550 (aka Million Dollar Highway). I suspect that it might be called the Million Dollar Highway because if you are afraid of heights and narrow roads, it would probably take someone paying you a million dollars to drive this road. When I sat down to plan our route, I had no idea what I was getting us into by deciding to take US 550 through Colorado. I only knew that I wanted to take a scenic drive and according to the map I got from AAA, US 550 is a scenic route. I believe "scenic route" might be an understatement.

From Denver, we took Highway 285 southwest to Highway 50. We took Highway 50 west and then we took Highway 550 South. The drive up until that point had been winding through lovely mountains and valleys in Colorado. I'm not fond of driving through mountains, so my husband drove while I snapped photos from the passenger seat. We had just driven through a lovely town called Ouray when we started ascending the Red Mountain Pass. The road quickly became very narrow, winding up steep slopes with no guardrail. I was terrified, but also mystified by the beauty surrounding me. It had started to rain a bit, which made the drive that much more unnerving. The speed limit on most of this section of the highway is 15 miles per hour. My husband had started the ascent at 25 miles per hour. I told him to SLOW DOWN. He said, "I can't look away from the road or we'll die! Tell me when we're doing the speed limit." He slowed down and I kept an eye on the speedometer for him. There were no guardrails and no shoulder. If you went past the yellow line, you would be tumbling down the mountainside. As the car would round a steep turn, I would feel like I was falling out of the car. My heart was racing, but the whole time I just kept snapping photos. The roadway goes up to over 11,000 feet. The mountain peaks are over 14,000 feet. It was late July, but there were still traces of snow on some of the peaks. As we ascended, it got cooler and cooler. As we neared the summit of the roadway, my husband was complaining that it was cold and I needed to roll up the window. I told him to turn the heater on because there was NO WAY I was going to try and photograph these mountains through the window.

The beauty was so wondrous that my eyes were tearing up just looking around. The luscious green mountainsides were so beautiful. There were waterfalls and mountain streams all along the roadway. Then we came to a mountain peak that actually has portions that are red in color and I understood the name "Red Mountain Pass." I only wish it had been a clear day with plenty of sunshine. I don't think my photos do the scenery justice, but here they are. They are still a bit dark even after I lightened them up. Despite the dark tones, I hope they can convey some of the beauty of this harrowing drive. I've also included a link in my title that will take you to photos of someone else's journey up the Red Mountain Pass. They went on a clear day and the photos are gorgeous.

Here is my view of the Red Mountain Pass on that rainy day....

Green Mountain Slope

The San Juan Mountains

Rocky Mountainside

Small Waterfall Cascading Down the Mountainside

The Red Mountain

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Scatterbrainitis

2011-04-04T10:27:00.000-04:00

Have you ever had one of those days where you just can't your brain in work mode?  I can't seem to focus today. I didn't sleep very well last night, so that may have something to do with my scatterbrainitis.

I know its been a while since I posted. I stay so busy with work and then trying to cram household chores and fun in weekends that go by so fast I hardly remember they existed at all. I was laid-off from my job for a year and I was re-hired last November. I enjoy working, but I sometimes miss the days where all I did was read a good novel and do laundry. Now, I try and do at least a load of laundry each night when I get home from work.  I don't always get a chance to do a load every night, so then I spend all day Sunday washing clothes. The saying is true ... a woman's work is NEVER done!

I haven't even had a chance to get outside and get some spring photos.  Yesterday would have been a perfect day for outdoor photos, but instead I spent the day cleaning out my closet, baking bread, and making baked spaghetti with homemade pasta sauce. Oh yeah...and doing laundry. Let's not leave that out. I think it is supposed to storm next weekend. I hope the weather forecast is wrong. Tonight we will be having severe thunderstorms in Kentucky. After work tomorrow I have to go to the grocery store and Wednesday night I have Bible study.  Good grief! It's no wonder I'm scatterbrained. I just hope I can find a moment for some photography before all of the spring blooms disappear!

Here are some of previous year's blooms for your viewing pleasure.

Purple Beauty

Yellow Lilly

Friends

2011-02-22T10:55:00.000-05:00

I've got a weird situation and I need some input. Let me begin by saying that I have a disease called Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome (PCOS), which can cause severe hormone imbalances. Sometimes these hormone imbalances can make me very emotional, sad, angry, crying for no reason, etc. Because of this, I can't always tell if my response to a situation is a justified response or an act of hormone treason. This is where you come in. I'll explain the situation and perhaps you can help me sort it out.

I have a best friend, Angie. We've been friends since we were 12 years old. We see one another just about every weekend and we attend one another's birthdays, parties, holidays, etc. Angie is a stay-at-home Mom and I recently started working again after being laid off for a year. During my lay-off, I reconnected with a friend from high school, Tiffney. Tiffney is also a stay-at-home Mom. Last summer I had a party and I re-introduced Angie & Tiffney to one another. They had met previously when we were teenagers, but had not remained in-touch. Angie & Tiffney started conversing via Facebook and they've quickly become friends. I think it's great that they are becoming close. However, since I now work and have very little free time, I feel left out. I see them making plans to go shopping or have lunch and I feel like I'm losing my friends. I realize that I work and I can't always go with them, but it would be nice if they asked me if I could come with them. Even if they go on a day when I usually work, I could ask for a vacation day and spend some time with my two good friends. But, as I said, they don't even ask me. It wouldn't bother me so much, but they post their plans on Facebook for all the world to see and I feel left out.

Today, this situation became even more hurtful for me. I have another former high school friend, Dana. Dana and I have spoken a little on Facebook, but due to some past confusion about the nature of our friendship and whether or not I was a good friend to her, we don't talk that often. Dana's opinion is that I didn't listen to her and help her with her problems when we were teenagers. I have a different memory of this situation. I remember that Dana would not open up about her problems. I tried talking to her about things, but she wouldn't discuss them with me. I also was unable to attend Dana's wedding because I moved out of town and I could not afford to return for her wedding at the time. I don't think she's ever forgiven me for not being there. I apologized profusely for missing her wedding, but it was unavoidable at the time. To sum it up, Dana and I are cordial, but we don't talk often and we don't spend time with one another.

Dana is a talented baker and she designs birthday cakes. Angie has had Dana make cakes for her daughters' birthdays. This past Sunday, Angie's daughter Macie turned 1. Dana made a cake for the party. She arrived to setup the cake a few moments before I arrived at the party. I arrived after she had left and did not get a moment to speak to her. Apparently, that was plenty of time for her to reconnect as friends with Angie and Tiffney.

This morning I signed on to Facebook to see if I had gotten any emails and I see that Angie, Tiffney, and Dana are now making plans to go shopping together. I felt like someone slapped me in the face. Is it wrong for me to feel so left out? I'm really confused about this. I feel so hurt. I feel like I'm losing my friends. Am I overreacting? Any advice would be much appreciated.

I took the photo below at a wedding shoot. I saw them sitting there chatting away and it reminded me of the many fun, interesting, heartfelt, funny, touching conversations I've had with my friends over the years.

Friends Chatting in the Garden

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MOUNTAIN LAKES & STREAMS

2011-02-07T17:14:00.000-05:00

This past summer my husband, Cameron, and I took a drive across country. We took a very scenic route through the mountains of Colorado. There was beauty everywhere you looked. It was breathtaking and at times, terrifying. In my next post I'll tell you about the most terrifying driving experience I've ever had. This terrifying even took place on the Red Mountain Pass in Colorado. Never have I seen such beauty and been so scared simultaneously. I can feel my heart racing just thinking about it.

The first two photos shown below were taken on the Red Mountain Pass on Highway 550 just south of Ouray, Colorado. It was late July, but the mountains in this region are so tall that they still had some snow on them. There were lots of little streams and waterfalls on the mountains.

The third photo shown is of a Lake Reserve in Colorado. It was a pretty large reserve and there looked to be lots of recreation activities in this area. We didn't stop to play, but continued on our journey.

The fourth photo shown is a windy little stream that went through pastureland in Colorado.

The last photo is a small lake in the mountains of Colorado.

Overall it was an amazingly spectacular journey and I hope to someday take the trip again.

Muddy Mountain Stream

Mountain Waterfall

Colorado Water Reserve

Colorado Stream

Colorado Mountain Lake

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What's Up With Colorado?

2011-02-03T16:25:00.003-05:00

When I say "What's Up With Colorado?", I mean it in a totally good way. This past summer my husband and I took a road trip across the U.S. We wanted to take the most scenic route we could from Louisville, Kentucky to Tucson, Arizona. I got out a map of the U.S. and used a highlighter to plan our trip. I chose State Highways that took us through the Rocky Mountains. It was one of the most scenic and beautiful drives I've ever been on. Evergreen forests on top of mountains, grassy hillsides with running streams, cattle and horses grazing in fields, blue skies dotted with puffy white clouds. You could see God's artistic beauty all around. My next few posts will highlight the photos I took in Colorado.

Grassy Plains & Evergreen Peaks

Rolling Fields

Green Hillside

In my next post I will highlight some of the mountain streams and lakes. I enjoyed our road trip through Colorado immensely. If you are looking to see some stunning views, this is the road trip to take.

Thanks for stopping by and stay tuned for more photos taken in the Colorado Rocky Mountains!

Monday Morning Blahs

2011-01-27T19:22:00.018-05:00

Does anyone like Monday mornings, really? I certainly don't. This morning in particular has not been a great start to my week. I woke up with a sinus headache that doesn't seem to want to go away. I won't even go into the details of my sinus woes. I can sum it up by saying that I get a sinus headache at least once a week and I get a sinus infection every time the seasons change. I have boxes of tissues in my living room, my bedroom, my den, on my desk at work, and I keep spare boxes of tissues in my closet. My sinuses are not my friend. I know there are many things to be thankful for in my life, but I'm not feeling very thankful for Monday mornings (or my sinuses). So, maybe I'll just talk about something I can be thankful for.

In July 2010, my husband and I took a road trip across the U.S. We started in Louisville, Kentucky and drove west through Indiana, Illinois, Missouri, Kansas, Colorado, and ended our drive in Tucson, Arizona. We spent 2 and 1/2 days driving to Tucson. We took a different route home and drove from Tucson, Arizona through New Mexico, Texas, Arkansas, Tennessee, and back to Kentucky. The trip home only took 2 days and I didn't stop to take photos.

I saw some of the most beautiful landscapes I've ever seen on our drive across country. I took over 2000 photos during our drive there and while we were in Tucson. My next several posts will be showcasing some of the photos I took this summer.

These are photos of clouds I took in Kansas. It was late afternoon and we had stopped to get gas and stretch our legs. I was noticing lots of small clusters of clouds and I had to snap a few photos. I used my Nikon Coolpix camera (which I keep in my purse at all times) for these photos. I love taking photographs of clouds and thunderstorms. I love the way the sun's rays poke through the clouds and send beams out all around.

Sun Bursting Through the Clouds

Suns Rays Shining Down

Lonely Thunderstorm

I drove most of the first day. After this pit stop, my husband assumed the driving responsibilities. We ended our first day's journey in a small town along Interstate 70 called Goodland, Kansas. It is about 25 miles from the border of Colorado.

\If you want to see the beauty of the Lord's creation, all you have to do is take a drive across the country. My next post will highlight just a few of the photos I took while driving through the mountains of Colorado. It was a magical experience and I can't wait to share it with all of my followers. There will be multiple posts with photos of the beautiful landscapes of Colorado.

Thanks for stopping by and God Bless you all!

Time Flies

2011-01-25T19:18:00.007-05:00

I've noticed that I have multiple entries trying to explain my lack of posting within the past year or so. I can sum it up by saying in the last year or so I lost my passion for blogging. Life got in the way and before I knew what was happening, a year had passed. I didn't stop taking photos, but I stopped posting them.

I recently started working again within the last couple of months. I was laid-off for a year. I worked a temporary position for about three weeks and then I was re-hired by my former company. I'm very pleased to be back there as I had worked there for over 6 years when I was laid-off.

Now that I have less time to do things is the time when I feel like I must start blogging again. Go figure. So, I won't promise to blog every day, every week, or even every month. However, I will promise that when I have something interesting to say or an interesting or beautiful photo to post, you might hear from me. I hope you'll hang in there with me. I know how disappointing it can be when you start following someone and they never post anything new. I'll try to keep you entertained, but I make no promises.

I'm preparing to watch the President's State of the Union address, which I'm sure will be interesting. I may have some things I would like to discuss tomorrow after hearing the speech. In the mean time, I'm going to leave you with a couple new photos.

These photos were taken in the fall of 2009. I think fall is so beautiful here in Kentucky. The colors are breathtaking.

Please feel free to leave comments. I'd love to hear from you!

I'm Still Alive

2010-04-02T12:16:00.002-04:00

Yes, I'm still alive. In November I got laid off from my job. Since then, my life has been pretty uninteresting. Mostly, I just stay home and read, do laundry, and then cook dinner. I haven't found anything worth writing about these days.

It's springtime in Kentucky. The trees are just beginning to bloom and the daffodils are are in full bloom. I'll be out with my best friend, my camera, soon. Once I take some photos worthy of posting, I'll be back with new posts.

Until then, I hope you'll hang in there with me. If I have something interesting to talk about, you'll be the first to know.

If you read my blog, please leave a comment and let me know how you are doing. I'd love to hear from you.

LIFE CAN BE CRAZY SOMETIMES

2009-09-04T09:09:00.001-04:00

I'm still around and I'm still checking my blog for comments, but I've had a lot going on this past month and I haven't really had much time to post anything. I'll try and get a new post up sometime this weekend with some new photos. I've got a lot to talk about so I hope you'll stay tuned. It's kind of a public service announcement that you should look out for. I had to learn something the hard way, so I thought I would pass that lesson on to everyone else.

Stay tuned! And thanks for visiting!

Portraits - My First Wedding Shoot

2009-08-12T10:41:00.006-04:00

These photos are of the first wedding I ever photographed. The bride is the niece of my husband's co-worker. They were doing the wedding on a budget and needed someone to take photos for them. I offered to do it for free just for the experience (although my husband's co-worker did give me some money anyway). On the day of the wedding, I was sooo nervous. What if the photos didn't turn out? What if the bride didn't like them? I was probably more nervous than the bride and groom!

The day of the wedding, Hurricane Ike came to Kentucky. There were winds of up to 100 mph. The wedding was supposed to take place outdoors, but had to be moved indoors because of the wind. The wedding took place at the Brown-Pusey House in Elizabethtown, Kentucky. Later that afternoon, after the winds died down a little, we were able to go outside and get a few photos. The groom was pretty reluctant to get photographed so it was difficult to get him to smile for the photos. Overall, it was a great learning experience.

On a side note, I want to say Happy Birthday to my wonderful husband, Cameron. Happy Birthday honey!

Sharing Sweet Nothings

The Bride & Groom

Waiting for the Groom

The Wedding Dress

Almost Time

Wedding Day

Portraits

2009-08-03T18:38:00.008-04:00

Most of the photos I post on my blog are nature photos. I don't normally post any of the portraits that I've taken (with exception of my niece and nephew). I thought I would change it up a bit. I've recently starting doing some portraits for family and friends. I'm not a professional photographer and I still haven't mastered my photo editing software, but I love to take photographs of people. Despite my inexperience, a few people have allowed me to take photographs for them. My next few blog posts will be some of my favorite portraits.

These photos are of Abigail. Abby is about 12 years old (I think). She is the cousin of my brother-in-law. These photos were taken at Abby's aunt's house in Henderson, Kentucky. The house sits on a large piece of land with a barn-style garage and lots of greenery in the back yard and a little wooden bridge crossing a creek. It was a beautiful place to take photos. Abby is into dance and gymnastics, so I got a few action shots of her doing flips and cartwheels. These photos were taken in April of this year. It was a beautiful day in the upper 60s. I was suffering with a sinus infection that weekend, but I don't let anything stop me from taking photos. (In December, I took some photos for a friend and I was also extremely sick, again with a sinus infection - it happens to me every time the seasons change.)

I will add some more portraits in my next post.

Let me know what you think of these photos. I love to see your comments and of course I'm always open to advice from experienced photographers. And, as always, thanks for stopping by!

Defying Gravity

Jump for Joy

Spring Beauties

Abigail

Pretty in Pink

Country Girl

Are You Still With Me?

2009-07-22T13:37:00.014-04:00

I know, I know. I've been slacking. I really do enjoy getting comments on my blog posts, but you can't keep commenting on the same post forever, right? I'm sorry. I've just gotten so caught up in day-to-day nonsense that I'm not taking the time to do the things I truly enjoy, like spilling my thoughts out for all of the world to read (or least the 5 or 6 of you who actually read my blog. By the way, thanks for reading.).

There has been a personal problem weighing on my mind pretty heavily within the past few weeks and I'm seeking some advice. I'd love to hear from someone who has some experience with this kind of issue. Let me explain....

I have (or possibly had, the jury is still out on this one) a friend. Lets call her "Jane" because I certainly wouldn't want to violate her privacy or hurt her feelings by discussing this with all of you. Jane and I met at work in 2001. We became friends and started going to lunch a few times a week. A couple of years later I left that job, but Jane and I remained friends. We would go to lunch or shopping about once a week, sometimes more often than that. I really enjoyed her company. Over time, Jane and I became close friends. We talked about just about everything. I learned that Jane struggles from depression and bi-polar disorder. I struggled with depression when I was a teenager so I can understand that. However, I don't know much about bi-polar disorder.

When Jane first met me in 2001, I would consider myself a "ride the fence" kind of Christian. I believed in God, but I didn't really have any strong convictions about my religious beliefs or what the Bible says. When I was in elementary school, I attended church fairly often, but as I got older I quit going and I didn't read the Bible much. Within the last few years I've felt the Lord working in my life, drawing me closer to Him. I started attending church regularly, I got Baptized, and I joined a Bible study group. The more I learn about God and his Word, the more passionate I've become about having a relationship with Him. I've also become more passionate about the things I believe. I'm a lot more firm in my beliefs these days. I'm not judging anyone, because we are all sinners. However, I'm not afraid to call sin for what it is, sin, even when it is my own sin.

Over the past year or so, Jane and I have had a few times when our friendship has been on rocky ground. These situations usually arise from an email. One day we are shopping and lunching together and she tells me what a great friend I am and how I am like a sister to her. The next day, I mention something in an email conversation, like abortion or politics, and the next thing I know she's telling me that I'm trying to tell everyone how to live their lives. (This isn't the case, by the way. I don't tell anyone how to live their life.) I know that email isn't always the best way to communicate because the written word cannot always accurately reflect the tone of the writer. However, I never considered this to be an issue I had to worry about with a close friend. Friends understand what you mean, right? Jane will turn something innocently said between friends into something hateful and judgmental. Usually, when this happens, after a few days of me explain what I was trying to say, she'll understand what I was saying and that I wasn't being judgemental. I was just having a conversation with my friend. One of the last times this happened, she told me she tends to overreact sometimes and that I needed to call her on it when she did.

Of course I want to bring others to Christ, but I can't do that on my own. God has to call them to Himself. I don't shove my beliefs down people's throat. As a matter of fact, I don't even discuss my beliefs in casual conversation unless the person I'm conversing with brings it up first. However, Jane and I have known each other for 8 years. I've always thought that with a good friend, you can discuss anything, without fear of being judged. Friends don't have to agree on every issue in order to be friends. I have lots of friends and family that have differing opinions. I don't get angry if their opinion is different from mine. They are my friends and family regardless of their religious or political beliefs. My best friend, Angie (real name), and I have been friends since we were 11 years old. There is nothing that she and I don't (and haven't) talked about. Even though we agree on most things, we don't agree on everything. That hasn't stopped us from being friends. It also hasn't stopped us from discussing the things we disagree on without worrying about getting angry at one another. I thought those rules were understood between friends. Am I wrong about this?

So, several weeks ago I got an email from Jane. She was talking about a co-worker/friend of hers that had told her that she thought God had placed Jane in her life for a reason. Jane said she thought it was wonderful to see God working in her life. I was at work when I got the email, so I just quickly replied back that God is always working in our lives and every once in a while we will actually get to see that. Then I mentioned that I had done a Bible study called, "Experiencing God" that had really helped me to learn to see God working in my life and had deepened my relationship with Christ. I said "I know you said you attend a Bible study group at church, may I suggest the Experiencing God series for your group." That was all that was said.

I get a reply from her talking about how everyone needs to live their lives as they see fit and that was okay. I agreed with this statement. I didn't understand where it was coming from, but I do agree that everyone has to live their own lives. She also said she would recommend the series to her group. I replied that I found the course to be very therapeutic and it really helped me search my soul and grow closer to God.

The next thing I know, I get this email accusing me of calling her a liar about the fact that she attends Bible study because I said, "I know you said you attend Bible study at church." She took the "I know you said" as some sort of affront to her honesty. That I didn't actually believe she attended Bible study. Then she went on to tell me that I'm judgemental. I tried to respond logically, reassuring her that I had no reason to doubt the fact that she attends a Bible study group, I was only following a train of thought. I also tried to reassure her that I was not judging her. I was only recommending this series because she said she enjoyed seeing God working in her life and this series helped me to better see Him working in my life. So why wouldn't I suggest this series to my friend? Well, the conversation went downhill from there.

I sent a couple of emails trying to figure out how all of a sudden I was a terrible friend when just a couple of days before she was telling me I was a great friend, that I was like a sister to her. I also reminded her that she told me to bring it to her attention if I thought she was over-reacting to something. Of course, that went over like a ton of bricks.

I just wonder, is it the bi-polar disorder that is causing the problem? I don't think I said anything offensive, especially since Jane attends a Christian church and has a Bible study group.

I haven't heard from Jane in several weeks now. I really miss her, but this "friendship" has sometimes been difficult and caused me great turmoil and heartache. A couple of weeks ago I sent her a card just telling her that I missed her, that I was praying for blessings in her life, and to call if she ever needed me. I also left her a voicemail saying something similar. I've gotten no response from her.

It has totally left me brokenhearted. Someone I love and trusted, someone I considered a good friend, just turned on me. We lunched together, we shopped together, I drove her to and from hospital visits (for an unrelated medical condition) and spent 12 hours in an emergency room with her. I've been there anytime she needed to talk. I thought I was being a good friend. I thought that since she was a good friend, I could discuss anything with her without her taking it personally or as some sort of judgement on her life. However, in this case, I don't think I said anything that controversial. This whole situation has me completely confused. I know that God has this situation under control and I have to trust Him to work it out for His glory. I'm just trying to figure out what went wrong.

Is this something that happens with people who suffer from bi-polar disorder, or am I a bad friend, as Jane says? Maybe you can help me sort through this mess. Let me know what you think.

On to happier thoughts....

This past Sunday I went to the zoo with my sister, my mom, my nephew, and my niece. We had a lot of fun, and of course I had my camera. It was a nice day here in Kentucky on Sunday. It was in the 70s (when it usually in the upper 80s or lower 90s with 50-80% humidity). Since we were having such lovely weather, I thought a day at the zoo with the kids would be fun. Apparently, everyone else in the city thought it would be a good day to go to the zoo. I spent 20 minutes just trying to find a parking space! Despite the delay in the parking lot, we had a nice time. I got some nice photos of the kids and I took some photos of flowers (as seen below), which I am prone to do. I hope you enjoy and please feel free to comment on what I've discussed above or the photos below (or both). Thank you, loyal readers, for keeping me company.

Time to Collect the Pollen

Orange Beauty

White Bloom

Peppy

2009-07-01T14:37:00.006-04:00

I have a dog named, Peppy. He is a Toy Poodle. He will be 13 years old in August. I have only owned 4 dogs in my life.

The first dog I had was Misty, another Poodle. My parents got her when I was just a baby. According to my parents, this dog was neurotic and also like to pee on things. They got frustrated with her and gave her to my aunt who gave her to my grandmother. She lived with my grandmother into old age until her untimely demise by my uncle's car. Apparently, Misty liked to chase cars but wasn't prepared for them to go in reverse. So sad.

My next dog was a Samoyed Spitz. His name was Bandit. I got him when I was around 6 years old. I remember the day I got Bandit. I had gone to church with my cousins and when we got off the bus at my aunt's house, my parents were waiting in the car. This beautiful white dog was in the car with them. I was so excited! When we got home my parents asked me what I wanted to name him. He was fond of stealing toys and having me chase him to get the toy. Since he liked to be chased, I called him Bandit like from the movie Smokey and the Bandit (which was one of my favorites at the time). Bandit was a great dog. Every day he would walk with me to the bus stop. When I got home from school he would be waiting for me. He followed me pretty much every where I went. One day, when I got home from school, Bandit wasn't there. I walked the neighborhood crying and calling for him for hours and hours. My parents finally had to drag me in when it got dark. Our next door neighbors had a Samoyed Spitz named Moe. A couple of weeks went by and one day our neighbor came home with her dog in the car. At least, I thought it was her dog. When she opened her car door to let the dog out, he came charging at me and tackled me and covered me with kisses. It was Bandit! She had seen him on her way to and from work a few times. Someone had stolen him and she stole him back for me. I was so happy to have my dog back. A year or so later, Bandit got hit by a car. It broke a few of his ribs and because the tire ran over his face, he went blind in one eye. The eye turned blue. My sister, Wendy, who was just a toddler at the time, was terrified of that blue eye. Anytime Bandit would come around her, she would scream bloody murder. This went on for weeks. Finally, my parents decided they had to find a new home for Bandit because there was no way to convince Wendy there was nothing to fear. I didn't take it well when they gave my dog away. I took it so badly, that my Dad wouldn't let me have another dog.

When I was 16, a friend of mine, Dana, gave me a mutt at a present. She was a little, black, mixed-breed dog. I named her Boston, because I was into the New Kids on the Block at the time and they were from Boston. I only had Boston for about a week. My parents were working out of town at the time and when my Dad found out I had a dog, he went ballistic. He wouldn't let me keep it because he said dogs only caused heartache. They ran away, they got hit by cars, and they died. There was no convincing him that I was old enough to deal with these kinds of things. He still was remembering my reaction to losing Bandit. So, I had to give Boston back to Dana. It was a sad day.

In 1997, my grandfather called my Dad and asked him if my Mom wanted a dog. It seems my grandfather, who lives in Florida, had got himself the cutest Poodle puppy, formally named Pierre, but called Peppy. My grandfather loves to travel and drives every where he goes. Well, my grandfather quickly learned that his new puppy didn't like to travel in cars! He couldn't leave him in the kennel all of the time and he didn't want to traumatize the dog by making him ride in the car for hours and hours at a time. So, he called my Dad. My mom had been talking about getting a dog for a while, but my Dad had resisted the idea. Apparently, the whole Bandit fiasco traumatized him more than it did me! However, he relented and my grandfather brought Peppy to us. I was still living with my parents at the time while I was attending college.

Peppy and I bonded immediately. He slept in my bed, he followed me around. We played together, we sat together. Later that year, I decided to move to Arizona. I didn't feel like I could take Peppy with me, because technically he was my Mom's dog. So, I had to leave him. A couple of months later, my Mom called and said, "I'm sending your dog to you!" Apparently, Peppy wasn't too pleased that I moved out and started destroying things. He was chewing up shoes and shredding newspaper. He chewed the cord to the vacuum cleaner in half. He's lucky that it wasn't plugged in at the time! He would get on top of the coffee table and knock everything into the floor. He was acting out because I left. So, she put him on a plane and sent him to Arizona. He's been with me ever since.

I love this little dog so much! I don't have children, so my dog has become like my child. Every day when I get home, he is waiting by the door, sneezing and smiling (yes, he really smiles!). He still sleeps in my bed every night. All he wants is to love us and to be loved. His love is unconditional. He is so intelligent. He understands lots of words. He's a little spoiled, but is that really so bad?

Let me tell you about the smiling. Not long after we got Peppy, I noticed how excited he got when I would get home from work or school. He would be waiting by the door, sneezing and showing me his teeth. Also, if I would talk sweet to him, he would show me his teeth. Finally, I realized that he was smiling at me! He will smile whenever I talk sweet to him and he smiles when I get home. I can't help but laugh every time I see him doing it.

Peppy is about to turn 13. The average life span for a Toy Poodle is 12-15+ years. I know that someday within the next few years, my Peppy is going to leave me. I dread that day, but until then, I will enjoy every moment that he is with me. He is still in good health, but he is developing cataracts. So, at some point he may lose his sight. He is such a sweet dog. He loves to be pet and will sit right next to or in your lap for hours and hours. He loves to run and play in the back yard and he is particularly fond of chasing squirrels. He has never caught one, though. He loves to play with kids, but he is very nervous around babies and toddlers. They have a tendency to pull his years and poke his eyes. He doesn't like taking baths or going to the groomer, but he doesn't fight you on it. After his grooming appointment, he will prance around showing everyone how pretty he is. If you tell him how pretty he looks, that will get him prancing around even more. I believe that Peppy thinks he is a human. He has absolutely no interest in other dogs. He'd rather hang out with people. Whenever we have company, he expects that they will pet him. He has no concept that some people don't like dogs (weirdos). That is probably because he doesn't realize that he is a dog. Now that he is getting older, he is a little more grouchy. He has never bitten anyone, and I don't think he ever will. But he will growl to let you know that you are bothering him in some way. Especially if you move him or shift him while he is sleeping. We can forgive him for that since he is about 91 years old. I think we may all be pretty grouchy when we get to be that age.

I love dogs and I think they make the greatest pets. Peppy is more than just a pet, he is a member of the family. Any true animal lover, especially dog owners, know what I'm talking about.

If you have a great dog, please drop a line and tell me about him/her.

Peppy Running in the Back Yard

Yes, I'm Still Alive

2009-06-23T20:30:00.004-04:00

You know how life sometimes can get so hectic that you forget to wash the conditioner out of your hair in the morning because you are so distracted? Well, that is how the last month or so has been for me. There has been so much going on that I haven't had the time to catch up on my favorite blogs or even put up a new post myself.

I really enjoy reading my favorite blogs. I'm sorry that I haven't been reading your blogs. I promise to get back on track this week and pick-up where I left off. So, be looking for my comments on your blog in the next few days.

Although I haven't been putting up posts, I have been taking photos. Here are a few I took in May of my Dogwood tree. I just love these blooms.

Thanks for reading my blog. I miss you guys!

Pink Bloom

Lovely Branches

Pink & White Beauty

The Booming Begins

No, I'm Not Lost

2009-05-14T10:13:00.000-04:00

No, I didn't drop off the face of the planet. I've just had a very busy, very stressful couple of weeks. I will be posting some new photos this weekend, so please stay tuned!

You Capture Challenge - Letters

2009-04-29T16:47:00.005-04:00

I was reading one of my favorite blogs, http://www.ishouldbefoldinglaundry.com/category/you-capture, and the author of the blog has a weekly photography challenge, called "You Capture." The object is to get us photography nuts out and about with our cameras. The challenge for this week was letters. So, I kept thinking about what letters would be most interesting to photograph over the weekend. During that time I went to my nephew, Connor's, first t-ball game. And then I realized the answer was right in front of my face! Here are some of my favorite letters:

Connor at Bat

Waiting in the Dugout

Future Baseball Star

This was Connor's first official t-ball game. He spent most of the time in the outfield walking in circles, playing in the dirt, and occasionally watching to see what was happening in the game. He's only four years old, so his attention span is short (hence his position in the outfield). He does well when he is at bat, but he doesn't run as quickly as the other team throws.

His baseball jersey and pants are too big, but it turns out you can only get them so small.

I had great fun getting these photos and I can't wait for next weeks challenge!

Earth Day

2009-04-22T10:25:00.003-04:00

Today is Earth Day. It is a day where everyone is encouraged to take steps to help save and protect our planet. God has created all things in the universe and we are instructed to care for the things he has provided for us. I was reading a new post by Alice and she had a cute drawing from Rick (see below) who so graciously allows us bloggers to copy and share his drawings. Thanks Rick!

I am trying to do my part to protect the Earth; I use energy efficient bulbs and appliances, I try to make sure lights are turned off when I'm not in rooms, my husband and I carpool, and I plant trees in my yard. However, my favorite way to show my appreciation for this gift God has given is to photograph the Earth's beauty. What an amazing and beautiful creation this world is!

Mother Goose

White Hydrangea

Bumble Bee

Courtesy of Rick Green

The Joy of a Child

2009-04-17T14:09:00.007-04:00

In 2000 I got pregnant. I had been married for two years. We were trying to get pregnant and it only took two months after I stopped taking the pill. I was so excited and also terrified at the same time. My mother had three miscarriages; one before I was born, one after I was born, and one after my sister was born. My sister had one miscarriage when she was 17. I knew a miscarriage was a possibility, but I just wanted to relish the joy of the situation.

The same week I discovered I was pregnant, a co-worker/friend also discovered she was pregnant. We were excited that we would share this experience together. Two weeks later while at work I had a weird feeling that something wasn't right, it felt as though maybe I was starting my period, but I knew that couldn't be right. I went to the bathroom and I WAS bleeding. My husband and I worked together and I went to him in hysterics. After several hours in an emergency room all they could tell me was that I was "probably" going to miscarry and I would have to come back for another blood test the next day. I was at home alone when I got the call confirming what I already knew in my heart. My baby was gone. I have never hurt so badly. I had barely gotten used to the idea that I was pregnant and it was over already.

My husband was sad that the baby was gone, but I don't think he has ever truly understood the depth of the pain the loss caused me. It wounded me down to my very soul. My co-worker/friend had a wonderful pregnancy. No problems. She had a beautiful baby girl the same week I also should have been delivering my child. I don't think anyone ever understood how painful it was to watch her get everything I dreamed about. It's been almost 9 years now, but the pain is still so raw. I was happy for her, but her happiness reminded me that I should be experiencing the same joy. It was like a slap in the face.

About a year later I discovered that I have polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS). It causes fertility issues. I have never been able to get pregnant again. I may never get pregnant again. And the pain is always with me.

I never held my child. I never even saw my child. I just knew that for a brief time it was there within me. And then it wasn't. My dream was gone. But my sorrow from the loss of my dream is real, and still just as intense nine years later.

In 2003 my sister Wendy gave birth to a daughter. Alexis was born 16-weeks premature and she only lived for three days. After Alexis, Wendy had another miscarriage. She was finally able to carry a son, Connor (4), and a daughter, Raelee (9 months), to full-term. Because of the loss she (and our family) suffered, Wendy has never taken one moment for granted with her children. She knows how lucky she is to have them and that the death of her daughter will never leave any of us (along with her two miscarriages).

It has also reminded me that the pain never goes away, it is still there, but we can still have joy in our lives. Maybe one day I will know the joy of my own child in my arms. If not, then I will be sad, but I will go on.

I write this post as a way to honor all of the mothers out there who have experienced the sorrow of losing a child. People like Wendy, and Heather, and Beth, and millions of other women out there.

Please donate to the March of Dimes. They are saving the lives of babies and the hearts of mothers every day.

Photo Tag - You're It!

2009-04-16T10:32:00.003-04:00

The beautiful and witty Lauren tagged me in a fun photo game. Here are the rules:

Take a picture of yourself right now.
No primping or preparing.
Just snap a picture.
Load the picture onto your blog.
Tag some people to play along.

I'm at work on a break catching up on some of my favorite blogs right now. The only camera I have is my camera phone (which is only like 1.2 megapixels or something).

I don't like photos of myself, but here I am in my office at work for all the world (or the few wonderful people who read my blog) to see:

Now it's your turn!

Shelley

Leedra

Christy

Jenny

Have fun and no cheating!

Madeline Alice Spohr

2009-04-13T16:58:00.003-04:00

Today I was catching up on some of my favorite blogs. One of my favorites is http://mooshinindy.com/. As I began reading some of her recent posts my heart began to break. A friend of Casey's (the author of the blog), Heather Spohr, lost her daughter, Madeline Alice Spohr. Madeline was born prematurely and because of that, her immune system was weak. Please take some time to read the posts at http://mooshinindy.com/ and also at http://www.remembermaddie.com/.

In remembrance of little Maddie, I have changed the color of some of my text to purple (I was trying to change the background color to purple, but since I'm not very good at this whole web design thing, I gave up because I don't know how).

I lost my niece, Alexis Leigh Fromme, in 2003. She was born 16 weeks premature. Alexis lived for 3 days. My sister, Wendy Fromme, and I have chosen to honor Alexis and other prematurely born babies (like Maddie) by walking for the March of Dimes every year.

Please take a moment and donate to the March of Dimes by clicking the link on the right-hand side of my blog. It only takes a moment. I know that economy is bad and times are tough all around, but even if you can only donate $1, every dollar helps.

Do this so families like the Spohrs and the Frommes don't have to know the pain of losing a child.

Alexis Leigh Fromme

Alexis

Alexis (1/21/03 - 1/24/03)

Happy Easter!

2009-04-12T21:42:00.004-04:00

Today is an important day for all Christians. Today is the day that Jesus conquered death. Because of his death and Resurrection, we are able to spend eternity in paradise as long as we believe that Jesus is the Christ. It is a day for all Christians to rejoice and be thankful for all that Jesus has done for us. Our sins can be forgiven because of Him. What a wonderful gift we have been given.

Springtime and Easter go hand-in-hand. Last year around this time I took my nephew to the zoo (as I do several times a year). The zoo had planted hundreds of daffodils. The blooms were so beautiful! However, I was disheartened to see people picking the blooms. I was shocked that people just assumed that they could pick the flowers. I heard some of the zoo staff off to the side talking about how many hours the groundskeeping staff had spent planning the gardens and planting the bulbs. I haven't been to the zoo yet this spring, but if they chose to plant the daffodils again this year, I hope that installed signs that tell the guests not to pick the flowers. It is really sad that this would even be necessary, but people aren't teaching their children respect for anything anymore.

On behalf of all gardeners out there, I implore you, please don't pick the flowers! The flowers are there for everyone to enjoy, but if you pick the blooms, then no one can enjoy them.

Below are some photos of the daffodil gardens at the Louisville Zoo.

Happy Easter and blessings to all!

Field of Daffodils

Yellow Bloom

Orange & Yellow Bloom

Northern Arizona

2009-04-02T14:48:00.013-04:00

One of the most interesting things about driving through Arizona is that you never know what you are going to see next. As you drive north from Tucson, the scenery changes dramatically. As you crest each hillside or mountain top the view changes. When you start in Southern Arizona, you will find the typical desert views: cactus, mountains, and rocks. Once you get north of Phoenix, the scenery begins to change. Before you know it, you are in dense pine tree forests. As you get into Flagstaff the land levels out at about 5000 feet. Then you see a large peak (Humphreys Peak) and you are left wondering how tall that mountain must be if you are already at 5000 feet (and the answer is 12,562 feet). As you get north of Flagstaff the scenery is constantly changing. You see the Painted Desert, different mountain ranges, the Grand Canyon, cattle farms, Indian Reservations, and more. When my husband and I drove from Page, Arizona east to Monument Valley (about 100 miles), the scenery was continually changing. You never knew what breath-taking view lie ahead. It was spectacular and indescribable, especially for those who truly appreciate the beauty of nature in all of its forms.

The photos below were taken north of Flagstaff and south of Page. The photos of the canyons were taken from Antelope Pass just south of Page. If you ever have the time, I highly recommend a scenic drive through Arizona. It isn't something you will soon forget.

Humpreys Peak

Canyon View from Antelope Pass

Rocky Mountainside of Antelope Pass

Mountains South of Page, Arizona

Colorful Layers

I'm Still Here

2009-04-01T14:04:00.002-04:00

For the few wonderful, beautiful, souls who read my blog, please continue to read. I will put up some new photos this evening. I've been quite busy and I have not had the time to post anything the past week or so.

More Arizona photos to come soon!

Thank you for reading my blog. I really enjoy your kind comments.

Monument Valley

2009-03-17T19:21:00.011-04:00

While we were staying in Page, Arizona we decided we would take a drive through Monument Valley, which is about 100 miles east of Page. Monument Valley starts in a little town called Kayenta and goes north into Southern Utah. The sight of these unusual mountains is just amazing. It is something I won't soon forget.

Another New Post

2009-03-17T12:09:00.003-04:00

New photos coming tonight - Monument Valley in Arizona and Utah.

Is anyone else besides myself disturbed by the fact that banks like AIG are giving their executives millions of dollars in bonuses with our tax money? Especially since the banks' predatory lending practices are what got the economy in such a mess. It is illogical for the government to give tax money to banks without setting any restrictions on how the money is to be used.

Anyway, that is my rant for the day. Photos coming this evening. Stay Tuned!

Lake Powell

2009-03-11T18:29:00.006-04:00

This year during our trip to Tucson, my husband and I decided to drive to Northern Arizona to visit Lake Powell and Monument Valley. Lake Powell is just north of Page, Arizona. It is a beautiful area, but February is a little early for the tourist season, so there weren't too many activities on the lake. I did spend a few hours photographing Lake Powell.

I couldn't get a good frontal photograph of the Glen Canyon Dam because there was a chainlink fence on the bridge. Also, I was too petrified to walk out to the middle of the bridge and take some time to try and get a good shot. My husband finds this little quirk of mine quite funny. I'm not afraid to stand at the edge of a canyon on a rock, but I'm terrified of walking on man-made bridges, towers, scaffolding, etc. I'm okay in a tall building, but anything that is out in the open terrifies me. I managed to walk about 1/4 of the way out onto the bridge and snap two or three quick photos of the dam through the fence. By then my knees were about to buckle and my heart was racing so I bolted back to the safety of land and waited for my husband in the car.

Cameron is the opposite. He wasn't at all bothered about walking out to the middle of the bridge, but he gets nervous when I stand too close to the edge of a canyon. I trust the rock created by a Perfect God a lot more than I trust a bridge made by imperfect men. Cameron is of the opinion that you never know when there will be an earthquake or a landslide.

I guess we all have our little quirks.

Here are some photos of Lake Powell for your enjoyment.

Knee-Knocking Photo of Glen Canyon Dam

Sunset Over Lake Powell

Sunset Over Lake Powell Part Two

Rocky Reflection

Sunset Over Page

Glen Canyon Bridge

Important Petitions

2009-03-11T15:01:00.003-04:00

Tonight I will be posting some more photos of Arizona, but right now there is something important I would like to bring to your attention.

Every afternoon I listen to a program called "Jay Sekulow Live." Mr. Sekulow is an Attorney for the American Center for Law and Justice (ACLJ). The ACLJ is the Christian equivalent of the ACLU. However, where the ACLU wants to eliminate all reference to Christianity from the public view, the ACLJ wants to protect the religious rights of Christians. Today a couple of important issues were discussed on the show that I would like to bring to light. You won't hear about these things in the liberal media, so word of mouth and a few conservative talk shows are your only source for learning about these important issues.

The first issue I would like to discuss is a petition to help prevent President Obama from eliminating a doctor's choice to choose not to perform abortions. President Obama has already signed new legislation that will supply taxpayer money for the study of embryonic stem cells. Essentially, he is taking my hard-earned money to fund the creation and murder of human embryos. I'm not against stem cell research. However, I am opposed to murdering innocent human beings for study. There are now scientific means available to create stem cells that imitate embryonic stem cells. So therefore, the creation and murder of innocent human embryos is no longer necessary. Of course you will never hear about this on the liberal media sources.

Now President Obama wants to prevent doctors from having the right to say "No" to performing abortions, regardless of their religious or moral beliefs. This is outrageous! How would you feel if a law was enacted that said you had to murder a human being despite your beliefs about it? Before this legislation is approved, President Obama is allowing 30 days of "discussion." Of course I'm certain you haven't heard this issue discussed on the news. This way, the President can give the appearance that he gave time for the public to present their opinion without really making the issue known; therefore, no response will be given. Well, it is up to us to spread the word. I encourage you to click on the link below and sign the petition to make your voice heard. Tell President Obama we don't want our doctors to be forced to do something against their moral and/or religious beliefs.

http://www.beheardproject.com/

Another important issue I would like to bring to your attention is something happening at the United Nations. The Organization of the Islamic Conference (OIC) is trying to create a resolution that would essentially allow the persecution of Christians if they spread the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

I believe that everyone has a right to practice the religion of their choice (including atheism) assuming no other human is injured or killed because of someone else's religious beliefs. However, the OIC wants to ensure that worldwide, it would be illegal to speak against Islam in any way. So essentially, any time you preach the Gospel or speak about any other belief system (Jew, Hindu, Buddhist, etc.), the UN could declare that this speech is against Islam, hence it is illegal. Last year the OIC tried to get this passed through the UN and because of a petition submitted by the ACLJ, the issue was dismissed. Now they are trying it again. It is up to us to make our voices heard. The OIC wants to make Islam the moral law of the world. This is the same "moral law" that encouraged a group of Muslims in Egypt to burn a man alive and kill his father because they had heard a rumor that this man was involved with a Muslim woman. Just a rumor! And they burned this man alive and murdered his father too! I don't know about you, but this is not the kind of "moral law" I want enforced in this country. Please let the United Nations know that we will not tolerate the Islamic "moral law." Please follow this link and sign this petition.

https://www.aclj.org/Petition/Default.aspx?sc=3417&ac=1

I usually try and keep my posts light-hearted but these issues are something I cannot just dismiss. If we don't stand up for our freedoms, who will?

Tucson Sunset

2009-03-05T22:37:00.005-05:00

My husband was born and raised in Tucson, Arizona. I was born and raised (mostly) in Louisville, Kentucky. We met on the Internet in the Spring of 1997. It was a whirlwind romance. By December 1997 I had moved to Arizona to be with him. In February 1998 we were married. We moved back to Louisville in October 1999 to be closer to my family. In 2006 we decided it was time to go back and visit his parents in Tucson. We realized we missed not only his family, but Arizona as well. So now we make a yearly pilgrimage to Tucson.

There are a few things that I absolutely love about Arizona; the weather, the scenery, and especially the mountains.

In Tucson, you are surrounded by mountains on every side. To the north you have the Catalina Mountains, to the east you have the Rincon Mountains, to the south you have the Santa Rita Mountains, and to the west you have the Tucson Mountains. The Catalina Mountains, particularly Mount Lemmon, are the tallest and most accessible range. You can travel the Catalina Highway to the top of Mount Lemmon where you will find Summerhaven and Ski Valley. Along the highway you will find pullouts for scenic and picnic areas. The Catalina Mountains are approximately 9000 feet high. As you travel the Catalina Highway you start in the desert and work your way up to an evergreen forest. When I lived in Tucson, the Catalinas were my way of having a small piece of Kentucky in Arizona. If it is 100 degrees in Tucson, it is 70 degrees in Summerhaven. In the winter there is often snow on Mount Lemmon.

The last photo was taken at the Babad Doag pullout on the Catalina Highway. This is one of the first scenic pullouts on the highway. We had spent a few hours traveling up and down the mountain and decided to wait there for the sunset. I just love the way the rays of sunlight are splashing over the city. As we were leaving the mountain and got to the bottom of the foothills, the skyline lit up with oranges, pinks, and reds. I had to pullover to the side of the road to take the first two photographs.

Sunsets like these are a fairly common occurrence in the Arizona desert.

Orange Sunset

Desert Sunset

Sunset Over The Tucson Mountains

Traveling Through Arizona

2009-03-04T22:41:00.000-05:00

Every year my husband and I travel to Tucson, Arizona to visit his family. He and I lived in Arizona for two years when we were first married, then we moved to Kentucky where my family lives. I really loved living in Arizona, but I missed my family so much that I had to move back home. I really love it when we get an opportunity to return to Arizona. We usually spend the week at his parents house; however, we will take a two-day road trip to somewhere scenic in Arizona. This year we decided to go to Lake Powell in Northern Arizona and Monument Valley in Northern Arizona an Southern Utah. It was just amazing to see. Over the next few days I will be adding photos from our trip to Arizona. Here are a few to get you started.

Glen Canyon Dam & Bridge on Lake Powell

Desert Wilflower in Orange

New Posts

2009-03-02T12:03:00.000-05:00

I will be putting up some new vacation photos today or tomorrow. I was trying to do it in a hotel while I was on vacation, but my photos wouldn't upload. Stay tuned for some photos of beautiful Arizona!

Ice Storm in Louisville

2009-02-04T09:13:00.008-05:00

To all of my loyal readers (all four or five of you), I apologize for taking so long to put out a new post. As you may have heard (unless you've been living in a media blackout), Louisville had a major ice storm last week. It started on Tuesday with snow and then Tuesday afternoon it changed to freezing rain. The freezing rain continued all afternoon and all night. Early Wednesday morning I awoke to the sound of breaking trees. I looked out my window and mistakenly thought I saw flashes of lightening. What I was actually seeing was flashes of light from exploding transformers. My sister lost her electricity Tuesday evening so she packed up her family and went to my father's house (who lives on my street). We felt pretty fortunate that we still had electricity.

Our good fortune ran out at 10:45 pm on Thursday evening. There was a large flash that lit up the entire sky (exploding transformer) and our electricity was gone. The house was pretty warm, so I just added an extra down comforter to our bed and we were fine. My sister and her husband packed up the kids at 11pm that night and went to her husband's uncle's house. The next morning my husband and I purchased a generator so we could power our refrigerator, a space heater, and a light. We didn't want a repeat performance of the wind storm we experienced in September where we lost all of the food in our refrigerator. Friday evening was really cold with single-digit temperatures. I was warm in my bed, but when I got up Saturday morning I was freezing! Even with the space heater running and wrapped in a down comforter, I was still cold. Any area that was exposed to the air was cold. Fortunately, it warmed up on Saturday afternoon. Our electricity was restored on Saturday sometime between 4 and 6pm.

The electric company said it could be 7 to 10 days before everyone's electricity is restored. We must try and keep those people without electricity or heat in our thoughts and prayers. Many people in Kentucky and Arkansas are still struggling because of the ice storm.

I do want to send my thanks to all of the electric company employees who worked day and night in the freezing rain, snow, and freezing temperatures to restore the city's electricity. I think that people often forget how dangerous and difficult their job can be. So, Thanks for all of your hard work. My family and I appreciate your efforts.

Even though the storm was difficult for many, there were a couple of positive outcomes. First, I got to spend more time with my family. My sister, her husband, and her two children, my parents, and my husband and I had dinner together on Wednesday and Thursday evening. It was nice spending time together. I'm sure there were many families huddling together in a relative's home that still had power and heat. Another positive aspect was the extreme beauty of the storm. Just seeing the sun glinting off the ice-covered trees was a sight to behold. I took lots of photos, but I don't think my photos can really do the sight justice.

The experience of the storm has taught me that no matter what is happening, God is always watching over us. He is there in good times and bad. This storm has also taught me that even during difficult times, there can be positive experiences.

Below you will see a few photos of the downed trees on my street. However, I don't think my street really does the storm justice. I don't think a single tree in the Louisville area escaped damage. Every where you go, you see broken branches and trees laying on homes and vehicles. It is going to take weeks upon weeks to cleanup the mess.

Below you will also see a few photos of the ice. I just hope the photos can convey a little bit of the beauty of the storm.

Downed Trees On My Street

Tree Branches In My Front Yard

Tree Branches In My Driveway

Broken Tree Branches In My Back Yard

Ice-Covered Grill

Ice Coating My Bird Feeder

Ice-Covered Branches

Ice-Covered Branches Part II

Icicles

Ice-Covered Branch

Branchcicle

Treecicle

Sunlit Beauty

Stay Tuned!

2009-02-02T10:04:00.001-05:00

I know I haven't posted in a while, but things have been crazy here in Kentucky. We had an ice storm last week and everything has been chaos since then. I'm just getting back to a normal routine. I will be putting up another post this evening with some new photos, so please stay tuned!

Tag! You're It!

2009-01-13T09:30:00.006-05:00

I was recently tagged for a fun photography game by Alice. Here are the rules of the game:

1. Choose the 4th folder where you store photos on your computer.
2. Select the 4th photo in that folder (no cheating - cropping, editing, etc.).
3. Explain the photo.
4. Tag 4 other people to do the same.

Red Rose

This photo was taken from my rose garden. It is a pretty small garden. I planted a yellow rose bush, a red rose bush, and a coral-colored rose bush. However, I didn't pay close enough attention when I bought the rose bushes. The yellow rose bush is a full-size rose bush, while the coral and red roses are ground-cover roses. This is a typical gardening mishap for me (see my June 6, 2008 post regarding Flowers for an example of my gardening skills). I love photographing flowers, I'm just not good at growing them. I believe I took this photo soon after I planted these rose bushes.

Now, for my tagging, I pick Lauren, Shelley, Carley, and Megan. Their blogs are great and enjoy reading them. I figured since they enjoy photography, they might enjoy this game of tag.

Have fun ladies!

Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS)

2009-01-05T11:05:00.012-05:00

Not many people have heard of this disease, but it affects about one in 10 women. I was diagnosed with this disease about 8 years ago. My mother was reading an article in a magazine about PCOS and she suggested that I read it too. As I read the article, I realized that I had many of the symptoms of this disease. I went to my OBGYN to get tested. She ran a few tests and sent me to an endocrinologist for further testing. The endocrinologist diagnosed me with PCOS.

When people ask me why I don't have children yet, I tell them it is because I have PCOS. The usual response is "What is that?" It is amazing to me that this disease is so widespread but you never hear anything about it in the media.

PCOS is the leading cause of infertility in women. Since the media and medical community have been so neglectful of informing the public about this disease, I thought I would tell you about it myself. PCOS is a disease that causes a woman's hormones to be severly imbalanced. The hormone inbalance can cause any (or all) of the following symptoms:

* Few or no menstrual periods.
* Women with PCOS often do not ovulate.
* Heavy, irregular periods.
* Hair loss from the scalp and hair growth on the face, chest, back, stomach, thumbs, or toes. (PCOS causes high androgen levels which causes the hair loss on your head and hair growth in places you don't want it to grow. So you are hairy everywhere but your head. What a great look for a woman!)
* Acne and oily skin (and let me tell you, it is such a treat [she says sarcastically] to have skin like a 15-year old when you are 30).
* Infertility (and of course the guilt that goes along with infertility when you realize that you can't give your husband the children he so desperately wants).
* Weight gain and the inability to lose weight (I have struggled to lose weight for many years without much success).
* Repeat miscarriages (if you are fortunate enough to get pregnant. I have had one miscarriage myself and I have never gotten pregnant again.)
* Insulin resistance (pre-diabetes and Type II diabetes) which can also cause skin tags or patches of dark skin.
* Sleep apnea.
* Chronic pelvic pain (caused by cysts that sometimes grow on the ovaries - hence the name of the disease).
* Exhaustion or lack of mental alertness.
* Decreased sex drive.
* High cholesterol.
* High blood pressure.
* Depression and mood swings (and really, who wouldn't get depressed fighting all of these symptoms?).

PCOS is often misdiagnosed as some other disease. That is because there is no definitive test for this disease. Most of the time it is diagnosed by process of elimination. When I went to be tested for this disease, the OBGYN took 2 vials of blood for tests, then she sent me to the endocrinologist. The endocrinologist took 12 vials of blood for testing. Sometimes they even do a pelvic ultrasound to look at your ovaries.

There is no cure for this disease. There also really isn't much treatment for this disease either. The only thing doctors typically prescribe is a healthy diet, exercise, and Metformin to help with the insulin resistance.

My husband and I have been trying to have children since 2000 with no luck. I'm not giving up hope, but I have to be realistic. It isn't likely to happen for me, especially since I'm over 30 now (soon to be 34). My husband and I are going to be looking into adoption soon.

My reason for writing this post is so that when you hear a woman say she has PCOS, you will be informed enough to know that she is dealing with a difficult disease. Perhaps you can give her support and encouragement. You may also know women who suffer from some of the symptoms listed above. Tell her about PCOS so she can discuss it with her doctor (because most likely her doctor has never mentioned it to her).

Please join me in signing this petition to make sure that women are educated about PCOS and those women who have PCOS receive the proper healthcare and medications they need.

http://www.petitiononline.com/pcosweb1/petition.html

Orange Zinnia

Pink Rose

Merry Christmas!

2008-12-22T15:22:00.015-05:00

Well, its almost here! Just a couple of days until Christmas. Fortunately, I'm finished with my Christmas shopping and most of my gifts have been wrapped. Now I just have tons of house cleaning to do to prepare for my visitors on Christmas Eve.

Whenever you are entertaining friends and family in your home, there is so much preparation. From cleaning the house to preparing the food, there is just so much to be done. Sometimes it can be stressful, but I really enjoy having my friends and family in my home, so it is worth the work. I'm trying not to let myself get frazzled thinking about all I need to do between now and Wednesday.

Christmas has always been such a joyous time for me. As a child I can remember feeling sad on Christmas Day after the gifts were unwrapped. When you are a child, you spend all year counting down the days until Christmas, and then it is over before you know it. As an adult, I am able to appreciate the entire day spending time with my family.

I've been frustrated for the last few years around Christmas because the "politically correct" mob is trying to take Christ out of Christmas. They want to remove any reference to Christ, so now they have "Holiday Parties" in school instead of Christmas Parties. My mother works for the YMCA (Young Men's Christian Association) in their Childcare Enrichment Program, and they aren't even allowed to put up a Christmas Tree unless they also put up items celebrating Hanukkah and Kwanzaa. The YMCA is a non-profit Christian organization, and even they have cowered under the pressure from the PC mob. Why would anyone be offended to see a Christmas Tree if they have enrolled their children for childcare at a Christian organization?

The PC mob wants to remove all references to Christ and/or religion from the public eye. We have to stand up and let them know that in this country we have FREEDOM OF RELIGION as well as FREEDOM OF SPEECH. Don't let them remove every reference to Christ from the public eye. I encourage you to tell others "Merry Christmas." I know that I would never be personally offended if someone wished me a Happy Hanukkah or Happy Kwanzaa. So why should they be offended if I wish them a Merry Christmas? We have to stand up for our Religious Freedoms before they are taken away from us entirely.

This problem has been really bugging me more and more in recent years. I won't let the PC mob take away my freedoms, and you shouldn't either, regardless of your personal beliefs.

Okay, so I've had my rant for the day.

Christmas will be over before you know it, so make sure you take some time to appreciate the joy of the season.

Have a Merry Christmas!

Waves Crashing

Waves Rolling In

Why Does the Cold & Flu Season Coincide with the Holiday Season?

2008-12-17T10:56:00.006-05:00

The past two weeks have been pretty miserable for me. I'm just getting over a terrible cold and now my husband has the same cold. Why does cold & flu season have to coincide with the Holiday Season? Last year, I was very, very sick over Thanksgiving weekend. This year I'm sick right before Christmas. It is difficult to get everything done when you are mentally and physically exhausted from being sick. I'm sure I'll make it through somehow.

Other than being sick, another thing on my mind this Christmas is the economy. There are so many people out of a job this Christmas. I just pray that the economy will improve soon. My husband and I are fortunate in that we still have jobs; however, we have been affected by the economy also. I don't think either of us got a salary increase this year. My company dropped our annual Christmas luncheon and Christmas bonus this year. Normally, we get a 1/2 day off work and the company pays for everyone to have a nice lunch together. We also usually get a $100 Visa gift card. We aren't getting those things this year. Two of my close friends were "downsized" recently, so overall the atmosphere in the office is pretty depressing. My husband usually gets a Christmas bonus too, but that isn't happening either.

Even though our pockets are empty this Christmas, I can still be thankful for for many things. I'm thankful for my wonderful husband. I am thankful for my family and friends. I'm thankful that I have a job and transportation to get to my job. I'm thankful that I have a warm bed to sleep in at night, food to eat, water to drink, and clothing to wear. I'm very thankful for all of these blessings and many more.

I am most thankful for the greatest gift that was ever given, and that is Jesus Christ. People often get so wrapped up in the gift giving and receiving that they forget the real reason for Christmas. This year, take some time to appreciate the gift of eternal life that was given to us by Jesus. He sacrificed is own life so that we could spend eternity in Heaven with Him. We shouldn't take that gift for granted as we celebrate His birth.

Merry Christmas and God Bless!

Grazing Deer

Kentucky State Bird

Cardinal Framed by Tree

Christmas Survey

2008-12-10T18:25:00.012-05:00

I was reading a blog that I frequent (http://laureality.blogspot.com/) and she had a survey regarding Christmas on one of her recent posts. I thought it was a great way to get to know people, so I'm posting it here as well.

Eggnog or hot chocolate?
Hot chocolate. I've never been a fan of eggnog.

Does Santa wrap presents or just sit them under the tree?
Santa wraps them unless it is a really large gift, like a bike. Those gifts he just leaves unwrapped under the tree.

White or multi-colored lights on tree/house?
I love multi-colored lights on my tree and house.

Do you hang mistletoe?
Sometimes. I didn't this year, but I did last year.

When do you put your decorations up?
The day after Thanksgiving. My mother, my sister, my aunt, and I get up early on Black Friday and do some shopping. I usually come home and take a nap and then I put up the tree. However, this year I got out the tree and the decorations but I was too exhausted to put the tree up. I put it up on Saturday morning instead.

When and how did you learn the truth about Santa?
I think I was around 7 or 8 years old. We were living in a small two-bedroom apartment (we being my parents, my sister, and myself) and my entire family was sleeping over for Christmas (entire family being my grandparents, my mom's siblings with their spouses, and their children: about 12 additional people). All of the kids were sleeping in my room on the floor. The adults were sleeping on the beds and sleeper sofa. It was a packed house. We usually did this every year, but we rotated between our house, my grandparents house, and my aunt's house. I was really excited waiting for Christmas morning to arrive. I couldn't sleep so I got up and went to go get something to drink from the kitchen. I saw my parents and my aunts bringing presents in from the cars outside. That is when I knew there was no Santa. I was completely crushed! I guess I must have suspected it for a while, but when I saw them carrying gifts and the surprised look on their faces when they saw me, it confirmed my suspicions.

How do you decorate your Christmas tree?
Multi-colored lights, gold garland, various glittery ornaments along with a few traditional, solid-colored balls, with a gold, glittery bow with streamers as a topper.

Snow! Love it or dread it?
Love it. I live in Kentucky and we have fairly cold winters here; however, we don't get a whole lot of snow. We'll have flurries a few times during the winter and maybe two or three times we may actually get 2 or 3 inches of snow. Once every few years we might get 4 or 5 inches. About every 10 years we'll have a good snow of 8 to 10 inches.

Do you remember your favorite gift?
My favorite gift was my camera, but I got that for my birthday. My favorite gift as a kid is a tie between my first bicycle (with a Pink Panther banana seat) or my first computer (Commodore 64 - remember those! lol You had to purchase an external floppy drive that used those big disks to really do anything with the computer).

What’s the most important thing about the holidays for you?
Getting together with my family.

What is your favorite holiday dessert?
Pecan Pie with a scoop of vanilla bean ice cream. Yum!

What is your favorite holiday tradition?
I love all of it. My family used to do a gift exchange on Christmas Eve. On Thanksgiving Day everyone would put their names in a bowl and each person would draw a name. This gift would be opened on Christmas Eve. I think our grandparents devised this as a way to keep the kids from asking over and over if they could open "just one gift." When my sister and I were kids we would wake up early in the morning and go stare at the Christmas Tree. We had to wait until 7am before we could wake up my parents. We also had to have a pot of coffee brewed for my Mom and a Diet Pepsi for Dad. My sister would wake up really early and then she would wake me up. I would start thinking about opening the presents and I couldn't go back to sleep. There were a couple of years where she got up around 4 am. Waiting 3 hours when your a kid who wants to open gifts seems like an eternity!

What tops your tree?
A hand-made bow with streamers that extend down the length of the tree.

Which do you prefer, giving or receiving?
Everyone love to get gifts. I love to give, especially when I've picked out a gift that I know someone is going to be excited about getting.

What is your favorite Christmas song?
I love them all! I burn an mp3 CD with over a hundred Christmas songs by various artists and play it over and over in my car. While I'm at work, I listen to a local radio station that plays Christmas music all through December

Candy canes?
I have a couple on my tree but I don't usually eat them (unless they are chocolate or fruit flavored).

Favorite Christmas movie?
National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation - hands down.

What do you leave for Santa?
When I was a kid we would leave out cookies and milk. Since I don't have any kids right now, Santa doesn't come to our house so I don't leave anything for him.

I'd love to hear about your Christmas traditions.

I've been really sick this week with a severe head/chest cold with a sore throat and an ear infection in each ear (happens every time I get a cold or sinus infection). It has been a real bummer. There were some things I wanted to get finished this week (like maybe doing some more shopping and wrapping a few gifts), but I've been too sick to get them done. I hope I get well soon so I can really enjoy the Christmas season!

My Christmas Tree This Year

Poinsettia Ornament

Bow Ornament

The Grand Canyon

2008-12-02T12:39:00.004-05:00

On February 14, 2006 (my wedding anniversary), my husband and I took a drive from his parents' house in Tucson, Arizona to The Grand Canyon in Northern Arizona. My husband was born and raised in Arizona, so he had seen The Grand Canyon. Although I lived in Tucson for two years, I had never ventured more than 100 miles from Tucson. Being a photography addict, of course I would want to photograph The Grand Canyon!

We drove approximately 350 miles to Tusayan, Arizona (just south of the park entrance) and checked into the Holiday Inn Express. Then we started driving towards the park. I was so excited to see The Grand Canyon. I felt like a kid on Christmas morning. As we got closer to the rim of the canyon I caught a glimpse of it through the trees. My heart began to race. We parked and walked to the edge of the canyon. I remember standing there, looking at the immensity of the canyon with tears glistening in my eyes. The view was breathtaking. I took hundreds of photos.

We drove back to Tusayan where we watched an IMAX movie about how The Grand Canyon was found by explorers. After the movie, we walked outside and noticed that the sun was setting (see the photo titled "Sunset in Northern Arizona" under the post titled "Clouds."). I decided to drive back into the park to take some photos of the canyon at sunset. After taking a few hundred more photos, we went back into town and had a romantic dinner at a nice restaurant adjoining a hotel in Tusayan. I had bison for dinner. I don't recall what my husband had. During the dinner there were Native Americans performing traditional dances and playing music. It was an amazing day.

The next morning we drove up to the rim of the canyon so I could take more photos (of course). It was freezing cold with gusty winds and I was dressed in carpi pants (which are totally suitable for Southern Arizona weather in February, not so much for Northern Arizona weather!). I could hardly pull myself away. I took photo after photo even though my hands were numb from the cold. My husband had retreated to the car. He finally had to come and coerce me to get back in the car.

I will never forget that first glimpse of The Grand Canyon. That moment is forever etched in my memory. As a photography addict, I live for those moments when you are able to capture something so amazing with the lens of your camera. I want to share that moment with you.

The South Rim of The Grand Canyon

Red Canyon Walls

The Cliff's Edge

Sinda the Tiger

2008-11-26T12:46:00.005-05:00

I was reading a sad story yesterday about Sinda the Tiger. Sinda was a tiger at the Louisville Zoo. They had to euthanize her because she had an inoperable oral cancer. It is very sad, however; Sinda was 17 years old, which is considered pretty old for a tiger. In 2004, Sinda gave birth to two tiger cubs, Anya and Irisa. Those cubs now reside at the Columbus Zoo. I was browsing through some of my photos last night and I came across a photo of Sinda that I had taken last summer. I thought I would share that photo with all of you.

I really enjoy going to the zoo. I always take my camera and I usually end up taking hundreds of photos. The animals have such personality and I really enjoy photographing them. Along with my camera, I also usually take my nephew, Connor, with me when I go to the zoo. He makes the experience more enjoyable. He enjoys the zoo as much as I do.

I thought I would share a few photos today of the animals at the Louisville Zoo. As you view these photos, please don't forget that the zoo is usually open year-round and they need your patronage to pay for the animal feed.

Naptime for Sinda the Tiger

Inquisitive Meerkat

Pile O Meerkat

Feeding Time at the Zoo

Gorilla Snacktime

Proud Lion

Taking Myself Too Seriously

2008-11-18T14:25:00.011-05:00

I've been reading some of my recent posts and I've decided that the election really overwhelmed my thoughts for the last few months. My posts got entirely too serious. And while I love a good discussion about religion, politics, current events, etc., I think I will take a more laid-back approach to my posts for a while. We are getting into the heart of the Holidays and I want to have some fun! Are you in?

I find that the closer it gets to Thanksgiving, the more I begin to anticipate Christmas. I truly love Christmas. I love decorating the tree and listening to Christmas music. I love giving gifts (although I'm not a big fan of shopping). I love getting together with family and friends and having good conversation and good food. I especially love wrapping gifts while watching Christmas shows and movies. I started thinking about the shows and movies I always watch every year and I decided that I would list them for you, so here you go:

1. National Lampoons Christmas Vacation
2. A Charlie Brown Christmas
3. Dr. Suess - How the Grinch Stole Christmas
4. It's A Wonderful Life
5. A Christmas Story
6. Scrooged
7. Home Alone (1 & 2)
8. Rudolph The Red-Nosed Reindeer
9. Frosty The Snowman
10. A Smokey Mountain Christmas
11. Mickey's Christmas Carol
12. Nestor the Long-Eared Christmas Donkey
13. The Santa Clause
14. Elf
15. The Grinch
16. Miracle on 34th Street (both the 1947 & 1994 versions)
17. Jingle All The Way
18. Deck The Halls

I'm sure there are probably more that I can't think of right now, but these are some of my favorites. I think there are a great many people who may not have seen #12 on my list, Nestor the Long-Eared Christmas Donkey. I saw this when I was a little girl and I've never forgotten it. It always stuck out in my mind. There have been some years where it wasn't on television during the holidays and I would be bummed. I never understood why this particular program stuck in my mind so much. I mean, it is a really sweet story, but I just didn't get why it stood out in my mind so well, even when years went by without seeing it.

For those of you who haven't seen this adorable little program, let me summarize the show for you. First of all, the program is done in claymation (like Rudolph). It is about a little donkey named "Nestor" who is born in a manger somewhere in Israel around the time of Jesus' birth. He is born with abnormally-long ears and he always trips over them and falls on his face. His mother is always saying, "Your ears, Nestor" and he will try to be careful to not trip on his ears. He is also ridiculed by the other animals in the manger. One day all of the animals are picking on him and his mother tries to defend him and the owner of the manger throws Nestor and his mother out in the cold. That night Nestor and his mother get caught in a blizzard and she uses her body to keep him warm during the storm. In the morning Nestor wakes to find that his mother has died. Nestor ends up at the market place for sale and a pregnant woman and her husband are looking to buy a donkey to carry the pregnant woman to Bethlehem. They don't have much money, but since Nestor is defective with his long ears, they get him cheap. Nestor carries the pregnant woman (Mary) with her husband (Joseph) all the way to Bethlehem without once tripping over his ears. He is there to see the birth of Jesus Christ. It is a beautiful little story. However, this still doesn't really explain why it stood out in my memory since I was a little girl.

One day when I was a teenager, my mother came in and I was watching Nestor. She proceeded to tell me a story about the first time I saw this sweet little Christmas program.

When I was 3-years old, I watched Nestor with my mother. When Nestor's mommy dies in the snowstorm, my Mom said I cried for hours. Nothing she could say could ease my pain. I was so distraught at the idea of Nestor's mommy dying that I just couldn't quit crying. My Mom said that it took so long to calm me down that she swore I would never watch that program again. Finally, a few years later she let me watch it again and the crying was far less severe that time.
I just wonder how many other mothers went through this same ordeal with their tender-hearted little girls.

What is your favorite Christmas program and why? I'd love to hear your stories.

Frosted Bushes

Snowy Limbs

My Christmas Tree

Every Cloud Has A Silver Lining

2008-11-17T15:33:00.011-05:00

I have often heard the phrase "Every cloud has a silver lining." I've always understood that the saying meant that even during difficult times there could be some good to come of out of it. I just didn't understand why they said that clouds have silver linings. It wasn't until one day I was looking at a cloud with the sun shining directly behind it that I understood where the phrase come from.

After the election this year, this phrase came to mind. I wanted John McCain to win the election because I feel that Barack Obama is too liberal when it comes to issues of protecting innocent life (abortion). However, in my own personal disappointment, I can still see the silver lining. There were a couple of "silver lining" results in this election.

Firstly, Americans demonstrated that perhaps they are starting to put this country's history of racism behind them. When Barack Obama was giving his acceptance speech and recited the phrase "Yes We Can!," I was reminded of Dr. Martin Luther King. I remembered back to Dr. King's "I Have a Dream" speech. I wasn't alive to see Dr. King's speech in person, but I have heard it numerous times and it never ceases to bring a tear to my eye and goosebumps to my flesh. I felt that same feeling as I listened to Barack Obama give his speech that night. I can only imagine how Dr. King would have felt if he had still been alive on the evening of November 4th, 2008, when he saw a black man nominated as President of the United States of America.

Secondly, Americans got out and voted in record numbers. Young people got involved in the democratic process that makes this the greatest country in the world. Americans are starting to understand that they do have a voice and in this great country they can use that voice in the voting booths. I still think that too many voters don't do enough research on the candidates and their positions, but at least they are getting involved in the political process. Hopefully, Americans will continue their interest in the political process and vote in every election. I also hope that Americans will do the necessary research and not just rely on liberal media and political ads to decide their votes.

I may not agree with all of his political beliefs, but I will support Barack Obama as my President. We all need to stand up and support our President and pray for him to make wise decisions for our country. We also need to pray that God will work in his heart so that he will protect ALL human life, both born or unborn. May God Bless You and may God Bless America!

Sunset in the Park

A Hint of Blue Sky

The Silver Lining

One Final Thought Before You Vote Tomorrow

2008-11-03T15:54:00.002-05:00

Are you a Christian? If you are a Christian, I want you to think about something before you vote.

We know that Barack Obama is the most liberal candidate we've ever had on the ballot. We also know that he is also the most pro-abortion candidate that has ever been on the ballot. We know that John McCain is pro-life (as well as his running mate, Sarah Palin). We know that some of the ideas Barack Obama has regarding health care and the economy sound pleasing to the ears (if you are poor or lower-middle class). We know that John McCain believes that hard work should be rewarded. By now there are lots of things we should know about the view points of these candidates. Most people will be considering these view points before they cast their ballots.

However, if you are a Christian, the thing you should consider is this: If you were to stand before Jesus today and have to account for the way you voted, would you be able to look him in the eye and say that you voted for a candidate that you know does not respect human life (which is created in the image of God) because you thought it would be better for your wallet?

If you are a Christian this is something you should consider before you mark your ballot tomorrow.

Fall Has Arrived

2008-10-29T18:38:00.006-04:00

I love fall. I love the exuberant colors of the foliage in shades of orange, red, and yellow. I love the sound of leaves crunching under my shoes (my husband doesn't enjoy that so much because he knows he is going to spend endless hours mulching the leaves in our yard). I love the cooler temperatures. At this time of year I always start thinking about things like carving pumpkins, kiddies in costumes, and a good pot of chili. Those thoughts lead me to thoughts of turkey and Thanksgiving and family and Christmas. All in all it is a wonderful time of year. Everything is wonderful until around January 2nd. Then it is back to the day-to-day grind until the next holiday season.

This past weekend I kicked off the upcoming holiday season with some good old-fashioned Halloween activities. On Saturday evening my husband and I went with our friends, Angie and Todd, to a horror-movie fest at the local drive-in where we watched the 1974 release of the Texas Chainsaw Massacre along with a couple of newer movies, Quarantine and The Strangers. It was pretty cool outside and we only managed to sit outside through one movie, but we had a great time. The drive-in had hired actors to dress as famous horror-movie characters to frighten the patrons with chainsaws, knives, machetes, and all of the other standard horror-movie instruments of mayhem.

Sunday afternoon we took my nephew, Connor, to the Huber Family Farm in southern Indiana so he could pick out a pumpkin. We took a ride on a hay wagon on the back of a tractor out to the pumpkin patch. He insisted that we had to get a pumpkin for his baby-sister too. He was checking every pumpkin he could find to try and get one just the right size for her. We finally convinced him to let us buy a smaller pumpkin for her at the market. We really had a fun time.

Before you know it Thanksgiving will be here! What will you be giving thanks to God for? I know that I'll be thanking him for blessing me with family and friends.

Isn't the Holiday Season wonderful?

Pumpkin Pile

Lazy Pumpkins

The Pumpkin Desert

Blog Inferiority Complex

2008-10-29T11:50:00.003-04:00

So, today I've been taking some time to read some of my favorite blogs (see my blog list for reference). I've come to realize that I'm neither funny nor witty and it is depressing me. I've also realized that my photos aren't nearly as good as I'd like for them to be. I know art is subjective, but when I look at other people's photography, I get a serious inferiority complex. I can only hope that my blog is interesting at this point. I haven't had a comment posted in weeks (however, they may be due to the fact that I haven't posted anything new recently - I've just been too busy) so I feel like no one is reading my blog at all.

Do you find my blog interesting? If so, why? What could I do to make my blog better? I need feedback.

By the way, I'll be posting some new photos tonight or tomorrow so stay tuned if you are interested.

Ignorant Voters

2008-10-27T15:02:00.004-04:00

Research has shown that most people decide who to vote for based on television and radio ads. It is amazing how ignorant people are of a candidate's positions on real issues. Howard Stern went out and interviewed people on the streets and asked them if they liked Obama because of his pro-life position or because he wants to keep the troops in Iraq to finish the war (neither statement is true). It was disheartening how many people would say, "I'm voting for Obama because he's pro-life." or "I'm voting for Obama because of he wants to keep the troops in Iraq until the war is finished." It is frightening to think that uninformed people like this are deciding who should run our country.

I don't care who you vote for, but please know why you are voting for that candidate!!!! If you don't know what the candidate believes, do some investigation. Their web sites will usually tell you. Here are a few helpful sites if you are still looking for information on the candidates:

http://factcheck.org/

http://www.thepublicdiscourse.com/

http://www.johnmccain.com/Informing/Issues/

http://www.barackobama.com/issues/

People should know by now that the television and radio ads are only partial truths that are mixed with lies. Find out the truth before you vote.

How Will You Decide Who To Vote For This November?

2008-10-07T22:50:00.002-04:00

I am registered to vote as an Independent. Many of my viewpoints probably align more with the Republican Party. However, I really hate being stereotyped by everything the Republican Party stands for because I don't agree with everything on their platform.

Yes, I am a Christian.

No, I don't think abstinence only sex education is helping the teenagers across the nation make wise decisions about their bodies. Of course I think that abstinence is always the wisest choice, but children are not known for making wise choices. They are children and most of their decisions are based on emotion, hormones, and peer pressure. I believe that knowledge is power and our children need to know about their bodies and how they function, they need to know about sex, and they need to know about sexually-transmitted diseases. They need to know these things by the time they get into high school. My personal opinion is that sex education should be taught in junior high because that is when teenagers are most likely to become interested in sex. Parents also need to be more involved in teaching their children about sex (or anything else for that matter).

Our children need to be taught both the theory of Evolution and Intelligent Design. Let them learn about both theories and decide for themselves.

Teachers are entitled to have their own opinions, but I don't want them cramming their opinions down my child's throat and telling them its the "truth." There isn't much in the universe that can be proven beyond a shadow of a doubt. I don't want my children brainwashed by teachers with a liberal agenda. Our children should be taught multiple view points on a subject and not just the teacher's view point. Give them the information they need so they can make their own informed decisions.

Yes, I believe in global warming. I think there are many things that we do that are harmful to the environment. It isn't reasonable to think that all of the hydrocarbons and carbon dioxide we are pumping into the air doesn't have an adverse effect on the atmosphere. We need to pursue alternative sources of fuel such as hydrogen, solar, wind, clean coal, and nuclear power.

No, I don't think homosexuals should be able to get married. I believe that God designed marriage to be a lifetime union between a man and a woman. If American citizens were to vote to allow homosexuals to have civil unions that would give them the same legal benefits as marriage, I would be fine with that decision.

No, I don't want the US Government to be a theocracy. However, I do want the laws of the land to reflect the opinions of the majority of the citizens and not just the opinions of liberal judges.

Yes, I think divorce is a sin. I would love to see the divorce rate in America decline. People take marriage too lightly these days, especially Christians. When things get tough, instead of sticking it out, people give up. No one ever said marriage is easy. There is a reason the vows are "for richer or poorer, in sickness and in health, for good times and bad, till death do us part." And to answer your question before you ask it, no I don't believe you should stay in an abusive or violent marriage, especially if your spouse is unwilling to go to counseling.

Yes, I wouldn't mind seing the US go to government funded healthcare. It works in Europe and Canada, why can't it work here? The healtchare system is in serious trouble and most Americans can't afford insurance. And even if you do have insurance, it is still difficult to pay the premiums and co-pays that the insured is responsible for. The insurance companies are getting rich off the working class of America. While we are struggling to pay our health care premiums and co-pays, the insurance company CEOs are denying our claims and taking our hard-earned money to give themselves multi-million dollar bonuses.

Yes, I think there is too much corruption in Washington D.C. Maybe most politicians begin their careers with noble intentions, but they are soon lured by the trail of money that leads to the pockets of lobbyists and big corporations. The politicians soon forget they are there to represent the citizens of their state and they sell their votes to the highest bidder. We need to wipe out corruption in Washington. We also need to keep the government from spending our money like a kid in a toy store with moms credit card. I want checks and balances in the budget to make sure they are making wise decisions with our hard-earned money.

Yes, I agree that Barack Obama is an eloquent public speaker and an intelligent man. It would be uplifting to see this country begin to leave racism behind by nominating our first black president. However, I can't vote for him because it comes down to a simple choice for me: Does he protect the sanctity of human life? NO. That is the most important question to me. Even though my bank account is just as empty as everyone elses, I can't put my money woes ahead of my respect for human life. It is a simple decision for me. It is difficult for me to understand why people are more concerned with their bank account than they are about saving a human life.

Barack Obama has shown time and time again that he is more concerned with the possibility of Roe v. Wade being overturned than he is about protecting human life, even babies that are already born and alive (see his voting record on IL Born Alive Infant Protection Act http://www.bornalivetruth.org/ and you'll see where he stands on this subject.)

Yes, I am pro-life. I believe that no unborn child should have to pay with their life because their mother was irresponsible. And that is what it comes down to in most instances, irresponsibility. There are too many contraceptives readily available for any woman to unintentionally get pregnant. People like to say, "what about those who were raped or a victim of incest?" Statistically, the odds on those types of pregancy are very rare. The only instance I can see where an abortion could be warranted is if the mother's life is in danger.

I believe that abortion is murder and there is nothing anyone could ever say to me to make me feel differently about this. Every human life is important and deserves respect and protection.

There are many of us Independents out there who are fiscally Democrats but when it comes to things like abortion, we fall more in line with the Republican party platform. If the Democratic party would nominate a pro-life candidate, I would gladly vote for a Democrat.

I often hear the argument that George Bush has been in office for eight years and abortion is still legal so that should encourage me to vote for a Democrat. I realize that the President doesn't vote on the laws. He can only sign or veto the legislation. However, the President IS RESPONSIBLE for nominating the Supreme Court Judges. That is where the decision to vote Democrat or Republican becomes extremely important!

I want a judge that is going to read the constitution and interpret the laws voted on by Americans. I don't want a judge that is going to try and make his/her own moral decision about what he/she thinks is right and pass laws based on those decisions. I don't want a judge that is going to look to European court precedents (which do not reflect the views of most Americans) to make his/her decisions. We don't need judges who legislate from the bench. That is why I have to vote Republican in most instances. The Democrats tend to nominate liberal judges who like to legislate from the bench. The role of a judge should be to interpret the law not create new laws based on their own opinions.

I believe everyone has the right to believe what they want to believe. This country was founded on freedom of religion and freedom of speech. I believe these freedoms are vitally important to this country. I respect that you have your own belief system and I want you to have the right to speak about your beliefs openly without fear of persecution. I also want the same rights for myself. We must do everything in our power to protect these freedoms.

Every American will never see eye-to-eye on every issue. In those instances, we should always be able to agree to disagree and let our votes determine the outcome.

I think the one thing that most people should agree on is that children are one of God's most precious gifts (and I think even if you don't believe in God, you can agree that children are wonderful). There is nothing like the joy that a little child brings to my heart. I have been unable to have children of my own but I spend as much time with my sister Wendy's children, Connor and Raelee, as I possibly can. I also enjoy spending time with my best friend Angie's daughter, McKenna. These children have brought me more joy and laughter than I could ever describe.

How could anyone look at these beautiful gifts and say they aren't worthy of being born into this world? How could someone ever see a child as simply an inconvenience that must be eliminated (murdered)? That is something I will NEVER understand!

Connor With An Orange-Stained Face

Raelee's Precious Smile

McKenna On Her 2nd Birthday

Wind Storm 2008

2008-09-30T19:20:00.008-04:00

As promised, I'm posting some photos of the damage in my neighborhood caused by the remnants of Hurricane Ike, which our local media started calling "Wind Storm 2008!"

Our electricity went out on Sunday, September 14th at around 1 pm and it was finally restored on Sunday, September 21st at around 6:15 pm. It was a long week, but we managed. We lost about $300 worth of groceries and a tree fell in our back yard, but other than that, we survived the storm pretty well.

Now that we have electricity and groceries again, I will try and get some new posts up soon. Stay tuned!

Downed Tree in Our Back Yard

My Cousin's Car

My Cousin's Smashed Car

Wind Debris

Tree Broken in Our Yard

My Neighbor's House

New Posts Forthcoming

2008-09-26T12:51:00.003-04:00

I just wanted to let everyone who follows my blog (the wondferul 2 or 3 people who actually do read and post comments on my Blog) that new posts are forthcoming. It has been a crazy couple of weeks with the electricity being out at my house for about 8 days and things at work have been really busy. I just haven't had any time to post any new photos or though provoking posts (haha).

I'll get something new posted this weekend so PLEASE stay tuned!

Hurricane Ike

2008-09-16T16:32:00.010-04:00

Everyone is talking about Hurricane Ike. Normally, I would be watching the news and finding out how the people living in the Gulf Regions are doing. However, something interesting happened on Sunday. Hurricane Ike came to Kentucky.

We knew the remnants of Hurricane Ike would be in Kentucky and the news was reporting 30-40 mph winds. However, their predictions were incorrect. We ended up with 50 mph sustained winds with gusts up to 80 mph. On Sunday we got hit hard. There is tons of tree damage. We haven't had electricity since Sunday afternoon and they are saying it could be up to 14 days before all the electricity coverage is restored. There were over 300,000 homes without electricity in the Louisville area on Sunday and hundreds of poles and power lines were down. There are still about 152,000 homes without electricity (mine included). I'm writing this post at work during my lunch break because I can't do anything at home except stare at the candles while the food in my refrigerator spoils. I had to throw away just about everything in my fridge last night despite my best efforts to keep ice on everything.

The damage was widespread. A neighbor's tree broke and fell in my back yard. (Once my electricity is restored at home, I will post photos of the damage.) It bent my chain link fence but it didn't hit my house or garage, which is good. However, my cousin wasn't so lucky. A tree fell on her car and caved in the roof, busted out a window, and buckled the frame so she can't open the passenger-side door. It's a complete mess. There are power lines down everywhere.

Honestly, I can deal with living without electricity until I get hot. If it is too hot in the house, I can't sleep. It has to be 70 degrees or cooler in the house before I can sleep. Sunday night it was around 75 degrees in the house and I was absolutely miserable. I guess I've been spoiled by my air conditioning and ceiling fans for too long.

You never fully appreciate the little conveniences provided to you by electricity until you have to go without them. I forget that the electricity is out so I keep flipping on the light switch expecting something to happen. It's very tricky trying to shower, dress, and put make-up on by candle light. My co-workers were surprised to see that my hair is naturally curly since I couldn't use my hair dryer or flat iron. My cellular provider has been having problems since Sunday. Calls won't go through or get dropped even though your phone shows you have coverage.

You also notice sounds you usually tune out like crickets, cicadas, and dogs barking. You have a lot of time to think about things without the distraction of the television. A friend of mine whose elderly mother lives with her told me she has had more conversations with her mother since the electricity has been out than she ever has. And that is probably a good thing. Maybe we should all "unplug" for a week and discover a few things about our family, friends, and world around us.

I can definitely better understand the feelings of those whose lives have been completely derailed by Hurricanes like Katrina and Ike. I know the aggravation I am going through now is nothing compared to the struggles they have had and still have. We must always remember to keep others in our thoughts and prayers and help in any way we can. You never know how some small act of kindness can affect someone who is going through difficult times.

May the Lord bless all those who have been affected by natural disasters and give them comfort in their time of distress.

Jenny The Bloggess

2008-08-29T13:52:00.008-04:00

The other day I had a strange conversation with my husband, Cameron, on the way to work. It made me think of Jenny "The Bloggess." Whenever I read her posts I always think, "I never have funny or interesting conversations like she does." After this morning, I began to rethink that...

Me: I had this dream last night that you had come in from jogging and you were all sweaty and you tried to hug me and I ran away. You chased after me trying to get sweat on me because you thought it was funny. I hate sweat. It grosses me out.

Cameron: What if someone peed on you? Would that bother you?

Me: Not really.

Cameron: Why are you grossed out by someone getting sweat on you but not grossed out by someone peeing on you? They are essentially the same thing.

Me: Pee is sterile, so it really isn't the same thing. Sweat gets mixed in with all of the germs on your skin. It's gross.

Cameron: It's still the same idea.

Me: I'd rather have someone vomit on me than sweat on me. However, baby sweat doesn't bother me. Like when Connor (my nephew) falls asleep on me, he sweats but that doesn't bother me.

Cameron: You're weird.

Me: I don't mind baby sweat or baby vomit even. I'd rather not have an adult vomit on me, but I'd rather they vomit on me than sweat on me.

Cameron: This is a strange conversation we are having this morning.

Of course this isn't verbatim, but its pretty close. It also probably isn't as witty or funny as Jenny would write it, but it was funny to me at the time. (If you aren't offended by a little profanity, then you MUST check out Jenny's blog! http://thebloggess.com/ )

It just makes me wonder how many similar conversations Cameron and I have had in the last 10 years. I think I'll pay more attention from now on.

Flowers and Friends

2008-08-27T17:56:00.012-04:00

Flowers are a staple of my photography. Everywhere I go, I'm always looking for flowers to photograph. As I've mentioned before, I'm not a gardener. I just document the gardening skills of others. However, these particular photos are actually from my garden. They are flowering bushes, which don't require any real gardening skills. Just water and sunshine. Just the way I like it!

I recently signed up for an account on facebook. I had heard about it before, but I had never visited the site. A friend from work had mentioned that she had a facebook page and she began telling me how she was able to locate some friends from her high school and college years using facebook. I began thinking about how I would like to speak to my friends from high school and see how they are doing, thus, this is why I now have a facebook account. I'm still learning how to use facebook so I don't have a whole lot going on there yet.

I remember being in high school wishing that I was finished with school. Now that I'm a little older and a little wiser I look back and have fond memories of my high school days. I would never want to go back to high school because it was a difficult time for me. It was also a lot of fun at times and I had some great friends. I still remember the excitement of the first day of school and wearing new clothes, new shoes, and carrying new school supplies. I remember how nervous I always was on the first day of school. Thinking about thinks like: would any of my friends be in my classes, would the teacher be boring or interesting, and would I be able to make new friends. After a week or so, the anxiety and excitement would go away and then I would just be frustrated at having to get up early in the morning.

I think getting up early is the thing I hated most about school. If school had started at noon, I think I would have been a straight A student my entire school career. I'm a night owl and I like to stay up late and sleep in. I work an 8 to 5 Monday through Friday job, so I try to be in bed by 11 pm. It is really difficult for me though. On Friday and Saturday nights I am usually up until 1 or 2 am (or later). More businesses should accommodate people like me who would rather work from 10 to 6 or 11 to 7. That would be awesome! Oh well. I guess I'll just have to settle for 8 to 5 until I can pursue photography as a career.

Here are some examples of my amateur photography skills. Some day I'll get a degree in photography and then I can do the thing I love most and choose my own schedule.

Pink Bundle

Hot Pink Blooms

Feeling Prickly

2008-08-15T18:26:00.017-04:00

I've been so busy that I haven't had time to create any new posts. I usually try to post something new each weekend, but I just didn't have the time this past weekend. Forgive me for taking so long to post new photos.

I chose these cactus photos today because I'm feeling a little prickly. The main reason I'm feeling prickly is because of something I heard on the radio yesterday. I was listening to a Christian talk radio show called Jay Seculow Live. Jay Seculow is an attorney with the American Center for Law and Justice (http://aclj.org/). They are kind of like the ACLU, except they defend religious freedoms that the ACLU tries so hard to curtail these days. Yesterday their discussion was about a new organization the United Nations is trying to setup. The purpose of this organization is to prevent Christians from discussing the Holy Trinity (Father, Son, & Holy Spirit) in public because it may offend Muslims. I can't tell you how tired I am of hearing such and such may offend so and so, so you can't say that anymore. WHO EVER SAID EVERYONE HAS THE RIGHT NOT TO BE OFFENDED?? I just don't get where this mentality comes from. It is time for people to stop trying to sue everyone just because someone said something that offends you. So what?! Are you going to drop dead because someone offended you? I sincerely don't think so. I believe there should be laws to prevent discrimination based on sex, religion, age, disability, race, sexual orientation, and weight (which isn't in the law books, but should be). However, I don't think we need any laws to protect us from being offended by something someone else says. If people continue on this path of thinking that they have the right not to be offended, then this country will soon lose the right to free speech. What is worse, being offended by something someone says, or not being able to express your opinions at all for fear of offending someone and therefore breaking the law? If the United Nations is able to create this organization they are pushing for, then Christians (especially in the middle-east) may no longer to be able to discuss their religion in public. In some countries, breaking the law by speaking openly about the Holy Trinity (which some say offends Muslims) will be punishable by death! We need to work together and be proactive to promote free speech for everyone in all countries. Christians, Muslims, Jews, Buddhists, Hindus, and every other religion should be able to discuss their religion openly without fear of persecution. Even if we disagree with someone's religious views, that doesn't give us the right to prevent them from speaking in public. Thinking about how ridiculous and thin-skinned people are becoming has really got me feeling prickly today.

Aloe Cactus

Prickly Cactus Spines

H2O

2008-08-03T09:47:00.007-04:00

Water is one of the most important things to life. Growing up mainly in Kentucky, I never thought much about how important water is. Louisville normally gets plenty of rain and it also sits along side the Ohio River, so water was never much of a concern for us. Even during a drought, the Ohio never goes dry. When I moved to Arizona, I learned how important water can be. Once you've lived in a desert area, you really begin to appreciate water. Don't get me wrong, we always had water running from our tap, but it may not rain for months there. Tucson uses groundwater for drinking water. Sometimes so much water would be pulled from a certain area that the ground would literally drop a few feet in that area. My husband would jokingly tell me how the government tried to prevent using too much groundwater by creating The Central Arizona Project. The government dug a trench beginning at the Colorado River in northern Arizona and ending near Mexico. They lined the trench with concrete and diverted water from the Colorado River to this trench. He said it was the most horrible tasting water you've ever tasted and soon the citizens of Tucson lead a revolt. The government relented and began using groundwater again. They now use the water from The Central Arizona Project and use it for irrigating farmland and to replenish the groundwater. After living in Arizona for 2 years, the things I missed most were an occasional rainy day, green trees, and especially running water. If you head up into the mountain areas in Arizona, sometimes you can find a running stream. Here are a few photos I took in the mountains of Arizona.

Sabino Canyon in the Catalina Mountains

Ramsey Canyon in the Huachuca Mountains

Children

2008-07-31T18:08:00.007-04:00

My husband and I have been trying unsuccessfully to have a child for several years. Since we don't have children of our own, I live vicariously through my sister's children. My sister Wendy has also had her more than her fair share of difficulties having children. She has had two miscarriages and she had a daughter, Alexis, who was born prematurely and passed away after 3 days. When my sister got pregnant for the fourth time, my entire family was on pins and needles. Thanks to many, many prayers answered by the Lord, my sister gave birth to her son, Connor, in March 1995. My whole family was overcome with joy at the birth of her healthy little boy. Connor has been one of the most joyous things in my life. I look forward to the times when my sister calls me for my babysitting services. I also enjoy taking Connor to the zoo whenever I can. I try to see him every weekend. In early winter last year, my sister called to inform me she was pregnant again. I was extremely excited and also scared out of my mind. She didn't have any complications with her pregnancy and on July 1st, my sister gave birth to her daughter, Raelee Alexis. Again, our cups are overflowing. The Lord's blessings are abundant. Here are some photos of the lovely blessings my family has received.

Connor's Sweet Smile

A Ride on the Train

Raelee Alexis

Precious Sleeping Princess

The Proud Big Brother

Echinacea

2008-07-26T21:13:00.003-04:00

So, let me tell you how little I know about flowers. I'm familiar with things like roses, daisies, carnations, tulips, sunflowers, and lilies. I can usually pick those out and give you the correct name. However, once I get past those few flowers that I recognize, I'm lost. I've seen these flowers in gardens all over the place. I really enjoy photographing them. I wanted to post a couple of these photos on my blog, but I didn't want to post them without naming them. Here is where my problem lies. I didn't know what they were called. I spent 20 minutes trying to find the name of this particular flower. All I have to say is thank goodness for Google and Flowers.org.uk or this post would have just been titled "Unknown Pink Flowers." After doing a little research, I can now proudly post these photographs of Echinacea.

Echinacea Standing Out From The Crowd

Echinacea Party

Black & White

2008-07-21T19:08:00.004-04:00

Some photos just look more beautiful in black & white. I took the first photograph shown below in Virginia Beach. I saw a mother and her two young sons at the beach. It just reminded me of days past when children weren't consumed with video games, iPods, and text messaging and they actually spent time outdoors enjoying nature. I wanted to capture the innocence of the children playing and I thought black & white would better convey the innocence. The photo of the cabin was very rustic looking in both color and black & white, but I enjoyed the black & white photo more.

Family Enjoying the Beach

Cabin in Ramsey Canyon

Wild Beauty

2008-07-11T19:17:00.002-04:00

Animals are some of God's most amazing creations (humans being the most magnificent of all because we are created in his image). I have a membership to the zoo just so I can photograph the beauty of the animals (I also enjoy taking my nephew, Connor, to the zoo. He is a another reason why I have a zoo membership). One of my dreams for the future is to travel the world and photograph some of God's amazing creatures in their natural habitats.

Sleeping Lioness

Inquisitive Giraffe

Clouds

2008-07-02T22:53:00.005-04:00

I started college one year after I graduated high school. I always hated high school, but I found that I truly loved going to college. When I started college I was certain that I wanted to be a disc jockey on the radio, so I started taking communications classes. When we are young it is often difficult to decipher what you enjoy versus what your passion is. After two years of communication classes I found that I wasn't truly interested in communications. During the course of my education, I had an elective class in meteorology. It was one of the most fascinating classes to me. I have always been fascinated by clouds and weather. Whenever there is a tornado warning, most people do the wise thing and go down to their basements. I, on the other hand, go outside with my camera to see if I can photograph the power of nature. I know it isn't the wisest choice, but I can't help myself. At the end of my 2nd year, I thought that perhaps I should switch majors to meteorology. Beginning my 3rd year at college I found that I was having trouble concentrating in class. I started failing my courses even though I had been on the Dean's List for my first two years. I just figured I was burned out so I quit school. It wasn't until later that year when I started experiencing other symptoms such as fatigue, dry skin, shaky hands, hair loss, and constantly being cold that I went to the doctor. It was at that time that I discovered that I had hypothyroidism. The loss of concentration had been part of the symptoms. After three days of taking synthetic thyroid hormones, I was no longer tired, cold, and found that I could concentrate again. I had just started a new day job and I didn't want to quit to go back to school, so I just kept working. I never went back to college. It wasn't until years later when I finally figured out that my true passion is photography. I still enjoy photographing the clouds. Here are a few for your enjoyment.

Sunset in Northern Arizona

Storm Clouds

My Hometown

2008-06-26T18:53:00.004-04:00

I'm not a big gambler. I do enjoy playing No-Limit Texas Hold Em on occasion, but other than that, I don't really gamble. However, once a year my family and I go to Churchill Downs to see the horses race. Their power and speed is something to behold. Louisville, Kentucky sits on the banks of the Ohio River. I enjoy going downtown to see the sunset over the river. These are some photos I took of my hometown, Louisville, Kentucky.

Churchill Downs Racing

2nd Street Bridge

The Painted Desert - Northern Arizona

2008-06-07T23:20:00.006-04:00

In February of this year my husband I traveled to Arizona to visit his parents. While we were there, we took a drive through the White Mountains to Northeastern Arizona to visit the Painted Desert/Petrified Forest National Park. Of course, it was all about the photography for me. I'm always looking for one of God's beautiful and amazing creations to capture with my lens.

The Painted Desert Landscape

Petrified Wood

Painted Rocks

Flowers

2008-06-06T09:18:00.008-04:00

I absolutely love photographing flowers. Their colors are amazing. The camera can't even begin to capture their true beauty. I enjoy growing flowers but I don't have a green thumb. I'm just not very good at gardening in general. When my husband and I first bought our house I planted tons of flowers. I made sure to plant only "annuals" thinking that "annual" meant yearly so they should bloom every year. It was the following summer when the flowers didn't bloom in my garden that I finally took the time to look up the difference between annual and perennial. It was then that I realized my error. So now I only plant flowering trees and let the true gardners take care of growing the flowers. These are some photographs of someone else's gardening skills.

Pretty in Hot Pink

Rain-Kissed Calla Lilly

Virginia Beach, Virginia

2008-06-04T16:14:00.005-04:00

There is nothing so serene and calming to me as the sound of the ocean. I can stand there for hours and hours and just listen to the sound of the waves breaking. My husband had business in Virginia Beach, Virginia and I decided to travel with him. While he was working, I traveled to the beach to listen to the surf and take photographs. Even though it was February and cold and windy, I stood there for what seemed like hours. Only God could have created this beauty.

The Pier - Virginia Beach, VA

Seagulls

Arizona

2008-06-04T16:01:00.018-04:00

I met my husband, Cameron, online. He lived in Arizona at the time and I lived in Kentucky. I know it's cliche and kind of like "Sleepless in Seattle," but its true. When I met Cameron online, I really wasn't interested in men. I had my heart broken twice before I wasn't going to go there again. Cameron and I had so much in common. We talked and talked. After about a month, an ex-boyfriend popped back into my life. I wasn't serious about my friendship/blooming romance with Cameron so I broke it off. Cameron and I still spoke online, but I tried to make it clear that nothing would come of the relationship. One night about a week later I came home from work and signed on to talk to Cameron like I had everyday for the past month or so. But he wasn't online. I waited for hours and hours to no avail. Around midnight I realized that I was making the worst mistake of my life. I called my boyfriend and told him it was over. I was in love with someone else. Then I called Cameron and begged for forgiveness. He forgave me. Our relationship intensified and we starting calling one another and sending photos and cards. Finally I traveled to Arizona to meet him face-to-face. It was then that I knew I had found the "one." I moved to Arizona about a month later and Cameron and I were married two months later. Cameron and I have been happily married for 10 years now. He and I lived in Arizona for about 2 years and then I dragged him back home to Kentucky with me and we've lived here ever since. I find that sometimes I really miss Arizona. Cameron and I travel there about once a year to visit his family. I'm always excited to go there and sad to leave. Whenever we visit, we always take a drive through the state and I take photographs (because that's what I love to do). These are some of the photos I took while we were driving through the beautiful state of Arizona.

Desert Sunset

Saguaro Cactus