Snap Snap...

Lily is famous for making up songs...
Since I started taking the photography class she talks a lot about photos and cameras.
Yesterday she told me she had a song for me....Snap Snap....

You'll hear her mention a rock wall.... she was looking at a book on the counter that had a monkey climbing a rock wall.

Happy St. Patrick's Day

A day late that is....

With this cold/virus/or whatever is going around our house we didn't get to do much for
St. Patrick's Day. I'm hoping we can make an Irish dinner soon to make up for it.

Ty was thrilled to be wearing his new Lucky Charm's shirt.... Lily was super excited to wear green to school and let everyone know it was St. Patrick's Day.

We made some little books at home with details about St. Patrick's Day and the littles informed me they are ready to go to Ireland.
I second that motion.

In the meantime.......

Lily and I made these little paper leprechauns

Ty practiced setting the automatic timer on my old camera.....
He is hugging my neck so tight that my eyes could barely stay open...which he just thought was hilarious...

I dreamed of rainbows in Ireland....
I didn't find a pot of gold at the end of this rainbow... but Jeff and I had a great time in Ireland (about 6 years ago)

Lunch with a bunny

Lunch with the Easter Bunny that is.....

On Saturday we enjoyed a fun filled lunch with our great friends and the Easter Bunny.
We all had so much fun!
The littles made crafts, played games, and came home with delicious candy. (Lily's words on the delicious candy)

Jeff was sick so he stayed home....well.....2 mins down the road I could tell he was more than grumpy and not feeling well at all... so after a quick turn of the car.... we took him home.

I... for some reason..... always have this grand idea that I will take my camera to these events......and capture all these wonderful photos. It rarely happens. I'm climbing over people, trying to avoid a background full of strangers in my photos, fighting with strange lighting, etc........
Lesson learned... take Jeff's pocket sized camera!!!!!

At any rate... the littles had LOTS of fun and so did I!!!!!!

Can you help....

My dear friend Robin at Red Thread Stitches has posted many times about this little angel in China......
I have taken this information below directly from her blog....

Last May this little girl won her way into the hearts of many....and we prayed. We prayed because Lucy carries with her the burden of a life threatening congenital heart disease and no family to call her own. So much for such a little one that waits in China. September came and we rejoiced when a family stepped forward and began their journey to adopt Lucy.

March is now here. Lucy should have been on her way home to the arms of her family and a medical staff that has been waiting to repair her little heart. Instead, we have a broken hearted family that is unable to proceed with the adoption....and a little girl waiting in China....still.
I've been told that if we can find a doctor and a hospital that is willing to help Lucy at no cost, then perhaps we can get Lucy here on a medical visa. So the mission has begun. The out pour of those wanting to help has been amazing. On this day Lucy's name was echoing across the states as people reached out to anyone they knew might be able to help. Once again we came together to pray for her. Hope is alive!

Lucy's diagnosis is this:
congenital heart disease (it consists of Mitral Atresia, ASD, PDA, Pulmonary Stenosis, coarctation of the aorta, and PAH), and left arm deformity

Lucy's surgery is considered very high risk. Some doctors and organizations that help orphans by providing life saving surgeries, do not want to take her case because they would prefer to take the case of a child that has a better chance of survival. It's understandable. But... EVERY child deserves a chance, regardless of the percentage that exists for them. God can take even the riskiest situation and turn it into a miracle of life. He is the Giver of Life. We just need to find that someone who is willing to focus on the fact that Lucy CAN survive...against all odds.

If you know of a Cardiologist/Hospital in your area that may be able to help Lucy,or you would like more information about Lucy, please email me at: redthreadstitch@aol.com


If you feel you would be willing to adopt Lucy, please email Marci at: MarciSK@Asiadopt.org
Lucy is listed with Associated Services for International Adoption (ASIA). www.asiadopt.org

A paperwork ready family would be most ideal but any family that is ready to move quickly would be perfect for Lucy. China is ready and willing to expedite everything, provide waivers for families that may otherwise not qualify, and waive certain fees. If you are already LID with another Agency, and are not already pursuing another child, ASIA would be willing to work with your agency to help bring Lucy to your family's arms!

_________________________________

We can do no great things;

only small things with great love.
Mother Teresa

Back to School

For Tiffany that is.....

Well, not quite back to school but taking a class....

About 4 weeks ago I started taking a photography class with Rawsii (an 8 week online class with assignments due each week) . Christi is our fantastic teacher and the photographer extraordinaire. I have learned so much from her and from my classmates in these 4 weeks.
If anyone is looking to take a great photography class and learn a lot this one is awesome!

I've been taking photos with some of my manual settings for a while now but clearly had NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOooooooooooooooooooooooooo idea what I was doing.
The class focuses on what our camera thinks with auto settings and how to operate it on full manual. That means choosing ALL the settings. No camera doing the thinking for me!
YIPPIEEE....

Lily LOVES that mom is taking a class and wants me to explain each assignment to her.
Last week was the first time I needed to photograph a person..... Lily was happy to model.
Ty was too but he thought sticking his tongue out or pulling his eyelids was hilarious so Miss Lily took over..... of course only after she informed him he was being ridiculous.

The assignment was to take a headshot....she said LET'S KNOCK THIS ASSIGNMENT OUT MOM... and then came up with her "serious smile"... shown below.

From our asssignment on shutter speeds....
I took this from the car outside of a local general store....
All the while I had the littles yelling at me from the backseat....
LET ME SEE THE PICTURE MOM.... WHAT ARE YOU DOING.... CAN WE GET OUT.....
DO THEY HAVE ICE CREAM IN THERE..... DO THEY HAVE CANDY.......
CAN I SEE THE PICTURE NOW.... WHY ARE YOU LOOKING AT THAT WATER......
CAN I BE IN THE PICTURE.... TAKE A PICTURE OF ME.....CAN I HAVE A PIECE OF GUM.....
I NEED A TISSUE.... DO YOU HAVE GUM IN THE CAR.... WHY ARE WE STOPPED....
Fast shutter speed

Slow shutter speed