Changes in Nature #1 - B/W

Another for the trash......

A bright sunny sky would have made this much prettier.....printed and pitched in the round file....

Another for the recycle bin.....

Dan made me print this. Actually it didn't look to bad once printed, but it just lacked something. Besides everyone in town knows exactly where this was taken and could do the same photo just as easily :)

And these went to the recycle bin.......

These are a couple that I contemplated for the contest, but they ended up in the recycle bin instead :).....

Change in Nature #2

Change in Nature #3

Just liked the picture....

I really have nothing to say. I'm working on a new blog, but can't remember the password. Hopefully, I can get it up and running soon. I really hate to abandon Picasa because it is so easy to edit photos with it. But since it will not allow me to do the things I want to and I have been losing so many posts, I am giving up on it. I guess this will force me to learn Picture It 9. It comes with a textbook and online classes to learn it.

This is a picture from when we visited some friends with horses a couple of days ago. I love horses, my kids love horses. I really don't want to own one. But, I feel it coming.....more mouths to feed and more poop to scoop. We'll see how long we can hold out.

The mystery of the lost posts

I have written two stories and tried to post numerous times tonight. Failed every time. I am having a heck of a time with the new version of blogger. I give up. I am not writing about our weekend again only to potentially lose it. I need a new blog.....

Universal

"Photography is the universal language"......

Read that quote in Shutterbug Magazine today. That is a deep thought and so very true. When words can not express or communicate, a picture can speak a 1000 words. Words that anyone can understand......

So very talented....

Colby wanted to spend New Year's Eve with her cousin Maya who was visiting from St. Louis so we headed to Greg's parents so that the girls could ring in the new year together. They had so much fun. We even talked Maya into playing a little violin for us (even though she really didn't want to :). I think she is a very talented little musician. We enjoyed her songs.... (click on the link below to hear her play)


Maya Playing Violin

Celebration...

Creighton is celebrating the New Year with some bubbly (cranberry juice that is). He only made it until about 10:30 and said to me "are you ready to go yet?". Typical impatient man :)

Niece Marina

This is Greg's sister's daughter Marina (little sister to Maya-- pictured below). She is a beautiful little girl that can bring a smile to anyone's face with her sweet words and silly demeanor. It pains me to hear what these little girls from China endured for their first year of life. We are so happy that they are part of our family. They are so precious.

New Year's Eve Sparklers!

I think they were holding Creighton captive here. Poor boy!

Random pictures

Below is a bunch of random pictures from the last couple of days. We have been so consumed with sadness around here I haven't had the energy or creativity to come up with anything too significant. And of course blogger is only letting post one picture at a time.

Giving the horses a snack

Another little barn

Colby

Just liked this picture.

Barns

Riding Gypsy

Twister

Colby and Mackenzie playing a game of twister.

Happy Birthday Colby - EIGHT Years Old!!!

We were told it wasn't possible. That was our earthly physician's opinion. We prayed anyway because we knew our God is much bigger than that. We were blessed with Colby 8 years ago today. This is the result of the "impossible"........

Photo and video editing at onetruemedia.com

I remember her "birth" day so vividly. Our first baby that we were told would never happen. She suprised us 6 weeks early. A 17 mile drive to Iowa City in the middle of the night took almost 2 hours during the worst snowstorm in several years. A long labor and difficult delivery. A week in the NICU with various minor complications--underdeveloped lungs, some feeding difficulties, jaundice. All things correctable, but she still gave her mom and dad quite a scare with her premature entry into this world!

Colby has continued to keep us on our toes since day one. There are no words to describe our love for her. She is a daddy's girl and a momma's baby. She is just so "Colby". What a blessing she is....

So wrong...

Everything just feels wrong around here today. Tears fall at the drop of a hat, there is no one to lick the plates clean, no one to give the scraps too, no one to stare longingly at you in an effort to get a quick pat on the head, no one barking at the cats to get them off of "her" porch. Sweetie's bed is empty, her food and water dishes are gone. It is all just so very wrong. She is all we can think of. There is an empty place in all of our hearts tonight. I can't believe how much we miss her. She was so loved...

Farewell Good and Faithful Friend....

A Dog for Jesus

I wish someone had given Jesus a dog. As loyal and loving as mine. To sleep by His manger and gaze in His eyes and adore Him for being divine. As our Lord grew to manhood His faithful dog,Would have followed Him all through the day. While He preached to the crowds and made the sick well and knelt in the garden to pray. It is sad to remember that Christ went away to face death alone and apart, with no tender dog following close behind to comfort its Master's Heart. And when Jesus rose on that Easter morn, how happy He would have been, as His dog kissed His hand and barked it's delight, For The One who died for all men.

Well, the Lord has a dog now, I just sent Him mine,The old pal so dear to me. And I smile through my tears on this first day alone, knowing they're in eternity. Day after day, the whole day through,Wherever my road inclined,Four feet said, "Wait, I'm coming with you!"And trotted along behind.

Rudyard Kipling

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I Stood By Your Bed
I stood by your bed last night, I came to have a peep. I could see that you were crying, You found it hard to sleep.
I whined to you softly as you brushed away a tear,"It's me, I haven't left you, I'm well, I'm fine, I'm here."

I was close to you at breakfast, I watched you pour the tea, You were thinking of the many times your hands reached out to me.
I was with you at my grave today, you tend it with such care. I want to reassure you that I'm not lying there.
I walked with you towards the house, as you fumbled for your key.I gently put my paw on you, I smiled and said "It's me."

You looked so very tired, and sank into a chair. I tried so hard to let you know that I was standing there.
It's possible for me to be so near you every day.To say to you with certainty, "I never went away."You sat there very quietly, then smiled, I think you knew...In the stillness of that evening, I was very close to you.
The day is almost over... I smile and watch you yawning and say, "Goodnight, God bless, I'll see you in the morning."And when the time is right for you to cross the brief divide,I'll rush across to greet you and we'll stand, side by side.
I have so many things to show you, there is so much for you to see. Be patient, live your journey out... then come home to be with me.

-Author Unknown

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A very rough start to 2007....We lost Sweetie, our soon to be 15 year old lab tonight. A tragic highway accident, not even a piece of her left to bury. A lot of tears flowing around here. She was a good dog with such a unique personality. She has been Greg's companion longer than I have been. He loved that dog more than any other. Never again will there be another "Sweetie". We miss her already and will miss her even more in the upcoming weeks. Pray for us as we prepare to tell the kids. We miss you SWEETIE!