Nutcracker Ballet December 23, 2008

I regret quitting Ballet after 1 year. Acrobats and Jazz were my preference in my impatient youth. Ballet was too disciplined for me then. I love it now. I started taking it with my girls about 5 years ago. It is so hard! There are many moves and stretches that are impossible at my age. No matter how hard I push myself, I am limited. What I can do, is move more gracefully, maintain a better posture, achieve a certain amount of healthy flexibility, enjoy the pleasures of classical music, and learn to dance and be happy, even though I see and feel my limitations.

This is the second year my daughters and a few friends have participated in the Nutcracker, put on by our local dance studio. A lot of preparations go into this event. It can be very time consuming. At the end of the last show, I feel like it’s worth it. Of course I bring along my camera to the practice and dress rehearsals. I’ll start with the practices first.

I used a “grunge” action in Photoshop on the next picture.

I’ve been playing with textures in Photoshop for a while. The stars are an added texture to the otherwise plain black curtain.

The next group of photos are from the dress rehearsal.

Silly ballerinas!

This last one was taken by my husband at the actual recital. His stance, expression, and the presence of the pipe make me love this one.

Everyone did a great job this year. The work was hard, but the reward of seeing a great production was worth it.

“And let the beauty of the Lord our God be upon us: and establish thou the work of our hands upon us; yea, the work of our hands establish thou it.” Psalms 90:17

Celebrate Engagement December 10, 2008

Bubbly and very excited, is how I would describe this couple. They seem to be enjoying the road of the “Engagement” period. I love to hear her share her thoughts and plans, explaining in detail the events that just occurred, or what’s around the corner. He listens and adds to the conversation when he wants. They’re a good combination.

I’m encouraged by the young people I surround myself with. Their parents have chosen a different path, a better way, to raise their young ones. We’ve seen the fruit of their labor, as many of them are older now, getting married and having children.  Patience, prayer, self-control, obedience, and healthy boundaries are some of the tools they are using to accomplish this. “It is good.”

I had a great time, it went by too fast! They are a beautiful couple, inside and out.

I love this shot. She was wondering what her hair looked like, so I snapped a picture and showed her….keeper!

“Who can find a virtuous woman? for her price is far above rubies. The heart of her husband doth safely trust in her, so that he shall have no need of spoil. She will do him good and not evil all the days of her life.” Proverbs 31:10-12

Sweet Baby Girl December 10, 2008

“For this child I prayed; and the Lord hath given me my petition which I ask him.”                    Samuel 1:27

This precious little girl was prayed for, like Hannah prayed to the Lord (Yahweh) for a child, Samuel. Her parents prayed, sought His face and waited. The news of their pregnancy excited everyone and I jumped at the chance to photograph her in her “newborn” stage.

Her (young) grandmother worked as a photographer years back, so she helped me with props and some placement ideas. It was a lot of fun and again, I learned a few things.

Sugar and spice…