Appreciating God's Beauty at The Detroit Zoo

Photo Shoot End of Week #1

I'm excited about all I learned this first week. I took all of these photos in manual mode. Thanks to my sweet cousin, Lynn for the many hours she spent teaching me!















Linc took this next one of me in "automatic" mode. He thinks I should just snap and shoot photos this way. Personally, I like doing it my way! ;)

Assignment #2

A lesson on ISO today... Always start at lowest number for lowest amount of "noise." Outside start at 100 and inside start at 400.

Assignment #1

My first homework assignment taken in manual mode with available light.

Speed: To start, don't go any lower than 60. Adjust something else. Get meter to Zero.

10.14.13 Photography 101

My very sweet cousin, Lynn is giving me private photography classes. I couldn't be more excited! These photos were all taken in manual mode.

Do you know?

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You are SO beautiful!
Smiles and Love,
Angie

Friday's Inspiration

Mom 3 years

The other day it occurred to me that Mom's 3rd Birthday in Heaven came and went without it even crossing my mind. It made me sad on so many levels when it finally hit me. I think about her every day and admire her more with every memory.

Fall has always been my favorite season.  The years are seeming to blur together though, since Dave was so sick just a couple of years ago. I will never forget watching the leaves fall over at Naze's and visiting with him just as much as possible. We knew his time was short. It's still hard to comprehend that he's gone.

I've been a little restless lately, and I think it's because these losses still feel fresh. I'm home alone tonight. Linc is out with his mom and John went to watch the Tiger game. It's all good, but when the house is quiet I can't help give myself permission to shed a few tears.

Tomorrow I'm going to continue my Gratitude List.
Much love,
xoxo

Crawling Back

I love a God of second chances! He would never say, "I Told You So."

fb addiction

I am so embarrassed to admit that I am far more addicted to it than I originally thought. I actually stayed off of it all day yesterday and didn't get on there until earlier this evening. I really enjoyed not being on there and as I thought about it throughout the day I was happier.

My Screen Saver

Third Place

2nd Place

My Screen Saver

This week

Frankenmuth (I love this romantic setting!) 

My handsome husband on our very long walk. I love his new attitude!  :)

Randomness...

I am so grateful for Cousins. They are such a precious gift that I've taken for granted most of my life. I've learned that although relationships with extended family changes, siblings and cousins are here for good. Blood is so much thicker than water. Having grown up with 6 brothers and sisters, I'm especially grateful that my kids have cousins that are a lot like siblings. John has Christopher and Loren and Meghan has Ali. I went to my last uncle's funeral (Uncle Tom) this past week. I found out about his passing via a text message, which is another blog worthy topic I'll discuss at a later time. Anyway, he was 91 years old and his brother was his only family left. I sat with some of my cousins. Each of my mother's sisters had a few there to represent them. I sat with Susan, Mary Jo, Linda and Jerry Bennett (Aunt Winnie's kids), Ron Conklin (and his wife Dianne, who is Aunt Georgine's son) and my brother, Chris and sister, Patricia. As I watched Uncle Tom's only brother sitting there in front of the church I couldn't help think that I don't want to be the last one standing in our family. I don't think I could bear to bury the remaining siblings one by one.

Although it is so hard to lose loved-ones through death, in my opinion it's even more difficult to lose relationships with those who are still living, but chose to no longer be a part of our lives. Friends and acquaintances come go as seasons change; and it's not okay with me. Period.

I am addicted to social networking. I want to privately challenge myself to stay off it starting right this moment. You wouldn't believe how many times I check in. There is nothing there, but I continue to check in on people. Shy people misrepresent themselves so much. Online they seem to be extraverted, but I swear most are exactly the opposite.

I'm super proud of my husband for taking better care of himself this past month. He learned that his B/P was out of control and honestly, it scared him to death. He has been walking (we have) and he's been eating way more healthy. We love this new App for recording our walks. Linc and I have been spending a lot of time together walking around town. It's fun, but his OCD makes it a little challenging at times. His dedication is so attractive to me.

Needed: A hobby. I wish I liked crafts, especially with these cold months ahead. I'm almost ready to try something. I want to take a photography class, but the fear of not being able to fully comprehend it is paralyzing me.

I love having John here. I love making him breakfast in the morning.
I hate Meghan living in California. I'm still trying to wrap my head around it. I also hate the time difference.

Whenever I look at the photos of our trip to Italy, all I see is my ugly red hair and bad outfits. I'm embarrassed to admit that to you. Of the 1200 pictures I took, hardly any are frame-worthy.

Physically, I have one more week of PT for my shoulder. I'm ready to be done with it. I'm crossing my fingers. What I'm about to share next is really TMI, but 9/7/12 was a year; yes, I have hot flashes, but they aren't unbearable; I don't like the wrinkles or insomnia; and I'm definitely struggling to find my "purpose" in life.

Spiritually I've recently learned a lot about disappointment and Grace. God is never disappointed in us. It isn't His way. When I am disappointed it has more to do with the fact that my expectations aren't being met. I am the one who gets disappointed, not Him. He is just not pleased when we don't trust Him with our lives. I feel God's presence way more when I listen to a message online or listen to my favorite music than I do in church. Is that okay? It's just true.

Career-wise, I learned at my periodontal study (by Dr. J. the periodontist) this week that we really don't need to probe our patients more than every 2 years. Also, a 2mm change is most important and we shouldn't be concerned about a 1mm change. If we get a 6mm pocket, but have to push too hard to get it and it doesn't bleed, we don't need to do SRP. Oh, and there is no proof that irrigating perio pockets with Chlorhexidine works to decrease pocket depth. We can't possibly get it deep enough to make a difference. He loves Super-floss instead of floss threaders. Lichen Planus goes away on it's own in 2 years and is mainly found in stressed out people.

They took our pontoon boat out of the water this week. We have 205 hours on it.