Short-Straw Bride -- Book Review for Bethany House Publishers

 

Short-Straw Bride

I loved this book!  It grabbed me right at the beginning and kept me going and wanting to know more about their lives and relationships. I really want to know more about the rest of the family and hope there are more books coming about them.  The early years of the 19th century are one of my favorite times to read about. And if you enjoy that time period, you are really going to enjoy this book. 

It spoke to me on more than one level. The story was not only full of action and clean romance it made me think about my relationship with God. I'm so often wanting to do it my way, not God's way. I don't often ask myself, What would God not want me to do? And I find it so easy to erect walls and fences with big gates around myself that keep me and God inside of a box when He really wants me to step outside and let others in.  This was a wonderful reminder to take a chance, rethink the boundaries I've set for myself and God, and just love someone.

I hope you will pick up a copy of this book, Karen Witemeyer found a way to share two people's hearts and how their faith in the Lord led them thru several misunderstandings to the start of a loving relationship. It will give you hope for your own relationships.

I received this book from Bethany House as a free copy to review.

Autumn Action

Most of my photographs are of my granddaughter who is almost always a moving subject. I'm sure that you experience this a lot with your favorite subjects also.

Here is a shot where we were trying on costumes but as soon as she would get one on and I would pick up the camera she would run around the couch and hide. She thought it was a great game.

You can see that the whole photo of her running is blurred, this is because I was shooting with a slow shutter speed 1/20 with an f/2.8. There are some cases where you want your subject to be blurred to show speed and movement, however that was not my intentions here, she was just faster than me.

If you want to keep your subject sharp while blurring everything around it, use slower shutter speeds (or landscape setting on point and shoot cameras) and pan.  To pan, move the camera with the subject to track your subject. Press the shutter button 1/2 way down to start the autofocus. Then while still moving with your subject, push the button all the way down when you are ready to take the photo. Keep tracking through the photo to make sure you don't stop before the exposure is complete.  

If you want to freeze your subject's movement without blurring your image, you need a fast shutter speed, such as 1/1000. Depending on the light you will need to adjust your f/stop to a wider setting because you will be cutting down the light that comes in through your shutter.

Where do you adjust the shutter speed on your camera? Look for the dial on your camera that says TV (time value) or S (shutter). In either of these modes you choose the shutter speed and your camera will choose the aperture for correct exposure.

In this photo, I was focused on the runners in the middle and you can see that I actually was able to capture them frozen with their feet off the ground. I'm still trying to accomplish this, with one of my dogs, I have dreams of that cute shot with their ears flopping and all their feet in the air while running.  Back to real life  :)    The runners were captured at 1/400, f/4, ISO 400. It was morning in a valley so there was not much sun yet, more the equivalent of a cloudy day.

So your challenge this month is to capture some action, either a freeze action shot like the runners or a shot where the subject is blurred and everything else is in focus. Then post it in the gallery with a link here to get your prize.  You must complete the challenge and post by September 30th.

Happy Shooting!

 

This is the CAK challenge, so to be eligible for the prize, your layout must be comprised of at least 90% from NDISB collab, either from this month or prior months.

And now for the challenge, this month's CAK theme is best friends. So in honor of your best friend, you must double EVERYTHING you put on your page. Nothing can be on your layout once. If you put a flower on your page, you have to put it somewhere else too. Same thing goes for your photos and any papers you use, a besides a single background paper.
Find the Challenge HERE
Want to see what you are playing for?

BOKEH, My Best Friend, Photography - 

Week 3 of http://www.ndisb.com new challenges. Come check it out there is a prize for every challenge completed!

New Things Happening at NDISB! Don't Miss It!!

The Challenge is HERE

Our new format and reward system for challenges is sure to keep you coming back for more! We have listened to feedback that you have provided and our goal is to make our challenges just a little bit more...'challenging' for you. (smiles) Each weekly challenge you complete will reward you with a special add-on or mini kit which will fully coordinate with our Customer Appreciation Kit for that month. And you will be able to get that Customer Appreciation Kit for FREE with only a $5 purchase. So, come and play with us, spend a minimum of $5, complete our 5 challenges, and you will have a massive mega kit - all for FREE.

Your challenge prize links for the challenges you successfully complete will be pm'd to you at the end of the challenge period each month. Because the challenges are staggered throughout the month, this will usually be the end of the first week of the following month.

Are you feeding your child's weaknesses and creating a bully?

It is our God given duty to train a child up in the way they should go.  Yet, as I look around me I see so many children and adults who are spoiled, demanding, temper tantrum throwing, violent bullies with an inflated sense of entitlement.  If their parents had disciplined them and given them boundaries immediately when they stepped over the line they would have created a safe and secure environment for that child to grow into a balanced, kind, and loving adult.  Weaknesses could be worked on and turned into strengths.  By not correcting bad behavior and just excusing it all the time you feed those bad behaviors and they become the dominate driving force that allows that child to bully everyone including the parent because they have been taught it is ok to treat people that way.

I know parents who won't take action because they are afraid they are going to loose the love and respect of their child.  What they don't see, but everyone around them do see, is that they do not have the love and respect of their child. They lost it by not enforcing boundaries and teaching that child that there are consequences to their actions.  I see grown "adults" bullying their parents and every time that "child" is negligent they blame it on the parent.  Then I see the parent fall into the role of victim. They make excuses for the "child" and start saying about how they (the parent) are responsible for the situation.   What a load of Crock!   That is classic abuser and victim mentality!

I used to say I never understood why people stayed with abusers and condemn them, until it happened to me.  I was fortunate in that I had been raised to believe I was better than that. I escaped, it wasn't easy and took time and the support of my family but, I learned my lesson and got out. I heard the voice of the Lord whisper to me constantly that the relationship I was in was wrong and toxic and damaging to everyone around me. My abuser isolated me and beat me up and worse.  But, because of the strong presence of the Lord in my life and a family who prayed for me and helped me as soon as I asked, I became stronger, I have empathy for those caught in toxic relationships and are being abused. I recognize abusers and victims and am often able to give them some encouragement that  will bring them closer to becoming free and follow the path God has called them to walk. This does not mean I have sympathy for them or tolerate toxic people in my life.  Because, I absolutely have no room for those type of people.

One of the things an abuser will do is take the object of their "love" and spread seeds of doubt about all the other people in their lives. They will start to doubt what they know about those who really love them.  On the surface an abuser is very charming and charismatic, you are drawn to them and don't even realize that they have taken over and are now controlling your life.   I am now seeing this take place in the lives of people I care about. It breaks my heart to see it.  I'm praying and fighting for them. I will see them fulfill the Call of the Lord on their lives!

On a lighter note, here is a photo of Shorty who recently placed in a glam pageant.  Not really, just a bit of photo fun, but, he was truly a good sport about it.

Pray, Talk, Beg and Cry

Because of a situation that has been on-going for several years in our family, I have lost respect for the most important person in my life.

I've talked, cried, prayed and begged for this person to step up and do the right thing. However, it is easy to take me for granted. It is safe to ignore me and not confront this other situation because my love is a sure thing and I don't cause as much trouble as this other situation. I now do not want to be around the one person I love most. We don't have much of a relationship at all because this other situation has been allowed to consume everything.

I know that I am not even close to the top of my VIP's list, I might be #10. Have I reached a point in life that because of circumstances I no longer want fellowship with my VIP?

All of this has given me an inkling of how much the Lord would like to spend time with me. Is this how the Lord feels about me? While I tend to turn to God in times of fear and adversity He is not first in many areas of my life. Am I apathetic in my desire to spend time with the Lord and only consumed with external situations? Do I take the Lord and His Love and His Grace for granted? Do I think I can treat the Lord and my loved ones any way I want and give them attention only when it is convenient, because I'm covered by Grace. How long do I think I can continue in this manner without correcting my behavior before the Lord allows evil to come into my house to get my attention?

It is spending time with the Lord for no real reason, but just because you want to, that allows you to hear God's voice.  You can't hear God's voice as easily when you are always in crisis or panic mode. You can pray and pray but if you don't listen then take the appropriate actions you have been told to do take, nothing will change.  Has the Lord spoken to you in that still small voice and you've ignored Him? Has He then had to resort to try speaking to you through those close to you and you've ignored them?

There comes a time when one must take a position that is not safe, politic or popular but you must take a stand because the Lord says it is right.  Will you let your household be destroyed because it was the easy path to take? When you follow God, He will bless you but when you don't follow God you will loose ownership of the land.  Will you loose everything for the sake of expedience?

On a lighter note, here are a couple photographs from 2 photo sessions with one of the joys of my life.

Come Join Us at Natural Designs in Scrapbooking

coupon confusion

Sorry for the confusion on the coupon, please try this download:
I've also fixed the coupon for you.  I do apologize and hope everyone will forgive my error.  So you now have two options to get the digi kit.  I hope one or the other will work for you.
I know it seems like it is not free because you go thru paypal but it is free there will be a place for the code and you will not be charged.  I have not have any luck lately with off store sites to provide downloads, So I have to do the freebies this way.  Have a great Summer! 

Summer Fun Digi Diva's Blog Hop July 6th - 8th

 To download this Kit click HERE use this code PKDigiDivas when checking out with paypal and you get this bit of summer fun for free but only until midnight July 8th.

 I would love it if you would follow my blog and "like" my face book page found here.  Every so often there is a little something special on my FB page for fans, you never know what it will be. Same here for my blog, not only will you find out what it is like to live in a forest on the side of a mountain in Arkansas but you'll find my digi scrapping, art, and photography adventures, plus rants & raves. 

Ya'll Come back Soon!

Stop 1 - Renée Muir  If you get lost come back here

Stop 2 - Pam Meeks

Stop 3 - Tonya Love
Stop 4 - Michele Pouliet

Stop 5 - Charly Lyons
Stop 6 - Melissa

Stop 7 - Elaine Anjos
Stop 8 - Yvonne Michelle

Stop 9 - Kelly Sill

Stop 10 -Kim Hackworth
Stop 11 - Monique Helfrich
Stop 12 - Rachel McPeek  You came from HERE

Stop 13 -Pamla Klenczar   You are HERE

Stop 14 - Jeanie Dickinson  You are going HERE

Stop 15 - Michelle Single
Stop 16 - Lucy O’Malley
Stop 17 - Vicki Robinson
Stop 18 - Shayla Trimble
Stop 19 - Emily Albrecht
Stop 20 - Anna Janise