sunday snapshot {dandan}

Happy Birthday to the first man in my life.

Otherwise known as DanDan (what came out when his first grandson attempted "Grandad").

 He's one of the hardest working, most honest men I know.

A brick and stone mason, turned blueberry (and blackberry and fruit tree and watermelon and just about anything else he fancies) extraordinaire.

 He loves "his ladies" more than anything else.

Never, ever, once did I question my place in his heart. And still don't.

When a man drives 3 hours to eat lunch with his daughter who's away at college, and then drives home after, and counts it as nothing, she knows how her daddy feels about her.

Dad, thank you for being the man this little girl needed, and still needs, in her life. Happy Birthday. I love you!


My camera is a Canon Rebel T3i. My lens for these shots was a 50mm 0.45m/1.5ft. My settings were: ISO 400, aperture f/3.2 and shutter speed of anywhere from 1/40 to 1/125.These were taken right around 7:30 pm. I'd love suggestions of what I "could have done" to make them better.

sunday snapshot {maebelle}

I'm taking a leap and playing along with Stefanie's Sunday Snapshot weekly contest. Time is ticking for me to get somewhat decent at taking pictures of our girl. I've gotten advice from friend photographers and even taken an intro class. But, it's time to start really practicing. I'll post the rules to Sunday Snapshot below in case any of you care to take this leap with me. I am a little nervous about putting myself out there but I figure it's a safe place to try!

So, here goes.

For my first ever Sunday Snapshot, I copied some camera settings that Stefanie used while in China and headed outdoors with my newly groomed puppy.

 

 MaeBelle always smells like cookies when she comes back from a good grooming and is extra fluffy. 

  And I love the bandana they always tie around her neck.

 Her tongue in this one kills me! I have learned to take her picture before we go on a walk.

My camera is a Canon Rebel T3i. My lens for these shots was a 50mm 0.45m/1.5ft. My settings were: ISO 400, aperture f/3.2 and shutter speed 1/3200 second.

Sunday Snapshot rules:
1. Sunday Snapshot will begin weekly with my Snapshot post on Sunday (or Saturday night) and will close Tuesday AM.
2. It is open to anyone who wants to become a better photographer and have fun in the process.
3. Snapshot posts should have the photo to be considered AT THE TOP of the Sunday Snapshot post, and should include the Sunday Snapshot button as well as a link back here to encourage others to play along.
4. Share any photography tips and/or settings on your posts for others (like me!) who are learning – this is encouraged but definitely not required.
5. Each Snapshot entry will be reviewed by me. Then I’ll select a favorite photo to be announced on Wednesday.
6. The winning Snapshot will be selected based on composition, color, emotion, creativity and post-processing.
7. Weekly winners will be featured in a monthly Sunday Snapshot post which will be judged by y’all, the readers.
8. The winner of the monthly Sunday Snapshot will receive a photography related goodie donated by the Sunday Snapshot monthly sponsor. April’s sponsor is One Willow Presets.
9. If you have any questions, feel free to ask.
10. Rules subject to change, as necessary, to keep this fun and fruitful for everyone.

Dear Sheryl:

Attached are pictures of your package to Li Ya min ,ya min will get your gifts next week,love,Ann

{oh boy! this makes me so happy!}

with a name like Tallula...

...she must be pretty cute!

If you've ready a few of my posts, you know by now how much I love following Stefanie at Ni Hao Y'all. Today (yesterday in China) was their newest little one's Gotcha Day! You really should take a moment to check out her latest posts about Tallula Mae. They do not disappoint. Just click on the button below.






It just makes my heart long for Lucy that much more. I cannot wait until it's our turn.

As a tad bit of news, Ann at Red Thread China received our package today! She'll work on translating our letter and getting everything ready to send to Lucy's orphanage. It just thrills me to think Lucy just might see pictures of her mama and baba this week! Oh wow.

an eastcoast Easter

Andy and I spent Easter weekend with these two lovebirds (my parents). They have a new pad at Surfside Beach that is just right for a gorgeous spring weekend.

We strolled through Brookgreen Gardens and were pleasantly surprised at all it had to offer.

A few tulips still hanging on.

And these beauties (I would love to know the name and probably should...).

A sculpture garden.

We even stumbled upon a tea party.

But the highlight of the weekend was this morning's Easter sunrise service, my first one ever.

What a special way to start the day, as we remember that the grave no longer holds Him.

 

 He is risen.

But on the first day of the week, at early dawn, they came to the tomb, bringing the spices which they had prepared. And they found the stone rolled away from the tomb, but when they entered, they did not find the body of the Lord Jesus. And it happened that while they were perplexed about this, behold, two men suddenly stood near them in dazzling apparel; and as the women were terrified and bowed their faces to the ground, the men said to them, "Why do you seek the living One among the dead? "He is not here, but He has risen. Remember how He spoke to you while He was still in Galilee, saying that the Son of Man must be delivered into the hands of sinful men, and be crucified, and the third day rise again." 

Luke 24:1-7

Lucy's match party

One large dragon cake (deserving of its own post later).

A few other refreshments.

 Some decorations.

 Leftover Gummy Chicken Feet (the hit of the party).

 A guessing game.

A slide show introducing our girl and her name.

 

 Special people.

 And you have one fun "Match Party".

Lucy Hope, you are celebrated!

1 month down

Hard to believe it's been one month since we saw sweet Lucy's face for the very first time. I heard a week or so ago that another list of available children was being released by China. My heart skipped a beat as that feeling of waiting and hoping to be matched is still so fresh in my mind. I found myself so very grateful that we weren't in that phase anymore. And it made me want to pray for the families who are. What a tough time that was. For those of you in that phase, there is light at the end of the tunnel! It will happen. And it is worth it.

In honor of our "one month anniversary", I was hoping to post some photos of the party we held for our friends but realized I left my SD card at home, so it will be a few more days. (we're in TX right now and I didn't feel like lugging the Canon around)

In the meantime, I wanted to share the pictures we included in Lucy's photo album that was shipped off last Wednesday. There is a reason for each one and I'm hoping they will help her with the transition into our lives. She's still so young and won't understand much, but perhaps these photos will trigger something in her over the next several months.

The cover of the album had this picture of her.

The first page had this one of her dancing/marching...would love to know the story behind this photo!

 

The next page had this photo of us holding a photo of her.

 

And then, here we are holding the items we sent her in the care package - maybe she'll put two and two together? May be wishful thinking, but worth a shot.

Then, there was this picture of what will be Lucy's housemate, whether either one of them like it or not!

And, of course, a photo of MaeBelle and us so she knows we all go together.

I wore my SO LOVED tee, hoping it will draw her in and get her attention. Then I had the afterthought of wearing this on Gotcha Day. Maybe, just maybe it will help her understand a tiny bit better what's going on that day and ease her mind. 

It's really up to the Lord and we trust Him to take care of her little heart on that day.