Monday, August 31, 2009

Women, Powerful, Free and Happy!

Headed home from a women's conference. At one of the breakout sessions, this was our benediction. Be blessed!

Arise, Women, Arise! By Jen Sweet

Arise, Women, Arise!
It's time to step into your destinies!

It's time to stand tall
You are no longer held back!

The glass ceiling is SHATTERING!

Highly Favored Women of God, Arise!
Sing your songs
Paint your pictures
Create your creations

All of Heaven has waited for this time...
Your time!

It's time!
It's time!
It's time!

No more shackles!
We are free!
Free to shout
Free to dance
Free to preach
Free to teach
Free to love
Free to mother
We are free!

Where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom
He's inside of you, so you, mighty women of God are free!
And whom the King has set free are free indeed

It's time to run
It's time to be
It's time to do anything

Mighty Warrrioresses,
It's time to use your swords
And cut others free from their bonds

Stand up
Heal the sick
Raise the dead
Restore marriages
Mend the broken hearts
For nothing is impossible with God

Arise, Women, Arise
It's time to step into your destinies!

Friday, August 28, 2009

Faith building Friday

Here's one from Brian Whalen.
Power...
Love...
Sound Mind...
May the prophetic words of this song birth a new season in your life.

Friday, August 21, 2009

Rome... "Where a tomato tastes like a tomato..."

Been doing a bit of Rome dreaming lately. The tomato quote was told to me by someone I know who loves Rome and visited often while he was stationed in Europe.

So I changed my banner to one of my favorite shots. This image was cropped from the picture I took, not just for the banner but because it makes a much more interesting picture.

Being in a Rome mood, I decided to play around with one of my favorite Colosseum pictures, here it's been antiqued to give it an old time picture feel. Enjoy a little bit of one of my favorite places....

Faith building Friday

Praises rise. Chris and I were introduced to The Selah Project and Brian and Ramey Whalen several years ago. This song sunk in with it's elemental drums and the groups energy and tightness. They opened up my eyes to a whole new form of worship, dance, but in a way that I'd never seen before. With an energy and at times a Warrior Spirit. Brian and Ramey Whalen are recording a new CD and they have re-recorded it. Looking forward to hearing it...

Thursday, August 20, 2009

Playing around...


Been wanting to do some digital collages with my photography. Sat down this evening and came up with this...

Wednesday, August 19, 2009

Tuesday, August 18, 2009

Expectations

Ben thinking about expectations lately... here's a couple of things that have crossed my mind:

Why does it feel like forever to get to where we're going? Because it's a process. In our culture, at least it's true for me, I have this assumption that my expectations will be met instantaneously. I sometimes forget that I have to grow into them. That I have to be changed by the striving for them so that I can handle them.

When I get there, what I thought would be... isn't. I'm thinking that this happens because I have changed as I have worked towards and refining my thinking along the way.

Realizing that I have to work for and towards my dreams. Not only does this prepare me for them, but it changes me as I grow.

So... I'm beginning to realize that my expectations need to be flexible. That as I grow, as I work towards, as I am changed by the process, I need to be flexible. If I have expectations that are carved in stone, when I arrive I will have outgrown them and then be disappointed by them. And at the same time, in a weird way, I will not have grown in every way I need to grow to enjoy them as well as to prepare me for my next expectations.

What do you think? Does being flexible have anything to do with enjoying our expectations?

Sunday, August 16, 2009

All's quiet on the home front

Since coming back from our trip to Redding, we have had all of the families pets visiting. When we came home we picked up Moo from my sisters, and brought home her dog LuLu for 2 weeks while they took a trip back east. 2 weeks turned into almost 3 before LuLu went home. But I have to say, I was kinda sorry to see her go. She and Moo get along so well, and there was just something about seeing all the dogs in the neighborhood napping together on the deck that gave me warm fuzzies. I guess we are the doggie equivalent of the Kool-aid house... Here Moo, LuLu and Moose are playing tug of war with a stuffed animal Moose was given... it didn't last an hour but they were playing tag with small pieces for days afterwards!

Chucho, my mom's 20 year old cockatiel came to visit at the same time. Both LuLu and Chucho were used to waking up at 4am every day. We soon changed their habits and they were kind enough to allow us to sleep till it was "gettie uppie" time at our house. Both the dogs were fine with the bird, who is allowed is climb out of his cage, but one day on the deck we forgot to close the door and he went for a walk around the deck. Here's Moo taking a closer look, it's difficult to see but Moo has stepped on his tail feathers so that she can look closer.

Though we enjoyed having all the pets here, I'm glad to see them gone. Now to get ready for the 2 legged, no feathered, visitors coming this week!

Friday, August 14, 2009

Faith building Friday

Revelation song. There is power here...

Wednesday, August 12, 2009

Tuesday, August 11, 2009

SOURDOUGH!

Chris loves sourdough bread, and I've been trying my hand at baking bread these days. So I went looking for how to make a sourdough starter. In my research I came up with a 100 year old starter that is offered for only a SASE. I ordered it, reactivated it, it came dry, and we've been playing with it. From what I understand, it will take about a month to come into it's own. In the meantime we've enjoyed sourdough bread and sourdough pancakes and waffles.

Here's my breakfast of pancakes topped with a rhubarb and strawberry compote. Nummm!



If you'd like to write for your own starter, send a SASE to:
Carl's sourdough starter
Oregon Trail Sourdough
P. O. Box 321
Jefferson, MD 21755 USA

Enjoy!


This post will be linked to Balancing Beauty and Bedlam. Having trouble with adding a link but search inpassionatepursuit on blogspot for her blog...

Monday, August 10, 2009

Today - I'm crowning some amazing women...

Saw this award over at All the small stuff and decided to "crown" some of the women authors of blogs I really enjoy. So here goes:

Betsy over at My Five men. Betsy is Queen of Home making. I have gotten some amazing recipes from her but she has been inspiring in so many other ways. Being an amazing mom, keeping an immaculate - and gorgeous house, gardening and just being all around a wonderful person.

Krissy over at Krissy's Latest Adventure. Krissy is Queen of Adventure. When she lost her job early in the year she didn't throw up her hands and panic, but rather decided to do what she'd always wanted to do - join the Peace Corps. She is currently in Benin South Africa. An amazing lady.

Nadine over at Just being me. Nadine is Queen of writing. Or is she Queen of inspiration??? She recently wrote and had her first book published, it titled Prisoner of Circumstance. It was in watching Nadine walk through the process of writing her first book, and challenging herself to blog daily that I was inspired to begin my own blog. Other things I love about Nadine - her laugh, the joy she brings into a room and her passionate love for her husband.

All the girls over at Girls God and the good life. They are Queens of Encouragement. Read any of their posts an you will understand what I mean.

Patty over at Nexus Connection Patty is Queen of... Solid-ity. Is that a word? Patty is a rock. You just feel that when you meet her. We met Patty while we were taking the Streams Ministry courses several years back. She is a teacher, and encourager and an amazing guide.

"Tova" over at Tova Darling Tova is the undisputed Queen of Love. Just read her posts. This woman LOVES her husband. She has definitely been an inspiration.

So, it's your turn. Here are the rules, drop me a line and tell me who you tagged:
1. Grab the award and post it on your blog, linking back to the person who gave it to you.
2. Give the award to six people you think deserve to be queen and link to their blogs.
3. If you feel like it, tell what they should be queen of, but I'm not gonna force you. After all, you are the Queen.
4. Let the people know you've given them an award.

Sunday, August 9, 2009

Perspective

A few weeks back I noticed a quantum shift in the pictures I was taking. A "suddenly" "seeing" in a new way. Here's an example:
Taken early June:
Taken a week ago:
I've noticed that I can not frame a picture like I framed the iris any more. It doesn't "feel" right. Then there's the Antoine de Saint-Exupery quote in yesterday's blog (BTW - I you haven't entered the contest, please do). Two thoughts have been marinating since I first read it:

...only with the heart that one can see rightly... This speaks to me of seeing truth. Of seeing how a thing really is. Not just the character but also the essence of who a person is or what a thing is. That's what I see when I look at the geranium above - the essence, the center, the core and the heart of this flower. The place where everything about this flower springs forth.

...what is essential is invisible to the eye... We are bombarded on a daily basis with things to look at, some good, some not so good. But the essential is invisible to the human eye, it is only visible to the heart. I love this "seeing" with the heart. I want to grow in this ability...

It took me several weeks to even notice that a change had taken place, but I realized that this new way of "seeing" was an answer to prayer.

Several years back I visited the Georgia O'Keefe gallery in Santa Fe. I went to see her art work but also to "absorb" the way she saw. In this new way of seeing I am understanding her art better. While taking pictures at Alki a few weeks back, as I was looking at the places where the water was running back to the ocean, I was reminded of some of her paintings. I had read something in the gallery that said when she had been flying cross country and had looked out the window she saw the earth laid out below in miniature form. She began drawing 1'x1' sketches and those later became very large paintings. Looking at the little rivers on the beach, I understood what she had seen that caused her to draw those little sketches. And I understood where I had gotten that insight and that ability. Unfortunately the camera could not capture what my eye was seeing.

I also realized that this "suddenly" was an answer to prayer as well. I have been asking God to move in my life in new ways. To bring these ways on "suddenly". To one day be one way and the next a new way. I can not tell you the day or the flower when I went from seeing and framing like the iris to seeing and framing like the geranium, but it was there suddenly. From laying down the camera one day to picking it up the next and taking a different kind of picture. I am still open to more "suddenlys", and there are some very specific ones I have and am praying for.

Are you finding that you are experiencing "suddenlys" as well??? Do you need to ask for them? I'd love to hear your story.

Saturday, August 8, 2009

Thought for the day... AND a contest!


And now here is my secret, a very simple secret; it is only with the heart that one can see rightly, what is essential is invisible to the eye. Antoine de Saint-Exuperye



Got this quote from Robin over at Creations anew. Enjoying her photography as well as her thoughts.

I've added a current photo favorite. The first person who can tell me what flower this is will receive a photo journal card chosen just for them. Leave your guess as a comment. Really been into flowers the past few months... if you need a little "vacation" take time to visit my photostream.

Friday, August 7, 2009

Faith building Friday

Had so much fun looking for music that I figured I'd continue in the music them.
We've attended several funerals so far this year. All three were Catholic, and Shepherd me, O God was sung at them all. Each time I was moved to tears.
I liked the voices and the arrangement of this version, for some reason it sounds better to me when it's sung by multiple voices rather than a soloist.

Lyrics
Shepherd me, O God,
beyond my wants,
beyond my fears,
from death into life.
1. God is my shepherd,
so nothing shall I want,
I rest in the meadowsof faithfulness and love,
I walk by the quiet waters of peace.
2. Gently you raise me and heal my weary soul,
you lead me by pathways of righteousness and truth,
my spirit shall sing the music of your Name.
3. Though I should wander the valley of death,
I fear no evil,
for you are at my side,
your rod and your staff,
my comfort and my hope.
4. You have set me a banquet of love in the face of hatred,
crowning me with love beyond my power to hold.
5. Surely your kindness and mercy follow me all the days of my life;
I will dwell in the house of my God forevermore.

Wednesday, August 5, 2009

Sunday, August 2, 2009

New florals!

Many new floral photos have been added to my Flickr photostream this week. A whole new set titled Elizabeth’s garden was added after visiting with friends earlier in the week. Misc florals has been increase by pictures from the Duvall street dance as well as the Monroe Farmers Market. Stop by and take a look: http://www.flickr.com/photos/blueseehorseimages/sets/. Or from my blog home page you can click on the Flickr collage to the right.
I was down by the river earlier this week, but didn’t have my camera, I expect to have more river shots soon as well.

Saturday, August 1, 2009

Duvall - "The River" runs through it!

Last night we stopped for dinner at the Armadillo BBQ in Duvall. We - well I should say I like BBQ, Chris will eat it because he loves me, and he said yes to eating at the newly opened Armadillo BBQ last night because he loves me. The Armadillo BBQ was located in downtown Woodinville until about 5 years ago when the building they were in was torn down to widen the road into Woodinville. While I appreciate the widening, I regretted that we'd not be able to eat there on the rare occasions I would ask for BBQ. From there they moved to their catering kitchen, closing their doors to the public until they lost that lease about a year ago. A month or two ago the location in Duvall became available and they opened their doors last week. Hows that for convoluted???

While I love their food, part of what makes eating there so good is the, irreverent, atmosphere. First of all there is the motto: We strive for adequacy. The music is supplied by an old portable turn table that one of the guys replaces the current record for another record from their vintage selection. This is one of those "bus your own dishes" kinda places. I think they'd have peanut shells on the floor if it didn't take away from their BBQ duties. Then there is the attitude of the guys who have been creating the amazing food for the last 20 years. Last night we split a half chicken, pork ribs and beef ribs. For sides I got Chris corn muffins so fresh he said they were hard to hold, with LOTS of honey, and for myself, an ear of roasted corn. Normally I like my corn drowning in butter and salt, and maybe some pepper. As that wasn't an option, I dunked it in BBQ sauce. They make the BEST BBQ sauce. They have it delivered in a 55 gallon drum.

After dinner we walked down to City Hall where they had closed off the street for a street dance. Duvall is celebrating. After 9 months of construction, today was the "baptism", to quote the local paper, of the newly remodeled portion of HWY 203 that runs through Duvall. In that time, water pipes have been replaced, power lines have been buried, sidewalks widened, medians placed in the middle of the road and all types of aesthetics added to the 1/2 mile strip. In today's ceremony, this strip was being "christened", again from official descriptions, "The River". All of the banners, tree guards, new benches, concrete stamping and theme of the remodel had this theme of the river running through it. No pun intended. Last night street dance started off the celebration. And the local band selected to play - Free Rain. We had a great time dancing with friends old and new.

I had my camera and took some photos. I found some flowers to take shots of, they'll be on Flickr later this week, but here are some dance shots and a portion of one of the wood banners:

These 2 couples showed up the rest of us. They cut a good rug!

Free Rain!

This is one of 10 banners that now hang from poles staggered on either side of this road. This one depicts the story of the local Indian tribes that lived here.