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365 Project Day 329: Answered Prayers
Posted on 28. Nov, 2011 by maryanne.
Father of Lights
Canon 5D Mark ll, 1.2 aperture, 1/640 shutter, 125 ISO
James 1:17 ~”Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows.”
I still marvel at the thought of it. I have held this treasure close, letting it’s light warm my heart over and over again. He heard me. I am still dancing, twirling like a little girl in her daddy’s gaze. God heard my prayers, and He answered them.
When Annie left for England I wished secretly to go too, but I never uttered a word or whispered a prayer about it. At least not until a couple months ago. The desire grew in me, but I evaluated it internally and dismissed it as too ridiculous to bring to God. We have bills to pay and a trip to England was an extravagance that didn’t seem to fit into our budget. I guess I thought it was my job to decide what was okay to ask God for. One day as I struggled over these thoughts I felt I heard Him speak. ” Why don’t you do the asking and let me decide how I will answer?” He was asking me to give Him my whole heart by laying my desires bare before Him. Why was I embarrassed to ask God for something like this? I don’t know. Funny how we find ways to make God small. So I prayed. “God, I would like to go to England. If that is okay with you, will you provide a way?” I whispered this prayer many times, quietly. I only told a few people that I was praying about it. Some agreed to pray with me. I really didn’t believe I would go, but I did what He asked of me. I asked God for the desire of my heart.
Then, several weeks ago, the answer came. Someone offered to pay my way. I was speechless. Dumbfounded. Could this be true? It took days to wrap my mind and heart around it. God was answering my prayer, and He was saying yes. I was humbled to the point of tears. This was a quiet wish of my heart, and my Father heard me. This was my first time to travel across the ocean, and I would be going alone. It was a very big deal for a girl who rarely leaves her country road. I had to stretch my heart wide to receive the gift, and the realization that the God of the universe cups his ears to hear my prayers and answers them so tangibly. Even now, my heart glows in the light of His reply to my almost imperceptible whispers.
I will never forget flying across the ocean on my way over during the middle of the night. The stars shining brightly, the moon reflecting on the wings of the plane and soft tears of joy slipping down my face. How my Father loves me.
I am still unearthing treasures from my journey. Today, I wept when I saw a photo of London on another site. I did not go to London on this trip, but I am now realizing that I serve a God who loves to give gifts. While I was there He told me to take “small bites” and not worry about seeing everything. I did as I was told, comforted by His words to me. I took small bites believing that there will be more when I need or want it. I am learning to trust in a God who loves to fulfill the desires of my heart.
I am humbled and grateful. I encourage you to ask God for all that is in your heart, and let Him decide the outcome. I believe you will see how much He loves you.
Here are a few more treasures from my time in England. How I loved it.
Over the Ocean of Clouds
Just Through There
Such Beauty
Stories and Art
Ginkgo Leaves
Beautiful Maples
Bikes and Maples
Don't Forget to Write
Charming
Magical Path
Houseboats on the River Thames
Attention to Detail
Christ Church College
Every Path Leads to Blessing
Fly, but Come Back to Me
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365 Project Day 328: Under a Watercolor Sky
Posted on 27. Nov, 2011 by maryanne.
Peaceful Companion
Canon 5D Mark ll, 50 1.2L, 3.5 aperture, 1/4000 shutter, 125 ISO
Come and ride with me under a watercolor sky. Soft hooves clip-clop on pavement as we gently sway above the earth. My heart beats in time to the gentle cadence. We ride along as the sky unfurls a brilliant palette. Oranges, magenta, yellow and blue, me and you.
If life is this good now, what will heaven be like? Will my heart be able to contain it? You laugh at the thought of it. Heaven.
How I love you under this watercolor sky.
I Corninthians 2:9 ~ “No eye has seen, no ear has heard, and no mind has imagined what God has prepared for those who love him.”
Watercolor Sky
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365 Project Day 327: Favorite Moment of the Day
Posted on 25. Nov, 2011 by maryanne.
Happy Meeting
Canon 5D Mark ll, 70-200 2.8L, 180mm focal length, 4.0 aperture, 1/100 shutter, 160 ISO
While walking my older horse down to the barn today, I glanced back to find Katie standing in perfect sunshine bringing a bag of carrots to our other two horses. As soon as I got him back into the pasture I hurried to get my camera. A daughter with carrots in hand in her bright green sweatshirt fresh from England, and two happy horses in golden light. I wanted to freeze that moment. My camera helps me to do that. Amazing, wonderful tool that it is. Before long, Cowboy and Chris joined the scene and I was grinning and giggling. These are the magic moments when everything slows and I find myself breathing all the way in and then out again. Our lives are strung endlessly, intricately with these pearls, these gems. How many do I miss because I am worrying about getting things done?
Too many. But not this one. This one is captured, cherished and framed to share with you here today. My pockets are jingling with the treasures I have stored up this year during this project.
Beautiful blessed moments to savor and share. Click. What was your favorite moment today? You don’t to have just one.
Acts 17:24,25 ~”The God who made the world and everything in it is the Lord of heaven and earth and does not live in temples built by human hands. 25 And he is not served by human hands, as if he needed anything. Rather, he himself gives everyone life and breath and everything else.”
Sharing Sweetness
"Cowboy Love Carrots Too"
Golden Light
Sneaking Up
Kisses from Gunsmoke
Happy Laughter
Menagerie Mine
Collegiate Representation
Wishing you all happy moments to capture and keep today,
Mary Anne
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365 Project Day 326: Thankful
Posted on 25. Nov, 2011 by maryanne.
- Home
Canon 5D Mark ll 50 1.2L, 3.5 aperture, 1/80 shutter, 100 ISO
I just want to post a list (in picture form) of a few of the things I am grateful for today, on Thanksgiving day.
The Hands of my Children
A Faithful and Handsome Husband
My Sister's Sweet Potato Casserole
Great-Nephews with Chunky Cheeks
Nephews that Come from Far Away
This Smile that Opens my Heart
Family that Sings Together
My Sweet Mama
Mama's Hands on the Piano
Friendship that is Rich and Deep
My Katie who Came Home
Two of My Three Birdies
Love that Shines All Around
And my Annie-Bird 4,150 Miles Away...
We missed you, Annie! Looking forward to your return.
And so much more. My life is rich for the gifts the Father has showered on my life.
Grateful Tonight.
Ephesians 5:19,20 ~”Sing and make music from your heart to the Lord, 20 always giving thanks to God the Father for everything, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.”
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365 Project Day 325: How do you say goodbye to a birdie?
Posted on 23. Nov, 2011 by maryanne.
Shining Birdie
Canon 5D Mark ll, 50 1.2L, 3.2 aperture, 1/400 shutter, 1/160 ISO
I am behind on my blog today. Overwhelmed with fatigue and emotion, I went to bed last night without blogging. This is the first time I have done that during the whole project. But I was incapable of stringing sentences together. Flying across the ocean and back in five days will rattle one’s sense of time. But more than that, I left a little birdie in England, and that will wrench a mother’s heart. I have wept on and off during the day today mostly for joy. I am so grateful for the gift of traveling to England to see my Annie. My world, my experiences, and my heart were all enlarged for the joy of it. As I perused images today to post I was overcome with tears and emotion again and again. For the beauty of this city and the love for my daughter. I am a blessed mother. I have stored these memories in my heart, but I am thankful for the gift of photography that has allowed me to hold these treasures a bit longer and also to share them with you.
I left a part of my heart in England. As long as my Annie-Bird walks the soil there I will be tethered to that place.
I did not know what to share, so I pulled the most sparkling treasures from my pockets and have laid them out here to show. There are quite a few and I have a feeling there will be more later. It was hard to choose. Blessings to all of you this Thanksgiving season.
Psalm 118:29 ~”Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good; his love endures forever.”
Saying Goodbye
My Heart Standing at the Station
But onto happier images from Oxford…
Come with Me
English Horsies
Happy Company
Chasing Other Birdies
Get 'em Annie!
Breathing
Indignant
A Bridge over the Thames
The Thames at Sunset
Heading to the Perch for Cream Tea
Sparkling Path
Dusk Outside
Oxford at Dusk
Beauty Everywhere
Formal Dining Hall
Let the Rain Come
Style Everywhere
Birds Along the Thames
Window Shopping
Annie at the Cloisters
So Much Color
In the City
Local Fare
Yes, it is this Magical
On the Bus to the Airport
Shop Owner Opening for the Day
In the Clouds Again
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365 Project Day 324: Annie at Oxford
Posted on 21. Nov, 2011 by maryanne.
Standing by the City Wall
Canon 5D Mark ll, 16-35 2.8L, 2.8 aperture, 19 mm focal length, 1/80 shutter, 400 ISO
As promised, I took several portraits of Annie today at her college here in Oxford. There are 38 colleges as part of the Oxford University system. Annie attends New College. She took me on a tour there today and I snatched up every opportunity to photograph her. I wanted to gather memories for her to keep and also to show everyone at home who loves her where she is spending her days. She is so blessed to be where she is. As you will see from the images below, Oxford is indeed beautiful and she looks like she belongs here.
I leave early tomorrow morning to begin my long journey home.
Here are just a few things I will miss once I am gone:
1) The sound of my daughter’s voice and laugh. I especially loved hearing her count off ”two!” when her rowing team was calling out their numbers as they began the race. She is in position two and when she counted it off, I laughed with joy. How I love my Birdie’s voice.
2) The sound of the train that passes by her window at night. Soothing.
3) The sights and colors of Oxford. (which I will continue to share once I get home.)
4) Morning hugs and kisses from my daughter. Her sweetness lights up my world.
5) The incredible architecture and structure of this town, from the buildings to the cobblestone streets to the colorful and carved wooden doors.
That is just to name a few. I have loved this gift and will savor it for years to come. I am grateful for my time here, and now grateful to go home to see the others I love so dearly.
Here are some more portraits of Annie at her college here.
Psalm 126:1-3 ~ “When the LORD brought back the captive ones of Zion, We were like those who dream. Then our mouth was filled with laughter And our tongue with joyful shouting; Then they said among the nations, ‘The LORD has done great things for them.’ The LORD has done great things for us; We are glad.”
Lamppost Beauty
So Lovely
Alcove Cutie
New College
Autumn in Oxford
Gotta Make a Call
Oh the Trees
Lovely View
Under the Ginkgo Tree
New College Gate
Classic Oxford Beauty
Walking in the Rain with Ty
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365 Project Day 323: City of the Dreaming Spires
Posted on 20. Nov, 2011 by maryanne.
Oxford at Sunset
In my short stay here in England, I have fallen in love with Oxford. It is often called “the city of the dreaming spires” taken from a poem called “Thrysis” written by Matthew Arnold in the late 1800′s. This line in the poem is describing the lovely architecture in Oxford. It is something to behold.
The city itself is magical. It is a delight to the senses. Every street, every corner is laden with surprising beauty to take in and experience. The city seems to have it all. Architecture that is beyond anything I have ever seen, history, the many colleges of Oxford itself, greener than green meadows, the lovely River Thames and walking paths on both sides. There is also a unique sense of tradition and community here. You can ride a bike or walk to almost anywhere your heart desires. In the past two days, Annie and I have walked to a regatta on the Thames, played with horses in a meadow, walked to worship at her church, and climbed the tower at University Church of St. Mary to see the city from above. (That is where most of these photos were taken.) Breathtaking! And that is just naming a few highlights.
Here are some photos of the city I have taken over the past two days. There will be more of Annie tomorrow. She is, of course, my favorite part of Oxford.
Gathering these images like treasures. God has been so good to me in giving me such an amazing gift.
Psalm 16:11 ~”You will make known to me the path of life; In Your presence is fullness of joy; In Your right hand there are pleasures forever.”
Light in the Darkness
Sunset City View
City Lights
Castle Spires
Up on the Rooftops!
Rooftop Mosaic
The Choir Rehearses
Come In
Street Level Color
Castle Reflecting in a Window
Time for Tea
Streets Lined with Color
Mirrored Reflection of the City Life
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365 Project Day 322: Racing on the River Thames
Posted on 19. Nov, 2011 by maryanne.
Beauty in Both Directions
Canon 5D Mark ll, 50 1.2L, 1.6 aperture, 1/50 shutter, 500 ISO
Today was an exciting day. Annie is on the rowing team for New College at Oxford, and she had her first regatta today. I have never experienced anything like it. There was a wonderful sense of tradition, mixed with competition and camaraderie. Annie is living the dream and I got to see it in person today. I have way too many images to share here, but I am going to share a few highlights from our morning.
Taking the Boat to the Water
Heave
Placing it in the Water
Rowing Cutie
Ready to Go
Digging In
Beautiful View
On the Sparkling Thames
Tyler Heading Out
Getting it Done
Post Race Relief
Pensive
Flying the Colors
New College A-Boat Team
I am having such a wonderful time. Lovely, as the English would say, but so much more. I feel my heart stretching to receive this incredible gift. It has been a delight to my senses. So much to see, experience and take in. I hope to show it all to you. The beauty of the city of the dreaming spires.
Stay tuned. I have so much to share! Sigh. Happiness.
Ephesians 3:20,21 ~”Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen.”
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365 Project Day 321: When You’re Flying
Posted on 18. Nov, 2011 by maryanne.
Sea of Clouds
Canon 5D Mark ll, 50 1.2L, 7.1 aperture, 1/50 shutter, 250 ISO
Today is a travel day, (or yesterday was. I am not sure what day it is,) so I am keeping it short. 24 hours with no sleep is keeping me from piecing coherent thoughts together. I took these images from inside the plane (s) that I rode in to see my Annie-Bird in England. I am here, but in body mostly. She is not allowing me to sleep today so that I can stay on a good sleep schedule. Seeing her face at the bus station was the best thing I have seen in a long time. I have missed that face. I will photograph her tomorrow, racing in her regatta.
So glad I finally made it.
Until tomorrow.
Rainy Layover in Boston
Blue Sky Between
Hello London
Landing as the Sun Rises
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365 Project Day 320: Reflective Perspective
Posted on 16. Nov, 2011 by maryanne.
Separated
Canon 5D Mark ll, 100mm 2.8 macro, 4.0 aperture, 1/160 shutter, 400 ISO
My perspective can be so limited. I can feel alone, like this little leaf, reflecting in its singularity blown here by the storm. But if I change my viewpoint just a bit, open it a little wider, I can see the bigger picture.
The little leaf is overshadowed, watched over, by the mighty oak just over there.
The Bigger Picture
My God is watching over me. Tomorrow I embark on an adventure. I go to England to see my Annie. I have fought fear, held my husband so tight in the middle of the night that he could barely breathe. Tonight I breathe deeply and feel God’s peace. I am grateful for this perspective shift that the Lord so graciously gave me today through these images. He is good and knows just what a timid adventurer needs. I am grateful.
Psalm 139:5 ~”You hem me in behind and before, and you lay your hand upon me.”
Adventure and Beauty Await
