Tag Archives: summer
365 Project Day 232: Wish We Could Stay
Posted on 20. Aug, 2011 by maryanne.
Peaceful Reflections
Canon 5D Mark ll, 16-35 2.8L, 16 mm focal length, 6.3 aperture, 1/1600 shutter, 100 ISO
How I wish we could stay here, together in this beautiful place, just outside of time’s relentless pace. But we cannot. Daughters will be leaving for distant lands, and jobs need to be done. We need to go. My heart feels the weight of what lies on the horizon. We will pack up belongings and memories in the morning. I know life must move forward.
How I love this crew.
Three by the Sea
And I am glad I share the boat with this amazing man.
Cap'n Morgan
Back on the road tomorrow. Hope is ever present.
Hope Shining Through
Psalm 33:20 ~ “We wait in hope for the LORD; he is our help and our shield.”
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365 Project Day 213: Holding Onto Summer
Posted on 02. Aug, 2011 by maryanne.
Front Porch Music
Canon 5D Mark ll, 24-70 2.8L, 5.6 aperture, 1/125 shutter, 400 ISO
The summer sun is hanging low on the horizon full of orange and reds, casting a warm hue across the pasture. The cicadas are tuning up for their evening chorus. First one, then several others fall into the soft, rhythmic buzzing from the oak in the front yard. Another hot summer day lays down her head. Time seems to slow. Two of my kids sit close on the front porch swing with musical instruments in hand. She with her mandolin, and he with his guitar. I see my husband smile. He is taking it all in. We are rich beyond our wildest dreams. I take a photo with my mind before I ever click the shutter on the camera in my hand. Can I just hold this season, this time, for a while longer? Can I hold onto summer?
She has kissed the skin of my children, leaving freckles on tanned faces, softening the worried lines the school year left behind. I am not ready to let her go. Sweet summer. Can’t we rest in your soft swaying days, your afternoon thunderstorms, your glistening dew, your sticky-ice-cream-kisses, and your front porch music, a bit longer?
Sister Smile
Sitting with Daddy
Sweet Songs
I am holding on as long as I can. Let the music play on.
Psalm 126:1-3 ~ “When the LORD restored the fortunes of Zion, we were like those who dreamed. Our mouths were filled with laughter, our tongues with songs of joy. Then it was said among the nations, ‘The LORD has done great things for them.’ The LORD has done great things for us, and we are filled with joy.”
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365 Project Day 207: Emily Says…
Posted on 27. Jul, 2011 by maryanne.
This is Serious
Canon 5D Mark ll, 100 2.8 macro, 3.5 aperture,1/320 shutter, 160 ISO
I realize I just did a blog on sweet Emily Grace over the weekend, but she came over again today to swim with her family, and she had some things she wanted to share. I told her I would pass them along to you, since she doesn’t have a blog. Yet, that is.
She had some really great things to say!
First of all, Emily says, “Life is short, so enjoy the ride. And, when someone offers you a little yellow-floaty boat, get in it! You never know when the next one is coming around.” (Or if your brother might get it first.)
Enjoy the Ride
Secondly, “Swim naked whenever it is possible and appropriate. This is very important to your well-being. It’s so easy, a baby can do it!”
Swimming Free
Thirdly, “Learn to whistle as early as you can in life. It makes the time pass nicely, and sometimes people will dance when you do.”
Just Whistling
Fourthly, ” Surprise people with funny faces. Life is too serious sometimes. A good surprise face makes everyone happy.”
Surprise Face
Fifthly, ” Learn to stand up for yourself. Especially if you have brothers like I do.”
You Talking to Me???
And lastly, and best of all, ” Learn to just chill and go with the flow. Pretend like you meant to grab the green noodle floaty-thing if someone asks. Yeah, just chillin’, it’s all good.”.
Just Chillin'
I am so glad she came by again today! She is wise beyond her years.:) Who knows what she will come up with next time? I love that little girl.
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365 Project Day 179: No Worries
Posted on 28. Jun, 2011 by maryanne.
Peekaboo Smile
Canon 5D Mark ll, 50 1.2L, 2.2 aperture, 1/1600 shutter, 50 ISO
This face says it all. He is not worried about whether he is doing everything right, or if there will be enough food or clothes for him. He is full of joy. He is here, and happy. He is two.
Got this lesson served up fresh for me today as I walked over to our pool. There they were, two two-year-old boys, (under the care of a watchful mommy), living the good life; splashing, laughing and playing until they were too tired to keep their eyes open another moment. My day had been heavy, as I once again concerned myself with things that should have been God’s alone to carry. This will happen every day if I do not reign it in. Today, I was grateful for the joy and freedom that little Carson and Tripp demonstrated for me. Sometimes the best lessons are learned from children. Life is sweet. Put it in your sippy cup and soak it down. 
Matthew 6:25-27 & 33,34 ~ “Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothes? Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? Can any one of you by worrying add a single hour to your life?… But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.”
Just Do It
Sweet Smile
Happy Boy
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365 Project Day 174: Washed in Color
Posted on 24. Jun, 2011 by maryanne.
Love in Color
Canon 5D Mark ll, 16-35 2.8 L, 4.5 aperture, focal length 16 mm, 1/50 shutter, 400 ISO
This is what it feels like, to be loved. The colors so bright and permeating that everything, all, is glowing in the blaze. I am soaked through, the colors running down, saturating and staining my inmost being. God is telling me He loves me. Again. He is telling us. My heart stretches wide to gather it, like manna falling from the sky. I taste, and I am filled. The skies sing of His glory, and I echo a love song of my own. I cannot help but answer back. ” I adore you!” It nearly jumps out of my lips, my thumping heart. I was made for this love affair. To bathe and breathe in it, until I am wrinkled deep from the drenching.
As I glean the last bit of beauty, my heart and pockets stuffed with heavenly kisses, I exhale gratitude and settle in to rest. Before I fall asleep, I wonder with a smile on my lips. “How will He tell me tomorrow?” Yes, how. How!
Jeremiah 31:3 ~ “I have loved you with an everlasting love; I have drawn you with unfailing kindness.”
Love Story
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Project 365 Day 170: Summer Breeze
Posted on 19. Jun, 2011 by maryanne.
Breezy and Beautiful
IPhone Photo.:)
I took this photo of Annie Sunshine on my way to church this morning. She had the window down and I glanced over at her. She was the picture of summertime. Smiling, her hair blowing in the summer breeze, while the light poured in. I couldn’t resist. So today I used my Iphone for my project. I didn’t really have any rules for my project as far as which camera I could use, so I gave myself permission to use it. It is the perfect Sunday summer photo.
I hope everyone had a wonderful Father’s day. I am going to head down to spend the rest of the evening with the daddy/husband in our home. With it being Sunday, he worked all day serving at church. Time to catch up and rest.
Blessings and Rest to you.
I Cornithians 1:3 ~ “Grace and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.”
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365 Project Day 163: At the End of the Day
Posted on 12. Jun, 2011 by maryanne.
Day's End Glory
Canon 5D Mark ll, 50 mm 1.2L, 10.0 aperture, 1/60 shutter, 200 ISO
My husband is known for this phrase around our house. ” But at the end of the day…”. We all love him for it. He is really trying to bring everything into focus. And he often does. It’s all about perspective, really. Sometimes perspective is everything, and a lot of the time I cannot trust my own.
Tonight, as I walked out onto my porch, I saw the last of the sun’s rays stretching across my sister’s pasture. They were beaming in like a beacon, orange and focused on the tips of the fescue. I began to walk in that direction, hoping to see a beautiful sunset. I could not see the skyline from my house, only the warm haze over the earth. Soon I was at a slow jog, not really dressed properly to meet someone on the street. My shoes, only meant for the garden, sported ventilation for both my big toes. I wore my exercise capris, (not so appealing) and a tank. I only cared a little about these things as my eyes strained to see the last of the sun for the day. Alas, she was gone, but she had begun her goodnight aria from behind a clasp of clouds. I was enthralled, and began to sprint, my camera slinging back and forth across my back, to get to a place where there were no houses blocking the view. I got this one shot before she sang her last few notes. I let out a sigh, as my dogs circled round wondering what we were chasing. “Just the sun”, I answered them. “Just the sun.”.
I began to walk and pray, under the now pink and orange glow the sun had left behind. This project was heavy on my mind and heart. ”I do not want this project to feel like a chain around my neck,” I told the Father. I felt His answer before I began my next statement/question. “It isn’t the project,” I felt Him say. “There is something in you that is binding you. The project only shines the light on it. I want to set you free from it.” Of course these were not audible words, but I do feel like He was saying these things to me. I don’t really know what that “something” is exactly. Maybe it is the need to perform well to feel loved. Maybe it is about how hard I am on myself. Maybe it is those things and more. I do know this. Whatever it is, I want Him to set me free and make me completely whole, and I believe He will. It is easy to blame the hard things in my life when I don’t like how I am feeling. I often look to my circumstances to find the source of my grief. The truth is, the pain is usually originating from some place inside. That’s a hard pill to swallow, but I have a better chance at growing and finding freedom if I will choose to do so.
When I turned to walk home, I saw the moon rising. Stunning, beautiful moon. Just when something wonderful was ending, something completely amazing was beginning.
I can see that now. At the end of the day.
Psalm 19:7,8 ~ “The law of the LORD is perfect, refreshing the soul. The statutes of the LORD are trustworthy, making wise the simple. The precepts of the LORD are right, giving joy to the heart. The commands of the LORD are radiant, giving light to the eyes.”
Moon Rising
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365 Project Day 160: Swooning
Posted on 10. Jun, 2011 by maryanne.
Peony Love Affair
Canon 5D Mark ll, 100 2.8 macro, 3.5 aperture, 1/100 shutter, 100 ISO
I have a long-standing love affair with Peonies. They were always my Grandmother Susie’s favorite flower. She adored them. Now, they are mine too. And yet, until today, I have never had Peony blossoms in my home. They always seem to be just out of season at the florists, and I do not own a Peony bush. (This shall be remedied very soon.) However, I see them in magazines, at weddings, and in classy floral arrangements everywhere. So today, I felt a little giddy getting about some to arrange for my own table. Okay, very giddy. My friend Denise Myers, who owns and operates TruSo Weddings, procured these pink lovelies for me, and let me borrow the milk glass I arranged them in as well.
I gave them a pep talk on the ride home, worried the heat would change their cheerful disposition. I discovered something new and wonderful about them once I held their sweet crowns in my hands. They are divinely fragrant. I inhaled their scent deeply, letting the soft petals enfold my nose. “Hmmmm….” I exhaled in satisfaction. “Peonies.” They seemed shy, almost coy, as they tilted their heads gently to the side, and downward. I tried to coax them out of their humility with cool water and gentle handling of their blooms. They seemed grateful, and began to open softly. They were indeed more exquisite than I remembered, their petals resembling translucent paper, each one uniquely shaped, crinkling and curling at the ends. Delightful. When I placed them in the sunshine, the light poured right through them, as if they were meant to be together, the Peonies and the sunshine. I swooned.
Yes, all of this over my very own Peonies. May you find something that delights your senses and your heart today too.
I love these so much I would love to give away an 8×12 print of one them. Leave me a comment telling me about something that makes your heart swoon and I will pick a winner at random this weekend.:)
Psalm 16:11 ~” You make known to me the path of life; you will fill me with joy in your presence, with eternal pleasures at your right hand.”
Peonies in Milk Glass
Cheerful Palette
Kissing the Sunlight
Exquisite
Basket of Joy
Classic in Black and White
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365 Project Day 158: Summer Sweetness
Posted on 08. Jun, 2011 by maryanne.
Summer Gems
Canon 5D Mark ll, 100mm 2.8 macro, 2.8 aperture, 1/60 shutter, 250 ISO
Picking blackberries will forever remind me of my childhood, long before boyfriends or driving cars occupied my days. My best friend Jodi and I, brown-skinned and freckled from each sun-kissed day of summer, would walk down the soft dirt path to the place the berries grew. We were searching for treasure. We didn’t seem to mind the heat, the long walk both ways, or the deer flies and chiggers that plagued us along the way. Armed only with plastic bags and excitement, we ventured out on our quest.
The berries themselves seemed to hold all the sweetness of summer within them. Was it the sweet smell of the ones that had already ripened and fallen, the brilliant purple juice that stained our fingers and mouths, or the delicious bursting clusters we feasted on while we gathered? I just remember I could have stayed there forever, seeking the vibrant fruit on laden prickly canes, while chatting and laughing with my friend. I long for that kind of simple joy again.
Today, as I gathered berries around my farm today, I thought about those days. Some things have changed since the innocence of my youth. I now arm myself with long pants and a long shirt and plenty of bug spray. I have become quite the wimp about chiggers and ticks. The deer flies still circled my head, frustrated by my shield of repellent. I knew they would meet me there and came prepared. Still, as I gathered the berries, and I felt the sun soaking into my adult skin, I found joy and contentment. It was as if I were ten years old again. The berries have not changed. The brilliant not-yet-ready ones still beam like rubies amidst their ripened companions. The best ones still hide underneath all the thorns, and fall gently into my palms with little effort. They still taste like sunshine and friendship to me. All I was lacking was a best friend alongside me, chatting and giggling as we worked. Then we could have pulled out each other’s thorns and gone for a swim. Another time.:)
Here are a few more from my adventure today.
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.”
Ruby Clusters
Almost Ready
Sweetness of Summer
Harvested Treasure
For You
Blackberry Bokeh
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365 Project Day 154: Summer Joy
Posted on 04. Jun, 2011 by maryanne.
Summer's Center
Canon 5D Mark ll, 50 1.2L, 2.5 aperture, 1/80 shutter, 100 ISO
One of my favorite sights of summer is the fountain at the mall, especially at magic hour. If I am feeling down, all I have to do is sit out there and watch the children delight themselves endlessly in the streaming water. They never seem to tire of it. Some sit on the sidelines eating cones of ice cream, as the sweet milky mixture spills down heated pink cheeks. Sometimes it makes my heart ache to have those years back again. Sometimes it is enough to just watch and take it all in. I see other stray parents linger as well, even though their kids are not in the fountain. We all just have to watch the joy. The sweet summer exuberance.
Tonight I was so glad to see a family I knew there. Our friends Charlie and Stephanie Wetzel were sitting on the bench opposite us watching one of their daughters, Abby, who was playing in the fountain. I asked them if I could photograph her. Thankfully they agreed. According to Stephanie, Abby had been waiting to come and do this “her whole life”. I could tell she was quoting Abby. It sounded like something an eight year old girl would say. I smiled and turned toward Abby who was dancing in and out of the streams with abandon. It did look like she had waited all of her eight long years to get here. I laughed and tried to capture the blur that is Abby. A blur of little girl glee and excitement. So much fun. If not for the expensive gear over my shoulder, I would have joined in her contagious choreography. So glad I got to see her today, and share her joy with you as well.
p.s. Stephanie writes a wonderful blog. You can find it by clicking here.
Summer is finally here. Enjoy.~
Psalm 16:11 ~ “You make known to me the path of life; you will fill me with joy in your presence, with eternal pleasures at your right hand.”
Joyful Dance
Finally Here
Blur of Color and Joy
Freeze this Moment
