Love Thursday

Let me preface by saying it's been unseasonably HOT here for the past week. We went from highs in the 60s to highs in the upper 80s and 90s, which, honestly is fine with me. I like the heat....especially because our AC keeps the house from becoming unbearably hot.

A couple of days ago, the girls (and friends) beat the heat by setting up a "splash pad" in the front yard with a couple of sprinklers. Even Mark took his turn running through after he got home from work. While wearing his work clothes. Which the girls thought was absolutely hilarious!

And, really, what goes better with a hot day than watermelon?! (and lemonade, which the girls already had outside)

See what we found inside?

A 100% nature-made piece of love. (The heart was all God's doing too.)

A Softer Side - Shutter Sisters

There's nothing perfect about this image.  The background is, perhaps, a bit busy.  You can see the flash reflected in the glasses.  Yet, it appeals to me.  Something about the softness (and the fact that it's a pretty good picture of me, when there are a shortage of those) has kept me from absently deleting it.  In fact, just yesterday I was looking through some old photos and considered getting rid of this one, but I just couldn't.   

My 6-year-old shutter bug, Elise, took it. Even though she'd taken others that were actually focused, it was this one I liked.  The softness, the relaxed look on my face, the way my hands are clasped, I can't place my finger on it for certain, but I know this picture will be sticking around.  

Shutter Sisters

Love Thursday

On this Love Thursday, I want to introduce you to the first Christmas tree ornament Mark and I received as a married couple.  It was handmade for us by my good friend, Cindee (who also happens to be married to Mark's best friend...Mark and I met at their house, but that's for another blog entry...or not).  It took us 3 years before we got our first Christmas tree to hang it on.  Every year, I make sure to place it in just the right spot.  Each ornament we have holds a special memory for either Mark or I.  Several are his from boyhood, a few are mine, many are handmade, and some are ours, but this was our very first ornament.    

Happy Love Thursday!

Shutter Sisters - Love Thursday

This pic was taken a few weeks ago after my husband found a four-leaf clover.  I should mention that he happened to find not one, but TWO four-leaf clovers in a matter of a week.  This is my favorite shot of the ones I took.  He also got a few good pics from his angle.  

Love Thursday (Shutter Sisters)

Finding hearts in nature always reminds me of God's love for us.  

I should also say that today (Love Thursday) happens to be our 9th wedding anniversary.  Love you, Mark!  

Love Thursday (Shutter Sisters)

On this, Love Thursday, I remember that 10 years ago today my husband proposed to me.  We were at the Olive Garden, which is where we went on our very first date.  He was so nervous, and I had just taken a mouthful of salad.  Then he asked, and I was sure I hadn't heard him right, so I made him say it again!  I'm giggling now, just thinking about it, but it was perfect.  As of next month, we will have been married for 9 years, and I couldn't be happier, amidst the craziness, of course.  

I took this picture last summer on our motorcycle trip to Door County, WI (my first motorcycle trip).  We had a great time, and we only really got rained on once!  Thank goodness our room at the B&B had a cozy fireplace!  

Cropping Heads

I came across a new blog recently called http://shuttersisters.com/

Here are a couple of pics I've taken using this technique.  This one of Lily and Mark was taken at the conservatory a couple of weeks ago.  It's one of my newer favorites.  I've found that I use this technique quite a lot, although perhaps not to the extent as some of the others I've seen.  I may have to try it more!  

This one of Elise is an older pic.  I took it a few years ago....it was one of the first times her hair was long enough for piggies!  :-)