Videos from Thanksgiving!

Twyla saying hi to Papa! Twyla trying to roll over! Twyla trying to roll over again! Twyla laying on floor! Twyla and her Daddy! Twyla sitting up! Me making the Thanksgiving surprise cookies! Josh and Nathan saying hi to Papa! I have lunatic videos... but I'm gonna put the story up along with it! So stay tuned to hear about it and enjoy a good belly laugh!

Confessions

Hi!

Now before I get off to telling you all about how I a€™m doing and what I ha€™ve been doing, I feel I have another job to do.

For the past idk how long, well, ever since I ha€™ve gotten this blog, over a year ago... this has been all about my life. And "devoted" to myself. :D And that'€™s not the meaning I planned to have come across. I realize that although yes I have friends, and I am aware of them and their lives and attentive to that, I'€™m oblivious to the world around me and need to see what is happening in the rest of the world. No, I don'€™t mean that I should watch the news more and see all that'€™s occurring, or watch a political debate to keep up with all that "€œjunk."€ But more take notice of those fighting for our freedom (now whether or not it's necessary I don'€™t mean to go into) and how they risk there lives every moment to defend us. And for those who are less off and those who aren'™t. The people who these holidays are going through trials (finically, physically, spiritually, and mentally) of loosing loved ones, fighting for their lives, and those who don'€™t have homes/the homeless, are less fortunate, and alone. Lately with adding music to my blog, I'€™ve been hearing songs over and over again, as they play continually throughout the day. And two that have really hit me (don'€™t worry the bruise isn'€™t too awful) are Letters From War (by Mark Schultz), which caused me to think of those over seas braving it and missing the holiday season with their families and being so far abroad. And the other is: Will You Love Jesus More (sung by Phillips, Craig, & Dean). Here are a few of the lyrics posted below:

 

"I felt quite sure if I did my best, I could maybe impress you, with tender words in harmony, a clever rhyme or two, but if all I've done in the time we've shared, is turn your eyes on me. Then I've failed at what I've been called to do. There's someone else I want you to see."

 

(And here is the chorus)

 

"Will you love Jesus more, when we go our different ways. When this moment is a memory, will you remember His face, will you look back and realize that you sensed His love more than you did before? I'd pray for nothing less, than for you to love Jesus more."

 

Ok, so do you get what I'€™m trying to say? In a way, (not that this was what my obvious/apparent object was) I think I'€™ve drawn this to be about me. My intentions where just to keep you all informed about stuff and keep in contact, and maybe you came to my blog, just for that purpose, to see what I'm up to. But maybe both of us need to refocus. As you know, I'€™m a photographer, but, I know that I have not been giving the credit to the Creator, the one who created all that I capture. It'€™s by His majesty that He made such amazing sunsets and scenery and it was His master creation that designed this intricate camera with the knowledge given to him by his Leader and by His grace that I have the ability to buy and use such a stunning gadget. And then think, here is another tool that He made available: computers, portable hard drive devices, internet, by which I am all able to use to communicate to you with! And share the pictures. But I'€™ve taken the credit and that’s wrong, it is entirely due to God! And if I have drawn attention to myself or "my"€ achievements I pray your forgiveness. My real motivation should have been to bring you closer to our Savior. And from now on I pray that I will be an upliftment (lol, what a word, if it were that is) and only bringing honor and glory to the One who makes ALL things possible. (see Matthew 19*26!)

 

Now... If you would go and leave this computer that you'€™re at to go bring joy and comfort to those around you that you come in contact with each and every moment; do the same!

 

"€œPray for one another!"

 

Have a blessed and God driven day, giving all you'€™ve got (your faith, thoughts, emotions, battles, struggles, ambitions, whatever it may be) to Him! He truly can take you through whatever it may be that you'€™re going through, have or will be. Just keep this in mind at every moment in life. You will forever need it. Surrender it all.

 

"€œI Surrender All!"

 

God'€™s blessings to you and yours this holiday season! Happy Thanksgiving!

~cj~

 

P.S. And if I do mention my daily going-ons, let it be blessings that I share to uplift and brighten your spirits! (And hopefully voice notes to come soon, Lord willing)

 

"€œGo out and spread the LIGHT!"

Friends Coming & Leaving

hi aww... where do i start? this weighs heavy on my heart. one of my best friends is moving away. i mean she doesn't live around here, but she's moving farther away that she does already. i don't know why i'm taking it quite this hard, but i am. anyway. maybe it's because for the past 3 years almost i haven't had any friends and those i do i cherish and hold deeply. but when they move it just... idk... i can't describe it. just look on the bright side. my best friend is moving closer! anyway. please all of you who read this try and call me! thanks love, butterfly

Rio Grande, Church Nearing Completion, Friends Coming, Nana Arriving, and best for last, THANKSGIVING!!!

In other words, this would be the Introduction to the Crazy Holiday Season!

Welcome to my life!

This past weekend we went up to Taos to visit Grandma! We hadn’t seen her since March and it was so wonderful to see her!

On Sabbath, after church, we drove up to the ski valley! And oh, my word, the colors of the deciduous trees changing colors and the leaves fluttering about in the air on their way to the already-covered ground are so spectacular! It was GORGEOUS! And surprisingly there was snow on the mountains! In fact, I wouldn’t resist it! I went up and grabbed a handful with my bare hands, forming a snowball, and threw it at my dad! Unfortunately it kind of dissipated when it flew through the air towards him. The brook was so beautiful with the crystal clear water flowing over rocks with it bending here and there and the amazingly colored trees on the bank accenting it! Splendid! God’s creations continue to startle, astound, and astonish me, with my mouth handing open in utter awe! Our Creator truly is awesome!

And all along the Rio Grande as well! The golden leaves glistening in the autumn sun! Or rather the trees were displaying honor and glory to the Son with such vibrant, breath-taking colors!

And we went out to eat at Orlando’s Mexican Restaurant! Oh Aw! It was so good and the perfect ending to an already perfect day!

Now looking back, I deeply regret not taking the time to capture with my camera the essence of the majestic mountains, winding streams, striking trees, and wonder of it all! I could just kick myself (but don’t worry I won’t hurt myself… too much). How could I not take the time to admire the beauty of it all and forever savor and retain the moment with the quick click of a button! I mean, I could have shared the magnificence with you, sold it! Aww, oh well! I promise I’ll take the extra effort and time next time! For your sake and mine!

Man, this week has sure flown by! You would think we were traveling at the speed of light! But I’ll still be glad tomorrow when the school week is over! I will just rejoice and jump for joy!

This Sunday we have a Home on the Range party with the church, where we’ll have a hayride, games, good food, people to socialize with, and just an good ‘ol fun time!

And I need to make like at least 6 dozen cookies to sell sometime next week! I guess people at my dad’s work are demanding them!

On Wednesday we have friends coming to visit and spend the night with us as they pass though. So that’ll be fun! We really don’t know them all that well, so we’ll get to be better acquainted and know them more!

Nana comes in the following Monday and Wednesday we all head up to CO for Thanksgiving! OMJB! Anxiety just kicked into high gear! I just can’t wait! I can’t, I can’t! This patience of waiting is going to be too much for me! The time of a life! That’s what it’ll be! More on that in days to come!

Oh my! And here comes the most exciting part! My best friend is moving back, near-here! She moved away 2 years ago and is moving back now (unfortunately it's due to her dad's life- threatening health conditions)! Realization just kind of hit me the other day that I'd see her in like 2 weeks! I absolutely can't wait! It's going to be so awesome to see her and her family! It's been over a year since I last saw them! Can I contain my excitement!? I think not, so I'll just let it burst forth with exuberance! OMJB! With her living only 6 hours away, I just can't wait!

I just found out, seconds ago, that another one of my best friends is moving to NC! That means she'll be farther away (this is a different friend that listed above), but that's ok! I'll still get to talk to her a lot!

And of course, I’m still selling photos online! Well rather, I still have pictures for sale, but I haven’t sold any as of recently. I am still submitting more and more to sell though. In fact I had 8/16 accepted a couple weeks ago and 14/16 accepted just this past week! And right now I have 40 under review (in 4 groups of 10). *fingers crossed* I really hope that more that 50% are accepted! But we’ll see!

I haven’t been taking that many pictures lately, but will surely try to as often as “allowed.”

Hope you all’ve been doing as well as me! Yeah, fantastic, I sure hope so!

It’d sure be nice to hear from each of ya some time or another (especially those that it’s been a couple/few weeks since contact).

My prayer today is that through reading this, that today I brightened your life! If not, then have a good rest of the day anyway!

And on that note I’ve got to skedaddle…! The bread needs to be kneaded and taken care of!

God bless,

Gladly bringing joy to your life, Butterfly

Hey, why not! Smile! I love you all!