Through the blizzard we drove home last night from our big Tredway celebration, and through the blizzard we drove home tonight from the Lawton homestead. I can’t recall another Nebraska Christmas quite like this one. The photo above, for those who know Lincoln, was taken on Rosa Parks Parkway this evening. You can see how the winds have swept the lanes clear—and I’m sure snowplows have been through as well. We had to clear some major blockages to get into our neighborhood however, and then the alley was another journey altogether. But I have a cool husband who is handy with a shovel. While the pioneering Tredway women, uh, stayed in the car like the pansies we are, Jeremy braved the wind and snow to clear a path for us. It was worth the effort, I believe, as we spent Christmas Day eating ham and watching the kids play with the Lawtons.
Tonight we sang Happy Birthday to Jesus as we lit and blew out the Advent candles, and it really felt like a celebration. It’s a bit odd in a way, to celebrate the birth of Someone who came to die for our sins. But that’s the reality of this God I know: He came to seek and save sinners. So I praise Him today for the gift of His Son.
For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. – John 3:16
Finally, if you’ve joined the December Photo Project this year, whether for one day or all 25, THANK YOU! We’ve had a wonderful turnout and I feel like I’ve made all sorts of new friends through photos. I’ve been impressed, encouraged and inspired by your stories. Thanks for joining me in the challenge and fun of the DPP!
My husband Jeremy deserves a huge thank-you as well. He does all the heavy-lifting behind the scenes while I just make things look and sound nice. Whether I ask him to move whole sections of the blog or I forget for the umpteemth time how to resize my photos, he is my faithful helper and support. Thank you, Jeremy!
Merry Christmas to all, and to all a good night.
Has posting DPP shots this close to Christmas always been this challenging? Hmm. Amidst wrapping gifts, finishing last-minute shopping, making plans for family/church time, grocery shopping and general anticipation of a supposedly large winter storm, there’s the camera. And it can’t be ignored!
I hope all the other December Photo Project participants are enjoying this beautiful season. It’s been a joy to see it through your eyes!
I didn’t pick up my camera today until the day was pretty well done. And even after I picked it up, I shot from the hip. Well, actually I shot from the knee, from the floor, with my arms stuck into the Christmas tree. For all who ask the question, “Do you have a real tree or an artificial one?” I humbly submit this image.
“Olivia the Christmas Tree,” as named by my daughter, is like a human-looking robot from one of the many sci-fi movies my husband watches. Outside she appears to be an honest-to-goodness tree; on the inside, she’s all nuts and bolts, wires and plastic. Oh, did I mention that she’s cheap, paid for, and doesn’t need water? Yes, this year, she is more than sufficient—she’s charming.
Renae and I spent some time this evening talking cameras. We moved from Program setting to Aperture setting, discussed what happens when you mess with ISO and shutter speed, and took countless odd photos as demonstrations of our knowledge (or as it sometimes turns out, our lack thereof). A simple white balance change made all the difference in the rich yellow light of the dining room—a touch of camera magic, if you will.
Learning about photography together = good.
Sharing pizza for dinner while Brook is in town = good.
Letting the kids play and entertain themselves = good.
Living next door to good friends = BRILLIANT.
The Few, The Proud, The… Eye-Infected.
Uh yeah, that makes no sense. My apologies to the Marines for ripping off a wonderful motto for the sake of my amusement.
My poor husband has a horrible infection in one eye and yet, he agreed to model his geriatric eyeware for me this morning. That’s true love, my friends.
Inspired by Amy’s featured photo of pumpkin pancakes and bacon, I fixed brunch this morning. (I just don’t have it in me to cook a hot breakfast!)
Liv and I did a lot of NOT sleeping from 3:00-5:30am, so we ended up sleeping in and eating breakfast later than normal, thus the brunch. Brown sugar oatmeal pancakes sounded good when we finally roused our tired bodies from bed.
It has been a long week and I find myself losing track of the days. Liv is going through something, don’t know what exactly, but we’ve been struggling with tantrums and other equally exhausting bad behavior. Jeremy and I are hoping we feel more of the Christmas spirit when we’re healthy physically, spiritually and emotionally.
