View from the Prairie Box

Canine photographer, I am not. Yes, I can certainly capture the cuteness of a pooch and I have lots of fun snapping pics of families with their beloved dogs. But it’s safe to say I’m not going to set up a pet photography studio anytime soon as I’m more passionate about people than pets right now.

The reason I’m showing an image of this pet above is because that’s pretty much all I can show from a photo shoot a few weeks ago. On a surprisingly mild day in August, my friends met me on another friend’s acreage for a family portrait session. It was beautiful. The kids were hilarious and super cute, and even as I edited the session, I found myself laughing out loud at their antics.

But you will not see these shots published online because the children are currently wards of the state. And, as you can imagine, their privacy is an utter necessity.

Spending time with foster families and taking family photos is a huge pleasure for me. I hope I get more and more jobs capturing the love of foster families across Nebraska. The only drawback is that I can’t share the shots here with you!

I’m putting this info on my blog for my own family as well. It’s no secret that we’re certified foster parents awaiting the placement of a child. When the day comes that our household grows a bit, I won’t be able to put his/her face on the blog. And that’s okay. Maybe Shiloh will end up getting more moments in the spotlight.

Also known as the Horn Creekers or the Horn Creek Reunion Tour 2012.

For those who don’t know what I’m talking about, our group met and became friends at a PCA camp in Horn Creek, Colorado, almost 20 years ago. Ten years ago we began our girls’ weekends in Minnesota—and all of us agree it’s one of the best decisions we’ve made.

From left to right: Autumn, me, Bryonie, Charity, Haley.

Lately I’ve been extra anxious about Livia at school. So when you ask me how the new school is going, you might get a blank stare before I cobble together something like, “Oh, it’s good. I’m just trying to figure things out.” I’ve been more shaken by the newness of it all than I’d like to admit. There have been lots of conversations with Jeremy and friends about what Livia needs, how to get it, and why I’m such a mess as I stumble through the process.

I value stability. I value intimately knowing a particular place and understanding how my family fits into it. Once nicely settled, I’m as spontaneous as the next person, but until that point, I’m apparently a bit of a mess. School, and the challenges Livia in particular faces at school, is a battle ground. Sure, the educators and I are on the same side, but it takes awhile to figure it all out.

Enter the Moms in Touch prayer group. Now called, simply, Moms in Prayer.

Yesterday I met with a new set of moms (for this new school we’re now in) and we remembered that our God is FAITHFUL. He is constant, loyal, reliable, steadfast, unwavering, devoted, true and dependable.

Amen. I could end there, with that reminder that my shaky ground isn’t really all that shaky. No, in fact it’s rock solid because Christ is my sure, steady and always-faithful foundation. However, I was struck most by the time of intercessory prayer. Each mom prayed for the woman to her left by reciting the following verses with her child or children’s names in the blank spots. I usually get teary during this part as I have such worry in my own heart that I’m overwhelmed with how much God loves my child. I’m also overwhelmed that someone else would pray so intimately for my child.

We have lots of needs in this house. We have a lot to pray for. But as my husband so gently reminds me, the biggest need our child has is for a loving Savior. And she’s got that, because He has got her. Thank you, God, for caring for my daughter far better than I even know or understand. Thank you for the blessing she is to me.

We all need to be reminded that God is big enough to care for all our needs. Feel free to insert your child’s name—or your own—in the blanks below:

Lord, show _______ that your ways are perfect and your word is flawless. Be _______’s shield as s/he takes refuge in you (2 Samuel 22:31). Let _______’s heart be good soil, that _______ might hear your word, retain it, and persevere to produce a crop of godly character and effectiveness for your kingdom. Don’t let the worries, riches or pleasures of this life choke your word and make it unfruitful in _______’s life. Let his/her roots go down deep, so s/he can stand firm in times of testing (Luke 8:11-15). Do not let _______ merely listen to the word and so be deceived. Let _______ do what it says (James 1:22). Let the word of Christ dwell in _______ richly as _______ and his/her peers teach and admonish one another with gratitude in his/her heart toward God (Colossians 3:16). Make your word a lamp to _______’s feet and a light for _______’s path (Psalm 119:105).

When did normal life get to be a race? I wasn’t aware it was until last weekend when I finally put my feet up and, hallelujah, read a book. There was all this pushing and pulling and running in my life. Hurry to get Liv to school. Attempt to be super productive at home. Conquer the laundry pile, conquer the dishes, conquer the recycling. Rush through my photography work, making sure all my ducks are in a row. Hurry to enjoy my last few relaxing minutes before Livia gets home. And then let her relax, too, but only for a few minutes before getting homework done (my favorite moments of the day as I’ve already related). Time for dinner! And bed! And hello, let’s start again.

When did life take on this pace?

Perhaps that’s the best part about leaving town for my annual girls’ weekend at a lovely lake house in Minnesota: the break from running life’s race. The chance to see that life actually isn’t a race at all and that I’ve turned into into a frenetic, pressure-filled run for no reason. My moments of removal from the daily grind allow me to reflect, to reorder, to find joy again in my calling.

A respite by the lake.

Filled with food and drinks and books and conversation with some of the oldest and dearest friends I can imagine.

I am grateful.

I have homework every afternoon now. Scratch that. Livia has homework, I am the Homework Helper.

The Homework Helper reminds, points, encourages, redirects, corrects and sometimes throws a pencil across the room.

Deep sigh.

I am being sanctified by daily homework. God has given me Livia and he has given her homework, and in doing this he has given me an opportunity to serve him. He is gradually building a Homework Helper who does not throw a pencil across the room but one who tries to take deep breaths, sometimes takes self-imposed time outs (while the actual student takes one, too) and learns to be patient. Make that extra patient. Screw extra patience, this patience he is teaching me is supernatural—I am not capable of it on my own.

As great as I am at second grade homework, I fail at gentle motherhood on a regular basis. My desire to be The Most Awesome Mother Ever isn’t enough here. It doesn’t get me through the frustrations of parenting a child and it certainly doesn’t win me brownie points in heaven. I cannot do this job. But God? He handpicked me for this exact role and he’s working in me to make me a great mom for a great kid.

He gently leads those who have young, he carries them close to his heart.

What a relief.

Sorting through some images this morning, I stopped on this fabulous photo of our little friend Kiah.

I paused for a minute, looked closely at the surrounding images and quickly realized I didn’t shoot it. Livia did. Using my backup camera, she walked through the Pioneers Park Nature Center capturing images that were interesting to her. Sweet and fun four-year-old Kiah qualified. This is a proud photographer-mama moment for me, peeps.

While Liv was clearly showing genius levels** of photography skills, I was doing my own thing. She captured me at work as well.

**If you know me well, you know that I’m bragging on my kid in good fun. We’re faced with lots of behavioral challenges lately and it’s a joy for me to see Livia do something well. This one pic turned out well. The others, not so much. ;)

And she’s off to a year of new things! New school, new teacher, new friends. New backpack.

Same little heart that we pray is ready to learn this morning. Same awesome sidewalk drawings by the Moreheads who now drive across town to cheer Livia on.

Go, Liv, go! Second grade is going to be a great year!

Friday night at Holmes Lake — Lincoln, Nebraska