when you're weary

feeling small

when tears are in your eyes

i will dry them all

i'm on your side

when times get rough

and friends just can't be found

like a bridge over troubled water

i will lay me down

simon & garfunkel

funny how a memory can creep into your mind. sparked by a photo, a scent, a taste, a song.

i can just hear and see my Daddy, playing his guitar and singing this song. so long ago. but so recent in my memory. as that is all i have now. thank God for memories. thank God for being our bridge over troubled waters.

shay

Scavenger Hunt Sunday

time to link up with Ashley again for SHS.

i have to be honest here..i posted this week's prompts on my cell memo pad as usual, and as i was looking through my archives for a photo for another post, this week's prompts started jumping out at me. i have shot and shot and shot over the last few weeks and have so many photos waiting to post. so i only have one prompt that i specifically took this week, handwritten.

'Ashley...how long does a photo technically sit waiting to post before it is considered archived?' LOL

1)crossed

this is the old bridge crossing from Wrightsville to Columbia. they have built a new one but i'd much rather cross the old.

i LOVE the coloring in this!

2)glimpse

another photo at the 'bridge' shoot. this is my youngest son.

i LOVE how i caught him in deep thought.

3)handwritten

cherished family Bibles.

the most important of handwritten words so long ago.

inside the largest Bible.

record of our births'.

4)bliss

as i mentioned in my last SHS post, i am striving to capture beauty in the winter scene. after the flowers faded this summer and leaves fell this fall, i was a little sad for outdoor shoots. but i made myself look and the beauty appeared. i am finding such BLISS in this winter scene. and BLISS in forcing myself to get off 'auto' and shoot more 'manual'. i LOVE the muted, colorful backgrounds i am getting!

5)gray

i LOVE all shades of gray! so when i captured old, rusty and GRAY in one shot i was over the top!

thanks for stopping by!

as always i would LOVE to hear from you!

blessings!

shay

content with silence

"when words become unclear, i shall focus with photographs. when images become inadequate, i shall be content with silence."

Ansel Adams

HaPPy BirTHdaY!

HaPPy 15th BirTHdaY

wow! 15?

i remember anxiously waiting for you to come. i remember being scared when you weren't breathing at birth. then finally hearing that glorious cry. and you haven't stopped filling my heart since.

i remember a summer day when your weren't even a year old. we were on the porch and you were in a bouncer seat. Cole was running and dancing around you. laughter poured out of you. the sun lit your face so brightly. your big blue eyes gleamed like sun sparkling on the water. rays of light filtered through your blond hair. and i thought to myself, God has surely sent me an angel to light up my life.

you have been lighting me up since.

your smile.

your laughter.

your easy going, hilarious nature.

i am SO proud of how hard you have worked in the last few years to better yourself. we had a rough go of it for awhile.

but you are shining again.

so brightly!

bug..yes, you will always be my bug, 

you have the potential to change lives.

keep striving to be your best.

work hard.

shine bright.

love you to the moon and back and more than all the stars in the sky!

mama

dear my Nana,

mommy says you can't wait to meet me and she's been trying to take my pictures. i told her i am too busy to pose in a basket or a teacup. and besides i am a boy Nana.

she tries very hard to get nice pictures for you.

but i have some ants in my pants and can barely sit still.

unless it's night time of course, cuz that's when i get sleepy and snuggly.

so here are a few for you to see.

i am almost 5 months old Nana.

and that's a very big boy.

you know mommy is very picky about taking pictures.

she tries so hard with me Nana.

but i gots more important things to do.

mommy has already given me the Nana rules.

i can't chew your fingers cuz they are old and always cold.

no biting Nana's ankles.

i really can't chew Nana's shoes.

i can only be a snuggly puppy for Nana.

so hope you come soon.

cuz i'm growin very fast!

xoxoxox love xoxoxox

dudley

p.s. i am very sorry Nana, but i killed the purple kitty you sent me in the mail!

are they FAREAL????

this post is not to share an amazing photograph or to exhibit something cool i have discovered in photo shop. it certainly isn't to share a quote that will move you to tears.

it is

a post, however, to share something i have discovered.

that is very disturbing.

down right shameful in my opinion!

yes my friends take a good, long, hard look here!

i wait ALL year for these cookies. i hide them in the freezer. i can eat a sleeve at a time depending on 2 things..1) i am visiting with Molly Grubb or 2) i have to eat them fast to keep them away from the 'things' i live with.

are you noticing anything odd here??

HELLO...

same price, BUT, the sleeve is significantly shorter than normal. missing a good 1/2 dozen cookies per sleeve!

what the HECK?

are they FAREAL?

we are talking 'girl scouts' here!

they portray cuteness, innocence in their little green uniforms!

WELL folks...

they have succumb to this world and the US economy!

thin mints are disappearing out of the sleeve just like ruffles have disappeared out of the chip bag!

i don't wanna hear the excuse..

'we are just looking out for your BUTT size mrs. Hobbs', you do tend to eat a whole sleeve at a time!'

NO! My BUTT IS OF NO CONCERN!!!

but my FRAME OF MIND certainly is!

thin mints are like Prozac people!!!!

i am officially on 'thin mint strike' until they give us our cookies back!!!

totally irritated..

now i have to eat a whole box to self medicate with thin mints!

shay

2 are better than 1

sometimes i need time alone. to gather myself, my thoughts. to be still.

but God also created us to need, to depend on each other.

thank you Wendy. i am SO blessed to have you as my friend. my partner in photography!

blessings!

shay

this is my first time linking up with this challenge and i am SO excited to join! here's my take on B&W texture. i love B&W and texture! so this challenge caught my eye right away.

i was at the local central market on a Saturday, mostly out shooting with my son and photo bud. we went down this little alley by the market to check out a bakery. lo & behold the walls in the alley were brick and full of peeling paint. YEAH! but as i kept on towards the bakery i saw that someone had painted murals along the walls. double YEAH!

this is one of my photos. although i loved the aged natural colors of the painted murals, i also loved it in B&W.

looking forward to meeting all of you and would LOVE to hear from you!

have a blessed week!

shay

Love Letter to Kitty Paw

shs

    1)love
heart shaped pancakes for valentine's dinner!

2)duplicated

yup..we LOVE breakfast for dinner at our house!

3)trend-sooc

my photo trend lately is trying to find beauty in the winter scene. i am in LOVE with finding and capturing these forgotten flowers!

4)paper

old vintage books from an antique store shoot.

5)plastic

mom always finds me the coolest kitchen stuff!

love this pouring bowl, especially full of pancake batter!

click on over to Ashley's blog and check out this weeks prompts!

i'd love to hear from you this week!

blessings!

shay

Somewhere In The Middle

do you ever feel like you are just barely hanging on?

i do.

 i loved how the lighting in this photo i shot today was split down the middle, dark on the left, light on the right.

this photo brought lyrics to mind by a group called Casting Crowns.

'somewhere in the middle you'll find me. just how close can i get Lord, to my surrender, without losing all control?'

do you ever feel caught in the middle?

like your barely hanging on?

blessings!

shay

rainy day. cold. i managed to throw together my Sunday post for shs, although not overly thrilled with it. managed to do the dishes and wipe down kitchen. managed to start laundry. take a shower. edit the above photo.

but,

that's all i feel like managing today. my knitting is not begging me to pick up the needles and enjoy the relaxing click. the outdoors are not waiting for me to shoot, thanks to mother nature. all Dudley wants to do is snuggle and sleep. i have no book begging me to read it. mostly, i wish for and need days like this. but today, i am having trouble trying to just

be still.

i feel like i am restless inside..

maybe i just don't want to 'manage' anymore. maybe i want to have the gusto and confidence and ability to get out there.

i truly believe that God doesn't put a song in your heart, a passion in your soul, doesn't create you with talent and creative eyes..if he doesn't plan on paving the way for you to use it for His purpose.

i was just talking to W about this last night. posing the question about our passion for photography and capturing God's beautiful creation through our lenses and the ability to turn those images into art.

the question was..

if we share this passion, this art, these photographs of His beauty..

is that not a form of witnessing?

utilizing what others may not see.

patience is not something i practice well. i will freely and openly admit that. my journey has begun. my soul is stirring. i know He has plans for me. a purpose to use me.

so after all that..

here is my prayer..

Lord,

You know my heart.

 You know i am not patient. 

You know i have trouble being still. 

You created me for a purpose. You created me with a vision to see what others pass by. You created me with Your song in my heart. Your pictures and words stirring in my soul, making me restless to share them, to spread to others what i feel.

i know You have this all planned out.

but i am human. it drives me crazy not knowing the when, where, why and how.

help me to let loose of my need to know, my need to control.

help me to be patient.

 to be still.

help me to see that You are already laying the path, stone by stone.

through the people You are placing in my life. 

through the equipment you have blessed me with. 

through seeing random hearts to remind me You are there and You love me. 

show me the little blessings on this path, on my journey.

the stones You are laying down so my feet are steady as i walk and move forward. 

thank you for my past, my present and the future you are blessing me with.

use me for Your purpose!

Your child,

shay

i lift my eyes unto the hills, where does my help come from?

my help comes from the Lord,

the maker of Heaven and Earth.

Psalm 121:1

Casting Crowns

blessings!

shay

Valentine

i am so blessed to have you my valentine

HaPpY ValEnTIneS DAy

shay

What Faith Can Do...

everybody falls sometimes, gotta find the strength to rise, from the ashes and make a new beginning
anyone can feel the ache, you think it's more than you can take, but you're stronger, stronger than you know
don't you give up now, the sun will soon be shining

you gotta face the clouds, to find the silver lining

i've seen dreams that move the mountains, hope that doesn't ever end, even when the sky is falling, i've seen miracles just happen, silent prayers get answered, broken hearts become brand new, that's what faith can do.

kutless

blessings to you!

shay

Scavenger Hunt Sunday

here we are again! the days seem to just fly by. i just wanted to give a big thank you to Ashley for hosting SHS. it keeps my camera out, my eyes open, my lens waiting to capture..even on days when i have the 'molly grubbs'.

'molly' has been at my house off and on this week. so i am keeping this weeks prompts simple.

simple can be good, right?

1)facial feature

i am an 'eye' person, so i knew straight away i would capture the eye of my son. eyes are windows to our souls.

2)shadow

or reflection maybe? this is Wendy's shadow in a rain puddle. i love random hearts!

3)spicy

had a hard time with this. i just don't do spicy. but i had a new photo of fire in my fireplace and an archive photo of a juicy tomato from this past summer..layered together i was thinking..'spicy, fire roasted tomato'. okay, might be stretching this one a bit.

4)gold

was with my photo bud again trying to capture forgotten winter flowers. instant 'gold' on a beautiful sunny day. glad we captured them as it snowed the following day.

5)fabric

love old linens. textured these up a bit and i LOVE the effect!

thanks for stopping by!

as always i would love to hear from you.

blessings to you all this week!

shay

Simply Reflect

I learned...to just release and let go, and not think too much about it. In other words, open up my heart, open up my soul, open up my spirit, and let God use me, as opposed to trying to control it with my head and with my heart. 

~unknown~

was ready for a change to my blog. to reflect the simplicity i am feeling lately. the quiet peace stirring within my heart. my soul.

i feel God moving and making change in my life. i welcome it. i embrace it.

the more i 'be still' and let loose of self control, the more He moves me forward.

are you ready to open yourself up to the possibilities He is placing before you?

shay

Cabin In The Woods

ok. so i tell my husband, my mother, my friends, well anyone who will listen, that i am leaving for 'my cabin in the woods'.

a place where i can retreat and relax. be still. have quiet. read a book a day. stroll through nature and photograph whatever catches my eye. sit by the wood stove and knit as the snow falls peacefully outside the window. sip on hot tea while home made soup simmers on the stove and fresh bread bakes in the oven. the scent bringing back memories of days gone by. reading scripture, reflecting as i rock in a creaky old rocking chair.

one day, i will have this cabin of mine.

i know i have posted about this before.

but my friend W needed this post today.

so here it is my friend. close your eyes and go to my cabin in the woods. let yourself be there if only for a little while.

(this is actually a photograph of the famous Star Barn here in PA. my son showed me some new stuff to click on and play with in photo shop last night. i loved the effect and that i was able to leave the rusty roof untouched.)

ok. it's not a cabin. but hey..this is my getaway, right?

prayers are with you W.

see the small stuff!

shay

Scavenger Hunt Sunday

can't believe it's SHS again with Ashley over at Ramblings & Photos. this week has flown by. where did my time go? a memorable week though. my son turned 18. also had a blast hunting for this weeks prompts with him and wendy again.

so let's get to it!

1)color me green

loved the reflection in this pond. i actually took over 20 photos at this setting. some shots had a window and lantern in the reflection. but i liked this simple reflection. can you see the fish? this is SOOC and looks like it could be art on a canvas hanging in my home.

2)hobby

ok. so i LOVE knitting. sitting in my comfy chair by the fireplace, hearing the click of my needles and feeling the soft yarn (LOVE alpaca) in my hands is SO relaxing to me.

 and i LOVE collecting all things old and with a history. scouring through antique stores and flea markets trying to find that great little find is so much fun!

3)strike a pose

that's me and my photo bud goofing off, trying to be 'minnie pearl' after church last Sunday when we went to breakfast!

ugh! i just posted a photo of me. if you know me well, you know i have ISSUES with that!

4)footwear

tell me..would you be able to drive past a GIANT shoe house everyday and not be able to use it for this prompt?

yes, it's real!

5)shiny

how's a girl who LOVES all things old, rusty and chipped supposed to find something 'shiny'? SO NOT ME! 

i mean i could have photographed my mercury glass, but have posted that before. or used the opposite and posted a rusty shot.

but today when we were out shooting, i was able to get close enough to some geese in this pond. when i uploaded my photos, i realized this might work for 'shiny'. i mean, look at his reflection shine in the water. right? may be stretching this a bit. but i liked the effect. 

hop on over and visit the other shs photographers display their works of art.

as always, i'd love to hear from you!

have a blessed week!

shay