Archives for March 2011

A new lens!

For Christmas Rocketman graced me with a new lens. I am still trying to figure the darn thing out and am having more trouble shooting with it than I’d like. But since I’ve sold my other two lenses that I used before getting this one I’m stuck with trying to figure it out. It’s a Tamron 18-270mm IS Lens and I can’t take a clear shot for the life of me. I tried several today in the yard and others at the boys flag football game but UGH I’m struggling.

Here’s a couple that turned out ok.

That’s Fred…the rather large cat! Anyone remember that post and his weight?

Here’s one of the azaleas blooming in the yard.

It seems if the object is still I can capture it but if it moves a hair I’m toast. Any advice out there?? Tap. Tap. ????

2 Comments

I have a beef….

Well, maybe you can call it a chicken.

I’ve watched commercials and seen products in the grocery stores that advertise their products are made from CAGE FREE chickens. Since beginning to eat healthier years ago I have started watching the subtle differences in the way companies market their products. I WAS a Marketing major back in the day. The days before marriage and kids and dogs and cats……..well, you get the picture.

So last night I am watching a mayonnaise commercial advertising they use CAGE FREE eggs. That may sound good, right? But just exactly what does CAGE FREE mean? They live in a hotel? They are not in a wire cage? Do they get sunlight? Are they kept in a barn with millions of other chickens who are fed genetically engineered corn?

Now FREE RANGE chickens ….. well, they are a different story if they are TRULY free range chickens. The only way to be sure that you know you are getting one of those little guys who get to peck around in the barn yard eating all kinds of bugs and things that actually give us PROTEIN and soak up all kinds of sunshine which give us VITAMIN D is to know the producer of your chicken. We buy locally from a co-op and I just refuse to buy any meat from a grocery store! But those CAGE FREE birds…..sorry guys, that one is not working on this gal!

Give me a “pecking around the barnyard chicken” any day of the week.

Go an watch Food, Inc.

You’ll get the picture!

I found this interesting article on labeling as well.

2 Comments

Posted: March 26, 2011 by Julie |Category: Our Family, Our Lives | Tags: cage free chickens, eathing organically, free range chickens, labeling of chicken

Grace like rain…

Today is one of the days I needed grace like rain.

It was a hard day. In fact, it was a hard week. As I continue to struggle with my struggling learner I question all that is right and normal. I watch my family struggle with the one God has given us to love, teach and raise. I’m searching for answers because I have none. I asked God if I could have this child healed for my birthday. ” Can you do that for me God? I promise I will never ask for another thing.”

Don’t you love the bargaining stage? It’s when I know something needs to shift. Whether it be my focus or my routine or my faith or……

Something must change. These are the days I realize remember the definition of insanity as it was once told to me….”It’s doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results.”

“Lord, am I insane?”

It is during times like these I question myself as the devil begins to throw his darts at me. I think someone else certainly could do a better job of this than me. Anyone. Even the cat.

But I cling to the hope of the next moment, the next day, the next life where there will be no more tears or struggles.

The chocolate? I hide it in the closet so I can eat it alone. Something just for me. One little slice of life that is predictable. I eat and I gain a few ounces. Predictable. I think I like that word right now. It’s a comfortable word.

Trusting Him…

3 Comments

Posted: March 19, 2011 by Julie |Category: Homeschooling | Our Family, Our Lives | Tags:

Facebook

I’m approaching a touchy subject here…Facebook.

My husband and I have been convicted not to use Facebook. It’s a decision many of my friends have not liked but it’s our conviction and a way of protecting our family. I found a great article which I found to be very balanced about Facebook and infidelity. Read it for yourself, but it states that Facebook is just like the phone or the internet. If you go looking for trouble you often find it. Facebook can lend towards infidelity when those who use it are more interested in the past than in the future. It also states that people sin, not Facebook or the computer or the phone. These avenues, I believe, make our desire to stray available at our fingertips. But, like I also stated, I believe where there is a will there is a way. Safeguards are important and necessary as each is led.

I liked the article. We will still choose not to use Facebook as an example to our kids of our choice to go against society and follow God’s prompting in our lives but I feel more balanced now in how I look at one of the social tools of our age.

Most people feel Facebook rocks. What about you?

4 Comments

Posted: March 11, 2011 by Julie |Category: Our Family, Our Lives | Parenting | Tags: conviction, Facebook, family values

Missing in action…

Hello there all of you who have had the time to visit blog land lately.

Yes, I admit it. I’ve been missing in action. We’ve been busy with school and then a trip back home to SC and then school again and…well, life, and…and….you get the idea.

We only have 4 weeks left in our homeschool co-op. Yippee! Then life slows down to a crawl compared to what it looks like now. I wanted to thank everyone who took the time to comment on The Pioneer Woman’s blog here. I have been floored and humbled by the wonderful advice and thoughtful words of encouragement. It’s so wonderful to have a forum for reaching more people than my humble blog reaches. I have OMSH to thank for publishing my comment and taking the time to understand what I was asking and the information I was seeking. For those of you who did not read her blog that day here was my question:

“I have a struggling learner who is 12. He’s in the 6th grade. I’ve done some brain integration therapy with him and read the books. He’s definitely right brain and has auditory blocks we are working through. My daughter who is 6 is exhibiting the same signs of behavior but I’m recognizing them at an early age. My middle two sons are fairly easy going and I feel that because I have to spend so much time on the other two these easy kids get shorted. I need some help, some direction, some other mom that might have a struggling learner and some hope to offer.”

If you can identify with this question in any way click on over to Ree’s blog and read some of the amazing comments.