Stories from the Road

There is never a great time to get a flat tire, but in the parking lot of "Camper World" on a beautiful sunny afternoon is perhaps one of the best! We were hitching up getting ready to head to North Carolina and saw this baby- flat as a pancake. I much prefer the edible kind! :) We are rolling it into the service department for a fix-up, and Lord Willing we will be on our way!

Stay tuned for further updates. When we are on the road, there is no telling what we will have a story of!

August Update

Here is the latest info on the Deputation Travels :) 

Out takes and PW Actions

There are always out takes, sadly many of them wouldn't load today... Well sadly for those of you who need a laugh... 

This one made it though. Always keeping it real. And with three boys...16, 15 and 12 years old... I am  glad when this is as bad as it gets! All the pictures from the previous post were SOOC (straight-out-of-camera) but they have so much more life when you can give a little boost and help with some PS4 actions! 

I love The Pioneer Woman... she has great actions for photoshop... here are a few after effects... 

She has "Action Packs" on a few different posts... these are a few from a bunch of different packs.

SOOC Above... and a little boost and enhance below...

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 SOOC above... and a little Old West and Edge burn below...

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 SOOC above (actually slightly different picture... oh well!) Below a little "Boost" and "Enhance" and "Edge Burn".

 I love the "Quick Edge Burn" available in this pack... obviously!

SOOC above, and a whole bunch of the actions in different levels of opacity below. It is so fun to just play!!! Warning:: definitely Q3!!!

 So fun, and Very Cool pictures! Good subject matter is a plus... and a great photographer is always a good thing too!!

End Of Summer Pictures!

It seems it is becoming an annual event... pictures in August by Gabe! She did a great job last year, and this year once again! 

It is always a chore getting them all to smile...

 and what to wear is always a challenge. Jeans and white t-shirts... are always a good choice! 

And then WHeRe!?  Today, the beach seemed like the perfect choice... and we were right! 

I didn't think about bringing the first aid kit for the splinter extraction...

 Thankfully Olivia and Levi are rogue EMT's! 

 Just some chilling at the water's edge... 

 Definitely a favorite shot of them all... 

The "Line Up"!! 

Truly these are some cute kids! I am only slightly biased here  :) 

 Tree pictures are just fun. The texture and color contrast can't be beat. 

Almost like the AT&T signal strength symbol... 

Just the girls.  Olivia is leaving to college tomorrow... So happy and so sad all at the same time. We have had a great summer with the whole family home. 

All in all it was a successful day capturing the children. I won't detail all of the bribery needed to get these. Just think ice cream. Copious amounts spread out over several days. 

We are all SERVANTS...

To SOMETHING! Like it or not! 

Sadly people think that in "Doing what I want to do" they are being free and unbound from any authority in their lives. The truth is, in that state and thinking they are more in bondage and restraint than ever. To sin. The natural state of man is sinful, hopelessly depraved, and unable to do any good thing. Even while we may be "moral" in this world's eye, with respect to eternity our actions are as filthy rags compared to the goodness of GOD. (Is 64:6) Our sin is like the wind, and just blows us around as if we are leaves on the ground. So sad that people in this state think that is freedom. Truly a leaf blowing is not free. It is battered and uncared for. Above all, it is dead. 

Jesus tells us to abide in him (John 15:4) so we will bare fruit that will remain. A Christ follower is to remain connected to him- the true vine- that we will be nourished and fruitful. We are not to worry about our root system, or the amount of rainfall. Equate these things to the provision in our lives that (in error) we look to others to provide for us. Truly if God is our root system, and we are abiding in HIM, we have no fear of lack or want. 

We all will serve something! Before salvation, we served sin and worldliness, and death was our end result. Shame was the clothing we wore, and guilt was our ever present companion. 

But NOW- being made free from sin through the free gift of Salvation by the shed blood of Jesus Christ AND we have access to the SAME POWER of his resurrection, we no longer need to SERVE SIN!!! We have the ability to serve Christ and bare fruit that is good and holy! Righteousness is our garment and Jesus Christ is our companion! This is such a mind blowing thought! Stop long enough to really let that sink into your head!! 

Choose you this day- THIS DAY - whom ye will serve!!  

(Joshua 24:15)

 For when ye were the servants of sin, ye were free from righteousness.

 What fruit had ye then in those things whereof ye are now ashamed? for the end of those things is death.

 But now being made free from sin, and become servants to God, ye have your fruit unto holiness, 

and the end everlasting life.

 For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Romans 3:20-23