Spring.


One of the things I love about Spring in Iowa are the blooming trees. There's about two weeks in the Spring where all the trees flower and bloom. It's so beautiful! And one of the things I love about our house is that we can see so many trees from our third floor windows. It makes for a lovely view. See?

Think $100 Million is a big number?

Think again. This may help explain...



HT: Todd Schulz

The 8 Mile Mark & Hubby's Birthday.

On Monday, I hit the 8 mile mark in my training. It felt good to be only 4 miles away from my goal for the Dam to Dam at the end of May. I feel like a runner again!

I had good motivation for Monday's run. We celebrated Jason's birthday over the weekend, and I ate a huge mound of cake. It was worth every calorie.

Happy Birthday, My Love!

The "tolerant" Left.

I'm sure you've been following the story of Carrie Prejean, Miss California 2009. In the Miss USA pageant the other night, she was asked to comment on the subject of gay marriage. The person who asked her, Perez Hilton, is an openly gay man/famous Hollywood gossip blogger who was one of the contest judges. He didn't like her answer when she said in part, "I believe marriage should be between a man and a woman. No offense to anybody out there, but that's just the way I was raised."

After her answer, the crowd is heard giving a divided response. Some people clap and some people boo. But the real firestorm happened AFTER the pageant when Perez Hilton blasted in a video on his blog calling her a "dumb b*tch". He later apologized but when Carrie came out publicly to say she had "no regrets" about her answer (because she is a Christian and was quoted as saying she answered the question based on her beliefs), Perez launched into another video tirade on MSNBC using even harsher language than before to rail on Carrie and others who oppose gay marriage. The pageant directors even came out swinging saying they were "saddened" that Carrie is so "out of touch" with people her age on the issues. My thought? Good for her for being "out of touch"! It probably means she hasn't lost herself in a world that pressures her to give up her traditional views. And, hey, even our Left-leaning president has traditional views on the definition of marriage.

Here's my frustration with the Liberal Left agenda (represented by Hollywood and the media): They paint themselves as the most tolerant of all - accepting all people and welcoming them into the loving embrace of togetherness that they see as American and good. But what they really mean is "We are tolerant as long as you agree with us." Disagree with them or even worse, *gasp* hold any conservative viewpoint that includes a moral compass and view of God, and you are vile human being who deserves to be hated, publicly humiliated, cursed, bullied and blacklisted. I could be wrong, but how is that tolerance?

Stick it to 'em.

I hope you have been following the Kelley's blog and are excited to celebrate their exit from the hospital and return to vacation! They were at Sea World yesterday and get to extend their vacation stay one more day..."just to stick it to leukemia". Yay for the Kelley's! Thanks for praying for them. I hope you'll follow their blog more often and pray for them on their life journey.

Praying for Sea World.

Yeah, I know it may sound strange, but little Joshua Kelley is on his Make-A-Wish trip to Orlando this week and needs your prayers. Joshua has leukemia. He got his wish to go on a trip to Disney with his family this week, but now he's in Orlando Children's Hospital with a fever. That's not good if you are four years old and have cancer. And you know what? He hasn't even made it to Sea World yet! So, please pray that God would heal Joshua's fever quickly.

Pray for Michael, Jana, Joshua, and Andi to enjoy the rest of their family vacation and to rest in the knowledge that God is over all things - fevers, leukemia, and yes, even Sea World.

You can follow the Kelley's blog for their vacation update, and more importantly, learn more about their life journey with childhood cancer. They have an amazing faith and an amazing family.

My new favorites.

Juice.

For this studio photography assignment, we were supposed to shoot a food or beverage that might be used by a grocery store. The main goal was to make it look appetizing. I wasn't crazy about the juice shot, but it'll have to do for this assignment. The thing about studio photography is that you have one shot in the studio to get what you need. If none of the shots are good, you have to do the whole thing over again! Since this is just a hobby for me, I'm satisfied with this plain old OJ shot. Six assignments down, only one to go!

This is Chilling.

Yesterday I was reading the Iowa Right to Life newsletter and something caught my attention. Iowa is one of 15 states that have their own laws regarding cloning human embryos for stem cell research. (There is a federal ban enacted by Bill Clinton stating that federal money cannot be used for cloning and/or embryonic stem cell research) In Iowa, cloning is LEGAL. The law now permits scientists to create human embryos through cloning and grow them to any stage in development for the purpose of research. This is frightening to me. It's a quiet first step to the future of this type of research that (I believe) actually gives people the false hope that all disease can be cured eventually - even if it means casually creating and ending life. This is such a slippery slope. The"possibilities" are often touted as promising medical advancements. But this type of dangerous experimentation can lead to all sorts of outrageous moral problems.

Think about it...

Do you have a kid that needs a lung transplant? Why not grow another baby and give the older kid a lung from the younger one? Does your baby have cancer? Why not intervene at the embryonic stage and use the new kid to help the old one? How about your kid is blind and needs new eyes? Grow some new ones! The problem here, while it may appeal to parents of all types of sick children, is...what happens to the cloned human embryos - and if it gets to this in the future, the humans? Are they disposed of after they are "used" for the benefit of someone else? Is their health so compromised that they are no longer capable of living a normal human life? How is it that one human can be so valued over another? Not to mention my prime objection as a Christian that GOD is the creator of life. And it happens through a loving act of marriage, not in a test tube to make babies for the benefit of research.

I challenge you to do a little research on where your state stands on this issue. If you want to protect life, look into supporting a Right to Life group near you. Right to Life not only stands against the greatest tragedy of our day, abortion, they also stand against ALL measures that threaten life. Embryonic stem cell research, cloning, physician-assisted suicide, abortion, and other issues must be brought to the forefront of discussion for Americans. Because, whether you realize it or not, some politicians - particularly those in power now - are pushing for legislation that would allow all of these things. Often the legislation is presented as the great hope for curing all disease. It's not possible, folks. This world is a broken place. There will always be disease, hardship, and suffering on this side of heaven. While it's tempting to buy into a utopian idea that every hardship everywhere can be eradicated, it just ain't so!

Our attempts to create perfection here on earth are at best noble ideas. At worst, they are shocking efforts to elevate our human accomplishments to those of God. God is the giver and taker of life. We should allow Him to reign in this area and recognize our distorted notions that we can do anything He can.

Just something to think about today...

I know that baby shoes are unnecessary...

but I love them anyway. =)

More Studio Photography.

This studio assignment was to take some advertising-type photos. For this first one, we were supposed to make room for the ad type in the photo. I went ahead and added Oreo's trademarked slogan for effect.



This was a flat advertising shot. It makes me feel like I could go for a whole plate of Oreos right about now. Guess that's the goal.

Probably the only $25 I've never missed...

I paid $25 for this little jewel last summer at a garage sale. It was a practically new food processor, complete with the owner's manual and box. The lady who sold it to me said she'd never even opened it! Seriously, Lady, do you cook at all? Anyways, what a steal! Several times a week I look at it and think about how I've probably not found a better use for 25 bucks. I'm making baby food, hummus, salsa, all sorts of yummy things thanks to my little Kitchen Aid. I used to pass over recipes when I saw they had to be pureed or chopped or food processed of some sort. No more!

Come on, 2009 Garage Sale Season!

He always brings me flowers...

One of the million reasons I love my husband.

Celebration Time.

I am thrilled to report that I am officially back in my running groove. Yesterday I ran 4 miles with ease - such progress! Jason and I have decided that we are going to run the Dam to Dam here in Iowa at the end of May. Anyone else want to sign up for the 12 mile fun?

I am excited about a new race and a new training schedule. I'm also especially excited about fitting into my old jeans. Yes, folks, they fit!

Cue Kool & The Gang...

Hands.

This studio photography assignment was all about capturing hands. Michelle and Michael Sage were wonderful models for this shoot. We had a lot of fun in the studio. We got some hand shots and a few candids of Michael - he's a total natural in front of the camera! Thanks, Sages!

Slumdog Millionaire

Jason and I had the chance to go out on Friday night for a pre-Valentine's date. We had tapas at one of our Des Moines favorites, The Continental, and made our way to the Varsity. The Varsity is a fabulous old theater across the street from Drake University where the popcorn is still...brace yourselves...$1.75. The Varsity also always shows independent and/or international films - our favorite kind.

This week Slumdog Millionaire was showing. We loved this film, which, above all is a love story. It's also a fascinating journey that follows the memories of a young man growing up in the slums of India. It portrayed the humor, heartbreak, and triumph of slum life. I'll admit that I felt nauseous most of the first half. I had a hard time getting over the fact that for many children in the world poverty, filth, hunger and abuse are the norm. But, overall, this was a great film and one I would recommend to others. If for no other reason than to see some of the realities people in the developing world live with on a daily basis.

On a side note, Jason and I also discussed how ironic it is that these days have been labeled an economic "crisis" in our country. Seems like we should be honest and say, in comparison to the rest of the world, what we really mean is "we aren't able to keep up our outrageous standard of living and that bugs us." Take a look at the slums of India (or any other country in the developing world) and you might reconsider your definition of crisis.

Here's the trailer if you are interested...

My friend Lizzy invited me to her "First Annual Bloggy Friends V-Day E-Party". She had the fantastic idea that we should all bake some V-Day treats, take pictures, and post them on the blog. She has promised to post all the treat photos on her blog for the big day. This was super fun!

I have become obsessed with my new cookbook Hello, Cupcake! This book has SO many adorable cupcake ideas, I thought I'd give them a shot for the Bloggy Friends party. Before you go thinking I have too much time on my hands, let me tell you that these cupcakes are so easy. The decorating only took an hour. Based on most of my past baking projects, this one was as easy as (or, I should say easier than) pie. Ha ha!

Mommyhood: The First 6 Months


Alex is turning 7 months old this week. It's hard to believe that those first newborn months are already gone. Since it seems like the latest thing is to tag 25 things (on Facebook), I thought I'd jot down 25 reflections on Mommyhood on my blog...

1. I honestly don't know how I survived for the first 3 months of Alex's life on 5-ish hours of sleep every night. For anyone I tried to carry on rational conversation with during that time, sorry. I know it didn't make sense.
2. I now consider a successful day as shower=success.
3. I'm grateful for 2 hour naps. Mine and Alex's.
4. I'm glad Jason is such a good Daddy. I knew he would be, but it's sweet to see it.
5. I am thankful for our Connection Group who has been such a great parenting resource to us. They are godly people with a collective wealth of wisdom.
6. I will think twice before I gain 60 lbs. in pregnancy again.
7. The 2 a.m. "Crazy Talk" where I wake up panicked thinking Alex is trapped in my bed is still here. Alex grew out of night waking long ago. For me, however, it remains.
8. I never get tired of washing and folding baby pajamas and socks.
9. We still love the cloth diapers. I'm not sure I'll ever use disposables on future babies.
10. God has given me a precious gift in providing me the ability to feed my baby. I think breastfeeding is such a marvel of God's wonderful human design.
11. I love to watch Alex wake up.
12. I love to watch him suck his thumb to sleep.
13. Heck, I even love changing his diapers!
14. It's important to me to read, sing, and pray with Alex before bed.
15. I have learned not to brag about Alex's latest accomplishments because I think it sows early seeds of "My kid is smarter than your kid" among parents.
16. I probably say to Alex, "You are the sweetest baby in the whole wide world" about a hundred times a day.
17. I often think of how I would deal with it if Alex was really sick. Parents like these and these inspire me to trust God with all things.
18. I remember the day Alex first smiled at me. My heart beamed with pride!
19. Sometimes I worry that we will mess him up. I'm learning that loving and caring for him to the best of our ability means we aren't messing up.
20. I truly believe that Jesus is the giver of patience and grace in parenting.
21. I like to peek at Alex while he's sleeping.
22. When Alex first pooped in the bath tub, we laughed and caught it on video. It is less and less funny every time.
23. I've noticed that people can't help but smile at babies.
24. I've learned to comment little on other people's parenting tactics unless someone asks my opinion.
25. My goals in life have changed a bit. I remember that I used to think about pursuing a PhD. Yesterday I caught myself thinking that I needed to memorize the words to "Three Blind Mice".

Arrangement.

This is assignment #2 in Studio Photography. We were supposed to create an image of similar objects to form an overall pattern.
This photo was inspired by my grandmother, who is the most amazing seamstress ever. At 81, she can still crank out beautiful stuff with a needle and thread. Once I tried to learn the skill from her. She was so patient teaching me over and over how to thread the machine and feed the material through. I wish I could say that my finished product was a masterpiece, but it wasn't. I'm not sure that pillowcase will ever come out of my linen closet except to prove to someone that I actually did sew something once. Nonetheless, I loved spending the time with her in her sewing room and hearing her stories. She has lived a full life and is a wonderful storyteller. I think probably when I was younger I passed off her stories as boring and irrelevant. Now I hang on ever word thinking, "I hope I can remember every detail" as she tells me about her courtship with my grandfather. They have been married 63 years and are still a very happy couple. What an inspiration to know that the grace of God sustains love and makes marriage work forever.

And did I mention that my grandmother was a snow skier until she was 79? Yeah, seriously, I could go on and on about her coolness... But for this post I'll stick mainly to her awesome sewing abilities and my arrangement photo that is dedicated to her.

Studio Photography.

This semester I am taking a Studio Photography course. While I was initially disappointed to learn that most all of our assignments are still life and not people, I think I'm going to enjoy the class. My ultimate goal in photography is to be good at people pictures but I guess practice of all kinds is valuable. I'm planning to blog about my progress since it seems to make for interesting blog material. Probably most of you are thinking that it sure beats the poop in the bath tub stories...

The first assignment was to photograph an ordinary object on a black background, using one color of dominance. This was only the second time I've been in the studio, so I'm still learning how to use the lights etc. Studio lighting produces a whole new realm of possibilities. Overall I am pleased with the results on this assignment. Any votes for a favorite?

The official shoes of Iowa...
This is a picture of the only two pairs of footwear that are getting any action this winter. Goodbye cute high-heeled boots, winter ballet flats, and leather wedge heels. And you too, stilettos. Sadly none of them can keep my feet dry in the five or more inches of snow between me and my garage. So all the cutie shoes are packed up in the basement and these boots only ones getting any wear in Des Moines. *sigh* I guess I should look on the bright side of serious winter living... I am saving a ton on pedicures!

Mommy-like.

Last night when I went to change into my pajamas, I discovered that my shirt (which I slept in the night before...because, well, just because that's how it is sometimes) was on backwards. I texted my husband and said, "I just discovered that my shirt is on backwards - and has been for 24 hours!". He responded, "that's so cute and mommy-like"

Other Mommy-like moments from the week:
* Alex has pooped in the bathtub 3 times in the past week. I seriously hope he grows out of this soon. We only have one bathroom and I take my baths in there too...needless to say, I have skipped my nightly bath three times this week.

* Today Jason offered to watch Alex for a couple of hours so I could go out and do something fun. You know what I came home with? Organic baby food and a bottle of wine. Guess you might call that Yuppie Mommy-like.

Eat, Drink, and Be Merry...for tomorrow we diet.

Happy New Year!

It's Christmas, Baby!


It's hard to believe that the holiday season is in full swing already. We have had so much fun with Alex and preparing for Christmas as a family. Alex has been a good sport for all of Mommy's holiday photo shoots, enjoyed gazing at the tree, and "helped" me shop. (...meaning...he didn't scream bloody murder when I carted him around the stores.) I'm telling you that I am also loving the "find it at a store" link on Target.com. It's so comforting to know that when I go to the store in search of something, I know it will be there. I have a precious 2-hour window each day between naps, feeds, poops, etc when errands are a possibility and that link is a lifeline. How did we shop before the internet? I guess the hard core shopping types probably really enjoy the hunt for the requested gifts. But I'm not a hard core shopper. I'm a get-it-done shopper, so thanks Target.com.

We are really excited about going to Texas next week to spend the holidays with our family. I am so anxious for everyone to see Alex. He's changed a lot in the past week or two. He rolled over, started giggling without prompting from us, started eating cereal, and even slept through the night (10 hours!) a couple of times. These are really fun days for us as a family.

This year we have really purposed to cherish this season. We have much to be thankful for - marriage, our son, a home, and wonderful friends and family. Each day we try to remind ourselves that this season really is not about get-it-done shopping, but about the ultimate gift of Jesus. Celebrating His birth, remembering His sacrifice, and enjoying relationship with Him is what it's all about.

We pray you and yours also enjoy celebrating the true meaning of Christmas this year...May you be truly blessed as you give and receive. May you remember that family and friends are precious. May you organize your time so that true worth is placed on people and not things. May you practice hospitality and charity. May you focus on Christ as the center of this wonderful holiday.

With much love from our family to yours,
Nicole, Jason, & Alex

Final Exam.

For my final in Photography, we had to turn in a portfolio of all our assignments including a final print. The final print qualifications were to shoot a photo of something we hadn't photographed before and to use an alternative angle or crop. I chose this photo I took of the mural on the wall of the Blues on Grand in Des Moines. Blues is right down the street from us and I walk past it a lot. I've always liked this guitar. So I decided to lay down on the ground and get a picture of it. Hope I get an "A" on this one.


Thank you for keeping up with my photography journey this semester - I'm slowly learning more and more about capturing good photos. Stay tuned for next semester: Studio Photography.

Cars at Night.

This assignment was to photograph moving objects (cars) at night using a slow shutter speed. I took these photos before I invested in a tripod, so they aren't wonderful. I've learned that there are lots of shots that need a tripod! Anyways, the neat thing about these photos is that you only see the lights moving on the cars and not the cars. The streak in the photos are car lights. I am hoping to get out and take some more of these at night sometime because I think they are really cool. I'll let you know if I decide to venture out in the 14 degree weather with my tripod...

We are Groupies.

Tonight we hosted our Connection Group for a little holiday dinner and family fun. This group has been a tremendous blessing to us in Iowa. When we moved to Des Moines, we never would have imagined that less than a year into it we would have such a precious group of friends. This year we've had a sort of Baby Explosion - 7 of 8 couples have had a baby or been pregnant since we joined the group in January! We seriously love these friends and their babies. (Chris and Mary: we also love your yet-to-be babies =)

Here are a couple of pics of the Groupie Babies from tonight...We are still waiting on the arrival of 2 Groupie Babies any day now!

Happy Thanksgiving!

This year, we celebrated our traditional Thanksgiving meal a bit early. The Ramsey's, Sage's and us hosted a group of Indian students from Iowa State for Thanksgiving dinner on Monday. We loved the opportunity to visit with the students and share dinner. In my opinion, a shared holiday dinner is always better. The Ramsey's are wonderful hosts - even though Erin is 9 months pregnant! And Michelle rocked the turkey. I contributed the sweets and our new friends contributed the wine. It reminded me of holidays when I lived overseas...they were always shared with friends instead of family. This year we thoroughly enjoyed sharing our Thanksgiving with friends in Iowa.

Pinocchio

This was a portrait assignment.  The task was to shoot the same person for two photos.  One should be flat and plain and the second should show a characteristic of the subject not shown previously ("bring it to life like Pinocchio").  Erin was my model for this...isn't she the most beautiful pregnant woman you've ever seen?

This assignment was to shoot three things: A type of vehicle, a stone residential structure, and an urban sculpture.  I found all three items in my neighborhood.  I like all of them except the creepy thinking rabbit...but it is an "urban sculpture" so I guess it's supposed to look like city art.  City art is my least favorite.  Jason likes to call it "crap that taxpayers probably pay for". If I was going to pay for a city art sculpture, I'm not sure I would have chosen the rabbit.  But they didn't ask me.  I'm sure there are some artsy people who love it though!

Studio Photography.  

This assignment was to shoot photos in the studio at school.  The difference in studio work is the lighting.  We had a choice of three categories for this assignment: food/beverage, type (something with writing on it), or fire & ice (contrast two things using color or arrangement).  I chose to do my own little category - Fire & Icing. =)

Neon Sign.