We went to see Mimi and Papa yesterday. It was a good visit. We also got to walk the land that I grew up. Everyone loved being out and looking for the wild! J carried his hatchet and Nathan cut up limbs and knocked bark off trees. He was in wild heaven! Sam and Sarah ran through the over grown hay fields and loved the grasshoppers and other flying things whizzing out of the way. Chloe walked through the thick pines with Peter, our dog. We had to leave Peter with my parents. He has a terrible habit of climbing our fence and getting out. Their have been several complaints and he steals stuffed animals from other yards. He is such a good dog other wise. He loves the children and always gentle.

My favorite time, other than being with our family, was the beautiful butterfly that I got to capture on film. I'll get all those downloaded tomorrow. My battery died when I got home from the Jewish Temple today. Another story, on another time...

Chloe's Party

Yikes! A ton of screaming girls are at my house! They are having a blast! I never thought that I would still be awake, but it is now 2:57 AM and you know every minuet counts!

Today we are celebrating Chloe's birthday with her girlfriends. They are a wonderful bunch of young ladies growing up in the Lord. Praise God for that! There Mamas are wonderful, Godly women. I am honored to have them celebrating with Chloe.

The following pics are from earlier tonight, or should I say last night? I'm so confused! They have had pizza, presents, photo ops, and CHOCOLATE CAKE! Don't you Mamas wished you'd stayed! They've painted nails, watched, movies, listened to music and had a toe painting contest! I'm sending those pics out to you Mama's to see if you know your daughter's toes! How fun is that!?! They were all excited. I hope you enjoy the photos!

Thanks for coming by!

Thanks Heather for taking our family pics! We so enjoyed being on the other side of the camera for a change....

Oh my goodness. My eldest is turning 13 tomorrow!

Chloe is growing up too fast for me. She is such a young lady. She carries herself well in public. She cares that she dresses like a Godly woman, yet maintaining style. She loves to be with her family, and cares deeply for her friends.

She is dedicated to the Lord with all her heart. She can memorize scripture like no body's business.

She is dependable.

She is careful.

She is loving.

She is respectful.

She is silly.

She is incredible.

She is my sweet baby, growing up.

Well I did it!

I'm in the process of figuring out HOW to start a photography business. I've previously worked on projects with the church this past year. So I have worked with a wide variety of ages. I have also been taking photos of my own children for for 12 years.

About 5 years ago I stopped going to the mall to have their pictures made and decided that I could make better shots of who they really were verses the fake pretty smiles. I have those hanging on my own home walls now.

Friends have been encouraging me for years by saying "you should do this for a living! You take great pictures." "Can I have a copy of that?" Yes, they are my friends and family, but I value their opinions greatly. I trust that they would tell me the truth. I expect it.

I have started a photo website at: http://thewhitfieldphotography.shutterfly.com. Some of you will recognize your face or your children's faces! Please feel free to order copies of your photos. Thank you for allowing me to practice on you! I receive nothing from the orders.

Please, as my friends and family, please pray as I adventure out on this trek of life. Thank you.

And the Holy Spirit came down in the form of a dove....

Several Sundays ago, my two sweet babies were listening to a friend of mine, Mrs. Kim, telling them their Bible lesson for the day. She was saying "..then a dove came down and landed on Jesus' head and God said, "This is my son, whom I am well pleased."" Sitting ever so still and listening to every word...Sarah spoke up, very much into the story and added her own part... "And then they all went home and had dove."


My friend was speechless.

I think Sarah was hungry।

Oh, the things they say....

Have a blessed day. ;0)

Growing Pains

We had a good day today. Very long, but good.
Y'all have a good night.
A thought to share:

No discipline seems enjoyable at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it yields the fruit of peace and righteousness to those who have been trained by it. Hebrews 12:11

I hope to be on the peace and righteousness side one day. Have you ever read Hebrews. This has been by far the hardest book that I have ever studied. I have struggled through it, cried through (that's the discipline part that hurts) it and soon I hope to be enjoying the peace and righteousness.

Just when you think you might have a handle on a smidgen of the concept of how to be Christ like, God will transform your thinking. He will show you something knew when you ask. I so want to please Him. To have him say "My good and faithful servant." I was reading Hebrews 11 about the righteous that have pleased God like Abel and his sacrifices made in faith (4), Enoch who did not experience death (5), Noah, Abraham, & Sarah all faithful followers. They obeyed instantly when He told them to do something. No questions, no hesitation. Just did it. They must have been wearing Nike's. They just did it.

They never really got to see the promise land. They were seeking a new home. The one God has prepared. Verse 16 is beautiful, and encouraging to me: "But they (those who are searching for a homeland, to be with Him) now aspire to a better land- a heavenly one. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God,( that means me too and you) for He has prepared a city for them (us!)." Did you know He has made a place for you in that city. He loves you and so wants you to be there.
And remember, God has arranged my days to where I am receiving Hebrews not only at Bible study, but in small group and in church. Everything is revolving around God transforming me to be more like him. I feel as if I'm rambling, but God is so mushing and molding me yesterday, today, and days to come. I can feel that pain. It's not a horrible pain of change, but more of a embarrassed, coming to knowledge of what I am lacking to be more like him. I have so far to go.

I search for reassurance. I seek his grace. I turn to Lamentations 3:22-23:
"{Because of} the Lord's faithful love we do not perish, for His mercies never end. They are new every morning; great is Your faithfulness." Did you notice the Your is capitalized? That is talking about His faithfulness. He is faithful to us! He loves us so much, not "just enough", but SO MUCH that He is faithful when we are not. Amazing isn't it.

Which brings me to another wonderful verse: Ps. 100:4-5. "Give thanks to Him and praise His name. For the Lord is good, and His love is eternal; His faithfulness endures through all generations." Did you get that? That His love is eternal. Do you know how long eternal is? FOREVER! Yes, even when we are bad by saying something snide, yelling at the children, speeding! Or even worse. And forever. Does that mean that it is okay to do wrong or sin? No, because sin pushes us away from Christ. And that is not what He wants nor what we want. We desire to be pulled close to the Lord. So we seek him.

So, as I am ("You will seek Me and find Me when you search for Me with all your heart." Jeremiah 29:13) seeking, you seek with me. Ask God to show you where you need to draw closer to Him. What sin is in your life keeping you separate from Him? Is it your short temper? bad language? pride? selfishness? worry? being impatient with a loved one? not wanting to wait on God's timing-pushing ahead and doing your own thing? I love this verse: "Yet Lord, You are our Father; we are the clay, and You are our potter; we all are the work of Your hands." Isaiah 64:8. I so gladly turn my life over to the potter. Right now, I am just a clump of clay. No shape. No beauty. But in his hands imagine what He will do with me. And you!

Oh I forgot to post the rest of our week!

Our Snow Family

Oh, the rest of our week was not as exciting. With the snow gone, life picked up as usual. With school work, ballet, and CBS, filling our calendar. We enjoyed a relaxing Friday. I'm looking for a new curriculum for Language, Spelling and possibly Math for 5th & 8th grades. Does anyone have any suggestions?
Today we have cleaned the house to get ready for Small group on Sunday morning. We have a great group. There are about 11 adults and 15 children! We have a great time sharing and learning God's Word. Right now we are reading A Cross Centered Life. It really goes right along with our CBS lesson on Hebrews, and what our pastor is teaching on the next few weeks. Isn't it amazing how God plans things out!
I'm contemplating starting a home business. Jerome is still out of work and I love to photograph people. I know a million people do it, but I just love working with people and making them smile at themselves. God blessed each of us with a beauty, and I love to capture. Every month I get a little closer to making that big leap of trying it out. What do you think? I am going to try to set up another blog with my favorite photos. I'll let you know later where to view it.
In a few hours Chloe and I are leaving to go to a Southern Living Party at Mrs. Heather's. I must go. Oh and last night I cut my own hair! Oh, brother!

Skating in Pelham and the rest of our week.

After Sunday's big snow, we were worried that we wouldn't get to go ice skating with our home school group. But, as all Alabama snow, it simply disappeared by late afternoon. However, our snowmen on the back deck stuck around til Friday. That was a wonderful treat to look out and see our little family of snowmen.

Well, Monday came and the day was bright and cheery. The wind bit like a knife. The roads were safe and we loaded the van. The children were very excited. None of them had every experienced ice skating. Wow, snow and ice skating all in one week!

We met several families at the McDonald's near the rink for a late breakfast. Then off to the rink!

Chloe took to the ice right away. Never fearing that she might fall. She thought of it as roller blades and she was gone! Smiling the BIGGEST smile the entire time!

Nate hugged the wall for a bit, and I don't blame him. After awhile, he took to the ice without any problems. He got so good that he was skating across the rink instead of around the rink with the flow of things. (Is this a sign of things to come?)

Sarah was looked fondly upon by the Sharits' and they escorted her & Sam around the rink. It wasn't too long till Sarah was out and skating on her own too! She said "Mrs. Heather is the best skater ever!"

The previous night, I had pulled out a pair of size 6 purple corduroy pant with flowers embroidered around the pockets and wanted her to wear them on "ice skating day." (Yes, my sweet little twig is growing up so fast. Her little long legs are sprouting as we speak!) So, anyway, Sarah was protesting. Then she remembered that "Mrs. Heather has purple corduroy pants just like those!" Being a quick mom as I am, "Would you like for me to call Mrs. Heather and see if she will wear her pants tomorrow?" Oh happy day! Heather hadn't picked out her outfit for the day and she was joyed to matched Sarah for the day!

Well, Sam and I didn't fair as nicely as the Big Kids. He stayed on the wall or on the ice the entire time! We laughed, we cried, we watched everybody go by! He really did enjoy himself. I promise. This wasn't torture.

Well, now as for me? I would love to say that I haven't lost one ounce of grace, stability or vigor, BUT, I have. I put on a pair of skates, nearly broke my neck WALKING down the ramp to the rink and took them off. I spent the rest of my rink time in tennis shoes on ice.

We had a blessed time with our group. Chloe and Nate both came home with bruises about the size of tennis balls on their knees. They never once lost their smiles, and that was worth everything!

Snow in ALABAMA

March 1, 2009 IN ALABAMA

S

N

O

W

!!

Nearly 2 good inches in most places.

What a wonderfully white day!

This is just outside our school room window.

Sledding,

Mom & Sam!

Sam & Mom!

Snowball fights,

Chloe dodging a snowball from our neighbor, "Little Kenny."

Neighbors sking down our front yard!

This is Big Kenny. (Dad to Little Kenny) He is from NJ! Says the snow here is not the same as up there. Our snow is "sticky."


The Kids,

S & S

Nate and

Eli Dog

Chloe sledding.

The Hubby!

Jerome goes face first on his sled.

We had a wonderful time!