Week 17:52 {Pastel}...

"My tip is to learn the rules of photography...and then don’t be afraid to break them.  Creativity is going beyond the rules and creating something different and unique."

 ~CapturedInPrint

Focus (or lack of focus) is one of the areas I've been playing with a little more often.  When I see a picture that shows a subject out of focus it allows me, the viewer, to fill in some of those details with my mind.  There is an air of mystery to the non-focused subject.  Unfortunately, I didn't fully achieve what I set out to do in the picture below but I love it anyway.

As I navigate this project, I'm becoming more comfortable in my own skin as a photographer.  I've read before
"an essential aspect of creativity is not being afraid to fail."
For the past few years I've taken time to create regardless of whether other people will view it as "good."  I believe that in this process not only have I become less afraid of failing but I've also found Pablo Picasso's words to be true...
"Art washes away from the soul the dust of everyday life."

Ressurection Sunday...

The excitement leading up to this celebration was beautiful.  With Eli's newfound faith he marveled at everything and asked tons of questions.  His childlike faith challenged me to appreciate things anew this Easter.  It made me think about this scripture...

"“Truly, I say to you, unless you turn and become like children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven."

  One of my favorite days of the church is Maundy Thursday...my friend, Wanda Bickers and her team put together a very contemplative, self-guided experience to help you prepare your heart for Easter.  We decided to attend as a family this year which has it's benefits and also a few drawbacks.  It was wonderful to see each of the boys process the questions/activities at the different stations.  I had Will the first time through so I actually went back later that evening.  Eli asked to go again.  I loved walking through the stations with him.  He explained what I was to do at each of the stations.  I snapped a few iPhone pictures as we made our way through the stations.  Documenting his excitement and childlike faith so we would "remember" this Easter for years to come.

Early Easter morning we continued one of our favorite holiday traditions.  We tie strings from the boy's doorknobs ...they follow their color string in a maze through the house
to find their Easter baskets.  We had family in this Easter so the maze was "easy" Micaiah said.  I explained to him that we were afraid we would clothesline a late night bathroom user if we didn't make it easy this year. 
Get ready for next year buddy!

Eli took it upon himself to make things easier for the boys once everyone found their baskets...

There are only a few times of year where we actually dress up for church and Easter is one of them.  There is an earlier post with a serious Easter picture of the boys but the one below is one of my favorites.  

Joshua picked out his shirt and tie a few months ago when we were shopping for shorts for Micaiah.  He was so excited to wear a tie.

Then we were off to church.  Pat Goodman did an incredible job encouraging us to LIVE in the resurrected life.  If you have some time please take time to watch the message here (click on "watch video" for Easter 2014).

His message begins at the 32 minute mark.  The video they play after the sermon is worth your time (Wes sings over the video and does an awesome job.)  It begins at the 51 minute mark.

Then we were home to finish making Easter dinner.  I'm so thankful my mom did most of the work (because she is an amazing cook).  

After Easter dinner, the boys played a game of baseball in the front yard.  It's so wonderful to see buds on The Eastloch Tree!

We enjoyed an egg hunt later in the evening...this is the first year Micaiah said he didn't really want to do the egg hunt.  Thankfully this is the first year we decided to fill a few eggs with money so he changed his mind really quick.

"Jesus had risen, just as He told them He would. After a criminal does his time in jail and fully satisfies the sentence, the law has no more claim on him and he walks out free. Jesus Christ came to pay the penalty for
our sins. That was an infinite sentence, but He must have satisfied it fully, because on Easter Sunday He walked out free. The resurrection was God’s way of stamping PAID IN FULL right across history so that nobody
could miss it.

On the Day of the Lord—the day that God makes everything right, the day that everything sad comes untrue—on that day the same thing will happen to your own hurts and sadness. You will find that the worst things that have ever happened to you will in the end only enhance your eternal delight. On that day, all of it will be turned inside out and you will know joy beyond the walls of the world. The joy
 of your glory will be that much greater for every scar you bear. So live in the light of the resurrection and renewal of this world, and of yourself, in a glorious, never-ending, joyful dance of grace"

~Timothy Keller~

Thank you Jesus...may we walk in your resurrected life. 

Philly by Day...

We were able to get away for a day trip during spring break.  We left early for Philidelphia to visit the Franklin Institute.   We told the boys ahead of time that they would be able to run up the "Rocky steps and visit the Rocky statue."

The Franklin Institute was well worth the money.  We spent hours there and probably could have spent a few more (but Rocky was waiting).  Unfortunately, the line to visit the Liberty Bell and Independence Hall was too long (by the time we arrived with a very tired 4 year old).

When we arrived at the Art Museum, Wes pulled out his computer and let the boys watch the infamous Rocky training run through Philadelphia.  This pumped the boys up for sure...it helped that Wes found a video with spanish subtitles and he attempted to sing the words while we all laughed (unfortunately I don't think I got that on the video below).  Click on the play button to view the video...

Week 16:52 {Mine}...

I couldn't think of a more fitting picture for the theme this week...

Click here to view previous weeks of Project 52...

Multitude Monday #4812 - #4852...

"The Lord is my strength and my shield;
    my heart trusts in him, and he helps me.
My heart leaps for joy,
    and with my song I praise him."

Psalm 28:7

Giving thanks with the Gratitude Community for His unending gifts...

4812...Will singing...
"It's a rainy, rainy day but that's ok we're going to have fun anyway."
 
4813...encouragement from a wise women...

4814...Will and Eli's after school silliness...

4815...baking corn muffins with them...

4816...laughter around the dinner table

4817...the boys talking about the resurrection eggs...

4818...Wes' help one hectic morning...

4819...listening to Nicka speak on the night in the garden...

4820..."Open Up Our Eyes"...
"Our God is fighting for us always"

4821...memories of Mom Mom flooding in as I stand at the sink doing dishes...

4822...making time to take the back roads...

4823...driving with the sunroof open on a beautiful spring day...

4824...blooming forsythia...

4825...dinner in the crockpot...

4826...a great report on wills finger healing...the doctor would be really surprised if they have to do anything surgically later...

4827...pink tulips opening...

4828...conversations with Wes...

4829...spring weather...

4830...Micaiah's first baseball game of the season...

4831...for the mom at the baseball field that had her first aid kit handy when I couldn't find mine...

4832, 4833, 4834...Will falling asleep as we waited 3 1/2 hours at the ER for his cut foot, and that he didn't need a tetnus shot, and they were able to glue the wound rather than using 3 stitches...

4835, 4836, 4837...watching Moses at the Sight and Sound Theater, the boys excitement over watching the Bible come alive...for Mom Mom's gifts of remembrance...

4838...watching Micaiah turn a double play

4839...Will spying the boys coming home on the bus...

4840, 4841...family bike ride along the trail, beauty along the trail as the sun begins to set...

4842...listening to Will and my dad laugh...

 4843...wiffle ball game in the front yard...
 
4844...hearing Will say... "Mom, Moses heard God at the fire bush."  and a day or two later..."Mom, Moses' stick turned the water to blood."...

4845...watching him play...

4846...watching "Remember the Titans" with the older boys...

4847...bright sun shining and a gentle breeze blowing...

4848...hanging out with these boys on the baseball sidelines...

4849...sideline shenanigans between these two...

4850...Poppy's treasure hunt he left for Eli...

4851...this boy...

4852...this love...and week 15 of Project 52...

Week 15:52 {White}...

sometimes you get little glimpses of a love that is too difficult to describe with words...this was one of those times and I'm so glad I had my main camera handy...

click here to view previous weeks of Project 52...