I'm On Facebook!

Well, I've put it off for a while - but I just created a business page! Click here to like it, see some photos, or post me a note! =)

NaNoWriMo and Contest!

First of all, I have the privelege of being one of the top five contestants in Emily Grace's Photography contest! Head on over to her blog to vote for your favorite photo here.

Also, I decided to change what book I'm going to write for NaNo. ;) I did a lot of thinking about it, and yesterday I decided that I'd be more interested, comfortable, and satisfied writing a historical-fiction book about a southern girl and her family during the Civil War. I've always loved learning about the Civil War (I've read so many books about it! =)  ) and I personally love reading books in the genre. The other benefit is that there really isn't an epic Civil War novel like that (well, none that I care for) so I don't feel intimidated at all. If I'd gone with the Sci-Fi novel I would've had a hard time - trying not to copy books like Lord of the Rings.

So. That's what I'm doing. =D It's called "With a War Between Them," and I'll be posting excerpts from the book as I go along. I'm really excited! Last night I was working on my main characters, and it was just really coming alive for me. I can't wait to start writing it!!

Okay - here are some photos. (I think I've written three posts without photos...wow. Time for that to change. ;)  )

Well, I dropped out of Lovely Photo Wednesday for a while because I was so busy (which, come to think of it, I still am...) but I'm back in it this week! I love the colors in this photo - the red and greens of the cars are so cool with the blue of the sky and the yellow painted wood. =) And yes...I'm still going to post photos from the fair! (I took about 1500...I'm still sorting through them!!)

NaNoWriMo 2010

After seeing that Caroline from A Writer's Life for Me was doing NaNoWriMo, I decided to check it out. I've heard about it, but have never really known what it was. Well, it sounded like such a great idea that I decided to do it this year! I have an old story (or rather, an old outline) that I worked on for a short time - but the idea never took off. But today (while wondering what kind of story to write) my brother found some old drawings that I had done for this outlined story...and my interest in the story was rekindled. I'm really getting excited about this - it will be a great exercise! I'm always so critical on myself when it comes to editing my writing - so it will be great to be forced to just get the story out on paper.

So, find my NaNoWriMo button on the sidebar and check it out!

20 in 10 Photography Challenge

Emily at Emily Grace Photography is hosting an Autumn photography challenge! Actually, I'm very late to be entering - the contest ends tonight at midnight. =S

*note to self - try to enter photography contests more than a few hours before they end.* ;)

So, here's my entry - and I'd love for you to head on over to Emily's blog and enter your best fall photo with lots of light and shadows in her contest! (I think she'd like that, too! =)  )

I Know, I Know... =)

I know that I just re-did my blog...but I just had to do it again. ;) I don't know - after doing blog makeovers for other girls, it kinda made me want to redo mine!

So, do you like it?

 One more thing I wanted to post that has been a great encouragement to me and my family recently -

I am broken
I am bleeding
I am scared and I’m confused
But You are faithful
Yes you are faithful

I am weary
Unbelieving
God please help my unbelief
Cuz You are faithful
Yes you are faithful

I will proclaim it to the world
I will declare it to my heart
Sing it when the sun is shining
I will scream it in the dark

You are faithful
You are faithful
When You give and when You take away
Even then still your name remains
Faithful
You are faithful
And with everything inside of me
I am choosing to believe
You are faithful

I am waiting for the rescue
That I know is sure to come
Cuz You are faithful
Yes You are faithful

I’ve dropped anchor in Your promises
And I am holding on
Cuz You are faithful
God, You are faithful

I will proclaim it to the world
I will declare it to my heart
Sing it when the sun is shining
I will scream it in the dark

You are faithful
You are faithful
When You give and when You take away
Even then still your name remains
Faithful
You are faithful
And with everything inside of me
I am choosing to believe
You’re faithful
So faithful

When I cannot have the answers
And I’m wanting to demand
I’ll remember you are God
And everything is in Your hands

With Your hands you put the sun and moon
And stars up in the sky
For the sake of love
You hung your own Son on the cross to die

You are faithful
Yes, You are faithful
When You give; when You take away
Even then great is your faithfulness
Great is your faithfulness
And with everything inside of me
I am choosing to believe
You are faithful
Ohhh
When You give and when You take away
Even then still your name is
Faithful
You are faithful
And with everything inside of me
I am choosing to believe
You are faithful

- Faithful {Steven Curtis Chapman}


 You pushed me violently, that I might fall,
         But the LORD helped me.
 The LORD is my strength and song,
         And He has become my salvation.
      
 The voice of rejoicing and salvation
         Is in the tents of the righteous;
         The right hand of the LORD does valiantly.

Psalm 118:13-155

I Didn't Blink {Miles of Smiles}

Iona at Through the Lens is hosting a photography contest - the theme is "Miles of Smiles!" Here's my entry...and be sure to check out her blog and enter the contest!     

Mom and Maria at the Fair! =) (Pictures coming soon - I promise!)

I Love My Parents and My Church

It was the day the world went wrong
I screamed til my voice was gone
And watched through the tears as everything
came crashing down
Slowly panic turns to pain
As we awake to what remains
and sift through the ashes that are left
behind

But buried deep beneath
All our broken dreams
we have this hope:

Out of these ashes... beauty will rise
and we will dance among the ruins
We will see Him with our own eyes
Out of these ashes... beauty will rise
For we know, joy is coming in the morning...
in the morning, beauty will rise

So take another breath for now,
and let the tears come washing down,
and if you can't believe I will believe
for you.

Cuz I have seen
the signs of spring!
Just watch and see:

Out of these ashes... beauty will rise
and we will dance among the ruins
We will see Him with our own eyes
Out of these ashes... beauty will rise
For we know, joy is coming in the morning...
in the morning...

I can hear it in the distance
and it's not too far away.

And the heavens will praise your wonders, O Lord; Your faithfulness also in the assembly of the saints. For who in the heavens can be compared to the Lord? Who among the sons of the mighty can be likened to the Lord? God is greatly to be feared in the assembly of the saints, And to be held in reverence by all those around Him. O Lord God of hosts, Who is mighty like You, O Lord? Your faithfulness also surrounds You. You rule the raging of the sea; When its waves rise, You still them. - Psalm 89:5-9

"And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes; there  shall be no more death, nor sorrow, nor crying. There shall be no more pain, for the former things have passed away." Then He who sat on the throne said, "Behold, I make all things new." And He said to me, "Write, for these words are true and faithful." - Revelation 21:4-5

Because I've Been Busy...

...I don't have a literal photo for "Wordless Wednesday," and because I dropped out of "Happy Monday" this week, I still wanted to do Wednesday. =) (Though this image was taken as a screen capture...that's a photograph, right?) This is a sneak peek of a blog design I'm working on for someone (it's still in the works!)...check my design blog later this week for the finished design! 

HRP {blog designs}

I finished all my pages on my design site - click here to see them all!

I also created some blog buttons for my blogs -

And thank you so much to all my 25 followers! I really appreciate you all - seeing the "25 followers" in Blogger home yesterday made my day! Thanks for taking interest in my photography and everyday doings. <3

Do You Like It?

I think you all can tell that I changed my blog design. ;) So, as in the previous post - do you like it? Any suggestions? I'm still playing around with it - so I'm open to any thoughts you all have. Oh, and I just put up a short poll on the sidebar about my design - please take a moment and take it! (Sorry, I know this is the second poll in a row...but I would like to collect opinions on my blog! =)  )

I also updated my website and changed the "About Me" page - check it out here!

(The only think I haven't updated yet is my portfolio page - it's coming soon!)

Thoughts, Anyone?

I'd love to hear what you all think of my new logo! I just created it on Gimp, and I've been discovering all the neat things I can do with it! Below are some variations of my logo - I'd love for you to tell me which is your favorite...and maybe why? =) I'd love the input!

1.

 

2.

 

3.

 

4.

 

5.

 

6.

 

Fair Photos

I'll do a big, long post later, but here are some photos to tide you over. =)

http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=14033&id=100001529275090&l=9bf747bc18

Oh, and let me know what you all think of my logo/watermark...do you like it? Any suggestions?

Happy Monday {The Golden Hour}

It's time for Happy Monday again - and this time the theme is "the Golden Hour!" Emily Grace is going to judge all the entries - be sure to check out her lovely blog!

Check it Out!

Alright...head on over and check out the new design - and then tell me what you think!

http://hrpblogdesigns.blogspot.com/ 

Quick Update!

Today was the first day of the fair. We had a blast - I got to spend some time walking around the fair, and I spent the rest of the time at our church's booth. I'll upload some photos of the booth tomorrow, hopefully - I don't have time right now.

I couldn't resist putting this photo up - the clouds were absolutely amazing yesterday!!! Stay tuned for more fair photos - we have nine more fun, busy days to go! =)

Falling for Fall Photography Contest Winners!

Christine just posted the winners of her photography contest - head over here to see who won! ;)








Also, be sure to enter Emily's photography contest - the deadline is tomorrow! Her theme is children. Go here to enter!