Feeling A Little Sad Today

I was going to post what I learned about in Sunday school, however, it's just not happening at the moment. The last couple of days I've been affected by my sinuses. I have no idea if it's an infection or just part of a cold...thought it doesn't feel like a cold. I've been taking some sinus pills which are helping, so that's good.

I had a weird dream last night. That happens seemingly often when I take night time sinus or cold medication. Anyway, my dad was in my dream, and I remembered that a friend from work had told me my nephew wouldn't remember my dad when he got older. My nephew was also in the dream, and when dad made his appearance, that is the thought that ran through my mind - in my dream. I thought, "Why did Jean say that?" It turns out that my dad had just been in the hospital (or away somewhere), and he was all better and back at home. I woke up feeling saddened that it wasn't real. I still feel sad.

For most of the day I haven't had my mind on my dream - or my dad. I was able to distract myself with classes. However, on the way home from this last class (I go back again after supper for a nearly three hour class) I had a sudden "I miss my daddy" feeling. It still feels like he's just away or something, and seems like he should be here. Usually I try not to let myself get upset or "ignore" the feelings. I know it's ok to cry and whatnot, but I just try not to. Even now I don't want to feel the emotions or cry because if I cry, my makeup will need to be reapplied before class again, and my eyes will get all red and puffy.

Maybe when I go to bed tonight I'll let myself cry...

More Flowers

I took a few more flower pics today. One of the flowers is a double amarylis (double bloom I think), which is to the right, and the other flowers are the ones I got my mom last weekend. This time I didn't use my telephoto lens (on macro), but just the regular 18x55mm lens that came with the camera. It also wasn't set to macro but I got in kind of close. I really love pictures of flowers - almost as much as the flowers themselves. I can't wait again until the end of August and into September when my mom's dahlias will be out. Those are pretty flowers (there are different kinds) and I'm hoping to take some really good pictures of them using macro...though if I use my telephoto lens I'll need a really good tripod to help prevent shaking and blurry pictures.

It's been pretty cold here lately, and the other day our city apparently broke a record for cold temps that particular day (I think it was Wednesday or Thursday). The previous record had been set in 1957. We are supposed to get another snow storm on Monday, though that depends on how the system moves. The meteorologist said it might change paths and miss us, which would be great. But, if they are calling for snow, that means the temperatures are going to warm up somewhat; when it gets too cold it can't (or doesn't) snow.

I was looking forward to getting back into doing my observation in the grade 2 class I was at before Christmas. I can only go on Fridays since I have classes the rest of the week. Well, I set my alarm to get up at 6:30 yesterday morning (Friday), and when the alarm went off the newscaster was saying schools in the district (as well as another one) were cancelled due to the extreme cold temperatures. It was nice to have the day off, though really I should have done some school work. I didn't. I had a lazy day. I really should have worked some on my portfolio for school (we have to do these up with regard to teaching and becoming a teacher).

We are just learning about portfolios for the teaching profession, what to include and how to make them. We are also working on bio-resumes, which are a little different than a regular resume in that it gives more detail (they're also done up a little differently). I started work on my bio-resume at school the other day, and just need to finish it up and type it up on the computer. Our rough drafts of those are due next Thursday. The portfolios aren't due until April, but it's not something you can do at the last minute. They take time so we have to start early. I've got my binder, tabs, paper (good quality) and plastic cover sheets. I've also got a couple of certificates and diplomas to get good quality copies made of to include so far. As we go along and learn more about it, we'll have more to put in.

The portfolios are what we will take to interviews to show to prospective employers - basically a selling tool. Oh, and I should note that the bio-resumes are also included in the portfolio too. We saw some samples from students who did them last year (the professor was marking them and the students would be coming to get them in the next few weeks), and there were some really nice ones. Not everyone does up a portfolio, but it's something our school has the B.Ed. students do.

Well, I had wanted to post about what I've learned in Sunday school this last week, unfortunately I haven't gotten around to it. I have my notes in the other room and just didn't bother to go get them. I figured that since tomorrow is Sunday again, I might just wait until I finish with that class and maybe combine my notes from that class with last week's. Hopefully I can/will get this done and not put it off too long. Like I've said in some other posts in the past, I would like to have this blog return to the way I started off - discussing more Bible related things, more God-focused and God-oriented posts, prayer talk, etc.

I have been keeping up regularly with my Bible reading, which is good. Unfortunately I still haven't gotten more indepth with it - all my own fault, I admit. Prayer life is still about the same, though I do try to pray off and on throughout the day when something comes to me, or I talk to someone who could use prayer. Usually throughtout the day my prayers are just short and to the point - which there is nothing wrong with that way. I do want to become better at prayer as well.

Well, I realize my post is dragging on somewhat and I don't really have much more to say at the moment. So, I'll end here and wish you all a glorious Christ-filled day! Blessings in Him!

Flower Power

Aren't God's floral creations simply beautiful!

Well, I promised in yesterday's post that if some of my pictures from my photo shoot turned out, that I would post some of them.

I had a great time learning about depth of field and which aperture to use. We went to the grocery store to buy a bouquet of flowers to practice with. The first store we went to didn't have much of a selection at all, so we headed over to a different one. They definitely had a better selection! We came to an agreement on which bouquet to get, and then I picked up a couple of different kinds for my mom.

I'd say I spent a good 2 1/2 to 3 hours at Michelle's as she explained things to me and gave me some great hints and tips. One thing we kept finding was the focus on my camera didn't seem to be where we'd want it; therefore, some of the first pictures I took didn't get focused exactly where I was aiming. Unfortunately, my brain wasn't working all that well because I ended up forgetting to bring my manual and a couple of other things I had wanted to bring along.

Michelle had the bright idea of going online and seeing if there was one there. Sure enough! She figured out how to set the focus so I could choose where it would be. Then I went and practiced several more shots to get the hang of it.

We mostly focused on the macro setting on my telephoto lens. I must say, I really enjoy shooting macro photos! It's so cool how close you can get to something and create a beautiful (or creative) image.

The next time we get together she said she'd go over shutter speed with me. I'm not sure when that will be though, because we are both in school and are quite busy with all that is involved in our courses. She also mentioned some places she'd take me in the summer or fall (or maybe even late spring I suppose) where we could take some great shots. One place was a butterfly exhibit, which I think would be awesome! Another place was her father's backyard. Sounds weird, but she said he gets quite a few hummingbirds there. I've seen some of her shots of hummingbirds, and they are really good. I invited her over to our place to take pics of my mom's dahlias that will be in bloom in late August or early September (she mentioned that she loves dahlias, so I thought I could recipricate and invite her over to take pictures).

I think tomorrow I will try taking some more macro shots using the flowers I bought for my mom today. There are only two kinds (two different bouquets), but she put them all together so hopefully I'll get some nice shots of those.

I must say I had a great time taking pictures today. I've loved photography for awhile now, even though I don't always take the best pictures. I used to have a 35mm camera (semi-professional) and loved taking pictures with it. The only thing I didn't like was that you had to pay for the terrible shots as well as the good ones. Also, you could end up wasting a lot of film if you did take terrible ones. That's one reason I like digital - you can delete the photos you don't want!

I'll just post three of my favourite shots from today. Let me know what you think of them by leaving a comment. Hopefully I'll get some good shots tomorrow of the other bouquet. If I do, I'll try to post them over the next couple of days.

Until then, have a blessed and Christ-filled day!

Well, I've been back to school now for a week. Second semester started this past Monday, and I can tell already, from each and every syllabus I got, that it's going to be a busy semester again. However, I know I can do it. I got my marks in my mailbox (at school) on Monday, and I got an A+, an A- and four A's - not too shabby. The course requires you to get no less than a B or B- (I forget which offhand) average.

I've been continuing my Bible readings every night, but I must say that in many cases I have just been reading - no meditating or anything like that. That's not what I want to do. I want to get into the meat and potatoes of it all again, and get really grounded in The Word. So, I need to do something about that. I want to join a small group at church, but the only thing is most of them meet during the week in the evenings, and that's not a good time for me during the school year. The other ones also meet at times that don't work for me. And, I am in no position to start one up myself. I don't have the time to commit to being a leader or even hosting one. So, I guess for now, I will have to stick to the Sunday school class I'm attending - unless I'm able to get to a Bible study here and there during school.

I will say that recently I have been trying to memorize Scripture. Since starting the Sunday school class I'm currently involved with, I have memorized Ephesians 3:20-21 and all of Psalm 1. Not sure where I'm going from here, but I want to pick something else to memorize. I'm currently doing my Bible readings in the Psalms, so maybe something from there would be nice again.

Tomorrow I'm going to meet up with a friend from when I was enrolled in my B.A. at university. She was in a few of my classes. Anyway, she is a good photographer and since I'm relatively new to digital photography (though I did do some 35mm photography...took a course in it), and she said she'd help me taking pictures. We were thinking of going outside somewhere and taking pictures, but due to time constraints, we are just going to go buy a bouquet of flowers and she's going to help me practice macro photography with the flowers. She's also going to instruct me on some portrait photography too. I'm really looking forward to this. I enjoy photography!

Well, I guess I will end for now. It's getting a little late and I'm tired. I have to be over to her place for just after lunch. I'm not sure if her husband will be there (doesn't matter if he is), or her daughter. But, we have to finish before supper since she had to take her daughter to work for 6:00. I'll try to get on tomorrow and update about the photography session, and maybe even post some of my shots if they turn out decent enough.

Have a blessed, Christ-filled day!

Happy New Year!

Ok, so I'm a couple of days late posting my New Year's greetings. But, it is still early so I think it's fine to still be wishing a Happy New Year to everyone!

New Year's Eve was pretty quite for me. I stayed home and spent some quality time with Richard Dean Anderson! Ok, so he was actually on the screen of my laptop (I was watching season 1 of Stargate SG-1 yet again. Just finished watching season 10 of my DVD boxset recently so I started over.)...

We had some snow that started late in the eveing of New Year's Eve, and through the night it and the wind picked up. The storm stopped some time during the afternoon on New Year's Day, but the wind stuck around blowing snow everywhere. I was quite content both days to just stay home.

I've not really set any new year's resolutions. I never keep them. I would like, however, to start eating better, getting more exercise, spend more time reading my Bible and getting into it, develop a better prayer life, become a better friend, work more on my writing (take it a little more serious than I have been), and develop my photography using my new Pentax digital SLR camera. Are these resolutions? Maybe. But I prefer not to look at them that way - or I won't stick to it, hehehe.

School starts back up on Monday (the 5th), which reminds me...I need to check an email one of the profs sent all of us in the Ed. program. Two of the classes that start Monday are postponed until Wednesday and if I don't need to go, then I won't. I think, offhand, one of the classes affects me, but the other might not.

I'm not sure if I'm excited or not to start back for the second semester. I've worked from the day after school finished back on December 8th, right up until this past Monday, December 29th. So, I've only had four days vacation really. Part of me would like to have more time off to relax and not have to do anything; the other part hasn't made up its mind yet. But, regardless of whether or not I want to go back, I have to. January 5th marks the beginning of the second semester, and it's creeping up quickly!

Tomorrow I'm meeting up with Lorie and Sarah, the two girls I went to Korea with. We're going for coffee in the morning, and have some catch up time. Lorie is the only one of us who decided to stay in Korea another year. She was able to get a couple of weeks off to come home for Christmas, so that was nice. I think she has to go back very soon though.

Also, tomorrow sometime (depending on the weather and if it's too cold or not), I'm supposed to get together with a friend from university and go on a photoshoot. She's a good photographer and after I got my new camera, she said she'd take me out and show/tell me some hints and tips to take better pictures. Hopefully it won't be too cold and the weather won't be too bad; I'd like to go on the photoshoot.

Well, I'll end for now and hope you have a Christ-filled day/night! Blessings in Him!