Christmas card 2011

I made our family christmas card this year... we saved a whopping $13!!! I love saving money for my family!

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Never before

*note: I use Photoshop Elements 7*

Today I am branching out into the blogging world and posting an editing "how-to."
Scary. I know.

It's fall, and in NC our grass in brown/dead. As I said in my last post, we did an impromptu one year photo shoot with my little sister.

Well, I wanted the grass to be green in one specific picture.

This one:

After some editing it turned out like this:

Here's how I did it.

1. Make sure your "background" layer is unlocked.
2. Create new layer (Layers, new layer)
3. Click paint brush and select the closet green to the color you'd like
4. "color" all around the grass area where you want it to be green change the opacity to 25% or what looks good to you
5. flatten the image!

After this I normally adjust the color curves and the shadows also I play around with the sharpness. 

Have fun! 

Photo Challenge- Fall

My sweet little sister turns ONE in 3 days!
We did an impromptu photo shoot in our front yard with a pumpkin :)

Luckycann bag giveaway!

Hi everyone! My friend Christy is hosting a giveaway! and I'm entering to win :)

Humbled

Today at Journey Pastor Smooth talked about the Parable in Luke 18. The parable of the Tax collector and the Pharisee. My favorite point was this  “I tell you that this man, rather than the other, went home justified before God. For all those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted.” (Luke 18:14)
Ouch, my toes. 
I need to be more humble and let God work rather than 'trying' to handle the aches and pains of teenage drama. :)


Lord, humble my spirit. and work through me how you'd have me to serve you. 
Amen

Dream

Last night, I had the most real dream EVER. So real, it was almost scary.
It was about Christ's return. Yeah, I know.

Anyway, all those who were Christ followers were on a mountain top, gathered together. All nations, cultures, singing praises in all different languages. The sun started setting. It was the most beautiful sunset I think God has ever created(His son was coming for pete's sake). Then it went pitch black, the music stopped. Next thing you know, there was a loud trumpet blast and balss of fire feel from the sky then as quick as they came, they left.. Taking a family with it. One at a time, God came and took a family to be with Him in heaven. It was the most amazing thing. Too real to believe.


Then, I woke up cause I had to get ready for church. I would have loved to have never woken up.. or better yet, be IN the dream. Can't believe God allowed me to see the image that someday, will happen. Too bad I didn't see His face.

Guess this kinda goes with my post last Sunday about a "King on His way."

Thank you God for your faithfulness. and kindness. Thank you for ALWAYS being there and being our intercessor. We love you.

King on His way

There is a King coming. His Name is Jesus Christ and He's coming back. That's right, he's already come once... The first time, to save us, the second time to take us Home with Him!

Praising God this week as a team from our Church left for Uganda, Africa yesterday to tell more people about Jesus so when he does come back, the people across the world can come with us to Heaven too! 

7 months...

Kristian Amity will be 7 months on the 15th! There is no way her first year is almost over. Here's a little flash back:
November 15th 2010

December 26th 2010

January 15th 2011

February 15th 2011

March 15th 2011

April 15th 2011

May 14th 2011

May 31st 2011

MY best shot!

The Paper Mama

Picture overload

We went to the beach on April 2nd.

Then today I had a little photo shoot with Amity 

Photo Challenge- Sweet

The Paper Mama

I thought I wanted to be famous...

Turns out the famous I wanted to be was NOT the one I thought. I always wanted to be a rock star. (I know. Laugh) I was really meant to be famous for Jesus!
Yesterday our homeschool group went to a place called "With love, from Jesus." It was amazing.

What a team we had! 

Note: I am changing my blog around. Notice the new blog header, but please please ignore the sorry job of cropping on the right side :)

Funny

I find it funny how I NEVER post and when I do post I post like 2-4 times in a day. (kinda like facebook)
Anyway, I figured it was time to enter another photo challenge. My mom reads "Our State." In the issue this month they were talking about the yearly photo contest! Oh my! The winner gets a Canon EOS T2i. That would be amazing,
Anyway, here are my entries:

Black and White~

Landscapes and Places~

People~

Animals~

Go to www.ourstate.com and print your entry form!

Guess who turned 4 months on the 15TH!!

My little Stinker Winker can NOT be 4 months old already.
She needs to stop growing up or her sissy is not gonna like it.

Birth:

One Month:

Two Months:

Three Months:

Four Months:

Amity~

I love you sweet girl. 

You tried your first "food" on Thursday, carrots, you weren't too fond of them. Daddy gave you your first bite of it. You are my best friend. I can tell you anything and in faith knowing you won't tell anybody, not only because you cant talk but because I trust you. 

Be strong little one. 

Love, Ashee

Motivation and the Holy Spirit

I have little to no motivation when it comes to photography or blogging (or exercising). Anyway, I saw chalk laying on the driveway and thought of a picture.. here it is:

Then I went and sat in the drivers seat of the car (where I should not be) and took some pictures in the sideview mirrors. (I'll upload those later). 

Then I saw my sunglasses.. here's what came of it: 

Talk about motivation. I guess it all Came from HIM.

_____________________________________________________________________

Every week, I teach the younger kids at our home school group, and well, lets just say I was NOT prepared at all. I do have a book of bible stories. I also normally bring a bag of paper and crayons. I had a plan just to pick a story and let them draw a picture about it. 

Little did I know, God would MOVE in me. 

"YOU."

 That was the subject that stood out most as I was looking on the page of contents. 

Oh my. "This will be good." I thought. "I'll run with it and see what happens." 

Oh goodness, God moved big time. Psalm 139. 

I read it to them.. stopped every few verses and explained what David was talking about. 

Did a few activities, and had them draw a picture of what they thought they looked like. 

I really think they got something out of it. (I did too) Sure, they are 4, 3 and 2 but still, they listened... I know they did. 

Photo Challenge... Red

I'll admit. I had NEVER been stumped on a photo challenge before.. until this week when I saw the theme for this week at The Paper Mama. RED.
Not that hard right? Wrong! I had NO pictures with a good resemblance of red. Until today.. When Amity was sitting in her Elmo walker. Oh my. LIGHTBULB! (My entry is the second one)

My red head baby sister :)

Driver's Ed.

SO today was my first day of drivers ed.
Let me just say i am VERY grateful I dont have to go to school everyday but that I can stay home and relax. :)

Fail..

So, when I first opened this I posted 6 times in one day... I haven't posted in like days so here I am :)

Amity is almost 3 months old! I cant believe that little stinker was born 3 months ago! 

Here are some pictures of her:

iPod for sale!

Hey everyone!

I am selling my 8GB 3^rd generation iPod touch for $150 (with charger and earphones).

I got it Christmas of 2009. The front looks almost new and the back just has a few scratches.  

I am also selling my 2 cases (1 pink & 1 black) with it.

There is nothing wrong with it I am just getting an updated version.

Email me at ashley@proverbs356.com

Thanks!!