(My friends are gonna hate me for posting these photos, but who cares!)

So, what’s with the title of this post?  I didn’t even fully know what Lent was until this past Sunday at church!  I know, I’m 28 years old and still didn’t know!  Anyways, the above statement, “Give it up for Lent,” is something I remember my good friend Gina saying quite often during the lenten season.  Gina was one of the many wonderful friends I was so blessed to be able to hang out with during high school.  We were thick as thieves, always at one another’s houses.  I distinctly remember, and I hope correctly, that when one of us would wish for something, or complain we didn’t have something, Gina would so kindly say, “Ah, give it up for lent!”  All I knew was that Lent was when my other friends would not have chocolate or coffee or something they usually ate for 40 days.

However, this past Sunday, my pastor, Keith Peck, explained Lent in such a way that made its meaning and purpose very clear to me.  He explained Lent as giving up something we rely on, something that makes our heart happy, something that we focus on more than Christ.  And in giving up that thing, we are better able to realize our need for Christ.  Here’s the kicker:  His challenge was to give up gossip for lent!  When you think about it, it sounds pretty easy.  However, when you put it the way Keith did, it’s gonna be tough!  He said, “I challenge you to fast from speaking about another person who is not in your presence with a negative intent, no matter if it is true or not. To only speak of people who are not in your presence in a positive light.”  Ouch!  That hurts because I know I am very guilty of talking about others in my nice sounding way, but with my ill meaning intentions hidden beneath the surface.  I am going to try to take on this challenge.  It’ll be my first observation of Lent.  I’ll let you know how it goes.  (Pray.)

I have to end with one more funny old photo of me and my friends.  Here we all are at the prom.

Consequently, Bryan, the dude in the middle, married Hannah, the girl to your left.  And in case you couldn’t tell, I’m the girl on your far left, in the dark blue dress.

Pam at work

Today I was given the opportunity to dip my toes back into the profession of teaching.  Although, this time, my student wasn’t a kindergartener, it was Pam.  Pam’s family and mine attended the same church for many years and I have gotten to reconnect with her daughter through the wonderful Facebook.  Right before Christmas, Leia (Pam’s daughter), contacted me about giving her mom some lessons on photography.  Now mind you, I don’t pretend to know all there is to know about photography, or to even know a little bit.  I pretty much get lucky in my opinion.  Nevertheless, I said yes and thought it would be fun to reconnect with Pam, and have some photo fun in these cold winter months.

We decided to take out a couple of newly engaged, soon-to-be-married, people that I happen to know!  Well, at least I know the male half of the couple.  CP’s dad was the pastor of the church I first attended when I arrived in Maryland in 1987, so I’ve known him for quite a while.  And he has grown up to be such a handsome, kind, wonderful man.  Know how I can tell?  It’s the way Sara gazes at him, cuddles up in his arms, and laughs at pretty  much everything he says and does.  I wish you both the best, and thank you for letting Pam & myself use you as our guinea pigs.

Thanksgiving, for me, is a time of celebrating all the blessings we’ve been given with our loved ones. This Thanksgiving I had the honor of photographing dear, dear friends, the Deterding’s. Chris & Patti have attended our church as long as it’s been in existence, and their children – Amy, Steve, & Jimmy – attended Annapolis Area Christian School with my husband’s family. Now, with all the children married, three grandchildren, and Grandma Kay, they are quite a bunch. The Deterding’s have always been a blessing to us, and I was excited to be able to bless them on their morning together this Thanksgiving. Enjoy your mini-preview!
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