I’m gonna be honest with you, internet readers, friends, stalkers, whoever you are.  I really don’t feel like writing this blog post tonight.  I actually just feel like shedding some tears.  I get this way from time to time, my husband will tell you.  And mostly there is no real reason.  I am just feeling overwhelmed…but all in positive ways.  My heart is on overload.

I took the above photograph during a quick trip to Target tonight.  I sometimes enjoy shopping alone, later in the evening, to just think, relax, and get stuff without little hands grabbing for things they “need!”  This guy greeted me in the bargain section, where things range from $1.00 to $2.50.  I picked up my little girls each a pair of white Easter gloves.  They love dressing up.

Then…that got me thinking…I’m about to leave my little girls for two whole weeks.  *gulp*  Fourteen days.  *sniff*  My family!  My heart is heavy with this burden, yet it also heavy with the burden of those people I will soon see & meet in Ethiopia.  There is a lot to be done, on my end.  My visa, my medications, packing, shopping, camera gear, recording bedtime stories for when I’m gone, loving on my husband while I’m here, etc, etc, etc.  But it’s good to stop and think that no matter how on “Target” I am on my end, nothing – absolutely nothing – will be able to prepare me for what God has for me across the ocean.  I am fully expecting to lean on Him as I cry for my family and as I cry for my new brothers & sisters in Ethiopia.  *sigh*  Pray for me, please.

Here’s a little video from last year’s group….

Brooke went on the potty today!  I’m not fooled into thinking she’s ready to potty train or even anywhere near ready.  I know better than that because her older sister fooled me at the same age & did not completely get it until 6 months later.  But, we saw this cute froggie potty at Target & she squealed about how cute it was & how she wanted to go pee pee on it!  And I got it  (sucker.)  She told Josh two times today that she wanted to go.  The funniest parts of this photo are: 1) Emma brought out the toilet paper roll for her and 2) she’s reading the book “I can read difficult words.”  Don’t know why they’re funny….they just were to me.

This is not a Neutrogena ad.  I decided to go out and buy my very own make up today!  My sister-in-law, Laura, showed me how to apply it all (and she’s very good at it) & I tried today to put in on myself.  I am needing a head shot for my support letters for Ethiopia, so I thought I better get all prettied up!  While Emma was in preschool this morning, Brooke & I sat on the floor of the make up section in Target & scoured over all the endless possibilities, shades, skin tones, lip glosses, etc.  We’ve decided I’m extra white white girl shade.  It was fun!  The lip color was too pink, but nobody screamed or ran away when they saw the rest of it.  I think I’ll call this a success.  Just a quick girl question:  Mascara on the bottom too, or just the top?  And eyeliner on the bottom?  Thanks friends!

Well, it seems that Christmas is officially over.  How do I know this?  When I went to Target to get an ornament storage  box & was greeted by bathing suits at the top of the escalator it was a pretty solid indication.  Bummer! 

This photo is a small part of the Christmas cards we’ve received this year.  I’ve always wanted to display my cards in some creative way, but having no fireplace mantle, I wasn’t sure what to do.  We had originally bought this red felt snowflake rope stuff to put around our Christmas tree, but Josh bought a ginormous tree & the rope barely made it half way down.   Emma & I decided to drape it along the ceiling with push pins & tie our cards on it.  It’s been great for the girls to be able to check the mail each day & hang up new cards from friends & family.  Thanks so much for sending us your cards this year.  We’ve loved getting a glimpse into your lives!  I am going to keep this snowflake rope up for a few more weeks just to remind us of all of YOU!  (ps – if you didn’t send us one & still want to, get that sucker in the mail, pronto!).

On a camera related note, I’ve been practicing Amy Wenzel‘s advice & moving my focus points to where I want the focus to be instead of focusing on a spot & reframing my view.  It’s super neat!  Just a small trick, but I like trying it out.  I’m not too fast just yet, but I’m working on it.  I need to learn my camera’s buttons by heart first!

Photos I’ve been looking at:  My friends!  I’ve been following my friends & fellow photographer’s 365 projects.  Here’s a few:  Heather Grace Photography, Stacy Richardson Photography, Stevie T Photography.  If you’re out there & starting or continuing a 365 project, or a 52 week project, let me know!  I WANT to see it!  Thanks!  That’s all.

]]> http://www.mandysrokaphotography.com/2010/01/2010-image-4-goodbye-christmas/feed/ 3 http://www.mandysrokaphotography.com/2009/09/learning-to-shoot/ http://www.mandysrokaphotography.com/2009/09/learning-to-shoot/#comments Fri, 11 Sep 2009 17:48:40 +0000 mandysroka http://www.mandysrokaphotography.com/?p=7064 Now for those of you who read the title of this post and thought we might be teaching our children to shoot guns, that would probably be for my brother’s blog, not mine.  Although I was raised around guns in the wild state of Oklahoma, I don’t know how to shoot that kind of device…just a camera, and the occasional water gun.

I decided to take some photos for just the fun and love of it (thanks for the reminder Tasra) and decided my girls were good subjects.

When I was at Target (when am I ever NOT at Target) I saw these really cute Paul Frank rain coats & umbrellas.  Unfortunately they were only toddler size so they just fit Brooke.  Emma, in her short four years, has stretched up to the big girl’s size 5/6!  So we got the raincoat & umbrella for Brooke, but what kind of mother would I be if I left Emma out!  I scoured the Internet for raincoats with matching umbrellas for-ev-er!  Every thing was super cute, but super expensive! (for my taste)  I finally found the Melissa & Doug Sunny Patch Mollie & Bollie polka dot lady bug pattern.  It fit Emma perfectly – size & personality!  She loves walking around with her umbrella folded up like a “walking stick,” posing, tapping, and just looking cute.  Brooke isn’t quite as in to the fashion aspect of her ensemble, but it keeps her dry.

As I was taking photos of the girls, they asked to use the camera too.  So, I finally said, “Sure!”  And as you’ll see below, they did a pretty good job.  Enjoy my kids playing “rain” in their wet weather gear…and no, it wasn’t raining.  We were just practicing for a day like today.

Under her umbrella-ella-ella-ella

Brooke took this one of Emma.  Look at that bokeh!  She just needs better framing.

Emma took this one of Brooke!

I took this one!  Aren’t you equally as proud of me too?

Another Emma shot.  I see where she gets her inability to smile correctly…ugh!

Another Emma shot – looking good girl!

And our tree stump + timer took this one.  Not bad either!

Oh, and I purposely left of the “logo” so grandparents can swipe these, like they usually do.  You know who you are Amaw, Grandpa, Gigi, Pop Pop, Papa, & Nanny!

(sorry for those of you who read our Family Blog…these photos repeat)

While there is about 6 or more inches of snow outside right now, we did have one semi-warm day last week.  The girlies and myself took advantage of it and went outside to play with some bubbles.  The last time Emma, my oldest, blew bubbles, she wasn’t very good.  In fact, she got super frustrated so we purched one of those automatic bubble blowers from Target that looked like a hippo.  It has since died, and Emma wanted to try blowing bubbles the real way this year.  She did a pretty good job.  Brooke, on the other hand, didn’t even try to blow and at times seemed afraid of the bubbles.  However, like in everything else, she began to copy her big sister and laugh & chase the bubbles after a while.  Here they are enjoying their day!  Now you can feel sorry for the three of us stuck inside, especially if you are reading from an area that has more spring-like weather!