Dandelions and Daydreams

Promise yourself some relaxing holiday moments.

This was on my Dove Promises wrapper last night.

The busy-ness of the Christmas will steal your joy and Christmas cheer. When you feel the pressure rising and the stress is stealing your joy, stop for a minute and relax.

What brings you joy during Christmas?

• Christmas carols
• Friends
• Blinking Christmas lights
• York Peppermint Patties
• Snowflakes

Make a list and check it twice. Christmas is a season of cheer.

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All this work…for what?

We live like each day is a crisis. Every moment we are in emergency mode.

Does it make you happy? Does it make you fulfilled? Are you satisfied with life?

STOP!

Everyone needs to rest.

Look back in time, I’m talking about way back, to the beginning of creation. On the seventh day, God rested. He made the seventh day a holy day of rest. Why? Because humans need to rest.

I work from home, I forget to take breaks, I eat lunch at my desk. Last week, Brenton and I had a talk, and he told me that I am a workaholic. He’s probably right…okay, he is right.

I made a plan, 30 minutes of business, 15 minutes of cleaning, 15 minutes of rest, rinse, repeat as necessary.

It doesn’t sound like much, I mean I’m only working 30 minutes an hour. But my productivity has shot through the roof.

We all need a cycle of rest. To stop working, and stop worrying about the things that need to get done, and just be still.

Have you had your break today?

Candid photography is, by its very nature, unplanned. Unlike posed photos, you will probably only get one chance at the shot, and you want to get it right.

I follow five basic rules for candid photography, and I want to share them with you today.

1. Use your Zoom

When a person knows that he is being photographed, he will stop talking and pose.  This is great if you want a posed photo but not such a good thing when you want a picture of Grandpa laughing with his grandkids.

To overcome this challenge, you need to take the photograph unnoticed.  Stand on the opposite side of the room and zoom in.  Take your shot from there.

2. Turn off your flash

I would say that basic principle of good candid photography is taking your shots without being noticed.

There is always someone in the group who doesn’t want her picture taken. As soon as the first flash goes off, she will make herself scarce.

If you are in a well lit room (preferably with natural light), turn off your flash and try taking some pictures using available light.   Don’t forget to turn your flash back on when you are ready to use it again.

3. Hold the camera low

The average photographer holds his camera up to his face and stares intently into the digital preview window as he snaps a few very posed photos.

When you hold your camera up to your face, it’s a dead giveaway that you are about to take a picture. Try holding the camera at chest or belly-button height to snap candid pictures.

4. Shoot lots of pictures

The beauty of candid photography is that the subjects are moving naturally.

The greatest challenging of candid photography is that the subjects are moving naturally.

What was the perfect shot turns into a funny face or someone’s back.  To get past this challenge, take photos, take more photos, and then take a few more just for good measure.

You might want to get extra memory for this one.

5. Remember, You only get one shot

In candid photography, you will probably only get one chance at the picture.

This has two implications for the photography.

First, learn to anticipate and prepare for the picture.  Observe what is happening around you.  You will learn to see a great photo that is about to happen.

Second, if you miss the shot, just move on.  Don’t dewll on the lost shot,  more good photo opportunities will come your way.

A Battle for the Heart
You are in a battle for your heart. Don’t ever forget that. This battle began the moment you accepted Christ into your heart. You made satan really mad that day!

When you feel beat up, and pushed down, remember that you are a warrior on God’s side. Satan would like nothing better than for you to not get up and fight.

The battle is ongoing, but there is an end. It ends when you go to heaven (through death or Jesus’ return). Until then, put on the full armor of God and fight the good fight.

If you don’t have time to read anything else in this carnival, please watch this video. And remember you are in a battle for your heart.
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Welcome to the December 17, 2007 edition of carnival of Christian women. When this carnival comes back, we will find ourselves in 2008!

e-Mom presents Relationships: White Elephants & Secret Santas posted at C h r y s a l i s. Exchanging gifts is a way of expressing and strenghtening our social ties. Take a look to find out what e-mom thinks about it. Bonus Video Clip–Angel Tree Ministry from GodTube.”

How do you feel about unexpected guests stopping by for a visit? Tea Party Girl presents You Don’t Have To Be Unprepared for Unexpected Hospitality posted at Tea Party Girl. Unexpected doesn’t have to mean unwelcome. Prepare your house for fellowship.

GP presents Dont Worry? be Happy posted at Innside Montana-Your Home at the Range. Set aside your unrealistic, perfectionistic views of the holidays and learn to be jolly this season.

Renae presents Searching for Snow Globes posted at Life Nurturing Education. How snow globes can teach a lesson about wanting success without effort.

Kim Staudenraus presents Identifing Safe People for Success of Self posted at Kim Staudenraus . com
>, saying, “How to recognize safe people, unsafe people, and how to see what is unsafe in yourself for self improvement”

kelly presents I am a liberated woman posted at {the ringpop bride}. A look at freedom.

Hopeful Spirit presents Holidays and Families: A Test of Character posted at On the Horizon, saying, “How are you handling the stresses of the holiday season? Sadly, this time of year is all-too-often rife with anxiety, consternation, and emotional upheaval because folks are expected to spend time with their extended families, as well as a variety of friends, neighbors, acquaintances, business associates, and, last but not least, fellow church-goers.”

Anna Farmery presents Who am I now?
> posted at Widows Quest. Finding yourself again after going through hard times.

That concludes this edition. Submit your blog article to the next edition of
carnival of christian women by December 31, using ourcarnival submission form.
Past posts, and future editions can be found on blog carnival index page.

I am sick and tired of being frugal, I’m sick of pinching every penny till it screams, I’m sick of never feeling like I have enough. I’ve been plagued by this disease of frugality my whole life, but money always slips through my fingers.

As a child, I worked hard to earn money. I set goals for what I was saving for, but I never kept the money long enough to make any progress.

And I’m Mad!

I am sick and tired of being tight with money and having nothing to show for it. I’m sick of the carrot always dangling out in front of me. I’m sick of never getting to eat the carrot!

This week I’ve been meditating on the first phrase of the 23 Psalm:

“The Lord is my Shepherd,
I shall not want.”

I’ve been approaching this money thing all wrong.

This isn’t my money to do with what I want. This is God’s money. He has made me His steward. I am caring for His money, and with that attitude shift, I must consider with each dollar that comes in, how He would have me spend it.

Are there any hard fast rules for this? I’m really not sure.

I shall not want, but what about the rest of the money?

photos: Joshua Davis, Tracy Olson CC-By-SA