Practicing Gratitude 5 of 31 | 101 in 1001

Hi, today I am feeling grateful my prayers have been answered and even for the unanswered prayers!
Take Care. Best wishes, Debra
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October in review:

Hi, today I am feeling grateful my prayers have been answered and even for the unanswered prayers!
Take Care. Best wishes, Debra
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Hi, today I am thankful for the beautiful life experiences God has given to me. Here is just one of them, witnessing a just born calve!
Take Care. Best wishes, Debra
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Hi, day 2 I am grateful for my husband’s kindness for others. He visits Facebook daily. Usually at the end of his day. One evening he saw a post from a high school classmate. The classmate lives in a trailer that suffered wind damage from a recent storm. She had asked for help with the skirting. It had come loose and requested any help. She was not able to afford to pay for the labor at the time. My husband volunteered to assist with the repairs. Well, there was a second storm and she was in a similar situation. Again she posted to Facebook and Kevin volunteered.
Time had passed since the storms. The classmate recently texted Kevin. She had purchased a gift card at a local pub for him and me. I thought this was very considerate of her to include me. Kevin and I had a tasty lunch date because of his kindness for others!
WW Update:
Since Start Date; -22lbs
Take Care. Best wishes, Debra
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Hi, have you ever had a love hate relationship with your favorite hobby or past time favorite? One of my friends had asked me, “What will happen when you don’t like taking pictures?” I never imagined that would happen to me. However, it did happen. Since I was 19 when I bought my first 35mm Minolta camera, my camera was always at my side. I carried it everywhere. Co-workers I worked with began to ask me to take engagements pictures. My boss had me take the store’s Employee of the Week pictures for our store’s bulletin board.
My daughter’s senior year, the empty nest syndrome began to affect me. Oh, I laughed it off, but this was a serious thing for me. This is when I really became active in taking images for a profession. High School senior pictures was my focus. Most of Erika’s classmates let me photograph their senior pictures! The humbling feelings I had at the graduation ceremony when the students images were displayed on the gymnasium wall was immense.
High School Senior Pictures soon evolved to include Family Sessions and then on to Wedding Portraits. The photography took the place of the time I had spent up at the school house while both of my children were participating in their after school activities, my social time. At that time I dreaded the nacho chili cheese from the concession stand. What I would give to have that now!
Fast forward to the present. As I sat in my weekly Weight Watchers meeting, our group leader wanted us to think of the things we were grateful for throughout the next week. I am grateful for my photography! Presently I am not marketing my photopraphy services. Two of my high schools friends were going to get married. One of my 101 in 1001 goals is to be a wedding crasher. My goal fulfilled! My nerves had gotten to me. At one time I could work my camera blindfolded. The day of their wedding, what once was automatic, I had to concentrate and some I forgot. Thank goodness, I did take more than one camera with each camera having a different lens size, focal length. This post’s images were taken with my iPhone. Later I will post the album I have designed with my “main” camera of the wedding day.
I would have never thought about having my wedding at a restaurant. This was both the bride and groom’s second marriage. Their wish was a simple wedding with family and close friends. They were successful! It was just that and more. Beautiful setting, wonderful weather. The room for the wedding was the back porch area that was opened to the outdoors. The doors were left open, and the fall breeze drifted thru. If I were to market my services for weddings, middle age couples getting married for a second time would be my targeted demographic! 🙂
WW Update:
Since Start Date; -19.6lbs
Take Care. Best wishes, Debra
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Hi, have you ever had a day where you just feel real good? Today was such a day for me. Nothing spectacular happened, just several nice things. First was my Weight Watchers meeting. I am truly enjoying this more with each passing week. Meeting new people. Now that I am working from home, I miss the socialization I once had. WW has given me a much needed outlet.
My blog has also been a blessing. While creating mine, I have found new blogging friends. One such friend is Dee with GrammysGrid.com. I say she is a friend because she has been a tremendous resource. She just makes me feel good by making me feel important, always answering any questions I may have about my website, software and such. Not to mention her prompt replies to the comments I add to her posts, that in itself makes me feel important.
As I have mentioned in prior posts, I had taken many senior portraits, family session, engagement pictures and weddings for 20 some years. I have since slowed down, only doing an occasional shoot here and there. This weekend was one of those here and there’s.
What lead up to this weekend was when I was on Facebook and saw a high school friend had just gotten engaged to another high school friend (Cris and Todd). Well, one of my 101 in 1001 goals (#99) is to be a wedding crasher. No bashfulness, I asked them when and where they were getting married. Does inviting yourself count as a wedding crasher? 🙂 I was flattered when they asked me if I would take their wedding pictures. Of course I said yes! We took a few engagement pictures this weekend.
Then I met my son, we filled his medicine pillbox, had lunch and then did grocery shopping. Our usual Saturday stuff. Always have a nice time with him. Then I drove home. As I was getting close to home, I had to pull the car over and take this picture.
Standing on the gravel road, looking at my husband’s and my home, I felt good. Still do when I look at this picture. My whole day was a feel good day. Driving down the road and seeing this, just made my day even better.
I have so much to be grateful for, and by the Grace of God, I can enjoy this for many more years with my husband. Amen!
May you enjoy a feel good day!
WW Update:
Since Start Date; -14lbs
Take Care. Best wishes, Debra
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Happy Father’s Day.
Hi, Happy Father’s Day to all dad’s, step-dad’s and grand dad’s!
I spent Father’s Day with my dad yesterday. It was a wonderful day. He requested Kentucky Fried Chicken for lunch. My son, daughter and her family joined us at my folks house.
Some fun facts about Father’s Day.
A. There are 1.5 billion fathers worldwide. 66.3 million of those father’s are in the United States.
B. Father’s Day is the fifth-largest card-sending occasion in America with almost 100 million Father’s Day cards sent each year.
C. Only 50% of all Father’s Day cards are purchased for dads
Take Care. Best wishes, Debra