2011 Project 365 - # - Leroy Photography

Continuing to document my 365 day photo journal through 2011 and giving friends a glimpse of my boring but wonderful life.

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Cold, gray and dreary, that's how the day has been. But the birds have been hungry and not easy to scare off. I managed to catch this little bit of color in the grayness. We played hide-and-seek for a while and just as I decided to give up and get out of the cold, he peeked around the corner. Not the best shot, but good enough to bring me into the warmth of the house. Wrap up everyone, snow and ice is on the way!

The only photos I shot this morning were of sparrows--no colorful birds--and I didn't make it outside the office until late, so all I have to offer is a glimpse of the street on my walk to the parking lot. The top part reminds me of what it may have looked like at the turn of the century and the bottom, of course, shows cars and street lights of modern day. No stress; it's an adventure.

Mobile, Alabama

Surrender
Seems I've cried for weeks now, so today was no different. Our only child, Matt, made a tremendous decision and joined the U.S. Navy. I'm an Air Force brat, so my heart swells with pride to know that he will serve our great country, but I'm also a mom and there is a lot of trepidation in sending our son so far away from everything he knows--family, community, and friends.

You see, Matt is our beloved gift from God. In fact, his first name, "Matthew," actually means gift and his middle name, "David," means beloved. A few years after Dave and I married, we decided to begin a family, but circumstances arose which wouldn't allow us to have our own children, so we sought international adoption. After several years and several thousand dollars, we were notified that we had a daughter that would soon arrive from India. A few months later, we were told she had died in the orphanage. We were crushed. After a few more months and the death of another child, I cried out to God telling Him that I couldn't do it anymore. If He wanted us to have a child, He would have to make it happen. I surrendered to Him and He responded in a big way--within a few days, doors opened and our precious, two-day-old son was placed in our arms. From that point on, we have surrendered Matt to His loving arms knowing that He had a purpose for this blessed gift.

If you look back to my blog about Matt's birthday last year, you will see that the Bible verse I claimed for Matt was Psalm 139, which says, "My frame was not hidden from you when I was made in the secret place. When I was woven together in the depths of the earth, your eyes saw my unformed body. All the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be."

This morning, as I was sitting in my office, I reached for my Bible and hoped to find some scripture to speak to me and give me comfort about the decision Matt was making. My Bible opened to Jeremiah and I thought, "Oh, sure, Jeremiah 29:11, 'For I know the plans I have for you ..." but immediately my eyes were drawn to Jeremiah 1:4, "“Before I formed you in the womb I knew [or chose] you, before you were born I set you apart.” Here he speaks to Jeremiah telling him that He has prepared him for what he was called to do. God had just reassured me that he was in control. He had plans for our child and regardless of what happened in the future, He was in control. Wow!

Unbelievable! That’s what I want to say about the ways God has worked in our lives, but that’s not the right word because He is BELIEVABLE. My God is an awesome God. It’s nice to know that He works in my life and reveals Himself when I need confirmation.

My sweet, precious Momma celebrated her 69th birthday today. She's still like a kid when it comes to birthdays and loves the whole idea of family, cake, ice cream, and presents. Happy birthday, Mom! I love you truly.

BG tangled up in the vacuum cleaner cord--I couldn't have asked for a more appropriate photo to begin my new year.

I've been thinking about resolutions and plans for the new year. I usually don't make resolutions, but figured my resolution from 2010 was successful, so why not try another. So I resolved to untangle my life from the clutter and things that aren't needed--to simplify my life and give away, sell, or throw out anything that isn't used or necessary--to unclutter and untangle my life. Perhaps BG's photo-op is a good omen.

Cold, gray and dreary, that's how the day has been. But the birds have been hungry and not easy to scare off. I managed to catch this little bit of color in the grayness. We played hide-and-seek for a while and just as I decided to give up and get out of the cold, he peeked around the corner. Not the best shot, but good enough to bring me into the warmth of the house. Wrap up everyone, snow and ice is on the way!