Boots on the Ground- Our Team in Haiti

My husband has been busier than a one armed paper hanger- coordinating supplies, medicines, flights and personnel to Haiti.  Just a few days ago, he sent a team of doctors, counselors and volunteers (from our church) to help in the relief effort.  Kahuna was bummed that he couldn’t go with them.  My broken foot sealed the deal that he should stay home… this time. 

Every evening at about 5:00 the team calls on their sat phone and gives Kahuna an update.  Someone has an iphone and was able to send a few pictures, too.  They speak volumes…

This is Scott on the left.  He took most of the pics:

 

Fifteen days with a compound femur fracture and head laceration. Patient reported his pain was moderate. Tough guy.

 

Dr. Ian Armstrong neurosurgeon taking a break to love on the kids.

 

This is our dear friend Brian.

 

This is what Scott said while photographing this scene.  I thought is was so inspiring, “It's cool being a youth counselor to a kid you know is awesome...then he grows up and becomes awesomer. Dane in action.”

 

Dr. Jolie had the genius idea to write diagnosis and plan on kid’s cast, i.e. femur fracture remove cast march 26th. The info. will be vital for his check up.

 

Speechless.

 

A v-collapse and a pancake collapse side by side.

 

This sweet boy was helicoptered in from the mountains, malnourished...both parents gone.

 

A team member has fallen in love with him and is going to try to adopt him.

Don’t stop praying for Haiti. 

I Heard Him Yesterday…

My broken foot is really getting me down.  Seven more weeks of not driving.  I might be going nuts.  The orthopedist really got up in my grill and told me I was doing too much and that my foot won’t heal unless I just stop and rest. 

I’m not good at stopping.

I’m used to going 200 miles an hour with my hair on fire.

Isn’t that how everyone lives?

I have to just stop and pray

and try to be still

and listen to see if the Lord is trying to teach me something through this.

 

I heard Him yesterday.

He told me to cherish the quiet and still.

Take time to pray.

Memorize Isaiah 61:1.

 

Listen to my kids and not just say uh-huh.

Spoil my daughter a little

and take a 2:00 nap

together on my bed

-still wearing our jammies.

 

Be a little silly

even when it’s time to get serious.

 

But what He keeps reminding me of the most

is to give up control-

and cherish today.

How to Enhance Eyelashes in Photoshop Elements

Some friends have emailed to ask how to enhance/burn eyelashes using Photoshop Elements.  Let me just remind you that I am on a learning curve just like you.  If you know of a better way, please let me know!  I love learning new things!

Step 1:  Open up a favorite picture in your Elements program.  I chose this picture of Beach Bunny sportin’ her golden brown tan last summer.

 

Step 2:  Zoom in on your picture by holding down “control” and “+” (on a pc).  Click the burn tool (little, white hand).  If there is another icon instead of the hand, right click it and scroll down to the hand.

 

Step 3:  At the top of the screen select the pixel size (I chose 6 pixels) and the exposure (I chose 13%).  Exposure determines how dark we will burn the lashes.  I chose 6 pixels wide because that is about the width of Beach Bunny’s lashes.  There is a tiny circle in her pony tail.  That circle is 6 pixels wide.  I went over each lash.  It was kind of like applying a base coat of mascara.

 

Step 4:  I centered her picture to make sure that both sets of lashes were symmetrical.

 

Step 5:  Now with the burn tool still selected, I changed the pixel size just a tad smaller (4 px) and bumped the exposure up to 23%.  This “coat” will be just a bit darker.  In this step, I went over each lash again, but this time I drew on a few extra lashes.  Keep in mind, that subtlety is key.  I don’t want her to look like a child beauty queen.

 

Step 6:  I centered the picture again.  Now look for the sharpen tool.  It looks like a blue triangle.  If the icon isn’t there, right click it and select the triangle.

 

Step 7:  Select 18 pixels at 14%.  Now go over the eye lashes to sharpen them.  I also went over her eyes to give them a little more shine.  If you ever mess up on one of the steps, Elements is very forgiving.  Just click the “undo” button at the top right of the screen. It will undo your last edit, and then you can try again.  I like second (and third) chances!

 

Step 8:  Ta-da!  You’re done!  Just hit “control” and “-“ to zoom out.

 

Here is the final edit:

 

If you watch the picture (below) carefully, you will see the before and after of her lashes in animated form.  The differences are subtle, but it can enhance your subject’s eyes just enough to pop!

Go for it,

I Heart Faces- “We Are Family”

I had a fun opportunity to photograph a really cool family from Zimbabwe.  They are out here on “holiday” and had never had family pictures taken before.  The dad is hilarious and his personality is exactly like the Crocodile Hunter.  He even showed me a picture where he is wrestling a live 14 foot, 100 pound python!  He saved it from eating the family cat.  

I told the C. family that if they’d be my guinea pigs and let me practice my photo skills on them, they could keep the pictures.  I love that we were able to arrive at the beach at sunset.  It was a gorgeous night.

To see other family photos visit:

Because I Can’t Walk and Chew Gum at the Same Time

 

In a feat of unequivocal grace, I broke my foot today… metatarsal five to be exact.

Who breaks their foot walking…

on a field trip with 40 third graders?

I walked a mile on it after it was broken.

Probably not smart.

But I’m stubborn determined.

“Hey, look on the bright side,” I told myself.

“It’s time to get rolling on that 2010 deductible anyway.”

A Little Video For a Change

Hi, you guys!

A friend of ours just put together this video of our Mexico trip for our "reunion party" last night. All fifty of us (kids included!) had dinner together and shared our favorite stories from the trip.

The video begins with the children's Christmas party, then cuts to their Sunday worship service (which was so different from our home church- very refreshing), and then begins again as we're loading up the shoe boxes and ready to caravan down to Mexico.

There is a rockin' song by Hillsong playing during the video, Hosanna in the Highest. Sometimes I have trouble keeping my focus, so I think it's a good thing I can't get the lyrics out of my head. I decided to make them my prayer today.

Heal my heart and make it clean
Open up my eyes to the things unseen
Show me how to love like you have loved me

Break my heart from what breaks yours
Everything I am for your kingdoms cause
As I go from nothing to
Eternity

I Just Whipped up a Little Somethin’ Somethin’

Okay, so since I recently let you in on my dirty little secret, I’ve had a change of heart.  2010 is my year to try new things in the kitchen.  Nothing award winning… I just need to move beyond my pasta and chicken rut. 

So without further ado, here is a little somethin’ somethin’ that I whipped up for my hubby and me for lunch.  It was super easy- just my skill level.

Open Faced Tomato & Mozzarella Sandwich

I bought an Italian round (slightly crusty on the outside, soft on the inside) at the bakery.  I would love to learn how to bake this at home!

Then I made the scallion oil.  1/3 cup roughly chopped scallions…

…1/2 cup roughly chopped basil.  If you don’t like the flavor of basil, you can easily use Italian parsley leaves.  I’m a basil freak, though!

Add this great smelling mixture to a food processor.  This is the same mini processor which I used to use to make my kids’ baby food.  Ahh!  The good ol’ days.

Process until finely chopped. Then add 1/2 cup extra virgin olive oil and give that baby a whirl for a few seconds to combine.  Add Kosher salt to taste.  Can you smell that?  That’s what heaven smells like.

Now that the scallion oil is finished, slice fresh tomatoes…

… and fresh mozzarella.

Brush the bread with extra virgin olive oil.  I used organic olive oil because it automatically bumps up the “cool factor” like 10 points.

Now grill the bread for a few minutes on each side until lightly browned.  Sorry for the ugly picture… I was getting hungry!

To assemble the sandwich, rub one side of each slice of bread with a peeled garlic clove.  Place the grilled slices on a serving tray.  Arrange a slice of mozzarella and a tomato slice or two over each half slice of bread.  Spoon about a tablespoon of scallion oil over the tomatoes and  mozzarella and sprinkle with Kosher salt.

 

And there you have it.

A delish open faced tomato & mozzarella sandwich.  

Try it.

Your mouth will thank you.

Last Stop (Part 2 of 2) and Goal for 2010

I figured I’d better get this last Christmas post up fast since Santa’s officially been on vacay for two weeks. Nice.

After we loaded the kids up on sugar, we marched them into the church and had them line up to receive a Christmas shoe box. You could feel the anticipation in the air. This is how the girls lined up so sweetly…

…and this is how the boys lined up. It cracks me up how different boys and girls can be sometimes. Nice gang signs, guys!

This little cutie was so excited.

All the children patiently waited to open their gifts until everyone had a package to open.

And then the countdown began… 5, 4, 3, 2, 1… Open the gifts!

I wish I could post this picture bigger for you to see the detail in their faces. One boy towards the right had a total look of shock on his face, and one girl threw her arms up in the air with excitement. It was so loud and so fun.

They loved showing off all their new stuff. Check out the boys in the middle and their excitement for their friends.

This little guy squeaked with glee every time he pulled out a different gift from his box. It was the funniest thing.

I love the message on Kahuna’s shirt, but I laughed at the irony of his ensemble.

I watched in amazement as older siblings took care of younger siblings all evening long.

We talked about the real meaning of Christmas and that Jesus is our perfect gift. Then we played with the kids for a little while longer and walked them home.

I got the most encouraging comments about our family serving in Mexico. Thank you so much!! I loved them! These comments got me thinking. Mexico isn’t the only place to serve people in need. We all have people in our neighborhood or in our city that need practical help, a visit, or even just a word of encouragement. The important thing isn’t about going to a far away place, but that we have eyes to see the people in need around us… and that we are willing to do something to help. This is one of the main things that I want to model for my kids in 2010.

Encourage one another,