In Case Any of You Have Been Wondering What We've Been Up to......

...the answer is OODLES & OODLES of LatchKey shooting + editing + editing + editing + editing + MORE editing! (With MORE shooting on the calendar, it just might be time to consider outsourcing that blasted editing, just saying.)

Isn't Mini-Me a doll?!

With what little time that's fallen outside of the above explanation being eaten up by LKP's radio gig at the big ol' bi-county fair, Back-to-School stuff galore, High School Booster Club swinging right back into session, 2015 parent fundraising committee picking up where it left off, switching Mini-Me over from Volleyball to her first year of Cross Country, getting prepped for Mini-Me's college schedule to kick in, Young Women/Mutual, finding Mini-Me's first car, barely sleeping and preparing for THIS:

Also have new simplified pricing in place now, specifically for our senior shoots (complete WITH a stylist!!!):

 
As well as some "What to Wear" info in a few places:

LatchKeyPhotography on POLYVORE.COM

LKP What-To-Wear on PINTEREST.COM

If you know of any 2014 Seniors in the Mid-Columbia (Eastern WA) who could use some quick & affordable Senior Pic options, pass the LatchKey Photography 10-IN-20 event info above along won't ya please?  They'll want to schedule ASAP as 9/28 will be here soon, and appointments are limited that day. 'Tis the season & yearbook deadlines will be here before we know it!

Now, with that,  gonna take a deep breath and get back after it.  If you don't hear from us in a while & notice smoke rising from this corner of the interwebs know that it's just LKP editing away!  TOODLES & L♥VE!!!  ::hugs::

A Break from Your Normally Scheduled Program...

So, yeah, the teenager stayed over at a friend's house tonight.  Lemme tell ya, it's a BIG deal! 

Our family rules until now have been ZERO sleepovers, unless family... and even then, since most of her cousins are dudes, there hasn't been much family sleepovers in her short life.  The new rule is, ONLY with those friends who don't set off Mom & Dad's internal alarms (which came custom-ordered along with our moral compasses --- what do you mean you didn't get that feature?!  Look harder, betcha its there).  And if, for some reason, Mom or Dad have a "gut feeling" of 'NO,' then there is to be no argument.  Otherwise we go back to ZERO sleepovers at all.

She's elated!

So, Mini-Me's at a friend from church's place tonight, being wild & crazy, but still civilized & well-mannered (I hope).  Therefore, Mr LKP took me out on a hot date to see the movie, "The Impossible."  It's based on a family's true story from the 2004 Tsunami in Thailand. 

Heart wrenching in some places, it was also humbling in all places.  Worth the watch.  Loved it so much, I will most likely take Mini-Me to see it with us.  "The Impossible" is a beautiful, harrowing story about this family's closeness & strength... and I especially appreciated the priceless bond between mother & child.  That was about as real as a movie can get.  Well done, to Summit & Lionsgate, as this is a much needed flick.

Following the movie, Mr LKP then whisked me away to snag a few minutes at Barnes & Noble before it closed for the evening.  While there, he picked up my valentine for me "One Light Flash: Professional-Quality Lighting on a Budget" by John Denton & Adam Duckworth. 

It.is.awesome.

Never hurts to go through some fundamental methods already in use, and brush 'em up so additional shooting techniques are more refined & polished.  I was over the moon, for him as well for his perfect gift choice.  So much so, that when we came home & crawled in bed, I simply HAD to crack it open! 

And just like that, 20 minutes to midnight, a stroke of dangerous inspiration came about (dangerous in my mind since I'm not usually inclined to just jump on an idea.  I usually prefer to instead allow the idea to marinate into perfection.  The spontaneous pouncing on an idea usually leave so many crude, and mangled loose ends.  We all know that loose ends don't jive with my OCD).  At the kitchen table, there I was in my underwear, with all the supplies to craft my own SNOOT! 

This is big, peeps. 

For some reason I had never thought I should venture into creating my own light modifiers.  I have friends who have.  Which is all well and good for them, but for some reason I just assumed that was something I couldn't do, and had resolved to eventually purchase one.  Guess I felt I needed some magic knowledge or some formal training in order to mickey ose something spectacular all my very own.  Not already having that knowledge (aka being a serious KNOW-IT-ALL) intimidates me.  Makes me withdraw back into my hermit shell, since risk of being wrong or disappointed frightens the daylights outta me!

So not only did I make something phenomenal about an hour ago, I faced a fear head on!  Hurray!

(BTW, snoots are FAB news when it comes to subject isolation in a shot.)

So, do you think it worked out okay?

Ready for the crude, fraying, loose ends that would normally wig me out in general, let alone showing the world?  Here's the VERY simplistic set-up:

(Embarrassed beyond belief over here.)  However, despite my embarrassment, I hope you can see how exciting it is to feel I have a firmer grasp on controlling light how I'd like it to work for me.  You'd never guess, besides from the use of my dining chair & this blog post, that this was simply shot under my kitchen table!  Can't wait to improvise some more. 

:)

In Other News

Had a fun family shoot last week and, as a result, 

a larger workflow which I've been chipping away at this week.

Have been gutting & re-organizing the teenager's room of all the stuff she doesn't know what to do with, so instead it's been stock-piling.  Hard work.  The most rewarding part, though, is hearing her say how much more she likes her life when it's purged of all the distractions & confusion.  

Just thinking...can't we all relate to that statement?

Lastly, I'm prepping for this week's lesson on self-discipline.  

Should be a good one, and in my humble opinion, the timing couldn't 

be better since the girls are gearing up to start a new year of school in a matter of days. 

Almost forgot, infertility treatment efforts have started... and oh yeah, I cut my hair! 

(La-la-la-LOVE it!)  Liberation from oppression of any form is delicious... even if it's just from a dusty old womb or too much lackluster hair.  Feeling like myself again!

(Those are sunglasses, NOT headgear - lol!)

So that's our most current update from the Ranch.  Hope all's well with each of you. 
Please keep your fingers crossed for us & maybe a baby. 
Plus, feel free to use the handout below if you find it pertinent to your needs.  ::hugs::

Self-Discipline Violin Handout 4perPG

Snappin' & Hoppin'... and Snappin' & Hoppin'.

That's been my life lately. I confess, I LOVE it that way!  (Not the living life frantically part, but the snapping like crazy part.)  Safe to say things have been busy on the LatchKey Photography front.  Hence the snap part.

I've been so blessed to have been able to keep my shutter flying.  Whenever my camera bag sits collecting dust too long, my artistic side feels stifled.  Makes me sad.

So THIS busy-ness brings me joy.

It also helps having lovely, adventurous people to photograph... sends my creativity through the rough!  :)

So if you feel you can spare a moment or so, hop on over to the LKP site to see what's shakin' & bakin'.

::hugs::

(Lil' Miss Jordyn is perfect in every way.  10 precious fingers, 10 precious toes, and 1 thoroughly ecstatic family to finally have her here.  For more from her shoot, go here.)

(Mr LKP was my assistant for this shoot.  As you can see, it was NOT a boring time; the group of us simply had too much fun!  For more from Miss B's shoot, go here.)

Calling it What it Is

In Beehives today we discussed Lesson #31 (from YW Manual #1), "Group Activities: A Basis for Wise Dating."

How do you teach the wisdom of this to 12 and 13 year old girls... who most of still think boys have cooties?  ...And the few who no longer stress about cooties, have already chosen to date early?

Dating is a hard subject at this age.  But broach it, as well as the consequences of not following the prophets' counsel (= commandments from Heavenly Father), we did.

Rather than dwelling too much on the group dating aspect of the lesson, instead the discussion seemed to focus on not dating at all until the appropriate time.  We called it what it is: early dating = disobedience to commandments & unnecessary risk at this age.

Impressively, the girls handled it well and were QUITE engaged in this lesson.  We laughed & talked turkey.  Not one of them seemed shy about asking questions, nor were they unable to grasp the gravity of possible consequences that follow (such as teen pregnancy)... not to mention what sacrifices may have to be made if they were to choose to date earlier than Church standards or their parents' rules.  Definitely brought a wave of relief over me that they were "getting" it.

So the companion handout for today's lesson (tastefully) did not mince words:

On top of the lesson, each girl was given a quote from the lesson to ponder, study out, and pray over for the next week.  From that quote and study, each girl was asked to record their thoughts, official stand on dating & personal declaration of their standards regarding the temptation to date early.  The hope is that this lesson will stick, and their documented declaration of obedience will be more powerful in their lives than the temptations which they will eventually face.

I will say that I loved this lesson.  My touched heart was poured into it.

Even one of my favorite quotes, from one of my new-favorite movies, came to my mind & was incorporated into the lesson (from Courageous):  


"You can't go out on a date with anyone until they come talk to me, and they have no business talking to me until your 17. If a boy has asked you to go anywhere with him, it's a date." -Nathan Hayes  (emphasis added)

(If you haven't seen that movie yet, do it.  The full conversation that character has with his daughter is priceless & quite validating!) 

And if you haven't taught this lesson yet, or feel it would be a great Family Night lesson, feel free to use the handout printables below.

Pearing Up Recipe for Disaster 5perPG

***OH!  And by the way, got to spend a beautiful Friday morning photographing the most splendid little miracle baby this past week.  You should go see how lovely the session turned out with Lil' Miss J!***

Polyvore, How I Love Thee...

Have you found polyvore.com yet?

You HAVEN'T?!

Well, let me just say, "Ployvore, where have you been all my life?"

No lie.  Love it.

I blame this love-affair on my cousin.  Her fault.  She introduced us.  'Nuff said.

So, yeah, polyvore.com?  It's like paper dolls on crack!  And we all know that we secretly miss paper dolls.  There's something simply fabulous about unlimited 2-D fashion & design.  Completely knocks the socks off of Barbie dolls.  Just sayin'.

Paper dolls aside, this is THE best fix for a habitual collager, like myself!  My mother can verify that I was a fiend for magazines + scissors + paste, glue sticks, scotch tape, OR  even rubber cement for practically my entire young life.  Notebooks, folders, construction paper, phone books, textbook covers - nothing was sacred!

For the record, you should also know that I'm not one who ever needs a shopping fix.  Cause I can't ever fit into the clothes at the store anyhow, therefore I cringe at the idea of recreational shopping.

Instead of being a serious marathon shopper, I'm more like a make-ya-laugh-until-you-pee-your-pants kinda shopper.  Here's evidence to prove the trouble I stir up when out retailing:

Told ya.  I need professional help. 

Anyhow, back to polyvore.com, this site beats the pants off shopping in person for me since I don't stress about proper-fit, as it's more like a game... or like a puzzle.  And shoot, it's less depressing cause if I'm just not feeling the ensemble, then I wipe my canvas clean or I tinker with stuff until it's TOTALLY my personality.  No more worries like this, "Gosh that would be so cute IF the store had this other item in my size... or color... or, what do you mean my size is back-ordered at the vendor's warehouse?!"

The other great part is I'm able to identify what pieces I desperately need or am madly in love with.  So when I do have to replenish the wardrobe (or buy new due to my increasing waistline) then I can get in, get what I'm loving, and get out!  Now that's my idea of shopping.

Another benefit is for those of us who haven't the sharpest memory anymore.  I need post-it notes on EVERYTHING these days!  Therefore I even need reminders even of what I like. 

Get me in a store and I'm a deer in the headlights.  ZWOOSH!  My memory's completely swept away, and I have been known to be found mumbling to myself & drooling slightly, in a very anti-cute way. 

Therefore, I love these little polyvore boards/sets with a quick link for them saved to the homescreen of my smarter-than-me phone.

If I find myself struck dumb, I can at least press some buttons & ...presto-change-o!... produce visual images that a sales associate can help me identify on the floor.  Kinda like those large "point-to" menus at MickeyD's?  Yep, same concept. 

The other thing I love about it is the brilliant resource it's become for my LKP photog clients! 

Polyvore makes communicating wardrobe & styles for shoots so much more concise.  My clients can whip up some polyvore sets of their own, that way I can encourage or discourage some of their selections.  Saves time & tears, compared to waiting UNTIL the shoot to find out that things are clashing or are all wrong!  Not to mention there's, now, no longer the need for me to crash their inner-sanctums or to raid closets in order to help.  Everyone's bubbles are safe, intact, and people are insanely happy about this (mostly me)! 

Alas, poor Pinterest will just have to wait, until I'm less-fascinated with this new time-suck. 

Go ahead, click on the link to polyvore.com.... you know your interest is peaked.  :)

Toodles!

Smashing Details from This Week

Honestly, my brain's still a bit fuzzy.  That side-effect I would've expected would have faded by now, since the Lupron injections have been over for more than a month now.  That junk should be out of my system by now.  I will say, however, that the craziness has lessened.

Despite the hormones no longer pumping through my veins, my memory's still fogged.  Only thing I can figure is that its still a bit jumbled from the accident.  Occasionally there are still headaches... but those symptoms & a little bit of residual back stuff is all I think is left from April.  So that's good news.

The reason I mention all this is simply because I cannot recall what I've done this week besides 4 things.  Mind you, I'm sure TONS had occurred, since my calendar is always jam-packed.  However what has been most memorable has obviously been on the skinny side.

1)  I spoke about Personal Revelation in Sacrament Meeting last Sunday.  I was a nervous wreck for all the prep time, but when it came time to take my place behind the mic, all my nerves settled & I believe the Holy Ghost directed the rest from there.  Actually, I don't just believe that, I KNOW that.  I'd share my talk here, however I cannot duplicate it.  But I can share with you the sources I used:  the 9th Article of Faith, "Be Your Best Self" by Thomas S. Monson, the Bible Dictionary's entry on "revelation", "How to Obtain Revelation and Inspiration for Your Personal Life" by Richard G. Scott, "God Wants a Powerful People" by Sheri Dew, Matthew 16:16-18, D&C 18:10, D&C 88:121; Moses 1:39, plus additional quotes from Marion G. Romney, Richard G. Scott, and Spencer W. Kimball.

“Our Heavenly Father did not put us on earth to fail but to succeed gloriously…Sometimes we unwisely try to face life by depending on our own experience and capacity. It is much wiser for us to seek through prayer and divine inspiration to know what to do. Our obedience assures that when required, we can qualify for divine power to accomplish an inspired objective."  -Elder Richard G. Scott, LDS General Conference April 2012.

2)  I shuttled Mini-Me back & forth like crazy into town for Driver's Ed classes, drives with one of her instructors, and to bid farewell to her BFF who will be a foreign exchange student in Germany for the next 6 months!  (They are just growing up too quickly for my mama-heart.)  There has been some hyperventilation on Mini-Me's part, and tears for both of them.  But it'll be a strength-building experience for both of them to stand on their own... and at least it'll only be 6 months!  :)

3)  I helped out at my old orthodontic office for a morning.  It was a zoo, we were so incredibly booked with school just around the corner!  Yet it was great to get in some belly-laughs with my office & clinic girls.  Smiles & laughs make the soul stronger, so when storms come they're easier to weather through.

4)  Mr LKP was my glamorous assistant on THE best senior shoot!  (Mini-Me is usually my stand-by assistant, but she was in driver's ed that night.)  This girl we were working with was a photog's dream come true.  She moved so easily and with such poise, that really every single of the 250 shots were phenomenal shots!  You should definitely check out her TWO preview posts over at www.latchkeyphotography.com

(Find the original post for Miss L here.)

(Find the encore post for Miss L here.)

So there you have it.  Busy week.  More important than busy, it's been a very fulfilling week!  Hope yours has been fulfilling as well.  ::hugs::

How to Make a Mom Cry for LESS Than $8

...so there's been some shuffling around within our ward's YW presidency lately.  Due to the switcheroos + circumstances, last Wednesday night's activity for the Beehives fell into some bewildered hands, on somewhat short notice (those hands being mine & those of our new presidency member, Karla - who is new to YW's altogether, as her only girl is just 6 years old... and the two of them are outnumbered by 4 or 5 guys). 

Originally the plan was for a crochet craft to go down, so the girls would have something awesome to make & gift to their moms for Mother's Day on the 13th.  Problem is, I don't crochet.  Well, at least not more than a single-hook crochet snake/rope/string/clothesline thingy, that HAS been known to go on for almost miles.  

Besides tying up younger brothers with, what is THAT craft good for... amma-right?!

So we wiped the slate clean of our previous activity plans, and the girls got to plan out some really exciting ideas they've been hankering to run with.  That part of the evening went off without a hitch, but that's because Karla's amazing like that.

The craft part of the evening was in my hands.  

So.... I did what I know, which is photography.

Tinkered around with a lighting set-up the night before to achieve something like this:  

Then at Mutual, I got real fancy with my lights + some of the Reilef Society's white tablecloths + a chalkboard.  The girls learned some photo & posing basics, as shown below:

(It's hard to tell if they had a good time or not.....)

We then proceeded to crank out the photo portion of this super affordable Mother's Day craft.  Was extremely fun!  So why don't we get on to all THOSE details, right?  K, here we go: 

STEP 1:  Take a photo with A LOT of "white space"... your subject can be to the side or corner or in the lower 1/3 to 1/4 of the photo.  With PhotoShop or Elements or PicMonkey or GIMP or whatever editing program you prefer (I adore working in layers...cause both onions & ogres have layers.  Since I'm an ogre, makes sense.) to add a grocery list title or "To Do" or another lovely sentiment across the top, with dotted lines down the rest of the image.  "Worth Remembering" seemed perfect for the girls' sentiment since they want to help their moms remember, but also BE remembered.  Smart, very smart.

STEP 2:  Snag a plastic frame from Target and load it with your photo you've had printed.

(The 8x10 frame runs $2.99 - it's plastic, but I swear actual glass will protect the 8x10 print.  The print I got for around $2.00 through the pro lab I already use for my photog biz.  Looking for a good one to try?  mpix.com is awesome.  Looking for a cheaper one?  artscow.com will save ya money.  But with either online option, you may not be able to give the gift on time.  Looking for a faster option?  Use Costco.)

  

STEP 3:  With craft glue or hot glue, anchor each corner of the back of the frame with a strong disc magnet.  So, that means each frame will need four magnets.  Easy-peasy math skills here, people.  (The glue pack I already had in my office supply/craft surplus.  The magnets we picked up for $1.99 per box of 8 at our local craft store.)

STEP 4:  Snag a medium point dry erase marker and slap a piece of Velcro "fuzzy" around the center of the it's barrel.  Attach a trimmed piece of Velcro "hooks" to the center of the top of the picture frame, and VOILA!  That dry erase marker won't come flying off of its frame anytime soon, that I assure you.  (The dry erase markers are normally a 2 pack that runs $1.24 at Target.  Currently there's a bonus marker in the packs, so even better!  The pack of 12 Scotch brand Velcro attachments ran $2.64, also at Target.  Have I mentioned I enjoy projects that don't involve me running all over town, or bribing merchants in back alleys for the supplies?  Trust me, this makes loving the project even easier!)

STEP 5:  Mount on fridge or, if you're too impatient for that like me, hold at arm's length & admire your handiwork!  Beautiful, personal, AND practical.  Someone's a genius!   

(And that'd be YOU for listening to me!)  Wrap this gem in some sweet mom-colored tissue paper with a lovely paper magnolia or dahlia or other blossom tied-on and the waterworks are bound to start.  

(Image source and instructions found here.)

*ACCOUNTING*

8x10 Frame (Target):                     $2.99

Pro-lab, bare bones print (my cost): $2.20

One Dry Erase marker (Target):      $ .42

Velcro Attachment Pairing (Target): $ .22

 4 Anchor Magnets:                      $1.00

WA State Sales Tax:                    $ .55

Glue (already on-hand):                     FREE

WHOPPING GRAND TOTAL:       $7.38

Wanna hear something crazy?  At cost, for a photo studio to have a flimsy cardboard dry erase board created from a portrait, some labs charge AT LEAST DOUBLE what this breeze of a project rang up to.  That's before a pro photog adds their measly commission to the price tag.  Plus, going our DIY route scores a higher quality dry erase pen as well as actual glass to make the dry-erasing a snap.

....aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaand, you're welcome! 

::high-five::

NEW SENIOR PREVIEW

Pop on over & see what we've been up lately, here.

NEW LKP FAMILY & FRIENDS PREVIEW

Pop on over here & see what else we've been up to the past few weeks!

Remember This....?

Back when I'd received new lights & photo gear... and Mini-Me's test shot?

Well here are the rest from the same short 5 minutes, that evening.  

(Just ignore the woodstove behind her, please & thank you!)

 

 

 

 

So fun, right?!  I didn't even retouch them.  Only edit was to add the logo & shrink 'em down for the blog.  ...And, if that wasn't enough (before facing the week of services for Grandma), for Memorial Day we took Mini-Me's friend out for a BFF shoot.  I'm still blown away by the images those girls created with me.  Wanna see the results?  Check 'em out over at LatchKey Photography's HQ!

Just Gonna Say...

I went through and spent some time cleaning up the premises over at www.LatchKeyPhotography.com and it's looking mighty prime, as opposed to what it LOOKED like less than 24 hrs ago. That is, if I do say so myself! ;)

Now, please don't confuse this as bragging. Since its not. There's just something about purging, and consolidating, and better-organizing that sets one's heart free.  Even online.  (No joke.  I feel the same way when I manage to reorganize my "bookmarks" on my Firefox toolbar!)  

...That, and the new camera bag I'm awaiting in the mail.

(Thank Heavens for Amazon.com... and we'll just ignore that Canon in there, m'kay?!)

...AND my new speedlight that can't arrive fast enough!

(Woot! Woot!)

Delivered a phenomenal Senior portrait collection over the weekend, and then heard many raving (and even saw some misty eyes) over it still today!  Definitely felt good.

Plus, I guess I'm just really eager to get out and shoot the bajeebers out of some new up & coming high schoolers! Mostly speaking of soon-to-be Seniors, but there's even some of Mini-Me's pals chomping at the bit to get some modeling in.

I've decided it also feels REALLY good to have the biz card circulating out there, especially on the heels of the phenomenal response to this weekend's Senior delivery.   

What do you think?  I spruced 'em up AND added this on the back: 

Needless to say, I'm stoked!

NEW LKP FAMILY PREVIEW

Pop on over & see what we've been up to this week, here.

Grateful for Legs

Extensions.  Lower extremities.  Stems.  Also known as 'crus' in Latin.

Hold the phone...What the Wha?!?

Well, I'm grateful for MANY legs...

...for the pair on my chicken since he eats nasty bugs in the yard.  And in newer developments, apparently he kills MICE TOO!  No lie, Mr LKP found a dead mouse in his night pen with beak holes in its head.  Apparently the mouse thought he'd get an easy meal out of the chicken feeder.  That was the mouse's last mistake.  Ha!  Lovin' that free bird.

...for those attached to the bottom of my tabletop; where Mini-Me can do you her homework, where I can make bread or rolls, and where my family gathers for meals, laughter, unity, & many prayers.

...for those of my tri-pod.  They allow me to not miss a thing, and take some awesome, steady photographs!

...for those of an assignment nature.  PW's photo assignment this week is "Four Legs".... so, naturally I had to submit this image of one of my MOST FAVE set of four legs:

...for those on our dogs (Hula the Catahoula, Willow the Pug-Wieney [Sounds Italian almost, huh?], and Linus the gorgeous Chessapeake Bay Retreiver).  Their legs lend much speed & grace in their movements, whether in play or warding off intruders on the property....including nasty coyotes, stray dogs, stray cats, and much to Mr LKP's dismay, stray deer.

...for the pair on my daughter.  They allow her to still be a kid!  As well as play volleyball which makes her blissfully happy & helps lift her confidence.  They also allow her to run....which she hates all times of the year except during track season, lol.

...for the pair on Mr LKP.  They enable him to provide for our family (Can't drive a semi-truck very well without legs).  ESPECIALLY ever since his shoulder disability came about, I am extremely grateful he still has fully functioning & pain-free legs which allow him to operate tractors and equipment to work this land he loves so much (of course when he has time to), and to play with Mini-Me & our animals, and to go out with his father & brother on hunts.  He still feels like he can contribute, with his one good shoulder and two perfect legs.  Contribution is vital to him and his esteem.  So I'm very, very grateful!

...for those on our cats.  Not everyone is cut out to be cat people, however we are (Not excessively though...2 is plenty for us).  I love watching all their acrobatics, and nimbleness of feet.  They amaze me, make me giggle, and make me proud when they use those legs to pounce & hunt little rodent beasties, grasshoppers, and snakes!

...for those of my ancestors' who trod all over the world, and eventually journeyed here to America in search of religious freedom.  And then, once they GOT to America, they traveled even further ACROSS America for a life & legacy free from religious persecution.  I am who I am, I know what I know, and I live how I live because of them, their hearts, and their legs.

...for those on a certain couple of donkeys.  The first of which bore a very pregnant Mary many, many miles to Bethlehem more than 2000 years ago.  The second carried the Savior himself into Jerusalem, amidst multitudes of people & waving palm fronds.  They were consecrated legs indeed.

"Journey to Bethlehem" by Joseph Brickey (source: AmericanGallery)

"Jesus Enters Jersualem" by Harry Anderson (source: HubPages-American Artists)

...for those legs that have in the past and will again carry Jesus Christ when He returns!

"And I will walk among you, and will be your God, and ye shall be my people."  -Leviticus 26:12

...for the pair I own, as they allow me to practically do ANYTHING (stand, walk, jump, DANCE!).  That includes being the best mom & wife I can be by never slowing down.  They allow me to care for my family, and our animals.  They allow me to serve others, which brings me joy and peace.  Plus I love that they allow me to play volleyball which makes my heart sing!  Sometimes my legs feel most feeble.  Nonetheless they are strongest when they are bent, engaged in prayer.

Legs = such fabulous blessings.

Don't they just make life more livable, more enjoyable, and more worthwhile?

I should SO Be in Bed

But my days and nights are all shades of scrambled-up again, as of late.
Not surprising since sickness in the home will do that.

Works out kinda nicely, since I LOVE having the quiet hours to myself.
May sound selfish, but really it's due to the fact that my brain relishes quiet.
So much more comes out of it during the peaceful hours of the night.

On that note, I've been feeling a change a-comin' for a while with the LKP branding.
Nothing super drastic, but different nonetheless.

Here is tonight's accomplishment which I am most delighted about....

These overlays for LKP web previews turned out simple & classy.
Two of my favorite things!

And I'm swooning over my new understated logo.
Isn't it perfectly yummy?

Something about this whole project just feels good.  It flows.
(Now, does that even make as much sense OUTSIDE of my head as it originally did INSIDE my head?)

Other part I'm thoroughly enjoying?  That I was able to set this splendid overlay up as its own pair of PhotoShop actions, and it's EASIER than clockwork...Squeeee!!!!

(:

Normally I'm an old-fashioned girl...as in, I used to think pocket calculators were a fad.  And years ago, I decided not to follow my dream of being a middle school history teacher after all, because I would have had to use a computer rather than getting to use a good old grade-book!  Lol...

But I'll admit right here and right now, that I am grateful for the technological advances that allow my delicately wonderful logos & branding pieces to come about so easily and so precise!

Alright, so with that, I'm actually going to try and sleep.  If that doesn't work I may spend awhile reading....I'm hankering for some Chronicles of Narnia tonight.  Must be November kicking in.

No better way to spend lovely November days than with a mug of cider and some C.S. Lewis.

Cheers to you!