How adorable is this?!! 😀
Something that I’ve been working on for the last few days ~ outdoor shots. I am having some trouble getting the colors the way I want them and I just can’t seem to get that sun shot that I’m looking for! I definitely see improvement, though…If anyone has any tips, feel free to comment! I welcome ALL advice!!!
There is a sale going on right now at Precious Props Etsy Shop!! Save up to 50% off the regular prices of select items!!!
Check it out!!
Well, I’ve been playing around with my camera for years, but I recently received some photography tips from a couple of SUPER talented photographer friends of mine (Jeni Friend and Becky Zientek) and I have barely been able to put my camera down ever since! So, as I learn and grow as a photographer, I thought I’d take you all along for the ride. 🙂 For starters, here are a few pictures of my very photogenic children…
So, I saw a beautiful photograph of some wittle newborn feet with mom and dad’s wedding rings hanging on their little toes…it was so sweet I just had to try it ~ My husband was at work, so I only had my ring, but it still turned out really sweet. 🙂 Here are my Sara-rai’s cute little feet…
And here are some photos from my first ever family photo session!
Thank you Lauren and Louis for inviting me to take pictures of your beautiful family!!!
I am currently trying to gain experience and build my portfolio, so if you are living in the Leavenworth, KS area or Oklahoma City area (which is where we will be moving to in a few months) and you are interested in a free session, contact me at preciousprops@yahoo.com!
I am finishing up a couple of patterns to sell in my etsy shop, but I’m in need of some crocheters and knitters to test them! You will receive a free pattern and all I ask in return is your feedback within 3 days of receiving it. If you are interested in being a pattern tester, leave a comment with your email address and whether you knit or crochet. I will need at least 4 testers (2 crocheters and 2 knitters)! All patterns will be in newborn size.
Here are some pics of the items I will need tested:
First 4 photos were taken by Reighns Photography. Thank you, Becky, for the amazing photos!!
Here is the link to my etsy shop “Precious Props”:
I’ve never been what you would call a “germaphobe”. I let our children play in the dirt. When I see someone cough or sneeze, I don’t swoop our children up and run the other way. I don’t douse their toys in bleach products and antibacterial cleaners, chase them with hand sanitizer, or concern myself with keeping a germ-free home.
In these days of swine flu scares and antibiotic resistant illnesses, it seems that the demand for more germ killing products has exploded. I saw a Clorox commercial where the catch phrase was “a cleaner world means a healthier you”. Hmmm….I would have to disagree.
The truth is that our children MUST be exposed to bacteria in order to develop and strengthen their immune systems. They need this exposure in order to build up antibodies and help the immune system to mature. Preventing exposure to germs and bacteria when they are young will only cause them to get sicker, for longer periods of time, when they are older. They will also be more susceptible to asthma and other allergies.
Accompanying this anti-bacterial craze, is the idea that all bacteria is “bad” bacteria. Most of us know that there is “good” bacteria in our bodies, but don’t know or realize the importance of them. There are something like 100 trillion bacteria living inside of our bodies ~ 80% of these should be the “good” bacteria. If this 80/20 balance of “good” bacteria and “bad” bacteria is disturbed, your immune system will be compromised and a long list of health problems could occur. There are a few things that we commonly do that can disrupt this healthy balance.
*Antibiotics (unfortunately it cannot tell the difference between the “good” and the “bad” bacteria and just kills it all)
*Birth control pills (and other hormonal drugs)
*Flouride (found in toothpastes and most tap water)
*Chlorine (used to kill bacteria in the water supply ~ and great for killing any and ALL bacteria in your body when consumed ~ NOT good)
*Caffeinated products (coffee, tea, soda, etc.)
*Preservatives
*Pesticides and fertilizers (don’t listen to the quacks that try to say that there is no nutritional difference between organic and non-organic foods ~ they are ONLY comparing their vitamin levels and are paying NO attention to the harmful effects of the chemicals themselves).
So for all of you who have been sucked into the claims of the false (but very lucrative) business of anti-bacterial products, stop! I’m not saying that you have to throw out all of your anti-bacterial soap and hand sanitizer, but just take it easy and realize the dangers of overdoing it. Expose yourself and your children to germs and bacteria to help naturally strengthen your immune systems, and make sure that you have enough good bacteria to keep those bad ones in check. You can get good bacteria from certain foods, such as raw milk, yogurt (only those with live and active cultures), and sauerkraut ~ but it is just as important to be careful not to ingest products that kill this good bacteria as it is to get this good bacteria in your diet.
Well, I think that’s good for now…stay tuned for my rant on how AMAZING organic apple cider vinegar is for your health…:D
Nurture and treasure these blessings from God (Psa. 127:3, Psa. 144:12).
Enjoy and cherish them, delighting in each of these unique and special creations (Gen. 1:31, Psa. 139:13).
Minister to them, hiding God’s precious Word deep in their hearts (Deut. 4:9, Deut. 11:19, Psa. 34:11, Mark 9:37, Mark 10:14).
Pray for them and with them, encouraging the growth of their personal relationship with our Lord and Savior (Mark 10:16).
Lead them down the narrow path (Matt. 7:14) to righteousness (Rom. 6:16).
Protect them (Prov. 2:8-9, 1 Cor. 13:7). As the keeper of your home (Tit. 2:5), guard them from the things of this world that will corrupt their impressionable minds or cause them to depart from God’s perfect way (Gen. 18:19, Luke 7:29, John 14:6).
Train them to be obedient to God’s Word (2 Cor. 10:5-6, Heb. 5:8-9, Tit. 3:1, 1 Pet. 1:14),
Correct and rebuke them when they are disobedient (2 Tim. 4:2, Prov. 6:23, Prov. 29:15).
Discipline them with the rod (Prov. 13:24, Prov. 22:15, Prov. 29:17, Heb. 12:11, Rev. 3:19) because you desire for them to have a life full of knowledge and understanding (Prov. 12:1, Prov. 15:32), and honor and prudence (Prov. 13:18, Prov. 15:5), so that they can show others the way to life (Prov. 10:17). Refuse to be a willing party to their death (Prov. 19:18, Prov. 23:13).
THIS is love! Love is not only hugs, kisses, or praises. All of the other things that we do with our children in order to “train [them] up in the way [they] should go” (Prov. 22:6) are done with and out of love for them! And we need to love our children completely!
My promise to the precious blessings that God has entrusted in my care…
In Jesus, I am training my son to become a strong, bold, courageous, wise, trustworthy, selfless, faithful, mature, responsible, obedient, and loving leader, protector, pastor, and provider for his future wife and children, and I am training my daughter to become a patient, obedient, wise, nurturing, productive, creative, selfless, compassionate, noble, and loving helpmeet to her husband and dedicated mother to her children. AMEN!!!
A Lady in Training 
