Micah Ahava Elise!

Happy Birthday, Micah Ahava Elise Brigham!

On May 21, 2012 at 10:11 AM, our daughter Micah was born. She was 23 weeks & 5 days gestational age, 11 inches long, and weighed 1 pound & 2 ounces. She is a tiny, little miracle, and evidence of God's faithfulness to all of His promises. Please follow our updates on Bryan's blog. If you love Jesus, please join us in prayer for our precious girl as we begin the long journey to bring her home.

Our Groundskeeper

Bryan and I planted a small garden this year and we have a well mannered groundskeeper that we are delighted about!  His name is Csiga, which means "snail" in Hungarian.  I guess I figured it kind of fits his personality.  In fact, I think he likes the area so much, he invited some relatives to camp along with him.  The other day I counted 7 snails!!!!  Today Gracey and I got to check up on him.  Here are some cute photos!

Can't you just see the deep friendship developing between them!!!???

Csiga has many tasks in our garden.  He slimes his way to help till the soil.  He munches on bugs and roots (although I did have to have a little "heart to snail" today because he was chewing on my Lilies!!!), he protects the garden from any intruders by distracting them by spinning around and making them dizzy, he also has a very rare snail talent and can sword fight with his eye tentacles!!!!  He is one special snail!


"For by him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things were created by him and for him." Col. 1:16

I NeedA Laugh

Hacked

You know the signs...an e-mail appears from someone you know, or someone you haven't heard from in a million years.  You open it up and then realize it is for a nasty url address.  I have dreaded the day when I would be taken advantage of, and this weekend it happened.  My e-mail address sent out tons of inappropriate e-mails.  Last night I couldn't help but think of people that do these type of things.  What kind of perverted thrill does someone have to hack into an e-mail system and send out an e-mail to every address in there about disgusting topics?  Do they really think it is funny?  It is incredibly sad to me that someone would actually think what they did is comical.  Maybe it is a power hungry thrill.  Maybe they have been violated and feel the anger drawing them to hurt others.  The enemy seeks people like this to do his work.  It isn't surprising, but it still feels so wrong and horrible.  I remember years ago late at night someone tried to scam us over the phone saying they needed help getting an airplane ticket because their Aunt suffered from epilepsy, fell down a flight of stairs, into a paint bucket, then it started raining and yellow polka-dots appeared on her forehead and kangaroo's were jumping all around them swiping their claws and angrily yelping to save them from the evil hippo that threatened their colony.  At least that is the way I remember them saying it.  What will people come up with next?  Make sure your information is safe.  Change your passwords often.  Don't enter personal information unless you absolutely know it is safe.  Be wise and guard your eyes, hearts, and homes.

Under Construction

My new photography site is under contruction!!!!!  So if you have tried to reach it, I apologize.  It is taking a lot of time and tweaking, but I am very excited to be at least half way done!  I've taken a journey back to the beginning of Inspired by Grace in 2004 and watched how the Lord has grown my heart and passion for people and their stories.  I have been given a tiny window into someone's life if only for that brief moment.  It is a privelage to remember all these faces, dreams and hopes of my clients.  God has blessed me and I pray I can continue showing off His creation through my lens.

The Journey

The many trees lined evenly down the dirty worn-out path.  The familiarity brought me comfort.  It was as though overnight a bag of marshmallows burst open and puffy white sweetness covered every branch in their festive attire of spring’s arrival. It was inviting and cheerful, a scene perhaps only a child would appreciate to its fullest.  And while I was far from youth, I savored this display as though simply walking those few steps somehow transported me back those many years to when I was free, when I was happy.  The wispy clouds seemed to reflect its mirrored delight below and both swayed gently to the soft crisp breeze as if they were greeting one another in their usual friendly “good morning.”  It was something so familiar, yet everything seemed changed somehow.  The canvas before me brought my thoughts to the winter we’ve just come from.  As rough as they were for me at my age, I truly enjoyed the snows soft caress and the warmth I shared nestled with those I love on those bittersweet evenings most never appreciated.  Maybe it was God’s way of saying to be together, to hold each other close and somehow stop time.  If I closed my eyes just enough, those memories almost seemed reachable again.  As I emerged into my marshmallow forest, I imagined what it would be like beyond these woods.  These thoughts initially surprised me.  But perhaps there was more.  Perhaps even contentment can give way to discovery. Perhaps discovery gives way to trial and trial therein reveals who you are.  I gazed above, imagining I’ve entered my secret world.  The ground faded and I felt the earth transform to softness beneath my bare feet.  In that moment, I floated into my dreams.  I could not tell you what was real or realer.  My heart beat rhythmically with the music that filled my head and heart and I knew at that very moment I would never be the same again.