More Maine pics - Shaker Village

While we were in Maine a few weeks ago, we stopped to see a Shaker Village that we drove by on Route 26. My parents used to build Shaker furniture, so I'm pretty familiar with the design styles and the look of it.

The tours were over for the day, so we wandered around and took some pictures. We weren't supposed to take pics inside the building ... but silent mode on the Powershot does wonders. Anyway .. you can view all of the pics from the Village on my Flickr here, and a montage for you to enjoy below.

Also, Anna's little sister had her 9th birthday party recently - she's not so little anymore! These are a few of my favorite pics from her party of her and her little friends ...

Currently we're running an awesome promotion for high schoolers to get free photos with Live View Studios. We're going to be selecting some cool models for the promotion from our high school applicants very soon, but we've already got some super sweet high school portraits started for this year that you can see on the studio's Flickr, or you can become a fan on Facebook and catch up on all the cool stuff that we're doing there!

Comfortable Jeans

I have this pair of jeans that I feel like I've had forever. They're so comfortable though, and still in pretty good shape except for fraying around the bottoms. You know what I mean, I'm sure you have a pair just like this - the kind that you always feel relaxed and comfortable in and never want to really get rid of. It breaks your heart when they finally get a major rip that causes you to have to throw them away or use them for rags.

Our lives can become somewhat like that old pair of jeans. It's real easy when things are going well in our lives, to become complacent in our christianity. We get relaxed and just enjoy where we're at instead of striving to always grow in Christ. Then one day, something happens, and we realize that our christianity wasn't strong enough, and now we've got a hole or weakness. Because we were so comfortable where we were at, we didn't notice that our spiritual fabric was gradually becoming weaker and weaker. Once the tear happens, it takes some repair to get back to where we were before.

"On Judgment Day,
I'll search through every closet and alley in Jerusalem.
I'll find and punish those who are sitting it out, fat and lazy,
amusing themselves and taking it easy,
Who think, 'God doesn't do anything, good or bad.
He isn't involved, so neither are we.'
But just wait. They'll lose everything they have,
money and house and land.
They'll build a house and never move in.
They'll plant vineyards and never taste the wine." - Zephaniah 1:12-13

Verse for today

Psalm 35:9-10 Then my soul will rejoice in the LORD and delight in his salvation. My whole being will exclaim, "Who is like you, LORD? You rescue the poor from those too strong for them,the poor and needy from those who rob them."

-- Posted from my iPhone

Maine in the USA with a silly little car

Maine is not a state with many conveniences, at least once you head out of Portland. I was surprised to have 3G service on my phone for about 30 miles outside of the city, then I lost signal for a while, and now I'm on Edge...There's no Olive Garden, or Chili's, or Carrabas for miles around - or any other of our favorite places. We took a chance on a local restaurant that had good reviews online, and I guess it was good by local standards, but ..

I want to see a moose.

Yet, in driving all over the backwoods of Maine, the only thing we saw was a wildlife park. A park? Shouldn't the animals just roam free and wild in Maine? Vacationland, right? You should see all kinds of crazy animals just wandering around all over the place? Well, we're just far enough out of civilization to be out of civilization, but not far enough to see any moose I guess.

And, my rental car is a silly little thing that I will probably die inside if I get in an accident with it. I always rent the economy car and about 50% of the time get upgraded for free because they are sold out of the economy cars. Sometimes I get stuck with a Ford Focus or something dinky, but this time .. a Yaris?? C'mon, you gotta be kidding me?

Remembering 9/11

I can so vividly remember September 11, 2001. We were working outside when a phone call came about the plane crashes, and that the USA was under attack. The Pennsylvania state government was evacuating their offices, as did many - since no one really knew the extent of what was going on. We didn't have a TV in the house, so we rushed inside and were glued to the radio. I remember hearing about the other plane that had gone off the radar, and the commotion that ensued as every newscaster tried to figure out if it had also been hijacked and what the target was going to be. It was chaos, and we had lived without any fear of attack for so long that it caught everyone unprepared.

Today I salute all those who have given their lives in the protection of Americas freedom - from early colonials to our brave soldiers now. Because of you, we are the protector of human freedoms, the safe haven for those persecuted through the world.

Let's keep America free. Stay vigilant, and don't let anyone in this country or another erode and try to take away the God given rights that America stands for and we protect as a people.

-- Posted from my iPhone

Mobile blogging now?

I enabled mobile blogging on my blog and I'm trying it out for the first time. I haven't found a great blogging app for the iPhone yet, but I'm still searching .... I think I would blog more if I could do mobile, sort of in micro-blog fashion.

So, while we were at the beach we found the coolest little cars - a die cast VW Beetle and Vanagon, both with a surfboard on top. We saw something similar at Cracker Barrel once and didn't get it, and we've been kicking ourselves since. These are pretty cool, and will fit right into our beach themed house.


-- Posted from my iPhone

Second Anniversary Getaway

Excerpts from our second anniversary getaway to Ocean Isle Beach, NC!

I've been married for two years

It's hard to believe in some ways that Anna and I have been married for two years now, but in other ways it certainly seems possible. I was way behind on editing some pics that we took from Ocean Isle Beach, NC where we went for a short getaway on our anniversary. We stayed at a really cool place called the Islander Inn where you could "Create Your Own Rate" on their website. We offered a lower price and got countered and ended up with a really great deal for a room right on the beach. Anna and I love going to the beach together, although I am much more adventurous with going out into the ocean than she is. She prefers to stay right near the coastline, while I will venture out past the point where I can feel the bottom. I got a new board while we were there which I never got to try out, but we're thinking of heading down there this weekend with the family, so hopefully I'll get to try it out then.

A few pictures from the occasion ..

a beautiful sunset

the cake Anna made for our anniversary, decorated with chocolate seashells :)

We've been doing well otherwise. I haven't been blogging as much lately, and I'm no longer blogging over at Xanga .. there's several factors - xanga doesn't seem to get trafficked as much these days, I don't like that I can't archive it whenever I want unless I have premium, and a few other things. I will always hold a special place in my heart though, since it's how Anna and I met each other!

I'm so grateful to God each day that he continues to provide work for our website and photography business. Without getting worried about where the next work will come from, he is always faithful to bring more in just at the right time and the right amounts. I've come to realize more and more each day how all we need do is desire in our hearts to walk as closely to Him as we can, and he will take care of providing for our needs. He's always faithful. We're working with several local businesses on new websites, and have started a new high school senior portrait program that we are hoping will generate lots of interest. Plus being able to work from home every day with your best friend is a definite HUGE plus!