12-27-09

I thought I would start this post with the pictures, just to make you ask, why do I have pictures of half the Hillsboro PD!!  Well I am glad you ask, When I came home on Christmas day from the Macy’s I heard noises that sounded a lot like someone was in the house.  As far as I knew there wasn’t supposed to be anyone other than me there.  So I picked up the phone and dialed 911.  Yes I used to be a cop and yes I felt like a moron calling the cops as I stood there with my little fire poker!!  But, the voice of reason took over when I went to go up the stairs and I waited not so patiently by the front door as the cops approached.  Being a former police officer I was very impressed by the professionalism and the way they approached clearing the house.  They fully believed someone may have been in there and approached it as such!  After about 45 minutes standing in the freezing cold (of course I had to take my gloves off to dial the phone and had dropped them on the floor!), I was allowed back in the house.  It was so fun seeing their enthusiasm for the house and what we did at Saint Child.  As they were leaving they asked if they could come back on Saturday for their briefing and of course I said yes!  That is how I got pictures of half the Hillsboro PD in the living room of Saint Child!

12-26-09

Well I have been taking pictures but havent had the time to post them.  We have had some beautiful frosts lately and I was up early enough to be able to catch some pictures.

This one kind of shows the fog, one of the most beautiful things in Oregon is when the fog floats in and wraps everything in this cold blanket.

Then here are some picutres from Christmas.  I had a great time with the Macy’s and then with the Hillsboro Police when I got back to the house.  When I walked in the door, I swear I heard someone walking upstairs so I called in the police and they searched the house.  It brought back the biggest thing I LOVED about police work…building searches.  As I stood freezing in the cold, I kept thinking of all the places to hide in this big old house and was able to show them a couple they missed!  The ladies and gentlemen that came out really did a good job and I was impressed by a smaller police force like Hillsboro PD.  So needless to say I was a little wound up until about 2am!!

This is Addison our entertainment for Christmas!  I really wish this would have been in focus all the way, but still a cute picture regardless!!

 

And here is the Macy Family and my home away from home!! And of course everyone wanted to play with my camera so even some pictures of me!!

My boyfriend for the day, Gizzard!

And me exclaiming my joy at the puzzle Mac got me!!  Merry Christmas!

12-23-09

Not much to write about today, there was a really cool fog tonight and I attempted to get some pictures!  As you will see attempted is the right word.  I have a lot of practice for night shooting.  Lynn if your mom looks at this see if she knows why my camera didn’t want to actually take a picture for the driveway shots.  Almost like it couldn’t figure out what to focus on so it just wouldn’t shoot!  Very frustrating!!

Random thought for the day

You could never believe how much joy I get from taking pictures.  About 9:30 tonight I realized I hadn't has time to even pick it up.  At first I didn't want to, what would I take pictures of.  Then I remembered the picture a day thing so I took out my camera and about 20 minutes later realized I was still taking pictures.  Such random stuff but so much fun.

Here is one of my favorite crosses, it was gift to me from a very dear friend.  I just got it on the wall tonight so here it is!

Then I decided to play with my up close lens…and I caught George taking in some air!

Then I got tired and laid down and started taking pictures of the fan, and these turned out really cool!!

Those are my adventures in the photo world today!  I hope you enjoy them!

Christmas Joy

What an amazing day!  We had our staff Christmas party this morning at Saint Child and it was so much fun to just hang and laugh with those ladies.  Then I went to my other job and a much anticipated package had arrived.  For Christmas this year a little elf sent me a Canon Rebel SLR digital camera!  I was so excited I just stared at the box and attempted to work for an hour.  Once my cohort Lynn arrived I dove in and out came the prettiest black box I had ever seen.  I set it on the desk in front of me and proceeded to hug it as if it was my first born child!  After about 5-10 minutes of that I finally opened the box.  A REAL CAMERA!!!  I can’t believe it I feel so grown up.  When I got home I finally had time to take pictures and the auto focus wasn’t working, my heart sunk.  So I jumped in my car and ran up to the Geek Squad and get a geek who knows nothing about cameras!  After a few heart stopping moments he tells me that he will have to send it back.  My heart plummets to the ground.  Then a Christmas miracle he takes the lens off blows on it and I say a quick pleading prayer.  THE CAMERA WORKS!  Hallelujah Praise The Lord!!  After a short trip to Fred Meyer to get a bag for it and a memory disk I get home and realize it didn't work cause I hadn’t put the lens on right….much blushing!!  I then spent the rest of the reading up on it and taking pictures.  I was like a kid in a candy store.

My friend Lynn had a great idea, stolen from her mother.  I should do a picture a day.  Not only will I have to take pictures every day, but I will also blog daily!  Another great idea.  So here is my first, literally!!

I was too lazy to get up so I took several pictures of my tea cup!!  HAHAHAHA

Then I moved to the Christmas trees!  How fun!!

Then I spent about 20 minutes trying to get this picture, I started on the floor moved up on the table and then the buffet, and I couldn’t get it clear.  This is my picture of the day.  I thought it quite fitting since it is my life verse ( even though it is missing the most important word “Lord”)!

I’m not happy with it but i know it is a start!  Merry Christmas!

What is that saying again?

Wow what a week and then a weekend.  We had a new girl move in on Monday so I was tortured with dealing with morning people each morning, when all I wanted was to grab a cup o tea and skulk back to my bedroom until I could wake up!  Not happening!  Oh well, such is life when you live with other people huh!  Then on Friday we ended up taking in a 19 year old girl whose parents were pushing her for an abortion.  As always I struggled with the reality of What I thought would be and the reality I would now face.  As I snuggled into bed on Friday night I reassured my wounded inner control freak with the fact that I would wake up to a low key peaceful Saturday morning and we had no where to be until 2pm.  Then what to my wandering eyes did appear (not really more my ears since my eyes were still closed), but two young girls with eyes like dears!  So off to the hospital we did dash, to sit in the waiting room and hope not to rash.  As one young girl went through a round of tests, and the other tried really hard not to be a pest.  As the time dragged on my head began to pound, I ran one girl home and lunch I did down.  Then back to the hospital to check on the babe, and drive across town to pick up one of my faves.  Then car rides with baby and screaming a plenty and laughs and a giggle that tickles my fancy.  Then out the door with a dash, to rub elbows with heroes and oh my I forgot my sash. (all you wonderful women are my heroes.

Anyway I am running out of rhymes and the cuteness has worn off.  As you can see my quiet Saturday was not what I had planned and neither was Sunday.  What is that saying if you want to hear God laugh tell him your plans.  Well the good thing, compared to last year that is, is that I am sitting here laughing tonight and not even a tear! (teehee couldn't resist the last rhyme, I’ve got the night before Christmas stuck in  my head can you tell!!)

Forgive our Transgressions

In Matthew 6:9 is what many of us know as the Lords Prayer.  About a month ago God brought a woman across my path who talked about how she would pray this prayer for those God would bring to her mind.  For Example “Our Father in Heaven, hallowed be thy name, thy kingdom come, thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven, give Cami today her daily bread and forgive her transgressions as she forgives the transgressions of others, lead her not into temptation Lord and protect her from the evil for thine is the kingdom and power and glory forever and ever amen.”  I thought this was a great idea so I have been using this a lot.  I have also been using this prayer just to center myself when I feel like I am stepping in front of God during the day and trying to take over!

One small problem when I get to “forgive our transgressions as we forgive those who transgress against us”.  I can’t say it.  How can I ask for forgiveness when there is someone I refuse to forgive.  The closer I get to returning to Kansas the more apparent it becomes that I still harbor a lot of anger towards my dad.  I could go on for days for all the things I blame him for.  But it doesn't change the fact that when I made choices, I made them he didn’t.  Yes there are valid reasons for me to be angry but I can not make him apologize or change.  All I can do is change myself.  A good friend reminded me last night that all we can do is make sure we are right with Him.  There is nothing else we really have control over. 

So what is God’s will for me in this situation.  To let go of my anger and stop living in fear of a confrontation with my dad.  To trust God that He will not lead me into temptation and He will protect me from the evil one.  I must also remember that God wanted me to spend this time at my dad’s.  The urge was very clear that this visit was to be to Wichita and not Kansas City.  Therefore, I have to get on my knees at the cross and lay this grudge at His feet and trust that He will make good of the hell that WAS my life in Hillsboro.  That He will show me good in my dad and use my life to bring my dad closer to my Father.

Decisions, decisions

I am often baffled by God and the path He takes me on.  Recently I felt Him leading in the direction of spending time with my Father.  I was excited to get to see my brother and sister and their families and even see my dad for a little bit.  After I booked the plane tickets the realization of what I had done sunk into my heart and the worry started.  I have now planned a four day time frame where 3 of the four nights I will be sleeping under my father’s roof.  That house brings back such horrible memories and awful times.  Now tonight I have a friend counseling me not to stay there, but it feels wrong to not.  Is that the Holy Spirit or my desire to make everyone happy.  Could I really tell my Dad that I love him but I don't trust him, after I feel like I have come so far with him, finally told him that he cant drink around me.  Could I really take it that far?  What would that accomplish?  Could that be the catalyst that sends him running to the cross, or that drives a wedge between him and Christ forever. 

What if this is my chance to share the gospel with him but instead I allow my fear and mistrust to drive me from the circumstance?  But what if this is a trap satan has laid for me and the Spirit is trying to lead me in the other direction?  Why are these things never clear.  All I can say is your will Lord not mine be done.  Show me what you want me to do and open a path for me and close the doors for the other path.