[redhanded photography: BIG News]

Well.  It might not be big for YOU, but it's big for ME *grin*.

I'm in the final process of launching my new and improved RedHanded Photography site!!  For the last month, I've been creating a site from scratch ... making it exactly the way I want it.  And that's been a tricky thing.  I was never totally happy with the site that I've been using.  The fonts are small, the images are small ... I couldn't adjust anything to make it more ... me.

The photography industry has a LOT to do with self-marketing.  And in that self-marketing, a lot of it has to do with self-image and trends.  Beh.  What does this mother of three know about trends, other than Bayblades and Mario Bros?? *grin*  I ain't no trendsetter, that's for certain.

It took a while, but I decided that my images would speak for themselves - and that's what I wanted my site to show.  I want it clean, simple - user friendly.  I want it to have as much information as possible - so that my potential clients are armed with everything they need to know.  And - I did a little thing-y on myself too ... so I'm curious as to what people are going to think about it all.

SO.

I have some of the most SILENT blog-readers in the world *laughing*.  Some days I get more that 150+ hits and ... no comments, sheer silence.  I've had over 600 hits without anyone saying a word.  And that's ok *grin*.  No one is obligated to let me know they were here ... I blog, you read.  That's the way it goes.

BUT ... when my RH site is launched, I would LOVE LOVE LOVE some feedback - what you liked, was it easy to figure out, what could maybe make it better.  It would really help me out ... many brains are better than one!!

I wonder if any of you will speak up *grin* ... 

Stay tuned ...

AND - I'm going to tweak my RH blog too, if that's at all possible.  But for now - it's the same, except there's a brand new post that you're gonna want to check out ... baby Caleb Daniel.  YUMMY.

Have a great one!!

[make: Spicy Peanut Sauce]

My last few posts have been heartfelt - but today, I sound like Elmer Fudd (insert nose blowing sound here) - so nothing deep ... just yummy.

Hmmmm.

Wait.

But before I go into the yumminess - I just want to say that since I've taken up the word "intentional" for the year - I cannot BELIEVE how every single day something happens that makes me think of what I'm doing or why I'm doing it.  I've been so thankful - been learning lessons about my own heart, my own motives and in that, it's been so much easier to not let things fester and to just give it back to God ... I feel empowered and because I'm constantly checking my heart - I'm feeling like there's growth happening that I hadn't realized I  needed ... 2011 is gonna be a great year.

Ok.  So ONE deep paragraph *grin* ... 

ANYway - every New Years we have a party.  New Years Eve is my hubby's bday so - at his request -we have not just any party, but a FONDUE party ... and I'm always in charge of the dips.  This past New Years, I decided to add a spicy peanut sauce to my repertoire.  The problem was, I couldn't find any recipes online that sounded yummy enough ... 

So.  I made my own, and made sure to write it down as I went - just in case it turned out scrumptious.  

Lucky for me, it did *wink*.

Here's what I did:

Spicy Peanut Sauce:

2 cups smooth peanut butter

1 cup hot water
3 tbsp brown sugar - dissolved in additional 1/2 cup hot water
4 tbsp soya sauce
1 tsp cayenne pepper
2 tsp lemon juice
3 garlic cloves, minced.

Directions:

Place all the ingredients in the blender.  Blend.  Chill.  Serve.  Makes about 4 cups or so ... I'm just guessing here - it was a bowl full *grin*.

I used it as a dipping sauce for the fondue ... I'm sure the possibilities are endless, though.  That is - if nobody in your home has a peanut allergy!!  *smile*

Enjoy .. and have a good one (which sounds like "hab a goob whon" for me today :-)

[talk: Saying Goodbye, Saying Hello.]

1.11.11 will always be burned in my heart.

On November 6, 2010, a friend that I grew up with was in a terrible train accident.  He had tried to cross the busy train tracks in Seattle, WA by foot and was directly hit by an oncoming train.  He was a local fireman in our city, and was only expected to live a few hours and beat the odds and survived 60 more days.  You can read all about it here.

So yesterday was his funeral, and I was full of strange emotions.  Everything from not wanting to go, afraid that it would just be too hard ... to sheer excitement about possibly seeing people that I hadn't seen in such a long time.

The funeral, itself, was incredible.  Seeing a sea of blue fireman uniforms in the balcony of my home church, CLA, was overwhelming.  It all began with "Amazing Grace" being played on the bagpipes as Ron's family, and his casket, filed in.  The Mayor of our city, Peter Fassbender, spoke eloquently as both Ron's city leader and personal family friend.  The eulogy was read by our pastor, Brent Cantelon - and was written by Ron's family.  The song, "I Can Only Imagine" left me with a wet, soggy face.

The whole thing was done so well, so purposeful.  It wasn't intrusive, "shove the Bible down your throat", but so gentle and positive.  The truth was spoken.  I was incredibly honoured to be there ... not only as a past friend of Ron's, but as  a member of CLA.  It was really, really well done.

There was a reception done in the gym - and that's when I bumped into friend after friend after friend.   I cannot tell you how overwhelming that was.  It was heart-racing, heart-warming ... to have people see you and smile because they were happy to see you too.  Big hugs, big laughs - lots of tears and promises to never meet again under such circumstances ...

With the "snow day" that we ended up having here today, I found myself trying to Spring Clean amongst the children running and creating more messes than before I started ... I was in my office, organizing the envelopes with Katia whacking her teensy fingers on the piano - and I saw it:  my box.

I've mentioned it before - my box, well - padded suitcase - full of notes.  I laughed and rolled my eyes, the DRAMA of it all was so redundant.  I can see why my poor parents were exhausted with me by the time I was 15 *laughing*.  Oh Katia, be good to me, girl!!

So, what did I do when I saw these hand written treasures??  I got out my iphone and started taking photos and sending them to the "writers" of the notes ... oh MAN.  We've been bantering back and forth all afternoon ... so fun.

So.  Ronnie is gone, but he would be SO pumped at how his life and death have brought so many wonderful people together.  He was a man who CARED about people, and I'd like to think that the Lord had let him see the whole thing. Oh, I hope He did, because Ron would've gotten a kick out of seeing everyone together again.

For those of you who knew Ron, yesterday will be a day burned into our memories.  And for those of you who didn't, I hope that this will inspire you to stop and be INTENTIONAL about your day and your time.  Stop, fire off an email, find out where that old friend is now and meet for coffee ... do something.

We just never know. 

[talk: My 2011 "Word"]

A lot of my friends ask the Lord for a fresh thought for the new year, once the Christmas bustle stops.  I was so happy that I was introduced to this idea last year - and more thankful to God for giving me a word that really, really guided me through 2010.

Last year's "word" was PERSPECTIVE.  Oh, and it would come to the front of my mind time and time again.   Whenever I felt misunderstood, or judgemental of others, or tired or whatever ... perspective, the desire to look at a situation in different ways, really helped me.

You can read all about that here. 

So, a few weeks ago, I began seeking the Lord for 2011.  I don't know about you, but a lot of times I'm not sure which voice is my own, and which is the Lord's.  I'm definitely not one to say, "God told me this ... " - although I have done it a few times - when I was certain.  But I really didn't want my own desires to come flooding in and sabotaging the "word" that was meant for me.  I mean, how great would it be to choose a word that was all good?  Like "prosperity" or "blessings"  or "skinny" (ha! - ok - that was a joke, people).

But this word keeps coming back to me, over and over.  So.  I'm going to be brave and claim it and walk in it and see what how it guides my 2011.

The word is: intention.

A couple of different concepts came to mind with this word.  One, is to do things with intent.  Meaning, to do things to the best of my ability ... and I'd like to think that I do most things in life like that, but not always.  To be intentional, deliberate ... not flaky and wishy-washy.  It also means, to me, to prioritize - to intentionally plan my time with an outcome, to invest in relationships with a purpose, to make sure that my "to do" list isn't filled up with things that don't matter.

The other thought with "intention" for me, is looking at the word in a different perspective ( ... like how I did that? *wink*).    So - instead of me just doing things with intention, it's me checking my OWN intentions on WHY I do things ... 

Ouch.

I think this one will be rearing its ugly head time and time again for me.  Which is a good thing - but it may potentially drive me a bit mad.  See - I want to be deliberate on why I do things, to check my heart behind it.  Am I being a blessing, or just plain self serving?  Do I say/do things for accolades?  For the praise of others?  Or can I do things in private, without recognition.  Do I do things to get things in return?  Do I have high expectations, that leave me disappointed?  When I do things, is His heart the motivation behind it?

*breath out*

So.  The Lord knows that I am faaaaaaar from perfect, as does anyone who knows me *wink*.  And I know that by having this word of "intention" as my banner - I'm still going to fall flat on my face time and time again.  I know already, that I'm going to choose to ignore this word at times and try and negotiate for another word.  But you know what, God knows that too.  

I kinda think that I'm going to continue with the "perspective" word as well ... I mean, why not?  But adding "intention" to all that I do, checking my own motives and prioritizing the desires I believe are God-given ... looks like 2011 could be an amazing year for chiselling away more of the yuck that is "me".  

Have a great one.  And happy 2011 to all ... 

[talk: Living and Dying]

Life is a funny thing.  Well.  Not always funny - but you know what I mean ... 

I have been so incredibly excited for 2011 .., asking the Lord for a "word" to represent the year (um - haven't really got one yet ... ) and wanting to actively pursue and prioritize the dreams that I believe are God-given.  2011 seems like a year where good things can happen ... 

Today I was on the slopes with my hubby and boys.  Tias was ripping down the hill - I was seriously trying to keep up with him, especially when he ventured into the treed area beside the hill - and Josiah was laughing and "pizza-ing" his skis down the bunnyhill.  My hubby and smiled as he said, "... we've been waiting a long time for this."  So true.  We've dreamed about our little family all doing things together, becoming friends, pushing the limits and celebrating accomplishments.

We had tacos for dinner ... Katia was cracking us UP with all the silly things one year olds do.  It took Josiah an hour to eat his taco ... 

And then a friend died.

A friend from a while back, but a friend none-the-less.  He was a good friend of my exboyfriend - a guy that I knew well when I was a teenager.  And I bumped into him often in our hometown.  He was always quick to smile, ask how things were - give the ever-present nod-of-the-head to show his friendly response.  

And now he's gone.

Life is a funny thing ... how my evening continues on - typing a blogpost, editing photos, tucking my kids into bed.  And he's now seen the face of Jesus.  It is too hard to fathom, too much to digest ... it's just too overwhelming.

I think about his mom and dad ... it is never right to bury a child - at any age.  The heartache they must feel, the questions they must have.  And as I sang Josiah his bedtime song, I couldn't help but wonder how much time I have with him ... not in a morbid way, but in a factual way.

So, as we get a good night's sleep, have a hearty breakfast in the morning, and bundle ourselves up for another family day on the slopes,  my friend's family plans a funeral.  Another massive reminder to live the best life you can, with love and integrity.  Sometimes it seems so hard to do, and we get lazy ... it's just too bad because we don't know when our time to go will come.

Living and dying.  You can't have one, without the other