Relay For Life

This year I am not walking the Relay but I think that it is a valuable tool in raising funds and educating the public about cancer so I am still doing fundraising for the Relay in my hometown.  Instead of the same routine of me begging and pleading with people to donate, this year I decided I would offer something of value in return. Portraits. For 2 months I am doing portraits for donations. I have to say....this almost feels like a self serving thing. I am enjoying it far to much. How could I not with adorable little models like this.....

Changing Courses

I seem to be doing myself a bit of harm with this no meat thing so I do have to incorporate a little into my diet. Still sticking with the mostly veggie though. I love the fresh vegetables this time of year so I don't expect much to change. My focus these next few months is going to be on breaking a habit that is doing me much more harm than the consumption of meat. Pop. Soda. Carbonated beverages. Call it what you will but that stuff is killing me.  It's an addiction as surely as if it were labeled COCAINE. I drink diet so the calories are not the problem, but I think the diet is worse in terms of harmful chemicals. My worst symptom of this addiction is acid reflux. And want to know how bad the addiction is.....I was washing down my acid reducers with pop.  No more though. Yesterday started my attempt to break this addiction. No pop at all. I chose a perfect day too.  First hot day of  the year. OY. Now normally.....I'd beat that heat with a nice tall glass of diet pepsi full of ice. Nope, not anymore. I drank a gallon of tea...BY MYSELF.  Today is worse and I think I might make it through most of a second gallon.  Like I said....OY. Still not craving the pop but its easy not drinking it when I don't have it. Tomorrow at work might be a different story.  That brightly lit neon machine is like a beacon of all things cold and wonderful and might be a little hard to ignore.

Some days, I find myself a little more aware of God's presence in my life than others. I made an early morning  trip to the store this morning and as I was coming home, my mind kind of goes where it always does...wondering about how things are going to play out. How am I going to do this or that or find enough time in the day to do the many things I want to do.  As I was coming home my usual route, I got a few blocks from home, and I live in a fairly big city mind you...like right smack dab in the middle of the city even...I came upon a deer standing to the side of the road. I pulled the car to a stop. The deer looked at me for a moment, then turned back to the yard it had just emerged from. At that point I seen the other deer, just a few feet away from it.  They took off back through the yard but what a sight they were. So beautiful. And such a beautiful message from God to slow down and just enjoy the things around me once in awhile.. Thank You God.

Beautiful Day

The MS Walk was this morning. What a beautiful day for it too. I was completely blown away by the number of people walking this year. Just an awesome sight to see. I do not have MS myself but because of a spinal cord injury, I do know what its like to live with chronic pain and limited mobility.  Surgery in 2008 did wonders for me...so now...my goal is to help raise funds and awareness for MS...until their cure comes. Let's hope that day is soon.
The walk was held at Klehm Arboretum. It was absolutely gorgeous there and while I expected to get up close and personal with nature, I got a little more than I bargained for when I was stooped down to take a photo of a flower and a huge fox ran across the path in front of us.  I had the camera trained on him and was about to snap when some other walkers stepped into the shot.  Trust me though...it was such a sight to behold. I hope to get back out there real soon and see if I can find Mr. Fox again.
In addition to shots of the walkers themselves...I managed a few decent portraits of nature.