If you've noticed the posting time, you'll see that it's a very early hour as I write this. I haven't been to bed yet, mostly because I just have too much on my mind for it to properly shut off tonight but partly because I at long last have a laptop with a built in wi-fi connection and I have been making my way down an insanely long list of sites that I have wanted to check out, without any real regard for the passage of time whatsoever. The kids are all asleep and that means I can focus my attention on some adult topics and conversation (like health insurance, new You-tube videos from my favorite stand-up comedians and IM chats with people over 25 who can properly use words with more than 4 syllables. Don't know what *you* were thinkin' I meant...) Some things have changed since my last post in April, and some have stayed the same. Jake is still at Ben Hill roofing and likes it very much. God is faithfully providing for our needs, but the nature of the job requires us to be careful stewards of the income it provides. If the rains come, Jake can't work. No work, no pay for that day (or several days). Our faith is being stretched and tested and I find that it is only by drawing closer to the Lord and trusting His plan for us that I can manage the bills without stress or panic. I have been standing on God's promises for us now more than ever before.
I've been so happy for the warm weather and sunshine. All last winter I suffered from a lengthy depression. Whether it was prolonged or relapsed from having Emily I cannot say, but I have come to understand some things about depression and how I can best treat it and kick it to the curb! I learned this year that depression is not just a "mood" that I ought to be able to shake on my own. It is a chemical imbalance that requires several factors in order to make right. I really might ought to have had some anti-depressant medications but I have gotten through the roughest patches to where that isn't necessary now and diet and exercise along with active counseling are the best cures for my particular tendencies.
I've been using the Wii-Fit since January. Admittedly not as much as I would like to have, since there are many, many distractions and other things to do, but I have used it more often than not and have managed to lose and keep off 12 lbs. since first setting up my user profile. My progress fluctuates, but is moving in a generally downward direction on the weight chart, so I am excited about that.
Another thing that is helping melt off the extra pounds is that whenever I have a few dollars during the week, I head off to either Hot Jam on Mondays or Swing Soulstice on Thursdays to dance. I posted a little bit about Hot Jam in April when Frankie Manning passed away, and will post a separate entry about it (as promised) and one about Soulstice a little later. The music is awesome, my new friends even awesomer (to quote my 8 year old), and I feel like a completely new and different person after a dance session.
I've been insanely busy these past few months with some photography jobs and getting some future gigs lined up for the fall, winter and next spring. I've taken and edited an estimated 5,000 images for work in the last 12 weeks, which is to say nothing of the personal images I have taken of friends and family and of the kids growing up. I rotate memory cards in my Nikon D300 like a hyperactive kid in the revolving door of a fancy hotel! (This is a very funny and accurate analogy that I came up with all by myself, so I'll likely be using it on my photography blog page as well, when I get that up and running here in the next few days or so.) I'll be posting a link to the photography blog when I get it all set. You'll get to read about my adventures, including the "first time" experiences for me of photographing action shots at a Spring dance recital for Axis Dance Center of Dallas, GA and photographing the very colorful and elaborate engagement ceremony of an Indian couple whose parents live here in Atlanta. (They reside in Augusta, GA) Both of those experiences were FANTASTIC and the blog will be worth the read. Just have to find the time to write it all down!
I hate to have to do it, but I'm going to have to cut this blog off here for now. It won't be long before the kids are up and I would like to snatch a few ZZZs if I can before facing the amazingly long list of things I have to get accomplished today. Laundry put away, rooms clean and more photos edited are all on that list. We have plans to go see an old school mate and dear friend of mine this weekend and all go to St. Simon's Island for the day Saturday. If this is to happen, I must "get my rear in gear" as my sister-in-law says sometimes, and get this stuff done! I hope to blog more tonight.... we'll see. Thanks for checking in.
Until later, the Lord Bless you and Keep you. (Numbers 6:24)
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