Down by the water...

It is cold!  Really cold! Really, REALLY cold.  

It has been brutally cold the past few days.  In fact, it snowed on Friday.  Even though it is really cold, the snow is almost melted.  Since it's so cold, I decided we would stay in today and just relax.  I also thought it was a perfect day for homemade chicken noodle soup.  Let me just tell you it was incredible.  I've never made homemade chicken noodle soup before so I really had no idea what I was doing.  I just started throwing a little of this and a little of that in the pot.  Kinda wish I would have written down the recipe!   

While the soup was simmering, I sat down at my computer and started looking at all the pictures I've taken over the last year.  Wow, let me just tell you I am glad we are in a digital age...there are thousands of pictures!  I was trying to find a picture that I could post today.  I haven't been in the mood lately to just grab my camera and go on an adventure...course it could have something to do with the brutal cold!

As I was flipping through the pictures, I found some pictures from a weekend getaway in September.  Before I tell you about the location of the getaway, let me tell you a little about the getaway.  I've been taking this weekend getaway every year since I was two.  The location is the same, however, the place we stay has changed over the years, in fact I think we have changed places 5 times.  We've been at our current place for well over 15 years.  Each year the number of people that join us grows...this year I believe there were 60 people.  Yes, you read that correctly 60 people.  We rent a ton of rooms and pretty much have the run of the place.  All the kids have someone to play with and hang out with.  So where on earth do we go each year?  

We go here:

“I am you; you are ME. You are the waves; I am the ocean. Know this and be free, be divine.”

--Sri Sathya Sai Baba

Even in the middle of winter, I can still hear the crash of the waves and feel the cool ocean breeze on my face.  Do you want to take a break from the cold and join me on the beach?  Can't you feel the sand between your toes?  Ahhhhhhh pure peacefulness! 

Just in case you don't believe me about the number of people in our group...we took a picture this year!  This picture is missing 5 people.  This is the first time we got everyone together for a group shot!  So I don't think missing 5 people is too bad!!!

If you need me, I'll be down by the water!

Focusing on Him, 

~W~

MILKSHAKES Revisited!!!!!

I started this blog about a year ago.  And for a good six months, I posted weekly if not more often.  Then came summer and I stopped posting. I don't have a good excuse as to why heck, I don't even have a bad excuse.  I just stopped!  I'm hoping to  striving to get back into the habit of posting again. Let's shoot for once a week and go from there. I may even do a Scavenger Hunt here and there!!! So here is my post for this week.

  

One of my very first blog posts was titled MILKSHAKES!!!

I thought it would be fun to do a similar post a year later!  Yes, I know if you check the date of the original post it was a little more than a year ago and if you check the dates that I took these pictures, you will see that I took them at the beginning of the month.  I've been busy!!!!!

Anyway here goes...

We are on a mission...

  (Let me apologize now for the quality of this photo...my husband was driving and he doesn't believe in stopping to capture beauty at the drop of a hat.  His idea of stopping is not to stop!  I had to take this picture as the car was moving!)

to find:

MILKSHAKES only the best around!

But instead we found:

 "Mr. Cow, can you tell us where to find MILKSHAKES...only the best around?"

"I don't know, but I bet those two cuties over there will know!"

"Hey cuties,  do YOU know where we can find MILKSHAKES...only the best around?"

" No, but we know where you can find 1000 pounds of pure butter. May it can help you."

"Butter, do YOU know where we can find MILKSHAKES...only the best around?"

"No, but I know where you can find a soft fuzzy alpaca."

"Alpaca, do YOU know where we can find MILKSHAKES...only the best around?"

"No, but I know where you can find my fur coat being spun into wool."

"Spinner, do YOU know where to find MILKSHAKES...only the best around?"

"NO but I know where to find a big green tractor."

"Big green tractor, do YOU know where we can find MILKSHAKES...only the best around?"

"No, but I know where you can find some cowboys."

"Cowboys, do YOU know where we can find MILKSHAKES...only the best around?"

"No, but I know where you can find some people who might know."

"People, do YOU know where we can find MILKSHAKES...only the best around"

"Why yes we do"

Mmmmmmmm....

MILKSHAKES...only the best around!!!!

 and Baked Potatoes!

Yummmmmmmmmm

Did you guess where our adventure was?

 

Thanks for stopping!

Taking time to Focus on Him this week, 

~W~

Raindrops...

 

"Let the rain kiss you. Let the rain beat upon your head with silver liquid drops. Let the rain sing you a lullaby."
Langston Hughes 

What happened to team sports being fun?

I'm feeling the need to vent today...maybe it's because it's Sunday and I don't want this beautiful fun filled weekend to end or maybe it's because I just spent the afternoon at my daughter's soccer game. 

It is not normally my style to take to my blog to complain or vent and it's not the purpose for my blog however, I really need to get this off my chest.  My daughter has played soccer for the last four seasons.  She has played with the same coach and pretty much the same girls for the last three of those seasons.  Her team has been undefeated for three of the four seasons.  This season her team has moved up to a much more challenging division and has been met with many obstacles.  They quickly learned during the first game the field is bigger, the girls play harder and are MUCH bigger! 

She has gone to every practice and plays her heart out.  Now I am not going to lie and say she always plays her best, what I am saying she is a team player and will do what is asked of her.  You may remember my post a few months ago when she scored her first goal. 

So why am I venting?  Well during the last game, K sat on the bench for most of the second half while all the other players were subbed in and out.  Apparently she did play for a little while during the first half and had some really good plays (I missed part of it because I was out shooting senior portraits.)  When I asked K if she did something wrong and was being punished for something her response was I don't know...I don't think so.  When she was put in during the second half she was taken out a minute to two minutes later.  During the game she was limping slightly due to an early injury but not complaining about it after she got warmed up.  I asked the coach after the game if she did something wrong and was told, she didn't do anything wrong but that he needed to get better at subbing people in and out during the game since we have many more subs this season.  He also mentioned that K was limping and thought she was in pain. 

Fast forward to today's game.  Today K started the game and played quite a bit.  She had one her best games yet, blocking the ball, good kicks and aggressive playing.  I have to say we were very proud of her.  So what am I venting about you ask?  Well after the game was over K came running off the field in tears.  After finding out what was wrong I sent her back on the field to congratulate the other players with her team.  One of the parents behind me made a comment about why she was crying and then another parent came up to me asking what had happened.  When I explained what K told us she encouraged me to talk to the coach to put an end to it.  So I grabbed K and the girls who were part of the drama and asked the coach to listen to the situation.  I was hoping we could put a very quick end to the drama.  Everyone's emotions were very high as we lost our third game.  After asking the girls what happened the coach stepped in and discussed it with all of the girls involved.  I am not sure I am totally happy with what was said and how it was resolved but it was handled, until the other two parents involved came into the discussion.  One parent asked what happened and if his daughter said something rude.  I calmly stated no and just explained what the issue was.  The other parent quickly defended their child, praising them for communicating on the field.  Now I understand the concept of playing as a team and talking to each other on the field and I think it is an important part of playing as a team.  However, I have a problem with other players, "coaching" from the field when they too make mistakes. 

K has lost all desire to play soccer because the focus is no longer on having fun but winning.  Now K may not be the best player on the team but she is a player and plays hard...most of the time.  When did it become OK for a kid's team sport become more about winning than having fun and playing the game?  What message are we sending to our kids if we are only focused on winning and not having fun?

I do want to give props to K's coach, he constantly is reminding the girls to play a clean game and not take the easy way out and play a dirty game.  Even when one of our girls got hurt today and had to be carried off the field and the other team was laughing, our coach reminded the girls to not play their game.  He channel their anger use it to play hard and score points.  

K, I am proud of you and how hard you played during the game today.  You played every position you were asked to and never said I can't.  You showed everyone today that you are a team player.  Score a goal next week and as Frank would say...Glacier Flakes is on him!

Scavenger Hunt Sunday

I know, I know...I've missed quite a few hunts over the past few weeks...seven to be exact.  Life sure has a way of interrupting our routine doesn't it?  During the last seven weeks I told myself I would most certainly participate in this week's hunt only to realize it was Saturday and was a soccer game or tournament to attend or I had to work or you know how it is...! I wasn't even going to look at this week's prompts as I am knee deep in end of the year paperwork but my BFF realized we both needed some "me" time with our cameras so she drug (and I mean drug) me out of my work related training to go on the hunt for this week's prompts.  I am happy to say all but one picture was found this week and in one day!  Boy did it sure feel good to go exploring with Shay again.  Let's do it again this week Shay!  Alright enough about me...on to the real reason you stopped by my interpretations...

1. MEET ME AT THE CORNER

When I first read this prompt I wasn't sure what direction to go until Shay suggested we go exploring in the city.  What better place to meet me at the corner than the corner of the square in York City.  Although it doesn't appear so in the picture this intersection is usually quite busy!  For the record, these are two of the busiest roads in York County and for you history buffs out there Market street is also known as Lincoln Highway.

2.  MOTHER NATURE MEETS TECHNOLOGY

I was really stumped with this one!  

I know it might be a stretch but wasn't technology used to create the planter to hold Mother Nature's Beauty??? 

Even it it doesn't count...I still think it's too cool not to share!

(Another view along Lincoln Highway)

3.  ONE STEP AT A TIME

Last week I attended three graduation ceremonies, two as a spectator and one as a faculty member.  When I read this prompt I immediately thought of the ceremonies and how high school graduation is just one step in our lives. 

4.  WHAT'S WRONG WITH THIS PICTURE???

(I am going to apologize in advance for what you are about to see... Shay double dog dared me to capture this and use it for this post and I can't let her down!)

I am not a fan of this new fashion statement so to me it was easy for me to say...what is wrong with this picture!  What is even funnier about this is there was a gentleman sitting at a table watching this man and the look on his face was priceless!  I wish I would have been able to capture it to include here!  

I need to digress for just a minute here...on Saturday I was at the mall shopping when I saw another What's wrong with this picture?  I was shopping for a bathing suit and right beside the rack of bathing suits was a rack of winter coats!  Now I do not live in the tundra where one would need a winter coat in the middle of summer.  The temperature on that day was a balmy 80 degrees!

5.  STANDING TALL

I think perhaps this is my favorite hunt picture this week.  I shot many things for this prompt but when I saw this flag and the reflection in the window I knew this had to be my Standing Tall prompt especially since we just celebrated Flag Day.  I am proud to be an American and very thankful for our flag and all it represents.

Well that's all folks!  Thanks for taking the time to stop in and visit with me!  I am so excited to be back in the hunt and can't wait to see how all of you interpreted the prompts this week.

Focusing on Him,

~W~

To my friend...

 

"If you're alone, I'll be your shadow. If you want to cry, I'll be your shoulder. If you want a hug, I'll be your pillow. If you need to be happy, I'll be your smile... But anytime you need a friend, I'll just be me." 

~unknown~

 

In honor of Best Friend Day...which I of course missed! 

It's been awhile...

 since I posted on here in fact two people have pointed it out that I have not been on here in awhile. Thanks Nana and Wendy.   I could say it was because I was out on some big photo adventure...but I'd be lying.  I could say it was because Shay and I were out building our business...but that too would be a lie. I don't have any excuses as to why other than life has just really gotten in the way.

It's almost been a month since I last posted and so many exciting things have happened.  Our son "graduated" eighth grade. More on that in another post! (I'm still wiping the tears from my eyes!) Our daughter's soccer team had another undefeated season. (Way to go NEYSA Blitz!) I went to two proms...well not really...I actually just shot prom pictures for various friends.  I've attended three different graduations and cried as several of my youth have taken the next step in their young lives.  I had my camera at two of the graduations and took well over 400 pictures between the two events.  The third one was for work and I wasn't able to take pictures as I had several other jobs to attend to before and during the ceremony.

 

The biggest most exciting thing that happened was that my BFF, Shay and I, decided to pursue our passion for photography and start our own photography business, Sharpe and Hobbs Photography.  If you are looking for someone to capture your life's moments, please let us know.  We'd love to capture the beauty God blessed you with.  You can check out some of our work here.

As another school year is coming to a close I will have more time to explore and capture God's beauty and post on here more often. 

I need to give a special thanks to my very special BFF, Shay for begging me to grab my camera and escape into the great unknown for a little while on Friday. If I hadn't, I would have missed the simple joy of watching a butterfly land on these beautiful flowers.

If I hadn't taken my little fish to the pool for midnight swim Friday evening, I would have missed this breathtaking sunset or hanging out with Wendy.  It's been so long!  I am hoping to have more time to find God's simple pleasures as summer days turn into summer nights. 

(SOOC)

Thanks for taking a few moments out of your busy life to read my update!  

Taking time to Focus on Him this week,

~W~