rbcphotogirl

pearls of wisdom

2010-06-15T19:04:00.000-07:00

this necklace from the vintage pearl is the perfect way to commemorate someone you love that is now hanging out in heaven. i want this with my dad's name on it.

i miss him and this would be a great way to represent... every day.

Surf Report...

2010-04-23T11:26:00.000-07:00

I am a social media junkie. As a result, I find myself surfing in the strangest places. I'm going to share what I find... because I want to and I think you are going to like what I've found.

Let's start with this:
awesome wedding banner

yahoo....baby....

2007-07-29T22:23:00.000-07:00

can you believe how lame this picture is? i mean, it's a cool photo, but the quality is not good... so aggravating, but it was an amazing night... i got to hang out with my friend angela, and then i got to see chris young... i've been watching him since he was on nashville start two seasons ago... he's phenomenal, i don't know why i haven't heard him more on the radio. he's so good, though, that i am relatively certain that he'll be around for YEARS TO COME...he's like "george strait good"... thank goodness.

there's a story behind the photo... i waited in line for a while, and watched how kind he was to every person that came up in line. then, when my camera wouldn't shoot, he joked with us, teased angela that she was doing it on purpose, and was so very gracious with us... i'm so grateful that he seems like the kind of guy i've been sure he was... i wish him the best, and wish there was some way to help him with his career... what a great guy!

for heather

2007-07-22T21:03:00.001-07:00

my lone reader... i appreciate your diligence to check and see if i've had anything noteworthy to say... sadly, not so much. though actually, tons has been going on... not the least of which is the a new change of venue for the collins posse. we're still ironing out the details but don't be suprised if you see some new morningside mustangs up in here.... i will advise when things are final... details details...

God is good, all the time.

2007-07-02T01:05:00.000-07:00

so...it's been quite a year... my sister in law left to go to heaven, then my grandmother left to go to heaven... then my dad found out he had cancer... then my husband found out his job was being "changed"... then my uncle found out he has cancer...
yet God is good.

How do I know this, because he is sufficient. Because throughout every thing we have experienced, not a moment has passed when i have thought I had any control. How GOOD is he that he carries it all? How GOOD is he that he knows it all? when i'm tempted to fret about something, i think, 'hmmmm, the Bible says do not be anxious for anything, but in everything give thanks.
now, that's pretty clear, and extrememly freeing.
would anyone benefit if i thought i COULD control any of it?
so...it is with great sadness that i look at the majority of people in the world.
those who don't know the "Controller"
how do they even take one breath...

and here's one for you.
my uncle, the one i mentioned, has been in unbelievable...exruciating pain... he's been literally unable to get rid of his pain - this reminded me, everyone that does not know the Savior of the world will know this kind of pain but unimaginably worse... consider this... we can bearly stand to hear his painful moans and we wish we could share his load, it's soooo terrible... yet, anyone that we do NOT share Christ with... we are robbing them of their chance to be free from this pain for eternity.

ETERNITY! did you hear me? pain, agony, defeat... for eternity.
praise the Lord and thank Him if you know Him.... call me if you don't, i'll be happy to introduce you.

in other news, we are hopeful that transplant steps are underway, so my Dad has a shot at the "only known cure" for multiple myeloma...yet still we know... God is in control and is greater than our hearts.

2007-06-21T21:33:00.000-07:00

i am so lame

2007-06-12T21:01:00.000-07:00

it's been almost a year since i "blogged"... pathetic...but kids are back from another week at kanakuk... they had a blast. we had a wonderful time with other families after the fact at big cedar... that rocked...
since my last post...
my grandmother died
my sister-in-law died
my dad has cancer
my uncle has cancer...

and God is still good... we still wait to see what His plans are... and we find our Hope in Him...

who let the dogs out

2006-07-25T22:17:00.001-07:00

so.... we finally got a new puppy. how totally stoked, am i? YAHOO...

the kids are happy too, his name is Pete. he's chocolate... like jackson and kavi's eyes.

he's lovely - and smart and good... i'm so excited... and my camera is not working! and i can't take a picture and show you how cute he is. you'll have to take my word for it - plus he's a blast!!!!

2006-07-18T20:05:00.000-07:00

after being chastised for lack of content... i would like to point out... that its not for lack of material, but lack of time... however, as this is the only current forum for personal meanderings... i shall meander...

today the kids asked why we knew we weren't going to have any more babies

they were bummed

we are still not bummed, that we made that decision...

but i thought it was curious that they were... and now maybe i am just a little bit... oh wait, i hear four people fighting and having a hard time being kind to one another... let me take care of that...

happy firecrackers and independence...

now it's time to get ready for the next adventure... Kamp, that's right Kamp with a "k"
they are totally stoked - so am i.

i have a new realization.... relationships are very important, i know it, i learned it, i think i work at it... but i'm determined to work harder... everywhere i turn i am hearing how important relationships are. it's what we're here for... very freeing, i think, because it gives me freedom to pour more in to people and see that as valuable - see... i get all scarttery, that's why i haven't meandered in awhile.

2006-06-19T07:16:00.000-07:00

what a blessing...

2006-04-18T19:23:00.000-07:00

what an awesome day easter was! it all started on thursday, kavi asked Jesus into her heart. We were all there. It was before school. She asked me how she could ask Jesus into her heart... we discussed it, and after making sure she understood that we can't be perfect, but God requires perfect, but he sent Jesus to live a perfect life and then to die and rise again to be the sacrifice in our place... her daddy led her in a prayer that solidified her decision. quint, jackson, kavi, mommy and daddy were all there... it was awesome!
then came sunday.... she went forward in church to tell the world about how she loves Jesus and knows He died for her... and so did Quint! He's decided he's ready to get baptized, so... it was a wonderful easter for us.

hope you are blessed.

just a swangin'

2006-03-13T19:58:00.000-08:00

what a cool bunch of kids... spring break, just a swangin'

we went to arlington to see our cousins, we watched a couple of movies... we just hung out...
what a nice time of restoration.

house for sale...

2006-03-10T01:16:00.000-08:00

so... it's been awhile. but i realized i had no pictures of my children because the cobblers kids have no shoes.... so it was time to take some...

this one captures everybody pretty clearly... this is really what they're like! fun, huh?

spring break is coming to a close and we're getting ready to put the house on the market... know anybody who wants to buy a house?

flickr this

2006-02-20T10:11:00.000-08:00

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bday girl

2006-02-19T20:46:00.000-08:00

sometimes when your birthday is too close to other holidays, your pictures can be lost in the shuffle... but even though she's now 7 1/12.... this was a fun celebration for jackson. we went ice skating, which everyone loved and had her friend sleep over... what made her want to go ice skating? how was she so confident that she would be able to do it? and that she wanted to spend her birthday there? what is it about jackson that gives her such joie de vivre? (does anyone know if i spelled that right?) God has blessed us with an awesome little 7 yr old... can't wait to see what she does for him in the future...

freedom in a promise

2006-02-18T19:25:00.000-08:00

i had a fascinating discussion with my aunt today. we were discussing marriage and what that promise entails. we discussed the idea that when entering a marriage, a person might be concerned that he or she might "lose themselves" in the other person...
two thoughts crystallized as we discussed this more.

first of all - i think that when you are less about "you"; you are the closest you can come to your best self. to be about others is to enhance the best version of who you can ever be. Christ gave all of himself, for us to have life that is abundantly full... His greatest command is to love one another. If loving one another is what he, who gave his life for me, is asking... and his promise is abundant life - i am crazy not to do just that - all of him, none of me.

secondly - the promise of marriage is a freedom. when you are not in a permanent binding promise, one or both can elect to leave without certain discourse. the legal, and spiritual covenant of marriage offers a security, a freedom, if you will, to be more of you than you have ever been when the potential for leaving was hanging around in your subconscious -

consider these thoughts... what do you think? does it make sense?

help me please.... i've been blogged down by my blog

2006-02-17T21:46:00.000-08:00

so... i can't figure out how to take the ABOUT ME section off of my go chiefs blog... does anyone know how to help me?

kreative... with a backwards k and kidz with a z

2006-01-30T00:36:00.000-08:00

well... we got back home friday night... with so many ideas... countless great memories of laughs for days!!! so many inside jokes we will attempt to not use for exclusivity purposes - it will be difficult. it reminded me how crucial it is to spend some away from work time with the people we work with to make the work fun... note to self...

so grateful for the opportunities afforded us, and a commitment to being a good steward of that new knowledge.

creatives.... they're a weird bunch

2006-01-24T21:38:00.000-08:00

so, we have not stopped laughing... except for that one time that guy totally shut us down and mocked us... in front of a room of our peers... but that's ok, it's good to be humbled, right?

it is weird to be in disney world without the kids... i know they would love to come again, but not this time guys, this time its meetings and eatings and meetings and eatings... i cant' wait until they roll us to the park...

good thing we've been laughing non-stop... it's been our exercise, although today we did ride a bicycle built for 8 - wow! and no camera....... hence no photo... so i'll have to write again tomorrow i suppose....

i am so grateful for this opportunity to learn from one of disney's premier imagineers.... an honor, truly.

hey there, cuz

2006-01-07T21:19:00.000-08:00

Here we are with our cousins... we love them to pieces. stone, sunny and shane are the ones you don't recognize, but that look familiar because they look much like us. this was Christmas eve, what a blast... and the day afterwards was in the photo that i posted last time.
i hope you enjoy this little glimpse. the collins family is full speed ahead into the new year... with work, basketball for quint and jackson and soon we will start soccer practice again for everyone... it's crazy around here, but we are so grateful that we have such a special place to live out our lives...
alex is coaching the basketball team, and i'm pretty sure he's the one learning the most lessons...

merry merry

2005-12-29T20:31:00.000-08:00

it's been awhile... it seems... and sadly this is the best i can do for a group shot... the cobblers children have no shoes...
anyway, this is the fam after dinner at the gaylord on Christmas day... hooray for no turkey and dressing... no kitchen no sweating... happy new year people that i love...

did you bring your camera?

2005-12-21T19:02:00.000-08:00

i can't believe how long it's been since i "blogged" you down with my thoughts... and i have no pictures. i was tempted to post pictures of some of the recent family shots i have take of other families, because, once i "shoot" you... i'm connected to you, you become like my family... just extra pages in my personal album. the time spent attempting to keep spirits up, smiles fresh and families in tact while capturing the moment in a crystallized appearance of love and joy are bonding times between the subjects and the photographer, in this case, me and many families this Christmas season. it is an honor to be chosen to immortalize the most valued treasure any person might have, especially the relationship between parents and children. it is humbly and gratefully that i go forward and focus, attempting to capture forever the twinkle that makes a mom catch her breath every time she sees the image. a composite that makes a father grateful that he could provide this permanent reminder for his family... what a great job... what a blessing...
next time i'll post pictures.

naughty or nice

2005-12-12T18:34:00.000-08:00

as you can see, blaikie was not down with the santa thing... at all! everyone else was on their best behavior, though...hmmm, could it be because we were in front of santa? what if we could visibly see Jesus, would we be more likely to be on our best behavior, I wonder? I think I'm going to ponder that this Christmas season...
Merry Christmas to all of you... may you meet Jesus where you are.

state, baby

2005-12-04T20:27:00.000-08:00

well... the PCA lions have roared victoriously at the state championship. what an exciting thing to experience! oh, how we love our school. if you wonder why... let me share this. while the fans were storming the field and the players were reveling in the victory... they were quick to come together for prayer... and then something i'm sure few have ever experienced in the wake of a great victory, these boys sang...
I am a hard fighting soldier, on the battlefield
I am a hard fighting soldier, on the battlefield
I am a hard fighting soldier, on the battlefield
I keep on bringin souls to Jesus
By the service that I give

I’ve got a helmet on my head, in my hand a sword and shield
I’ve got a helmet on my head, in my hand a sword and shield
I’ve got a helmet on my head, in my hand a sword and shield
I keep on bringin souls to Jesus
By the service that I give

You gotta walk right, talk right, sing right, pray right, on the battlefield
You gotta walk right, talk right, sing right, pray right, on the battlefield
You gotta walk right, talk right, sing right, pray right, on the battlefield
I keep on bringin souls to Jesus
By the service that I give

I am a hard fighting soldier, on the battlefield
I am a hard fighting soldier, on the battlefield
I am a hard fighting soldier, on the battlefield
I keep on bringin souls to Jesus
I keep bringin souls to Jesus
We keep bringin souls to Jesus
By the service that we give

Scriptural Reference:

"Put on the full armor of God." Ephesians 6:11
"With God we will gain the victory!" Psalm 60:12

The passion emmanating from these boys was overwhelming and extremely humbling. I'm certain the heavenly father was crying tears of joy as he watched the scene and blessed the team with a "well done, my good and faithful servants."

GO PCA LIONS, huh!
we are so grateful to be part of such an amazing school.

to mac or not to mac...

2005-12-03T06:27:00.000-08:00

that is the question. well... my brand new lap top that you've read about in previous days, let's call her "Lemonhead", has gone back to the computer hospital in willow bend mall in the recesses of their IT department. it was with no small amount of aggravation that i discovered yet even more problems, for one, no sound... that required me to return to the scene with the aforementioned Lemonhead. As we are currently deep into Christmas card fever season, it could be potentially very debiiitating for me not to have a computer to edit photos and burn cds... all my non mac friends laugh an evil laugh of "i told you so" mixed with a little "you mac people", some just nod sympathetically... it's really pathetic...
i wonder what the lesson God has for me is in this? I'll let you know when I figure it out....

from disney to heaven

2005-11-27T20:26:00.000-08:00

So... we had a great time at Disney. the smells and sounds were all familiar, but sweetened by the shared experience with our children. unlike me, the collins children enjoy the dressed up characters and were diligent to stand in line for autographs all over the park.
some highlights were when mom, dad, quint, jax and kavi stayed late at the magic kingdom and rode the thunder mountain roller coaster... when we ate kavi's birthday dinner at tony's (the Lady and the Tramp restaurant)... when Blaikie got down at the Bear and the Big blue house show... there are so many good memories, too many to count.
the aerosmith rockin' roller coaster was a bit intense, but daddy and quint got to ride on it twice.
grandmama and granddaddy were troopers the whole time and rode with us, took pictures of us, played with us... and made it home safely with us.

we had a sad detour to Birmingham for Mimi's funeral... but we are excited for her that she is in heaven now. she has missed her husband for 32 years and now she gets to be with him. her body had decided to quit working. Kavi asked, " why did Mimi have to die?" to which I replied, "Because Jesus was ready to have her with Him. It was time." Jackson said, "Oh, he must be done with her crown, you know, with the jewels and everything." "Yes, honey, that's probably it." Quint wanted to make sure I knew that she was going to be in heaven. He asked, "How do you know she'll be in heaven? Did you ask her? Did she know Jesus?" Fortunately I could tell him that yes, she knows Jesus, she asked him to be in her heart, and so she is in heaven with him now.... He's already started praying for Blaikie, since she hasn't had the opportunity yet to make the choice.

thought this was going to be short and pithy, but instead, it's humbly grateful... and thoughtful.

thanks for reading.

oh baby, i've got good news

2005-11-13T23:52:00.000-08:00

davis james beard is home from the hospital. if you prayed for him, thank you. it means everything. his family has seen a "yes" from God and for this we are eternally grateful. hope you will be blessed for your part in the answer.

wonderful world of disney

2005-11-13T23:41:00.000-08:00

so, the family is gearing up for a big amazing trip to walt disney world in orlando, fl. 20 hours each way... two vans... 4 kids... 4 adults... WOW! but, oh how i anticipate the memories we will create. as i excavated the disney site, and the corresponding "mommy" tips and links i began to get more and more excited. i can literally smell the place. i can feel the intensity of entering the crisp air of the monorail after sweltering on the loading dock. my senses are alive as i recall the feeling of standing in the first official kodak picture spot, looking over cinderella's castle, the ducks, the pond. my nostrils are literally flaring with the smells of the candy shop, ice cream shoppe, the tomorrow land restaurant... oh man, if these kids have half as much fun as i think they're going to have, they will be out of their minds. the bustle of the emporium as you pore over the souvenir options in a last minute rush to choose the best item. the intensity of actually getting concerned and tense in the line for the not so haunted mansion. knots in my stomach before boarding space mountain. singing along to the pirates... yo ho yo ho a pirate's life for me... does it get any better than the magic of disney world? i love it. i can't wait to show those collins kids what it's all about. if anyone has any tips i might not have discovered in my google search... send them on.

the "not so hard" drive

2005-11-08T19:50:00.000-08:00

Well... my nice big fancy new laptop... CRASH ah ah (sounds like Flash Gordon theme song)yes, folks, it got injured, injured bad.

would you believe that my new G4 is in the shop for 5-7 long days to get a new hard drive. it's abominable. why didn't i back up my files? why am i going to have to spend more time reshooting photos that were really great to begin with? not being prepared...

guess what this makes me think of... that's right, Christ. do i want to get caught off guard, or unprepared when He returns? am i storing up anything on my la cie external hard drive? there is no excuse not to. it's all spelled out for me so beautifully in my Bible, God's word to me.... I will hide its words in my heart that I might not sin against Him. that's my hard drive.

what are you storing up in yours?

peter peter pumpkin eater

2005-11-04T12:54:00.000-08:00

...kids so cute you wanna eat her (and her and her and him)

wow! what fun the photo taking is, and this is definitely the season. as i gear up for christmas family portrait season... and hope for "client" i am reminded how blessed we are to have a Savior who loved us enough to die for us.... Makes life worthwhile.

truly grateful for each and every day... and that eternity is secure.

life with four kids is a festival

2005-11-01T18:43:00.000-08:00

so, of course our kids went candy hopping last night... and adorable, they were
the sheer number of pieces of chocolate in our home are enough to put me into a sugar coma for weeks...
but, that's not the point. the point is we were able to keep up the tradition that was started four years ago. trick or treating with friends.
that leads me to a conversation about the importance of friends and how we can teach our children how important friends are...
hey, even Jesus had friends.

last night our church had a fall festival... let me share about that for a moment... because it certainly opened my eyes.
first of all, our church is diligent to be prayerful about everything... we walked the church in a prayer walk, we prayed allowed as a group, we were fortified by the prayers of pastors.... suffice it to say, I believe satan was bound from this place because of the prayers of God's people.
i watched ministers and volunteers toil tirelessly to ensure that every little kid had candy to eat, games to play and places to bounce their little heads off.
i saw sooo many people i did not know. the heart of the church is outreach and never is it more evident than the fall festival.
it reminded me of how when someone comes to your house and you either chat at the door, or you invite them in to play in your playroom, rest in your bedroom, eat at your table... after this you have an intimacy and commitment level to the relationship...
that's what prestonwood now has with all those from our community that donned the doors last night. what an honor to entertain the lost. what a privilege to represent Christ to those who've never even heard His name.
I have never been so proud to be a member of Prestonwood than I was on Oct. 31.

truly... wow

church softball isn't for wimps

2005-10-28T21:17:00.000-07:00

as i watched my husband make stunning catch after stunning catch... and i myself, whiffed once and walked once... i was reminded again to be grateful for bodies that we can use. my team struggles, it seems, with staying pumped when we get down... and i am pretty sure they loathe my cheerful "hey guys.. it's a game" I hope they don't think i don't care, i'm just really really aware with "the big picture" right now.... but the lesson here for me is that sometimes, the "little picture" is important to others, so therefore needs to be taken seriously. i'll submit that my comments are all over the board right now, but i feel like i always need to have at least one clear point... hope this will do: life is good when you can watch your kids play together on the lawn and your husband tear it up on a ball field. i have no idea what the score was.

just say no ... i'll pray for you.

2005-10-27T14:17:00.000-07:00

so, this week my kids are focusing on "just say no to drugs" in school. they have tied red ribbons, they have worn red shirts,
they have heard from their principal "just say no"... so, I wonder... will they? when it gets tough? when all the cool kids are doing it? when they are on their own, are they going to be able to really just say no? i think the parent's greatest tool is unquestionably prayer. nothing increases your prayerlife like a child... so, to all of us parents out there... be steadfast and longsuffering in our prayers, and ever watchful. if you ever see my kid on the verge of making the wrong choice, feel free to intervene. If i ever see your kid on the verge of making a bad choice, i promise you i will. we must all be ever vigilant as we protect our little people from the world around them.

perspective, baby

2005-10-26T13:36:00.000-07:00

wow... so i'm thinking about life and how hard it is to be obedient, and diligent in growing my relationship with Christ, and i get an email from a friend who says "blog this! i'm in labor" she was six weeks early and her sac ruptured, fluid leaked, it was a mess, i tell ya... and they were concerned about infection.
sometime this afternoon davis james beard was born, weighing in at a hefty 5 lb. 7 oz. and infection free. the steroids they tried before birth didn't get the lungs quite ready for arrival so he is hanging out in an incubator while intubated in salt lake city... his parents are hopeful, but tired.
immediately, of course, i sent an email to my faithful praying friends... and then i thought about the honor and privilege that prayer is. this caused me to be a bit more aware of all the times even so far this morning, and afternoon of how many times i have prayed: praising him, asking him, thanking him, loving him. i hope that if you read this you will pray for baby davis, and you will remember to thank God for the privilege of coming to him.
I truly do not know what people do that do not have the freedom of life with Christ.

2005-10-25T19:47:00.000-07:00

so, you say you're a stay at home mom

2005-10-25T18:59:00.000-07:00

I guess the term stay-at-home-mom is about as oxymoronic as the 40-hour work week.
the more coined phrases i consider, the more i laugh aloud to myself...
but stay-at-home-mom might be the most absurd that i've ever heard...
there is essentially no such thing.
the SAH mom, we'll call her from now on, is never home. she fills up her gas tank 3 times a week, at least. she has changes of clothes for all seasons and all sizes in the back of her suv or minivan at all times. she is prepared at the drop of a hat to go... anywhere with anyone if it touches the life of her child. she spends virtually no time AT HOME, with the exception of the occasional day trip home to retrieve whatever may have been forgotten that morning in the mad dash to the carpool dropoff line...and then again at homework/dinner/bath time when she sweeps through the halls picking up various discarded debris littering the house in the form of dirty clothes, soccer cleats and portions of homework sheets.
the day winds down, she lovingly embraces the babies she guides through life, she kisses her husband with the passion of the newlywed years, and eventually becomes a true SAH mom... while she sleeps, until she wakes to start the whole stay-at-home thing all over again...
i think i'll go get ready for work....

blog? what's that?

2005-10-21T21:34:00.000-07:00

in an effort to stay current... and able to communicate with the kids in our ministry... and in my home... i've decided to go "bloggy"

I will attempt to keep it interesting, honoring to God and family, and worth your time to read.

and away we go.....