As I have been contemplating this "Photo-a-Day" blog, I've thought I should set out a guideline for myself...

Although the photo does not have to be taken on the day it is posted, it should be taken by me or my husband, or with our camera. The photo should not be from an outside source.

What are my goals of this challenge?

1. Inward: By capturing images that I think were an important and integral part of each particular day, I hope to learn about what I find valuable. I also hope to gain a better understanding of my camera!

2. Outward: By sharing these images I hope to communicate with those who visit my blog what I see and hopefully, how I see it.

3. Upward: By intentionally taking photographs of the things I see and experience. I am hoping to have a closer relationship with God, the Creator. I hope to be able to see beauty and joy in the everyday...I believe that to be a great motivator in itself. And on the days, that I just can't see beauty and joy... I hope you bear with me.

Another goal I have is that when this year is through, I would like to make a photo book of my journey, so that I can look back and see the world as it was to me then.

Thanks for visiting.
shannon

We're giong to the zoo, zoo, zoo...you're doing what? Have you looked outside? Ha. Jacob and I had a free day, and our zoo passes were burning a hole in our pocket, so we thought we should go. Now you might ask, at what point did you begin to question this decision? Was it when you felt the bitterly cold wind? Or how about when you were driving there and saw the snow start? What about when you slid on the ice in the parking lot? I have to admit, at all three of those times I questioned our decision. However, that all being said, Jacob and I had a fun hour at the zoo. It was us, another Mom and child and the animals. We saw the lion and tiger eating lunch. We saw the giraffe and the rhino. The spider monkeys were extremely glad to see us. We also got to go on the train, where we were able to see the rest of the zoo, quickly and efficiently. All in all, I am glad we went...but we were definately glad to get back in the car!

All in a days work! In the past, Christmas baking has been a well thought out, organized event, taking place over a week or so. This year, I wasn't actually sure if it was going to get done, let alone all in one day. The boys were out, the house was quiet and I got to work. And the amazing thing was - there were no catastrophes.

There are two kinds of people in my life...those who have tasted my baking and those who have watched me bake. Now, the first group of people probably have conceived some notion that I am somewhat of a decent baker. The second group of people (being mainly my husband and my son), have witnessed the near disasters in my kitchen. There has been tears, there has been threats of throwing small appliances out the window. So, for me to accomplish what I did today without such event, is nothing short of a miracle.

Oh the wonder of it all! As parents, Rich and I haven't really pushed the Santa issue. Jacob has been scared...no, petrified to go and sit on his lap. But, this year something has changed. I saw it in Jacob's face as he waited for Santa at the Breakfast we were at this weekend. From a far, I could see in his precious little face all the anticipation, all the wonder and all the hope that a child should have at Christmas.

Some of the coldest days have the warmest memories. Snow makes the everything beautiful, everything clean, everything magical. We are supposed to have quite the winter this year, and if that includes days of making snowmen, snow angels and snowball fights...I'm okay with that.

He's five. I have been pondering this thought for a couple of days now. There is a fresh mark on the wall in the hall where we mark growth every year. Can't quite believe it. When you are rocking your new baby boy and experiencing sleepless nights you can't even imagine what five will be like....and yet, here we are.

I think five is a magical age. He is starting to read, improving his writing, becoming more confident, more intelligent and more thoughtful. He is as silly as ever and loves to make us laugh. He is creative and loves to draw and build. He is very curious about God and has recently asked Jesus into his heart.

Yes, I think five is going to be a good year.
I love him.

Happy Birthday Sweetheart.

Today was the day. The sun was out and we had some spare time - it was now or never. It was time to take our "annual" family picture. I put annual in quotation marks because I have always wanted to document our family's life by having a picture done every year. This became even more importanct to me after Jacob was born, and we had been doing well...until last year. So, this year it had to be done. This picture is one of the finalists. I think I like it.

Oh to be 4 again. Jacob has been planning on being a tiger for halloween since this summer....and practicing his growl. It had to be a tiger. Nothing else would do.

There is something that satisfies the soul when you make bread. I don't know whether it is the satisfaction in providing for your loved ones with your own hands or whether it is the stirring of familiar memories with every whiff of baking bread. I don't know, it just feels good and it tastes good! For me making bread brings back memories of my Grandad. It is his recipe for bread that I still use today. I hope that maybe this recipe and these memories will be something that Jacob will carry with him as he grows up.

As I was walking home from taking Jacob to Kindergarten on a spectacularly foggy day. I decided that my laundry could wait and that I would head out with my camera. My first destination? Fort Langley of course! This photo was taken at Marina Park, right on the Fraser River.

So, I've had this blog for a while now - mostly to follow others. But as of late, I've felt led to start a Photo a Day journal / blog for 2011. So until then, this is me...getting used to blogging :)