60/365 Color Challenge

Many of you know that I began this Project 365 because I was inspired by a fellow mom, photographer named Hallie who was doing the same on her blog http://www.fromtherubberroom.com/ .

Last June (wow, June, really?) Hallie began an online workshop entitled "Through the Lens"-- workshop for anyone who wants to improve their photography skills - for beginners - taught by a beginner. At the time, I was months away from purchasing my new camera and so I stood by the sidelines and watched enviously as people posted wonderful photos. Well, now I need not wait anymore. Woohoo! This week is our first photo challenge:color. We are to take a photo, or many using - color. It could be your favorite color, many colors, unusual combinations and designs, bright, muted, colorful buildings, signs….Being my indecisive self, here is the first of possbily many photos of color. I received in the mail a box full of balls for JumpBunch, our kids sports and fitness business and thought "Aaahh, what wonderful colors!!!" I have some other ideas for this challenge, but this is a start!

Don't Jump! 59/365

My hubby successfully cheered me up on Valentine's Day by taking all of us for a walk around the amphitheater lake. I brought along my camera of course, which, selfishly, made the walk MUCH more fun. The two bigs had great fun pretending they were jumping into the lake off the edge of the path. There was only a 24" patch of grass to land on below so their jumps were only so high...silly boys! Love 'em to pieces!!!

In the Shadow 58/365

Happy Valentine's Day!

Dunk 57/365

Tuesday night we went to see my nephew, Casey, play in the Duke manager's basketball game against the Carolina managers. It was an 11PM start time so the kids were like, "What? we're going where?" We decked them out in their best Cameron Crazie gear and headed out at 10:20. It was so fun to see them play in Cameron. Casey dominated the first half. Some spectators began chanting "Ca-sey's Win-ning." The guys won 90-55. Unfortunately the actual team lost the following night.. :0( We wish all of our nieces and nephews lived close so we could see them do these cool things!!!

Bumper Crop 56/365

Once a month the congregation of our church is offered the opportunity to help those in need by bringing food through a program called "Bumper Crop." They are asked to leave the bags at the bumper of their car, hence the name. Our small group had the chance to run this effort this past weekend. A week beforehand we had to collect and staple flyers on 1500 grocery bags. We then put them out on windshields in the parking lot. We ran out of bags and had to quickly add about 900 more to the mix. This week we collected all of the bags and delivered them to a mobile home park where the food is stored, organized and offered to the residents of the park. As we stood in the assembly line from our vehicles into the trailers, I looked to my friend Janel ,who had been fighting back tears all morning. It was such an amazing feeling of unity although our races, income and personal histories were more varied than we could dare have time to discuss. We were simply people. People help other people. Brothers and sisters giving to one another what each of us needed for that moment; whether it be tangible food or the opportunity to serve and be a blessing. My boys were there, right along side everyone else and I pray they will remember how simple and wonderful it is to help one another.

1 Peter 3:8
Finally, all of you, live in harmony with one another; be sympathetic, love as brothers, be compassionate and humble.

Philippians 2:3-5
Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves. Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others. Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus.

String of Gems 55/365

Chucks 54/365

So I love Beans in his Chucks! I was so excited to see these classic kicks re-emerge. I was never one for character sneakers. I often redirected my guys to what I thought was cool, after all I am the one paying for them...at least for now.

Moments

The poem below was written by a friend of my brother, Tom, on the plane after his first ever marathon in Anchorage, Alaska for the Leukemia Society's Team-in-Training in 1995. This very poem may be the signature poem for my "someday" photography business because it is with exactly her description that I strive to capture those "moments." Enjoy...

M O M E N T S

They come and go,
Like the people who touch our lives.
Some pass quietly as small miracles,
While others are announced by trumpets.
Still others slip by, only to fade away, unnoticed.

Each has a purpose,
And a rightful owner.
Those who claim them as their own
Never forget them,
Or the people they’ve shared them with.

They are truly one of the treasures of humankind
In that they can never be taken away
Or diminished by others.
For once they are within - -
They are forever . . .

Frozen in time.
We call upon their strength
To elicit joy, inspiration, humility and even fear.

Perhaps one of our greatest teachers,
Precious moments are to be protected at all costs.
For with gentle, timeless hands,
They lead to valuable discoveries
Of who we once were, who we are now,
And who we can become.



© Lisa Ozalis Graham
June 18, 1995

Zamboni Queen 53/365

I had the pleasure of celebrating my friend Cara's birthday on Saturday at a Carolina Hurricane's game! So. Fun. She had the privilege of riding the Zamboni between quarters and was quite natural with her crown and feather boa! She's a riot!!!