The day after Christmas...

December 26th is normally the saddest day of the year...it means Christmas is over. All the songs, lights, parties...all done.

But this December 26th, we were celebrating!!!!!!! God is so good...

She has a white spot on her butt that looks like a cottontail!!

Lots of visitors today!!

Would Ya Mind?

I have this picture in a photo competition.....if you feel like voting for it, I'd love if you'd visit:
http://hisfarmgirl.blogspot.com/2013/12/and-winner-is.html 

:) :) :)

Siblings {photo contest}

Entering this in the "Siblings" Photo Contest being hosted by Kelby over at His Farm Girl. Click on this link http://hisfarmgirl.blogspot.com/2013/10/photo-contest_27.html to enter or see the other entries :) :)

Sugar and Spice....

A little horse.....a little girl......a whole lot of adorableness and beauty!

To see more, visit

http://atruefocus.blogspot.com/2013/11/overload-of-adorable.html

Fun videos :)

Taking a break from always posting pictures to post some recent videos.....some of us, and some that just make me happy :)

This first one is all 3 of my sisters and I playing the piano at the same time. This was our encore piece for a recital we did the end of summer


This.......this is the most exciting thing EVER! The last two clips are of me showing my mare, Treasure, at Nationals, and the first couple clips are the amazing stallion she is in foal to. I cannot wait for this baby, but I'm scared to death and praying that she foals safely. She's due in March 2014.


Late nights at the World show = sheer hilarity.


One of our gorgeous 2012 fillies growing up!!


Our stunning 2 year old filly playing with Jessie. This little girl is a moving machine and so much fun to handle. Mom's currently breaking her to cart.


And this one.....because it's so hauntingly beautiful. And makes me eternally regret not learning cello.


Saving the best for last! Thor is coming back......and I can't wait.
Favorite. Superhero. Movie. EVER.


Okay, I lied. Had to slip one picture in here at the end. Yesterday afternoon was a beautiful time of fellowshipping with this gorgeous family. The pictures of this little girl and horse are some of my new all-time favorites. More to come!

Even though it's Monday.....

xoxoxo
Lisa

"Boys Are Bigger Than Girls"

Instead of going to church, I spent today babysitting a family of 7 children under the age of 14 while their parents were at the hospital bringing #8 into the world!

The conversations were priceless. Some, um....cannot be repeated :)

But here was one I got a kick out of.

6 y/o boy: Well, Lisa, boys are bigger than girls.

Me: Oh yeah? So why am I bigger than you?

6 y/o boy: (roll of eyes and a "duh, hello" look if I ever saw one) 'Cause you're so much older than me!

Me: (not thinking before I speak) So why's my mommy bigger than your daddy? (my mommy's 6'3")

6 y/o boy: (bigger "duh, hello" look) 'Cause she's so much older than him!

Me: (mental head-palm, quick recalculation): Well why am I bigger than your daddy? (I'm 6'2")

Silence. Apparently 6 y/o boy hadn't thought that far!

Passion Meets Career

I've really been blessed. Like really, really been blessed.

God has allowed my passion to turn into a career which is so amazing! I've always loved photography, but never dreamed it would be anything more than a hobby.

Boy was I wrong! And boy am I grateful!!

Here's some fun recent shots for you :)

To see more, visit my photography blog at http://www.atruefocus.blogspot.com 

Happy early Easter!

Since tomorrow is the amazing day when we get to celebrate the resurrection of our Savior and the new life He brings us, what better set of pictures could I post but a baby girl and a baby horse?  

New life is one of the most awe inspiring things we will ever experience - be it our own new spiritual life, or the new life of one of His creatures!

I hope these pictures bring a little blessing to your Easter!

Conversation with a four-year-old

At church on Sunday...during lunch....

4 year old: "Lisa! Lisa! I'm turning five and having a birthday party!!"

Me: "Sha-Weet!!"

4 year old: (pauses and cocks head) "What'd you say?"

Me: "Sha-Weet!!"

4 year old: (nodding wisely) "Sweet, Lisa, sweet. That's not how you say it!"

Me: "Ah, but it's how I say it!"

4 year old: (ponders for a moment) "Sha-Weet...is that how it goes?"

Me: chuckling...oh boy, I can just see how this is going to go....

4 year old's mother: "Look at the pretty flower!"

4 year old: "Sha-Weet!"

Mother: "That's not how you say it!"

4 year old: "Ah, but it's how I say it!"

Speech from a Columbine Parent

I'm sure you all have heard of the terrible massacre in Connecticut this morning. My heart is absolutely breaking for those families, and the reckless hate that would drive someone to do something like that shooter is beyond my comprehension.

But something else beyond my comprehension is the response of the general public. They are horrified. Downright horrified. Tears and prayers and condolences are coming from across the nation.

Why is this so confusing to me?

Because it happens every day on a much much greater scale.

18 innocent children were senselessly murdered in Connecticut today. But approximately 3,500 innocent children are murdered daily....it's called abortion. I don't understand why people are not outraged over abortion like they are over this shooting.

Is it because they don't realize abortion happens so frequently?

Is it because they don't think of the baby as a human?

Is it because they are just blind?

I don't know...but I know that God cannot bless a nation that sacrifices their children for the pleasures and comforts of the parents.

The last two verses of this carol seemed so appropriate for today.......

And in despair I bowed my head
“There is no peace on earth,” I said,
“For hate is strong and mocks the song
Of peace on earth, good will to men.”

Then pealed the bells more loud and deep:
“God is not dead, nor doth He sleep;
The wrong shall fail, the right prevail
With peace on earth, good will to men.”

This is an email that was sent to me today. It is a speech given by one of the parents whose child was killed in the Columbine shooting.

Our national leaders didn't expect this. On Thursday, Darrell Scott, the father of Rachel Scott, a victim of the Columbine High School shootings in Littleton, Colorado, was invited to address the House Judiciary Committee's subcommittee. What he said to our national leaders during this special session of Congress was painfully truthful.
They were not prepared for what he was to say, nor was it received well. It needs to be heard by every parent, every teacher, every politician, every sociologist, every psychologist, and every so-called expert! These courageous words spoken by Darrell Scott are powerful, penetrating, and deeply personal. There is no doubt that God sent this man as a voice crying in the wilderness.. The following is a portion of the transcript:
"Since the dawn of creation there has been both good &evil in the hearts of men and women. We all contain the seeds of kindness or the seeds of violence. The death of my wonderful daughter, Rachel Joy Scott, and the deaths of that heroic teacher, and the other eleven children who died must not be in vain. Their blood cries out for answers.

"The first recorded act of violence was when Cain slew his brother Abel out in the field. The villain was not the club he used.. Neither was it the NCA, the National Club Association. The true killer was Cain, and the reason for the murder could only be found in Cain's heart.

"In the days that followed the Columbine tragedy, I was amazed at how quickly fingers began to be pointed at groups such as the NRA. I am not a member of the NRA. I am not a hunter. I do not even own a gun. I am not here to represent or defend the NRA - because I don't believe that they are responsible for my daughter's death. Therefore I do not believe that they need to be defended. If I believed they had anything to do with Rachel's murder I would be their strongest opponent

I am here today to declare that Columbine was not just a tragedy -- it was a spiritual event that should be forcing us to look at where the real blame lies! Much of the blame lies here in this room. Much of the blame lies behind the pointing fingers of the accusers themselves. I wrote a poem just four nights ago that expresses my feelings best.

Your laws ignore our deepest needs,
Your words are empty air.
You've stripped away our heritage,
You've outlawed simple prayer. 

Now gunshots fill our classrooms,
And precious children die.
You seek for answers everywhere,
And ask the question "Why?" 

You regulate restrictive laws,
Through legislative creed.
And yet you fail to understand,
That God is what we need!


"Men and women are three-part beings. We all consist of body, mind, and spirit. When we refuse to acknowledge a third part of our make-up, we create a void that allows evil, prejudice, and hatred to rush in and wreak havoc. Spiritual presences were present within our educational systems for most of our nation's history. Many of our major colleges began as theological seminaries. This is a historical fact. What has happened to us as a nation? We have refused to honor God, and in so doing, we open the doors to hatred and violence. And when something as terrible as Columbine's tragedy occurs -- politicians immediately look for a scapegoat such as the NRA. They immediately seek to pass more restrictive laws that contribute to erode away our personal and private liberties. We do not need more restrictive laws. Eric and Dylan would not have been stopped by metal detectors. No amount of gun laws can stop someone who spends months planning this type of massacre. The real villain lies within our own hearts.

"As my son Craig lay under that table in the school library and saw his two friends murdered before his very eyes, he did not hesitate to pray in school. I defy any law or politician to deny him that right! I challenge every young person in America , and around the world, to realize that on April 20, 1999, at Columbine High School prayer was brought back to our schools. Do not let the many prayers offered by those students be in vain. Dare to move into the new millennium with a sacred disregard for legislation that violates your God-given right to communicate with Him. To those of you who would point your finger at the NRA -- I give to you a sincere challenge.. Dare to examine your own heart before casting the first stone!
My daughter's death will not be in vain! The young people of this country will not allow that to happen!"
- Darrell Scott

A Favorite!!!

My favorite from my session with our Pastor's family this afternoon!!

What a WET weekend!!

As has been previously determined, the only way to enjoy being outside in August in Phoenix is to be WET. Thus, a very, very wet weekend. It started on Saturday, with our church doing a, you guessed it, water day!!

Our church rented this humungous water slide that was just a blast. Everyone enjoyed it....

Yes, that is certainly my mom going down it! She did it multiple times, despite the fact that she had blow dried and curled her hair before coming.....don't ask me why.....

Our pastor!!

Jessie...."this is not supposed to be happening"....

It appears my dad was worried about keeping his head on!

Mom, Jessie, and I looking like "drowned rats" (according to Mom)

Dave (on far right) takin' on the water spray!

As usual, from a photographer's standpoint, the best part about these church gatherings is the little kids to take pictures of!! "Cowgirl-in-training"

This is my favorite picture from the entire weekend. Love this little girl and her hat!!

After a very wet Saturday, we got flood irrigation on Sunday, and had all the friends over, hooked up the minis, and surfed the evening away!!

Never knew we were a bunch of surfers, did ya?

I, sadly, didn't get wet because I was working the camera. But I definitely had fun anyways :)

He looks really good while he's in the air, doesn't he?!?!

Mmm...landing not so good.

Lovin' these little girls in their colorful swimsuits!!

I will hopefully be getting some more pictures up on my photography blog (www.atruefocus.blogspot.com) at some point in the near future!

Is everyone else stayin' cool this summer?