It has been a long time since my last blog.
We have been to CA and back on Spring Break...and of course, I am editing editing editing...go on over to www.dawnielecastellanoseyefull.blogspot.com to check out what I have been doing recently.
I will be back here soon.
i promise.
with stories.
pictures.
life.
see you soon.
So I am in a Beth Moore study on Esther. We meet every Wednesday. I am so amazed at how much Beth can pull out of one verse. It has been a truly wonderful learning experience for me. Here are some of the highlights from today's lesson Based on Esther 4:16:
"God reserves the right NOT to force HOW you will do your WHAT. No one is born brave, but you can become so (in Christ), you can change your narrative today." -Beth Moore "Esther"
"Courage; root word is "cor" = heart. Courage comes from a heart convinced it is loved (I Jn 1)."
"Death is not our destination. Our destiny is complete when Christs kingdom is established here on earh as it in heaven (Phil 1:6). Esther took the courage she was offered."
"What is the most common commandment in the Bible? "Take courage" and "Fear not!" think about how many times we are told directly or through stories, to take courage and fear not? Think about it!"
"Take courage! I have conquered the world" -Jesus, Jn 16:33.
He offers it...why don't we take it?
I mean, really, how much courage did Esther show knowing full well that if she went before the King, unasked, that could be the end of her days. But, what did she do? she said, well, if I die then I die...."let's roll"
Ha ha! How I wish I could say, "Let's roll" and here I have the Gospel fulfilled through Jesus Christ! I KNOW he is with me. I know HE has already conquered the world...so why do I fear? Why am I afraid?
Hey friends, Esther took the courage she was offered.
This "farm" is basically a nursery of herbs, vegetable gardens, fruit trees...
They do sell what they grow, which is nice.. But you can also just go and enjoy a picnic or walk the grounds too. Take pictures.
It really is a beautiful place with nice open spaces and little nooks and crannies...I am still sorting through the 120+ photos I took there of things (and people).
I went there with a friend of mine to take photos of "things." 
Every year for the past two years, the girls have participated in the Derby Car Races hosted through the local AWANA club. This was the first year that I actually got to see the races in person. 
About three weeks before the race, we buy the pre-cut cars and the girls decide on their design. This year, Grace wanted wings on her car, so we purchased some wing stickers. Eden chose a star design, with a blue sky car and hand painted stars. 
Although neither girl won a trophy this year, it was great fun for them once again and every year we gather more information on how to make the next car better.
Just finished an awesome conversation with Grace. It started with her asking me if the Garden of Eden was located in Africa. I told her that the Bible said that it was thought to be located near the Tigris and Euphrates Rivers, but that I didn't know for sure. I told her that God shut off the Garden of Eden after Adam and Eve sinned. I told her that I thought He did that because there was still a tree left, the tree of Life, for which, if man had eaten from that Tree, that would have meant that we didn't need a Savior.
She actually stopped playing Wii to listen!
She then said, "there were two trees?"
I said yes, and I pulled my bible and read the verses.
We then started talking about how Satan deceived her and WHY she was deceived, because she didn't listen to God's Words carefully and clearly. I then told her that thankfully we have the Bible that contains ALL of God's Word and that the Bible is the only book we need to understand God's plan for out lives.
We started talking about some modern day examples of how we get caught up in sin. I gave her this example:
Say for instance, our budget says that Mom can't buy a new purse this month. But, I go to the purse rack and I start looking at the purses and the prices. And I find one! $30! Is it okay for me to buy the purse? "No." Why Grace? "Becuase it wasn't in your budget." But then I said, what happens is this, I look at the price adn I start thinking. Hey its only $30. That's not a lot of money. Surely $30 can be overlooked. I told her, I think that is what Satan did to Eve. He twisted the truth around and she fell right into the trap. Which was what Satan could do to me if I then decide to buy the purse when I know full well that its not in the budget for the month.
So then we started talking about the Tree of Life. I told her that God had decided before man was made that we would need a Savior. Had man eaten from the Tree of Life, man would have saved himself which was against God's plan. Then, get this, she says to me! "I am remembering a verse from Awana. Something about how we are not saved by any other man or name." So I say, "Let's see if we can find it." She says, its Act 4:12, which says, "Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to men by which we must be saved."
WOW! How awesome is that? I realize my interpretation of what was happening may not be fully correct, but she got it. She got it!
Here are some recent photos I took of Selah and Damaris. I am really not sure why it is so much more frustrating to photography my own children, but I think its because I expect them to know the "look" I have in mind and when they don't comply, I am frustrated more easily. But I did manage to get off a few shots. Here are just some of my favorites.
I have been given the opportunity to provide professional photography with an organization called The Littlest Heroes. With this organization, we have the pleasure of providing free photography services for families with children suffering from life threating diseases and illnesses. It is a wonderful organization, founded my a very nice gal. I hope to be able to provide beautiful pictures to many families at a time when, perhaps, photos isn't the first things on their minds!
If you want to read more, go here: http://www.littlestheroesproject.org/
If you know of anyone who might qualify, have them check out the service too. This organization is nation wide.
While I opened the Eyefull photography business as a “business” it was never my intention to use it only for the purpose of making money. I am still a social worker at heart and I have a strong pull toward giving back to my community, locally and, perhaps someday, globally. It is my desire to use this God given vision to help many others. People who cannot pay for professional photography. People who never might have a photograph made except for the fact that they knew me and received it as a gift. I am excited to see how God will use this social worky part of my personality to benefit Him.
