sweet.simple

it is the sweet, simple things of life which are the real ones after all.  ~ laura ingalls wilder

He is Risen!

I admit, I was just a wee bit disappointed when John brought home a tight-budded lily on Saturday. I never had one before, but you know, by night time, it was starting to show some promise.

Then on Easter morning...

Hope you had a happy and blessed Easter!

Our Blazing Nightfall

Monday evening, backyard, SOC... Amazing!

How strange the fear of death is! We are never frightened at a sunset.
George MacDonald

I Believe

A few weeks ago, we could pick up these signs at church to help illustrate the Apostles' Creed for the upcoming sermon series. Bridget, her friend Jessica & I tried to picture the last line.

If I Throw These Flowers Away...

...will I only be left with old winter gray?

A Home for Every Heart

This past Friday, I went to help (and take pictures) at an event for Greater Hopes called a Home for Every Heart. My friend Cathy is the executive director at Greater Hopes and so it was also a fun time.

The event was at Celebration Cinema and showcased the 2010 Michigan Heart Gallery which includes photos of older kids who are in foster care. The purpose of the event was to raise awareness and money to help Greater Hopes in the work they need to do to help find these kids a home.

Love Thursday: Sunny Days in February

A Way Out

Poor Bridgie

Bridget suddenly realizes she is eating supper with parents in matching shirts.

Happy Ground Hog's Day!

The Game

This past Saturday, John & I went to the Big Game, a 90 year Men's basketball rivalry between Calvin College and Hope College in Holland, Michigan. Calvin beat Hope in their arena on January 5, but this time, sadly, we lost. The series is so close - Hope leads 91-87.

I was asked to take photos in the hospitality suite where the presidents of the colleges, major donors and our congressmen were watching the game. I was talking to Rep. Vern Ehlers for awhile about cameras and he asked to have his photo taken with me - what fun! He knew that photographers rarely get their picture taken :)

Smells Like Fall

Yesterday, I made these and they are amazing!!

Pumpkin Bars

Beat together 2 C winter squash or pumpkin (cooked, puree’d, or in my case canned), 1 1/2 C sugar, 3/4 C oil, 4 eggs, 1 tsp vanilla, and 1/2 tsp salt. Then, mix in 1 C flour, 1 C whole wheat flour, 2 tsp baking powder, 1 tsp cinnamon. Pour into a greased 11×17 inch jelly pan. Bake at 350F for 25-30 minutes.

And the Moon Rose Up Over the Green Mts.

We left Church street after a good supper and good music, feeling pretty good. We went down to the harbor on Lake Champlain and saw the sun set...

And then, to add to the good times, the moon rose up over those Green Mountains as we headed back...

What a good day!

Evening on Church Street

He was singing Time of Your Life by Green Day which to me has always been such a feel good song. I couldn't take my eyes off this scene and captured the memory with my lens. This was the first evening we were in Burlington and the good night continued...

Greetings from Vermont!

John & I are in Vermont this week. He's going to a conference at the University of Vermont in Burlington and I'm hanging out. BEAUTIFUL country!!! Taking a lot of great photos too, but I forgot my USB cord, so I'll post some when I get home. In the meantime, here is a great video made by my daughter Maria which I posted before but someone was asking for it:

The Epitome of Dutch

John moved these to the kitchen window and I thought for a moment I was in Holland.

Celebrating 4 Years of Blogging

Some of the highlights lately...

This past February 17 was the 4th anniversary of Kingdom Jewels and this is post 1334. When I look back to first post, I remember having no idea where it would lead, but soon it became a photo blog. I love having a place to share my photography and even more, I love meeting people from all over. Thanks for the comments, it's fun hearing from you!!!

Of Icicles and Exercise

We are in the depths of the cold and snow this winter, and regretfully, I have given up my 9 year practice of walking 2 miles per day outside (almost every day). It has been a gradual giving up over the past year with knee trouble and anemia to contribute to the cause and also a general desire not to fall on the icy pavement. Thankfully, in the past month, I've found an indoor walking routine which I've been doing, new excercise pants and all!

Check it out here (parts 1 & 2): Walking

Sunshine on My Loveseat Makes Me Happy

It was so good to see the sun come out this past weekend.
The dust was also looking alive and well.

Happy Ground Hog's Day!!!

January Thaw

I love it when we get a reprieve from the cold snowy bitter harsh winter. Today, we are thawing out a bit.



I used this opportunity as I always do to clean and hose out the garage of the oily gray slush that collects on the floor. So not worthy of a picture! I took a nice long walk instead and found this with my camera.



And when I zoom in it looks like a painting.


I feel better now!

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The Joy of the Sea

All photos, OBX, June 2009
May Monday come to you like the joy of the sea coming home to shore!