Hidden Miracles...

Delicate

2009-08-28T19:05:00.000-07:00

I love this photograph. It’s one of my favourites and one of my sister’s favourites, too. These beautiful, tiny, fragile flowers are found at Winskill Park in my hometown. At first, the large container just looked like a sea of soft blue and green from a distance. Enough to get my attention, yes, but it was all even more lovely up close. The intricate details of God’s creation always amaze me.

PHOTO: "Delicate" shown as a Framed Print with Box Frame in Walnut and Matte in Off-White (Medium size).

Hanging Basket

2009-08-21T15:52:00.001-07:00

This hanging basket has been outside the front door of my apartment building for a while now. I always thought it was pretty. It’s funny, though, how familiar things sometimes don’t get the attention they deserve. This day, the light forced my attention to the beautiful and warm shade of pink it created. I love the way shadows create depth and layers in the shot.

PHOTO: "Hanging Basket" shown as a Mounted Print with No Border (Medium size).

Blue Pansies

2009-08-15T15:56:00.000-07:00

Pansies have been one of my mother’s favourite flowers for as long as I can remember. She loves their bright, jolly faces. I found these sweet pansies at Winskill Park, not far from where I live. The colours here are so fresh and clean in the sunlight. A touch of yellow sets off the blue and green beautifully.

PHOTO: "Blue Pansies" shown as a Mounted Print with Black Border (Medium size).

Queen Anne's Lace

2009-08-07T23:54:00.001-07:00

Peeking out of a hedge, sprigs of Queen Anne’s Lace deserved a closer, longer look. Framing gives this humble planting some dignity. Tiny details here are magnified. Shadow provides a backdrop to the shades of white and fragile shapes. This is lace, its botanical form, in all its dainty glory. I'm pleased to say that this photo was featured last month a RedBubble.com group called “Insomniacs and Other Night Crawlers."

PHOTO: "Queen Anne's Lace" shown with a Box Frame in Black and Matte in Off-White (Medium size).

Ash Tree: Detail

2009-07-31T11:00:00.001-07:00

There’s this lovely ash tree by the golf course – down the street and around the corner from where I live. I saw it and just started clicking away, so taken by so many shades of green on one tree. And those lovely bits of yellow. This is a close shot of some beautifully crossed branches I found.

PHOTO: "Ash Tree: Detail" is shown with a Flat Frame in Charcoal and Matte in Off-White (Medium size).

Cosmos in the Shade

2009-07-24T12:17:00.001-07:00

The sweet cosmos in this photograph are from a neighbour’s garden. Three flowers display varying angles, each conveying subtle emotion. There’s even a tiny bud there, highlighting the life cycle of the plant. A spare setting lets the pink, yellow and green dominate. Rustic, romantic, childlike and complex all at once… “Cosmos in the Shade” was the first of my photos to be favourited in the RedBubble.com community. I’m very happy about that!

PHOTO: shown as a Mounted Print (Small size).

Gentle

2009-07-17T14:36:00.000-07:00

I really enjoy seeing purple and green together. These pretty blooms were hiding away in a little shady spot down the road from where I live. Sunlit and delicate, the textures here are beautiful. The soft purple petals really come alive against the bright green leaves. Shadow gives the photograph depth and a sense of coziness. It’s a very modest and gentle display.

PHOTO: "Gentle" shown with a Box Frame in Black and Matte in Bright White (Medium size). http://scudgie.redbubble.com/

Wild

2009-07-12T16:39:00.001-07:00

The buttercups caught my attention first. Then I saw how beautifully they weaved through the wild grasses here. Everything was sunlit, free and so fresh-looking. The wind was blowing, so I had to wait for things to calm down a little before I could get a decent shot. My patience paid off.

PHOTO: "Wild" shown as a Mounted Print with No Border (Medium size). Go to http://scudgie.redbubble.com/ for more info on this and other print options.

Pink Tulips

2009-07-03T13:42:00.001-07:00

I love pink, I admit it. Is it as tired a feminine cliche as I imagine sometimes? Perhaps not. These days I don’t care. Those tulips were calling me that day with my camera. Woman that I am, I went running and got close. I surrendered to the girly urge. Click! Pretty pink… The green and the ruffley lines captured here make me happy, too.

This photo shows my "Pink Tulips" with a Flat Frame in Charcoal and Matte in Bright White (Medium size). For more info please visit http://scudgie.redbubble.com/ and take a look around!

Plum Blossoms

2009-06-26T18:52:00.001-07:00

Plum blossoms have such a short season here in British Columbia. Spring comes, their loveliness explodes on the scene early in the season. Then it seems they're gone. I was so fortunate to find a beautiful flowering plum tree in my neighbourhood, fully in bloom. Grabbing my humble little compact camera, I searched for the fattest, fullest branch I could focus in on. Those contrasting colours really made the shot. This is perhaps my mother's favourite photograph of mine so far. An 8 x 10 of these blossoms was a perfect Mother's Day gift for her in May!

I hope you like this photograph. I was very honoured last week to have "Plum Blossoms" made a feature in the Blossoming Trees group on RedBubble's website. To see more of my work online, you can go to http://scudgie.redbubble.com/ and have a look around my photography website. This image is there, along with several other favourites.

PHOTO: "Plum Blossoms" shown as a Mounted Print with No Border (Medium size).

Magnolia

2009-06-19T17:45:00.000-07:00

Hello again! After a little break, I'm back here and tending to my blog. It's hard to believe I haven't written anything in two months. Wow. Let's just call it "transition time" - lots of changes have been taking place in my life! More on all those life issues in future posts.

So, do you recognize this picture? If you looked through the photos in my last post back in April, you might be able to. It's a photograph of some magnolia blossoms in a neighbour's yard down the street from where I live. I made a very cool discovery during all my neighbourhood photo sessions over the spring. Apparently, I really love photography! Family and friends say I'm not bad at it, either. Taking their word for it, I've been clicking more and learning a lot. Recently, some of my work has been getting a little attention on Flickr. Hmmm...

I can happily announce that I now have a new place online to showcase some of my favourite photographs. The site is called RedBubble. This an online community of visual artists in all genres who share their best work, network with one another and give opportunities for people to purchase what they've created. I have a profile on the official RedBubble site, but really exciting is the new "official" website I have now that's powered by RedBubble. Check out my photography at http://scudgie.redbubble.com and take a look around. I hope you like what you see there. Let me know what you think!

Meanwhile, I'll be sharing a different print each week here on the blog throughout the summer. Enjoy!

PHOTO: "Magnolia" with Box Frame in Black and Matte in Bright White (Medium size)

Springtime and a New Camera...

2009-04-10T21:38:00.000-07:00

Make a Smilebox slideshow

Happy Birthday, Joanna!

2009-03-13T14:43:00.000-07:00

The White Stuff

2009-03-03T18:19:00.000-08:00

It snowed in Nashville a few days ago. That's not the norm for Tennessee, I understand... It made me smile - and that was an act of God's grace. I have been so sad these last few days, grieving the loss of a man I never met, except by email. David was a friend, though, and he had cancer in his body that ended his life here on earth on February 25th. Then God had the snow come to the town where he lived. To me it was poetic. Beautiful. That snow's definitely been on my mind. God gave it as an unusual gift to those David left behind, I know it. So I've been searching the scriptures for what they have to say about the matter.

The first recorded mention of snow in scripture that I found was in Job. The passage in chapter 38 speaks of storehouses filled with snow (verse 22), a wonderful image. Chris Tomlin references this in "Indescribable," one of my favourite worship songs. It is part of God's descriptive reminder to Job of His power and sovereignty in the created order. God stores the snow and uses it along with hail, interestingly, in "the time of distress" when battles and wars are raging on the earth (verse 23). Earthly grief rages, doesn't it?

The Psalms, as you can imagine, also record God's hand in the issue of snow. Psalm 51 was written by King David as a response to God after his encounter with the prophet Nathan. Confronted by his sin and the need for forgiveness, David calls out to God for restoration. He asks that God would make him clean. Verse 7 says, "Wash me and I shall be whiter than snow." So the whiteness and clarity of snow is likened to purity and cleansing. That washing is given credit, in the next verse, for giving the king the capacity to hear God's Word of comfort. King David seeks what he knows will bring him joy and gladness. The "broken bones" of his suffering will be made to rejoice!

Another Psalm mentions snow, as well. "He gives snow like wool," Psalm 147 says in verse 16. The context suggests this is part of a string of metaphors describing God sending out His Word to His people. The wool reference, of course, makes me think of sheep. God is saying He clothes His sheep with wool, meeting their most intrinsic needs. Just say "Baaaa," people, because that's what we're likened to in the Bible. We are sheep and Jesus is the Great Shepherd, taking most marvelous care of His flock. God speaks, His word ministers in depth and beauty - and God is using snow to share that promise with us.

There are other snow references in scripture, but the last one I'd like to share is found in Matthew 28. The context is after Jesus' death and burial, when the two Marys came to attend to the grave. There they found an angel of the Lord there, described to be wearing a garment "as white as snow" (verse 3). It's another purity reference, as found earlier in Psalm 51. Significant here is purpose of this angel. He came down from heaven, causing an earthquake, and rolled away the stone in front of Jesus' grave. Now he was bringing a message of comfort and direction to these women. Jesus had risen from the dead and they had the privilege of being the first to see Him in His resurrected body. In obedience to His instruction, they shared the good news with Jesus' beloved friends. So, snowy purity is heralding the good news that Jesus is alive and resurrection is real? Absolutely!

As I remember my grieving friends in Nashville, I am so grateful for God's provision and favour. He gives so much grace to walk through what a broken existence on fallen earth brings to us. And He redeems it all! He spoke of it metaphorically when He brought snow to Tennesse last week. We may not be able to see how He will do it, but that promise of redemption is in His Word. God is a God of abundance and blessing. He promises long life to His people. When the enemy comes to tamper with that experience in our lives, God intervenes. I believe in healing and prayed fervently for it for David's body. David ended up going home to His eternal dwelling place in heaven. We will see him again when we get to join him there someday. Here and now on earth, I pray to God for justice. Our God will make restitution in His way for what was stolen from those who remain. Meanwhile, David is beholding the face of God in all His incredible, indescribable glory.

Randomness

2009-02-02T14:13:00.000-08:00

This is a really exciting event for me. I got TAGGED, y'all. Someone thought of me when they were putting together their "25 Random Things About Me" list on Facebook - then tagged me to do the same thing. Thanks, Hannah. :o)

To celebrate, here's my "25" for you to peruse. Happy Groundhog Day, everyone!

My 25 random things (with thanks to Hannah, whose format of items inspired me!):

1. I am a real, but "enhanced" blonde. I admit it. Those jokes don't scare me.

2. I love to sing and I finally invested in a training program called "Singing Success" - it works, (wo)man!

3. I’m afraid of heights. I once went up to Whistler on the chair lift. At the end of the trip my goggles were filled with tears and I had to literally pry my right hand off the safety bar...

4. The Virtuous Woman in Proverbs 31 scares me a little - but I'm open... ;o)

5. I enjoy the spring - and being a spring, colouring-wise.

6. My eye colour was never something I liked about myself growing up. Someone once called them yellow when I was in Junior High. Oy... I do really love yellow roses, though. Buttery yellow.

7. I have a blog! Read it @ scudgie.blogspot.com

8. I like being a suburbs girl. A little bit country and a little bit rock n' roll... (Ok, that ages me!)

9. I have never had any interest in wheelchair sports, even though on two legs I think I'd be all over the "regular" kinds. I haven't quite figured that one out yet.

10. I'm a girly-girl at heart, but one of my pet peeves is that uber-girly flirting.

11. Bunnies are awesome!

12. I'm mildly obsessed with sweaters. The wearable kind, not sauna-dwellers...

13. I love children and would love to have my own some day - but I also really love the idea of adoption!

14. I would like to travel to France and Israel. I also really want to spend time in the Atlantic provinces.

15. I have training in makeup artistry and have worked on a few weddings.

16. I love writing, but it intimidates me at the same time.

17. I have an analytical mind and love talking in concepts. My brain is pretty visual, so I talk in pictures a lot. Sometimes I over-explain myself to avoid being misunderstood. Apparently that's a big phobia of mine.

18. I’m a follower of Jesus Christ. Also known as Yeshua, the Messiah. We met when I was seven. :o)

19. Most of my close friends have decidedly charismatic leanings. Uh, hopefully that doesn't surprise anyone when they think of me...

20. The only fictional books I'm really drawn to reading are the classics.

21. When I was in Bible college, "Forrest Gump" came out in theatres. I saw it. I liked it for many reasons. Unfortunately, I admitted it to a fellow student without carefully outlining those reasons and was subsequently branded a heathen.

22. Those computer games online help me think. Seriously.

23. Trust is just one of those things people have to earn with me. Be patient. I've just made too many mistakes over time.

24. Dry humour.

25. I think I've described myself to others as "shy" for the LAST time. People seem to think it means there's not much going on upstairs. At least they often act like it does... It doesn't, by the way.

I'm Falling!

2009-01-11T16:23:00.000-08:00

I hate making mistakes - I really do! Take an incident that happened a few days ago. While I was awkwardly (as usual) trying to shave my legs, I cut myself. It wasn't just one of those tiny little nicks, either. Oh, the consternation I felt as I saw the blood! My mother's voice instantly came into my head, an echo of past warnings to be careful of sharp objects. "Yes, mother, I know." Grump, grump, grump! So here I am, shaving away, being careful. Oops... Now the cut looked like quite the gash at first. Then I washed away the trickling blood and saw the source of all that red. Well, maybe it's not so bad, I thought. One little band-aid and I'll be set.

Once bandaged up, the visual impact of the mishap on my leg was now hidden. I moved on with my day. But that wound was still there, needing to heal. And it has healed. Right now, just a fading mark on the skin is there to remind me of what happened. But that will soon disappear too, as the original wound did. I was simply going to put the incident behind me, but one day God started speaking to me. As with most things in my life, even a seemingly mundane incident like this has its import to God. Mundane. There's that word again. And mundane things? I should know by now that there's no such thing with God.

In those moments with the Lord, I thought back to my initial emotions when I cut myself in the shower that day. I thought about the embarrassment I felt (even though I was alone!). I immediately wanted to hide the evidence of this seeming indiscretion, to wash it so it didn't look so bad, then cover the thing up. How typical of a human being in her fallen state! Adam and Eve did the same thing on that sad day in the Garden of Eden. Being careless and willfull, they succumbed to the serpent's temptation, eating fruit their Creator warned them not to. Finding themselves naked, they attempt to wash the consequences of their disobedience over with a covering of leaves. Now that they have fallen, they hide.

But God never abandons us in our state of rebellion, you know. He seeks us out and woos us back to Himself. Adam and Eve' s disobedience initiated the state and consequences of sin that would follow man to this day. The scriptures are clear about one thing, though. There is hope for cursed mankind. There is also a price that had to be paid for our redemption. In the earliest days, sacrifices were made by priests on behalf of the people. Then the promised Messiah came. Jesus gave His life in death on the cross to make payment for our sin. As Hebrews 9:22 says, "...without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness." Our sin, our mistakes, cost something. To save us, Jesus took our penalty - and blood was shed.

Jesus Christ died for us, but more than that, He now lives. His resurrection gives believers life and victory over the sin that would have continued to enslave us. The Holy Spirit indwelling us gives us this power to live lives as new creations. This healing is available to everyone. It is supplied by a loving God who knows our weakness and offers healing. We can continue to fall, but God hears the brokenness and contrition of a heart longing to be restored to Him. We must not cover up our mistakes and hide. Leave it all open to Him! God loves us and knows what to do. He picks us up and redeems us. Just as my leg wound eventually healed, our lives have that potential for renewal as well. We receive that gift of salvation by faith. He offers forgiveness. All we need to do to receive it is ask.

YouTube Distractions

2009-01-02T19:42:00.001-08:00

A few weeks ago I found myself facing frustrating circumstances. Lying in bed one night I was unable to sleep, frustrated and facing physical difficulties (I'll spare you the details) that I knew could not be resolved for some time. Daylight was a while away... Fortunately my laptop was within grabbing distance of my bed. I sat up, went online and started browsing. YouTube was the perfect way for me to spend time waiting through those early morning hours. Enjoy these highlights!

Sneezing Panda: it's short, but I laughed out loud. Poor mama...

Dramatic Look: this is a cute prairie dog, "007" style...

Mocha in "His First Broccoli" (be still my heart...)

A Peanuts Greeting

2009-01-01T14:53:00.000-08:00

Earthen Vessels

2008-12-28T17:44:00.000-08:00

I have a very complicated relationship with the art of writing. The whole life-long drama has been a kind of love/hate thing, really. I know it's a familiar story to so many who love words. We have such full hearts and minds, some of us. So much to express, with so little opportunity in our daily, sometimes very mundane, lives. There comes a point where we just have to share the contents of our inner selves with someone. We dare to put these thoughts on paper, even if it's just for ourselves. It's time for me to end the animosity, or at least the ambiguity. I need to dig into my passion and love for writing. Jump in with both feet, so to speak. I really like that image, by the way...

What do I have to say? My friends say "plenty" - and so does God apparently. He's not letting this writing thing go. And so, I am compelled to express myself. Blogger, I am becoming. It's strange to think that all the things rattling around in my brain could be of interest or use to someone else. Here I am, a paraplegic woman who was diagnosed with spina bifida at birth. I also have rheumatoid arthritis. I use a motorized wheelchair most of the time. My life isn't what the world would call "active" or particularly interesting. I do stuff, but not that much. I have good friends, I go to medical appointments, I'm involved with several ministries at my church... Oh, and I use the internet. :o) There's other stuff in my life, too.

But what does all that stuff make me? The world would tell me that I am a compilation of all that I accomplish in my life. The world has a point about that, certainly, and it has its foundation in some very deep truth. But I wonder if the world often misses a step on that journey toward finding meaning and fulfillment. A whole world of human beings is asking who they are, seeking their authentic identity under all the stuff of life. I am one of them. And I've learned something. I am a person - and that is a profound statement. The Bible says that God made man in His own image. It's an awesome thought that the God of the universe, Creator and Sustainer of all things, placed His personal stamp on me. He made me for a relationship with Himself. He called me good. Me? Wow...

I am drawn into a quest to know and love God. As a child I made a conscious decision to believe in this One who made me, to accept His Provision for my salvation. And that did something to me. I didn't understand it at the age of seven, but I changed. I am now a more complete bearer of the image of God. He came to dwell with me, in me. I reflect His image all the more wholly as I walk more and more closely with the Savior and Lord of my life. The Bible states it this way:

For God, who said "Light shall shine out of darkness," is the One who has shone in our hearts to give the light of the glory of God in the face of Christ. But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the surpassing greatness of the power may be of God and not of ourselves...

-- II Corinthians 4:6,7 (NASB)

Reading this passage of scripture shows me why I sometimes feel so inadequate, so small. People are fragile. God knows that, though. I am one of those "earthen vessels" for a reason. In this fragile package I carry the most precious thing imaginable, the light of the glory of God. The world sees me, my body, my actions. But they're meant to see Him in those things. They're meant to see the wonder of His creation in all that I am and choose to be. My life gives evidence to a changed heart and renewed mind. That gives glory to God. Wow... Perhaps some of those things rattling around in my brain have a grander purpose than I thought. And the need to be expressed... Yes, the mundane just got a little less so as I typed that.