31 Days of DaNella's Brain... Microbursts! Day9

Nana Minion

Of my four kids, the oldest, Matt (12) and the youngest Juliannah (6) have very similar personalities, and get along well. They could be twins if not for the age and sex difference. The same thing is true of my two middle children, Christeonnah (11) often called Nana (Non-nah), and Tymothie (8) are definitely cut from the same cloth. It is almost to the point of the little ones worshiping the big ones. As a matter of fact, Matt got mad at Tymothie, the other day, and the best insult he could come up with is to call him a “Nana Minion.”

He wasn’t far from wrong; a minion is a servile or slavish follower of somebody generally regarded as important. Tymothie definitely thinks Nana is someone important.

We can only hope to be accused of being a Christ Minion.

Those who serve me must follow me. My servants will be with me wherever will be. If people serve me, the Father will honor them.

John 12:26

31 Days of DaNella's Brain... Microbursts! day 8

Stitch Rippers.

Any of you sew? Got a Grandmother that sews? Have you ever seen a Stitch Ripper? It is a sharp pokey thing with a small razor blade in it that you can use in sewing to rip out seams if you have sewn them wrong, or just changed your mind. Recently I have felt like someone has been using one on me. Lately I have had a lot of things going on. Let me name a few:

· Trying to start my own photography business

· Attending college to get a Psychology degree

· Trying to get a book published

· Home schooling my two oldest kids…(12 & 11)

· My two youngest in public school

· My boys in Wrestling

· All four of them in Junior Bible Quiz (shameless plug)

· My husband working 2 jobs, so I am almost a single mom

Stress stress every where, and not a place to hide! Sometimes I feel like I am being ripped apart at the seams. Then, I realized, I am being ripped apart at the seams, but it is ok, God will sew me back together and probably let some bad stuff fall out in the process! After all, Psalms 139:5 says “You hem me in, behind and before….”

31 Days of DaNella's Brain... Microbursts! Day 6 (3)

You can always make me smile... ^ Matt and Nana, below is Tym and Ann

Make God Smile

My daughter Nana (12) woke me up last night at about 2 am with tummy troubles. So I had to get up and get her some medicine. My bedroom opens straight in to the living room, so as I walked from my room through the living room to the kitchen to attend to the Nana, I smelled something. Suddenly I realized I was smiling, without me even thinking about it.

You must understand I don’t usually deal very well with getting woken up. If I am awakened for no reason, I can be an absolute bear (the kids often refer to me as Grizella at those times). This at least was a good reason; I don’t want my Precious Nana feeling bad. However, for me to actually smile when I have been awoken at 2 am is very unusual.

Once I smiled I became curious as to what had brought about this strange phenomenon. Then I recognized the smell of vanilla, and remembered that earlier that day I had bought one of those plug in air fresheners and as I smiled I had just passed the spot where it was plugged in. I must have caught a pleasant whiff of vanilla

That reminds me of the verse in Ephesians 5:2 “Live in love as Christ also loved us. He gave his life for us as an offering and sacrifice, a soothing aroma to God.” That says our praise is as a sweet, soothing aroma to God I bet it makes him smile!

31 Days of DaNella's Brain... Microbursts!

Grab What You Can!

My older daughter, Christeonnah (12) had bought some candy, small round tart balls, and she was keeping them in a cracker box. Of course we accused her (just teasing) of trying to hide them from her younger siblings, to which she replied that she was merely “being creative.”
However at one point during the night when she went to reach in the box to get one, it tipped over and began to display a lot of tiny balls on my floor. This alone would have been funny, but since we have hardwood floors, as they scattered they bounced, making a fairly loud noise. It was loud enough that Juliannah (8) in the next room heard it, and she yelled “Spill on isle three; grab what you can!” and proceeded to run into the living room and try to steal all of Nana’s candy!
Too funny, but do you realize that is exactly how we need to be? We need to run to God, seek His presence, and long for His touch. We need to read our bible, and immerse ourselves in Him so deep that we can’t be found. He tells us to be filled to overflowing with His spirit.
Eph 5:18 Don't get drunk on wine, which leads to wild living. Instead, be filled with the Spirit

Juju the Dalmatian...

Seems all my posts are about Juju lately... she is sooooo photogenic, and into so much... lol Her class all dressed up like Dalmatians today. She was so excited!

Does God Care?

I believe He does. I found this today while I was cleaning... Enjoy. (I wrote it about 2.5 years ago...)

God Handed Me a Blanket.

Juliannah (6) fell and broke her arm, because of that, her left arm is in a cast, and sling. It really limits her mobility. She is having to be creative, and re learn how to do some things one handed.

We were driving in the car the other day, just she and I, and since my car doesn't have air conditioner, I had all the windows open. Sometimes that is good, and sometimes, not so much... When we first got in the car, Anny was hot, so she asked me to roll down her window. However as we started moving, she got cold and wanted her window shut. I was too busy driving at the moment, and told her she would have to wait.

If you have ever ridden in a hatch back with all the widows down going fast, then you know it is not uncommon for a small tornado to form inside and debris to start circulating (especially if you don't have the cleanest of cars...) Such was the case on this particular day. The debris that happened to float up was a blanket from the back. Anny grabbed it, and said "Mommy, I was cold and God gave me a blanket!!!"

I am so glad God cared enough to give her a blanket. What about you, do you need a blanket? After all, God tells us in Psalms 55:22 Turn your burdens over to the LORD, and he will wrap you up in a blanket... (DaNella's Version).

Final day of summer...

For Nana's birthday we went swimming. Well four of us did. Que was working on some stuff and Matt was "too cool" to go... (my words, not his). This is one of my favorite shots, "One, two three, Go!" and they did. They all started at the same time, but wound up landing in the water at different times... Perfect Photo Opp!

I love you baby girl!

Praying for my Sons and Daughters-in-love

No, you haven't missed anything, it hasn't been that long since I blogged. My kids are only 15, 14, 10, and 9 respectively. None of them are married. However I believe they all will be one day, and a couple of years ago one of them (I won't say who...) was crushing (infatuated, twitterpated) with someone one I didn't really like. This other person was not on the same level spiritually as my kid, and had no desire to be. I started then praying every night for my one day 'in-loves'. When I pray with the kids each night I say "and I pray that even now you would prepare the wonderful Godly men and women that they will marry someday."

Just like my friend Deanna recently mentioned in her blog, this is a very important decision, I want it made wisely, so I pray. A LOT. None of them are allowed to date yet, but that is a whole 'nother blog. This reminded me of that Wayne Watson song...

Somewhere in the world today

A little girl will go out to play
All dressed up in mama's clothes
At least the way that I suppose it goes
Somewhere in the world tonight
Before she reaches to turn out the light
She'll be prayin' from a tender heart
A simple prayer that's a work of art

Chorus
And I don't even know her name
But I'm prayin' for her just the same
That the Lord will write His name upon her heart
'Cause somewhere in the course of this life
A little boy will need a godly wife
So hold on to Jesus, baby, wherever you are

Somewhere in the world out there
That little girl's learnin' how to care
She's pickin' up her mamas charms
Or maybe, swingin' 'round in her daddy's arms
Somewhere in the world to be
Though the future's not real clear to me
Their's could be a tender love
Grounded in eternal love above

My husband got saved 6 mos before I met him, I firmly believe that was an answer to my parents and grandparents prayers.

Here's the truth.

Someone said "Who would lay their head on a chicken?" To which I totally agree!

However, Juliannah would. It's real!!!

This is her and our neighbor's chicken, which she has named "Sweetheart," because "she is such a sweetheart!" Crazy kids, but I love em.

Shout out to Enrique... good call the same light source on the beak and Juju's nose... But I couldn't fix that, it would be photo shopping... This picture is completely untouched.

Update on the twins.

The twins are still in foster care, but are a few steps closer to being up for adoption. I can't say much, and I can't post "recognizable" pictures of them online, so I made this one 'unrecognizable'... However, you can still tell from his face he is having a ball running from his cousin Anny. They are a part of our family, keep praying they will be a part of our forever family.

DaNella Auten Photography, The Beginning

I have always loved photography, and getting my picture made. I always loved how the picture brought the memory right back to life. Like the time my sister and cousin made a beanbag sandwich out of me, I will never forget that... largely because my Uncle Jim took pictures. I played around with pictures some, and got some cute pics of my kids as they were growing, but I consider this my first 'pro' shot. I didn't really take it, but I set it up. We were at a walmart portrait studio, and I badgered the poor lady to death, 'do this, do that, put in this prop, take out that one...' However, she was so sweet, when I set up this shot, she said 'Wow, you need to be in photography, want a job?'

I was tempted, but at the time I didn't have to work, so I stayed at home with my kids. This was in 2002 or 2003 but I still look back on this as the first real picture of my career. It is Juliannah btw...

Little Miss Sunshine

Isn't she adorable? I'm so blessed.

I'm Backkkkkk

Did ya miss me? Well I've missed you! I haven't had Wifi at home for the summer, since I lost my job, so I haven't been able to post very easy. Here are some pics from our traditional first day of school pics.

Juliannah,
Tym

Nana

Matt

All of em!

Chasing Fireflies

I remember chasing fireflies... or lightening bugs... I am thrilled my children have discovered the same joy. Here are some we caught... Yes we let them go, a little tramatized I'm sure, but none the worse for ware...

I love these guys!

Photographing them can be a chore sometimes... but they are worth it!~

Lunch at Mama's

We had lunch at mama's sunday. My sister, her husband and 5 kids were there. I did manage to get one good shot of Seven of them.

My little Angel

This is one of my favorite Nativities too! I like the angel... She is sooooo cute!

Meet Cookie Dough

Tymothie and Juliannah got a giunea pig for Christmas... His name is Cookie Dough... lol cause he is the color of cookie dough. As the picture shows, they are having fun!