Away They Go

Posing for Easter

Some Easter shots are great. But normally things get in the way of the pictures you desire your family to take. Here are a few-

 

This photo is sweet but it is a close up of Audrey not because that was the picture taken. All the rest of us looked like zombies.

This one looks good too, but we are laughing because both the little ones are having melt downs. Laughter makes the tears and rage manageable.

 The upstaging kid. One of our kids is always 100% ready. One tends to be 100% not ready, either because they are sad or grumpy. And then one kid tends to be what I call hyper-ready. Can you spot all three types in these two photos? (Above and below)

 Props!

 Red faces and sweaty hair.

TREES!




































Hope your Easter photo shoot when as well as ours.

The New Family Photo

Don't say, "Man, they take a great picture. They are all smiling!" This is a merged photo from two or three. Thank you Photoshop for giving me the shot that never existed.  And thanks to the great friend and photographer: Angie Parker.

Surprise! Bad Parenting!

The kids were playing hide and seek with some friends. Watch the little green trash can.

An Easter Meditation

Here is Audrey Meditating on the Easter story in her "Jesus Storybook Bible". Sorrow* and Delight*.

The risen Lord brings all us Simmons' joy this Easter morning. I hope you delight in the resurrection today.

*These facial expressions may or may not have been elicited by her Mommy

Thorns Stink

Audrey caught her finger on a thorn.

What?!

Ready for Rain

Absence

In My Solitary Hours in My Dear Husband, His Absence

Anne Bradstreet

O Lord, Thou hear'st my daily moan

  And see'st my dropping tears.

My troubles all are Thee before,

  My longings and my fears.

Thou hitherto hast been my God;

  Thy help my soul hath found.

Though loss and sickness me assailed,

  Through Thee I've kept my ground.

And Thy abode Thou'st made with me;

  With Thee my soul can talk;

In secret places thee I find

  where I do kneel or walk.

Though husband dear be from me gone,

  Whom I do love so well,

I have a more beloved one

  Whose comforts far excel.

O stay my heart on Thee, my God,

  Uphold my fainting soul,

And when I know not what to do,

  I'll on Thy mercies roll.

My weakness, Thou dost know full well

  Of body and of mind;

I in this world no comfort have,

  But what from Thee I find.

Though children Thou has given me,

  And friends I have also,

Yet if I see Thee not through them,

  They are no joy, but woe.

O shine upon me, blessed Lord,

  Ev'n for my Saviour's sake;

In Thee alone is more than all,

  And there content I'll take.

O hear me, Lord in this request

  As Thou before hast done,

Bring back my husband, I beseech,

  As Thou didst once my son.

So shall I celebrate Thy praise

  Ev'n while my days shall last

And talk to my beloved one

  Of all Thy goodness past.

So both of us Thy kindness, Lord,

  With praises shall recount

And serve Thee better than before

  Whose blessings thus surmount.

But give, Lord, a better heart,

  Then better shall I be,

To pay the vows which I do owe

  Forever unto Thee.

Unless Thou help, what can I do

  But still my frailty show?

If Thou assist me, Lord, I shall

  Return Thee what I owe.

Did I Make You Laugh?

Or was it Ellen?

I miss you.

The Haircut

Fishing for a Birthday

Color Bubble Extreme

Thanks Lemke's for a great birthday present.