02/21/2010 Oh how the moments fly, watching the world go by! -A Yellow-Rumped Warbler (Myrtle Warbler) in its winter plumage- Best viewed when listening to Dean Martin. Open a 2nd window and then click here.

02/20/2010 Announcing our first gallery exhibit! We are one of the featured artists in the Diocese of Austin's Sacred Heart Gallery Exhibit. David photographs all of the art of this gallery twice a year and was invited to submit some of our work. Two of our images are part of the exhibit opening March 18th. Some of you might recall this one from last year.

02/19/2010 David has both of the cameras all day today. So I can't go get a nature or animal shot :( However, I do have this shot I took Wednesday at the distribution of ashes. I'm not very pleased with the focus. It's a little off. But I guess the message is more important than the image itself. Every year, Catholics around the world make a public statement of their faith by receiving ashes on their foreheads. Everybody knows when it's Ash Wednesday. But then the season of Lent fades into the days and weeks that precede Easter. But Ash Wednesday is more than a day of atonement. It marks the beginning of a season of atonement and mercy. That mercy makes it my favorite time of the year. I am always blown away by the reminders that mercy earned really isn't mercy at all. There is nothing I can do to make myself worthy. At first it seems kind of scary. But then, it's liberating. I am really just ashes of the earth and God chooses to mold me into more. Wow! Because we are so limited in our understanding of God's love for us, we do things during Lent to try to understand just a little better. We "give something up for Lent". This is supposed to help us identify in some small measure with the suffering of Jesus on our behalf. We deny ourselves some sort of indulgence or luxury (a favorite food, coffee, cigarettes, our beds, ect....) and we use that small token of suffering to be a little closer to our Lord. And it works when it is done with love and accompanied by prayer. There...not so painful, huh? I wish a very blessed Lenten season to all of you who are using the time to journey closer to God. " Remember that you are ashes and to the ashes you will return."