The Beauty of Editing - and a Your Photo - My Edit Opportunity

Hi Guys! I thought I'd pop on here for a minute to do two things...

First I want to show you this cute picture that I edited of Harrison.

This is the original.

For the first edit, I used the "Curves" tool (that Abigail just taught me how to use) in Paint Shop Pro. Then I did some touch ups, some smoothing, and some brightening of the eyes.

After Christina (my fellow photography/editing chum) saw my photo on my photography page, she said, "That picture would look nice edited in Lightroom using the "Aged Photo" setting." Then she sent me her edit of it (she grabbed it from my page) - I liked her edit, so I put the original in Lightroom and played with it myself and came up with this version.


Your Photo - My Edit
Hey, I'm available to do some edits this weekend! If you would like to send me your photo (send to photos(at)lynnettekraft(dot)com), I'll pick a few to edit this weekend. I would like some already good photos (just meaning decent quality) that would look great enhanced. Remember, I can't do them all, so if I don't pick yours, you have to promise not to be mad at me. :)
Hope you're all having a peaceful Saturday. My family (besides me, Cecily and Harrison) is off to the movie (GI Joe). So, the house is pretty quiet. Cecily and I are going to watch The Inheritance. If you haven't seen it you should - very girly movie. Edith's attitude and heart are beautiful.

Announcing November's Getting to know YOU prizes!

Two of you will win a prize in November - and look what fun prizes they are!!

I'm excited to announce this month's giveaway prizes. I just got the details worked out today. The Ash Grove Press, Inc. has offered to let me give away one of each of their games - they are each a truly unique "novelty" item for sure.

A Christmas Carol

Pride and Prejudice

If you have a friend or family member who is hard to buy for - or just appreciates thoughtful gifts, either one of these games would be perfect!
Guess where I first saw the ad for these beautiful games? In my favorite magazine - Victoria! When I saw them I knew many of you would love them too. Aren't they fun?
So, keep visiting the featured blogs through the month so you can get your entries in to win one of these games. In case you didn't make it over yesterday, here's Friday's featured blogger: The Wild Wild Wests

Rejoicing, Remembering and Praying

Sometimes I feel guilty when I'm having a wonderful day and I know there's somebody out there who isn't - but then God reminds me that I've had my fair share of bad days and it's okay to have fun and rejoice - and in fact it is the RIGHT thing to do.

So today - since my life is currently peaceful (and I praise God for that), we went and played. We did what we've done on so many other beautiful days (did I mention I LOVE sunshine!?)... we went to the zoo.

Have you ever noticed that the zoo is a perfect place for getting some great photos? This could be Jonas' senior picture - if he were a senior... I took it in the Asian Forest.

We have a favorite place for taking pictures while at the zoo. It's in the new tiger exhibit. It's a cheerful little area with brightly painted tables and chairs and benches. People don't usually stop there for long because there's really nothing to look at (animal wise), but we stop and take pictures! See the cool colors and patterns?

So, Abigail got this one of us by the pop machine - not a very beautiful background but a fun picture. Cecily has a bit a lot of her spazzy momma in her. Look, she's smiling so big you can't see her eyeballs!


We've never seen the tigers up close... until today. Silas thought it was totally cool! See his look of "Awesome!"? (I had that look on my face too.)

But Harrison wanted out of there - FAST. Too close for comfort if you know what I mean.



So, that was our pleasant day (well, couple of hours) at the zoo. I'm grateful for the opportunity I had to spend that fun time with my kids, but I'm reminded of people whose lives aren't so easy right now. In fact, today I'm featuring a family who's been faced with a new trial, but has also been given a very special and beautiful blessing - Baby Paxton.

I'm sending you over to meet Jenn and her beautiful family of 6 (but one of their sweet babies is with Jesus). Paxton is their newest member and he was born with HLHS (Hypoplastic left heart syndrome). My daughter Anna had a heart that was very similar to Paxtons. She didn't have HLHS, but she also had a hypoplastic left ventricle. When I recently visited Jenn's blog and saw that they had a new baby with health needs, I just knew that I needed to tell all of you about them - because I know how faithful you are to pray and of course Paxton and his family could us some extra prayers.
Don't forget to leave a comment telling Jenn you visited and that you'll be praying. Tell her you came from my blog so I can enter you in the November giveaway. I'm working on a couple of totally fun gifts - just waiting on the final word before I announce them. Don't worry, I have an equally fun back up plan. :) ** Oh, I'm so excited! I just got the November's prize all worked out - and it's so unique and fun... I'll share later today so check back!______________________________________
Also, please continue to pray for Danielle Cripe and family.
And if you have just a little more time, please click over to meet Laurren. She is a young lady who has cancer and a fellow blogger is working on some ministry opportunities to help this family. I've had her button up on my side bar (top right) for about a week.
"Bear ye one anothers burdens..."

A Picture Says it All! and Jared's Mustang

Abigail and I had another "Photo Shoot" (I love saying that -makes us sound "professional")...anyway... I was saying... we had another PHOTO SHOOT (that's so much fun) on Wednesday. It was a good time. (If you want to see some of the pictures, go over to my photography page and take a looksie). Well, when I was looking through the "Roberts" file, the first two pictures were of me. Abigail was testing the camera or something (Abigail what WERE you doing?), anyway... when I was going through the pictures I saw this picture of yours truly and I thought to myself - that picture has me totally right. Half crazed. Half wired. And way to excited about... well, in this case it was about the PHOTO SHOOT! (There I said it AGAIN!)
Okay, ENOUGH of that.
Let's move on to much more important things... Jared's car!
Papa and Mimi (as Harrison calls them), bought Jared a car ('02 Mustang) - which is a HUGE blessing since his has been in the driveway dead for over a month. This is Jared's third car, but by far the coolest. (We nicknamed his last one "tree-basher" - not because he tree bashed it, but because we bought it with a big dent in the back quarter panel. He's so grateful and so excited. So - Mom and Dad - THANK YOU!


*Pictures are for Grandma - she hasn't seen it yet, but feel free to enjoy my handsome (and very talented) son and his car. :) To those of you with daughters, he's 19 but not available until he's 25. hee hee

Kyle and I took it on a date last night. I told Kyle he looked pretty "sexy" in it (don't tell my kids I said "sexy"). Hubba bubba. It was quite fun.
Okay - I guess I'm done being silly. Just had a moment (again).

A Surprising Update on Danielle Cripe - Begging for More Prayers

Many of you have been praying for my friend Danielle Cripe. If you haven't read her story, please visit this page: Cripe Family.

As most of you know, Danielle has been fighting for her life. She was diagnosed with StageIV Liver Cancer 2 years ago. She was recently told by her doctors that they don't expect her to be here to celebrate Christmas with her family. After that very sad news, I put out a post asking for prayer, donations, gifts, etc. There has been an outpouring of love - including $600 worth of donations.

I'm here to ask for more prayer and more support because Danielle just found out that she's pregnant.

She wants to be excited of course, but as you can imagine she's terrified. It was totally unexpected and shocking news.

I find myself hoping that God is going to use this situation to turn Danielle's health around - "for with God nothing shall be impossible" - but I also can't help noticing that God is at work NO MATTER WHAT. We know that God is the Creator of this baby's life, therefore he has a plan.

Please hold Danielle and her family up in prayer and continue to reach out in love. Please pray that God might show you what you can do - whether it be a card in the mail, a gift certificate to Wal Mart or Quik Trip, a toy or book for her children, a note of encouragement to her husband, or a donation to help with expenses. (For the Cripe Family's address and other detailed information on their needs, please go to this post)... But if nothing else please do the most powerful thing - PRAY! Because PRAYER CHANGES THINGS!

"...the effectual, fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much." Janes 5:16

And if you haven't already (or even if you have), please ask for prayer for this family on your blog and ask others to help bear the burdens of this precious family as they are being called to some very difficult trials.

<center> <a target="_blank" href="http://lynnettekraft.blogspot.com/2009/10/bear-ye-one-anothers-burdens-cripe.html"> <img src="http://i245.photobucket.com/albums/gg57/impickles/CripeFam-1.png" /> </a></center>

And don't forget to praise our Lord for the new creation in Danielle's womb. Regardless of everything - this child has an eternal soul that will live on forever!

Much love and appreciation for all of you.

**For more detailed updates, please go to the Cripe Family's Caring Bridge Page.

Winner of the lisa leonard designs $75 Gift Certificate is.....

KELLY @ Joyful Adorations!

CONGRATULATIONS KELLY!!!!

__________________________________________

Visit Lisa at lisa leonard designs! Wouldn't her jewelry make a wonderful Christmas present for a friend or family member?

And if you haven't visited her blog, it's a beautiful place to visit. Here's the link: Lisa's Blog

Harry the Brave!

Sometimes ya just gotta try - even if it's scary...

When fear settles in you just think positive... think positive

And when you're off the ground you'll realize it's not so bad...

Yes, QUITE fun actually...

And when it all comes to an end - you'll be very proud of yourself. I was. Yeah, I can't believe I'm only 2.

Joshua 1:9 "Have not I commanded thee? Be strong and of a good courage; be not afraid, neither be thou dismayed: for the LORD thy God is with thee whithersoever thou goest."
PS Wanna see some shots from a photo shoot with some friends? Click over to my photography page if you want to. They're a beautiful family with three little boys that will just make you want to squeeze them! SO CUTE!