#TempelTour2016

The gentle warmth and vibrant rays of sun that I always associate with rustic barns might not have been palpable today in the weather at Tempel Farms in Old Mill Creek, Ill., but it was visible in the photographers, trainers, leaders, riders and horses there today.

I had the opportunity to shoot the amazing Lipizzan horses at Tempel Farms this morning with a group of equine photographers headed up by Lara Joy Brynildssen Photography. Program Director Esther lead us through several shooting rotations including the opportunity to photograph a mommy horse with her five-day-old baby!

I met some new friends while I was there, and I learned a lot about the Lipizzans.

 

During World War II, when only the Lipizzan stallions were protected and out of combat zones, a German officer, Colonel Walter H., surrendered to the U.S. in order to save the breed; 350 Lipizzan horses (known for their military service) were starving to death.

Col. Walter H. was taken to Colonel Charles Reed who didn’t want to see the breed die out. Reed contacted General Patton who immediately requested that the horses be rescued as quickly as possible.

The operation, known as Operation Cowboy began May 15, 1945. The horses were evacuated by freight train and brought to Bavaria where the herd was united and the future of the breed secured.

With that military background in mind, the Tempel Lipizzans perform in a similar tradition.

I couldn’t have asked for a more wonderful photo shoot with pristine horses that couldn’t resist rolling in the mud, stunning models, majestic Lipizzans, gorgeous rural scenery and heart-warming mothers with their newborn foals.

The 5 a.m. wake-up, navigating two roundabouts and the remarkably-chilly-for-almost-May day was absolutely worth it. I definitely will be taking my girls out this summer to see one of their shows.

Please visit the website to learn more about Tempel Farms -- and, the hashtag title? Search #TempelTour2016 to see other photogs' work. 

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We live in the Midwest

We live in the Midwest. We have gorgeous warm spring days sandwiched between cold, snowy ones.

Saturday gave us weather from every season – rain, hail, snow, wind and then blessed sunshine. Sunday gave us a sunny and warm afternoon and evening – and we filled it with church and playing with neighborhood friends until dinnertime. Sunday also included a visit from these guys. Notice the sunshine reflecting off the chrome!

 

But by Monday, it was blustery and snowy again. On Tuesday, still dreary and quite cold, my girls and I decided it was a perfect day to bake all day – in between schooling.

My eldest quickly is showing an interest in cooking, baking and photography. It is fun to have her learning by my side. She decided to document our day with my camera, so, together, we took photos of everything we made today:

·      creamy baked potato soup

·      one batch of plain scones

·      one batch of blueberry scones

·      two loaves of bread

·      two liters of iced tea (OK, we didn’t take any photos of this)

Baked potato soup might be my most favorite soup, particularly when there is a chill in the air and a fire in our fireplace. {Thanks for making one, honey. Yeah … I know it is April.}

Scones are a big deal in our family – light, fluffy and rich. The girls love to make them ~ and eat them. They are super easy to make and take hardly any ingredients at all! It is a great dessert when you need to whip up something at the last minute.

We also ran out of sandwich bread, so we worked our hands into some bread dough, kneading it over and over, until we could watch the loaves rise and then bake in the oven ~ freshly baked bread might be my most favorite smell in my home!

Baking and cooking are such an important part of my life. They weren’t always ~ they sort of became a part of my heart as I felt my way through this job called motherhood. I never dreamed just how much I would love it! It feels good to feed people. It feels good to put home-cooked, nutritious food on the table for my family and know that they are fed. It feels good to bring a special treat for the women at my Endow study just to show them how much they are appreciated. But it feels even better to have my girls enjoy making food for others as well.

We all have gifts. Some of us are natural nurturers, some have the gift of spontaneous prayer, some know just the right things to say at just the right time, some are quiet listeners, some are artists, some are athletes, some save lives.  I hope my girls know that cooking also can be a God-given talent we can use to show others how special they are in our lives.

But the most important thing I want them to know is that we don't all have to do extraordinary things, we can find the extraordinary in the midst of the ordinary.

~Never underestimate the power of one's simplest gift; it could make the most profound difference.

Nerdy Birdy and the message of the Gospels

I forgot to write an Easter post. It wasn’t that I didn’t want to, it is just that there had been so much going on, I didn’t spend a lot of time on social media.

After a beautiful Triduum, we celebrated Resurrection Sunday with family and friends. My sister- and brother-in-law open their home to my husband’s very large family every Easter. They are such amazing hosts – never flustered, always prepared and never turning anyone away.

We went to Easter Vigil Mass ~ it is truly such a blessing to celebrate the Risen Lord and watch as adult men and women proclaim their commitment to their faith before God and the congregation.

Then, we hosted Easter dinner for my family and some wonderful friends. As our {little} family has started to become not so little, it has been easier to extend invitations for others to join us ~ and these recent celebrations with both family and friends have been incredibly meaningful and such a blessing to us.

The Easter message is one of love. When I read the Gospels, I am amazed at how loving Jesus is – love comes before fear. Love comes before worry. Love comes before concern.

I’m a worrier – I have worked extra hard over the past few years in an attempt to override the worry with the love Jesus speaks of in the Gospel. Most importantly, I want my children to live with courageous love – to love no matter race, religion, size, shape, ability or personality. It has become cliché these days – a Facebook meme so common we almost gloss right over it – but every person we meet is fighting a battle we {likely} never will know about.

A few months ago, Nerdy Birdy author Aaron Reynolds came to Read Between the Lynes bookstore and we took our girls to listen to him read it. Unfortunately, the book sold out before we could purchase it, but we did place an order.

Our signed copy came in just before Easter. What a perfect time. The message is clear: life is about love and acceptance.

This adorable book, made all the more engaging when an animated Reynolds reads it, highlights a misfit bird who finally finds a flock of a similar mindset … er, feather. But when another bird who seems to be a little too different isn’t accepted by said flock, Nerdy Birdy gathers the crew and explains that there always is room for another bird in their flock – nerdy or not.

See, we all are unique. God has put His stamp on us. We come with special gifts and inimitable talents. If we push others away because of their distinctiveness, we miss out on the richness of God’s creation. I like to think of the wisdom of Reynolds’ Nerdy Birdy as speaking to me straight from the Gospel ~ love with abandon. Hold a hand, give a hug, offer a meal, lend an ear. Let someone into your flock and learn, listen and make a difference in someone’s life ... and then let them make a difference in yours.

Coloring Easter Eggs on Good Friday

Easter Vigil Mass -- celebrating the Resurrection

Easter Egg hunt at my brother- and sister-in-law's home.

Easter Sunday morning

An unlikely pairing, but such wonderful messages