Taking care of Bunny Fu Fu

I looked outside today to find a bunny just barely hopping in our driveway. He wasnt using one leg - so I was thinking he/she hurt its leg. It had nowhere to hop, the grass is covered with mounds of snow. So I did some thinking - I went downstairs grabbed a rubbermaid container full of something and dumped that something and took the rubbermaid outside to scoop up the poor soul (bunny). I gave him some food and then wrapped it up in a blanket. Someday maybe I will become a nurse - but until then we are just doing what we can to help the habitat. We did have to take it away. We popped the bunny in the box in the back of the van and headed to Hager Park where we took him to the shelter of a pine tree and let him have the blanket and wrapped him up snug where he will hopefully stay warm. Rest in peace poor bunny, Rest in Peace!!!!

This should be a piece of artwork on my wall

A Mom's Version Of I Corinthians 13
I was reminded of this by a friend. Reminds us to "chill" as moms, and remember what our real job is...I SO NEED THIS REMINDER DAILY!
If I live in a house of spotless beauty with everything in its place,but have not love,I am a housekeeper, not a homemaker.
If I have time for waxing, polishing, and decorative achievements,but have not love,my children learn cleanliness, not godliness.
If I scream at my children for every infraction,and fault them for every mess they make,but have not love,my children become people-pleasers, not obedient children.Love leaves the dust in search of a child's laugh.
Love smiles at the tiny fingerprints on a newly cleaned window.
Love wipes away the tears before it wipes up the spilled milk.
Love picks up the child before it picks up the toys.
Love accepts the fact that I am the ever-present "mommy",the taxi-driver to every childhood event,the counselor when my children fail or are hurt.
Love crawls with the baby, walks with the toddler, and runs with the child,then stands aside to let the youth walk into adulthood.
Before I became a mother I took glory in my house of perfection.Now I glory in God's perfection of my children.All the projections I had for my house and my childrenhave faded away into insignificance,And what remain are the memories of my kids.
Now there abides in my home scratches on most of the furniture,dishes with missing place settings,and bedroom walls full of stickers, posters and markings,But the greatest of all is the Lovethat permeates my relationships with my children.
-Adapeted by Jim Fowler

Serious!!!!

You may be asking - does she just like Abraham Lincoln that much that she would call her photography after Abe. Well, no and I did think of that, but this was a name that was given to me I feel. To pronounce the name you have to say it like Ahbay. It sounds a little french. The A is short and the E is pronounced like an A it is a short E. These are the first letters of my girls names. A for Averie, B for Braedyn and E for Elise. So that is the name and I am sticken with it. Hopefully if my dreams carry me to where I would like them to be someday it will be a well known photography name.

One last time of change

So I am changing again!!!! As I have published, I have a new name. I have changed the photography to Abe Photography. So there is also a new blog for the photography site. It is www.abephotography.blogspot.com. Just trying to confuse you all a little - JUST KIDDING!!!! I think I am trying to just confuse myself more. Just trying to make this all a reality and continue trying to build this dream of mine.

New Photography Name

Well, I have been thinking alot lately. Thinking about a new name. I will stick with Christine, but I am going to change the photography thing from Abundant Blessings to ABE PHOTOGRAPHY. That would be pronounced Ahbay Photography. I have been wanting to switch it for sometime now to something more shorter and well - a more simple name. I know that Abundant Blessings is a simple name, but I just needed something shorter, and I was also thinking of people that may not want to get their pictures done thru a place called Abundant Blessings. I loved the name, and I have been so Abundantly Blessed with this family, and extended family and much more, but somehow God gave me this new name at 3:00 in the morning while I was rocking Elise. I wasnt even thinking about a name and it popped into my head. So I really feel that this name has been given to me to use. So in all due - Abe Photography it is.

Stressed??? Whos stressed???

Since it is winter time I get the common question of "Mom, can I have a snack?" "Mom can I have a snack? " Mom, can I have a snack." These children think that since there is nothing else to do, and since we have absolutly no toys in this house, they can passify themselves with going in the cupboard and getting a snack. My name is Mom, but I am about ready to change it, I think - it gets called 1552 times a day. I really love my name "MOM", but when it is overused and underrated I start wondering if I want to change it. So today I was asked by Braedy if I can have a snack, after having 3 snacks previously, I said "NO." her answer to that is "Mom, you stress me out!!!" Well, I wonder what she thinks she does to me somedays - is that LOVE or is it STRESS. I will leave the question up to the voters.

Things that make you go hmmmmm....

Well last night I was sitting here on the computer as I do when the kiddos go to bed. Well, one kiddo wasnt in bed, Averie came and sat next to me and said mom I am not tired. She is usually the one who could basically go on E when it comes to sleep. So I said she could come and sit next to me and watch me for a little bit, if she promised to go to bed in 15. Well it was silent for the first 3 minuites, but then I knew the thinking was in process. So then the questions began. First question - mom where do babys come out at. Mom - "the hospital." Averie - well...when I came out where did I come out at? Mom - the hospital. Dad overhearing us said "Tine - you know what she means!!!" So I was about to explain the question that I havent wanted to get, and all of the sudden the question changed. Averie - "Mom, how was I made?" _ Mom - "God made you" - knowing that that question could have been addressed in another way - I decided to take the smart way, since I am not ready yet to answer the question any other way just quite yet. Averie - Well how did God make me? Mom - He formed you in His image, to be like him." Averie - "so, I look like God?" Mom - No, but God formed you in His own way so that you can live for Him. Mom - God formed you in His own special way to be like Him, but be your special unique Averie that you are, so that means you must live for God by Loving God and OBEYING your parents and teachers, and loving everyone around you no matter what they do to you - YES and that means your sister. Averie - "Well, why?????" Mom - Honey - its time to go to bed, unless dad wants to chip in here and help mom out.
Needless to say - I am not good at getting all kinds of questions but I like to answer them as best as I can even though I am not ready or willing to answer any questions that come my way about baby making yet. I just stick with the God made you with every little bit of specialness that He wanted you to have. Thats my answer and I am sticking with it.

Construction Completed!!

So I have finished up and the hard hat has come off. The new blog for photos that I have taken is now completed. I am still going to keep this site for my family site, but I will be using the other site as a more professional site for people to look at my pictures. The new site is www.abundantblessingsphotography.blogspot.com. Please do not think that you have to stop looking at this site, as I will be posting stories of the kids and pictures of them as well from time to time. It just keeps friends and family members up to date on the current happenings of the Dykstra household with daddy and all his girls.

Abundant Blessings Photography has a new blog

I am currently in the process of moving my photography site to a differant address - website address that is. I would just like to keep my pictures separate from my family business. The new site is still under construction and probably will be until this mommy gets a free chance. Until then here is the new address so you can mark it down. It is www.abundantblessingsphotography.blogspot.com

Thanks sooooo much!!!! Keep checking, I hope to be up and running real soon!!!!

Photoshopping

No I am not shopping for photos, just doing some Photoshop on my pictures. I got photoshop quite a while ago, but did not get any tutorial or any learning cd with it. So I am gradually trying to take every little time that I get by myself and trying to learn the Elements of Photoshop. Here is just a little playing around that I did. Dan likes the "glow" that some people get in their pictures. Its really called a vignette, but he just likes to call it a glow. So I am trying to please him by getting that special glow. So far I think I am starting to get the hang of it. Practice makes perfect I guess, looks like I have a lot of practicing to do. Someday I hope to be that PRO. : )

Family Video - Just a few of the great moments

DREAM BIG!!!!

O.k. so I know it has been a really long time since I have posted something, but the holidays marching in and the kiddos and the hubby home kept me away for a while. The holidays were wonderful. We have been soooo blessed with such a great abundance of family and friends to be around during the holidays. ABUNDANT BLESSINGS!!! Truly!!! : ) Well, 2009 has come in, and I am not usually one for making resolutions, because my resolutions usually end up in flames, but with constant prayer I think that maybe just maybe I can make this one suceed!!! Or I hope that I can anyway. I have titled this blog as DREAM BIG!!!! That I am doing. My dream is to become an aspiring photographer, one where I can carry out the name I have given to this photography as ABUNDANT BLESSINGS. I would love to be bring about Abundant Blessings for people, by being able to capture their lifetime moments and their every personalities and hopes. My dream is to just become that photographer that can capture the creation that God has so placed in front of us by capturing people in their full environment and in the comfort of Gods creation. He not only created this AMAZING AND BEAUTIFUL world, but also AMAZING AND BEAUTIFUL people, and that is what I dream to photograph. I have started off small, and only one day dream to advance to LARGE!! Without the help of God, I cannot do that. Also, without the help of others thru God I cannot do that. I am going to be taking some upcoming classes in the field of photography and I am very excited to do this. God is already leading me and guiding me, and I feel very blessed!!! GOD IS GOOD ALL THE TIME, ALL THE TIME GOD IS GOOD!!!! Thank you to everyone who reads my blog and to all those who in the past I have been able to photograph. I truly LOVE you all!!!