My love for Photography!

My love for Photography is growing a lot lately!  After we got our tax money I got the okay from Sean to go ahead and order a new lens.  I really wanted a 35 mm or 50 mm for taking portraits but with our son in Basketball and all of our outdoor activities my hubby talked me into a telephoto lens.  So I read a lot of reviews and went for the Canon 75 mm to 300 mm f/4-5.6 well... it takes awesome pictures.. But I have a hard time focusing sometimes if I'm too close.  I used it for a couple shoots even though I had to stand back pretty far. I still got a nice depth of field but not as much as I'd like. So, today I finally ordered the 50 mm f1.8.  It's cheaper lens but sounds like with some good care and gentle hands it'll be perfect for me now and what I'm doing.  Being a beginner I don't feel like I have to have the most expensive lens.  Even though I paid what I thought was quite a bit for the telephoto lens.  I plan to save up and get more as time goes on. But before I buy any more lenses I'll probably save up for a better camera body.  I've found the telephoto lens if GREAT for capturing wildlife and farm animals in action!

I've been joining lots of web pages and facebook pages pertaining to photography.  Seems as though I could read for days on end learning everything.  I just did a give away on my new facebook page for Sheila King Photography and gave away two free sessions!  I'm hoping to get some good new photos done to post and share my improvement. I have a long way to go but I'm willing to put in the time and the effort to do my best!

I found this page today through their facebook account.  They are doing a give away for a new expodisc.  Check them out. They have a lot of great info and you can sign up for the give away if you "like" their page and share their link!  Check them out.. it's cool stuff :)  Here's the link
Pure Photoshop Actions  Thank you to "Pure Photoshop Actions" for this opportunity!

Sheila King <><

My Mama and Papa-

I love my mother and father so dearly, but I have not always shown it.  I know there are people out there that think my mom and dad are crazy for having ten bio children and adopting a bunch more! I know they are doing not so much what the Lord has "called'' them to do,  but more importantly what the Bible tells "ALL" of us to do! Such as James 1:27, "Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world."  My mother’s life is not an easy life.  She has sacrificed SOOOO many  things that we with smaller families take for granted. She used to be a Mom with five little girls and a perfect home.  I just want to say…. I have learned there is definitely more to life than trying to live a perfect little life with perfect little kids and a perfect little house. We tend to forget that this life is only temporary. Do we realize that to GOD this is only a blink of an eye compared to what eternity will be? I feel that both my mom and dad are at a maturity level where they know what is important in life. They spend countless hours in prayer! They spend time with all of us, instilling what is important.

 I know we are all not perfect. But I can tell you that through all of the mistakes we’ve made, whether it be profanity,  drinking, bad relationships, rebellion.... the sins that we all tend to "HIDE"... we are learning and growing and we know right from wrong and we know good character because it was taught to us.. and also because we have the Holy Spirit dwelling within us. Parents should always have unconditional love towards us, just like Christ has for his children.   What's the number one thing Christ teaches us!?  Isn't it to love God and love people?   I'm honestly disgusted  at the fact that most people do HIDE, not that we have to shout from the roof tops all that we do wrong. But people, lets be REAL! If we LOVE each other and we love God, we need to be practicing it. How can we show love to someone less fortunate who has obvious sin and hardships.. when we try to act as though we are perfect!   I pray daily that I can love more like Christ. He loved US so much that he sent his only son..... God didn't think twice about sacrificing his only son.. he just DID IT!  Because he LOVED his children so much. My parents, no matter what their children did or do….. love us anyway, they know how to forgive. And I am so thankful that I have the parents that I have. It’s not putting a love band-aid on everything, it’s sacrificially giving and loving unconditionally just like Christ loves us.

Did you know Jesus is preparing heaven right now for all of us?!  Our pastor says it all the time. He didn’t make hell for us!  He made hell for the devil and his demons!  It's our choice. WE are all sinners, we need to accept Jesus as our Lord and Savior so that He can wipe away all that sin. THEN we can live a life for Him and spend eternity with Him.   If you think just being a good person gets you to heaven, I suggest reading the love letter that God wrote for you!!!  It's called the Bible. I don't know the whole Bible, and I am far from being the person that I desire to be.  I was also convicted yesterday when a friend asked me to pray for her. She knew she wasn't spending enough time in the Word and quiet time with her Father. I realized, I'm no different. I don't spend enough time either. Do any of us?  I think the more we dig and the more we draw close to Him, the closer we want to get. Should that hunger ever go away?  I don't think so. I think when you love someone.. just like I love my husband, I should never be satisfied. I should want more of that person. If the desire goes away... then are we still growing? I think you probably grow apart instead of grow closer.  So, I challenge all my Bible believing friends to help keep each other accountable. If anyone at anytime wants to ask me if I'm in the Word and drawing near to my Father in Heaven, please do :)

 So, to wrap this up….   thank you to my mom and dad for sacrificing much to grow the kingdom of Heaven. I know amongst all the hardships of child rearing...  God gives them strength and their rewards will be great! I love you both, never give up and never stop trusting Him. And to those parents out there that ever feel overwhelmed. Just stop and relax, enjoy your children and your husband and reflect on what's important and why were are here in the first place!

Please check out my Mom's blog!  www.majesticpintabians.blogspot.com