Photoshop Elements 8 Fun!

I am having SO much fun playing on photoshop elements!!! Tonight I learned how to do textures, clipping masks, frames, selective coloring and more!!!!! I am SO in love!

This is my friend Amy.... this is a before and after picture that I did after a fun little photo walk we went on. The before was with some basic PSE edits and the after has three different textures and a scuffy-edged clipping mask! FUN!!!!!!!

No one can build ultimate security on things or people.
Real strength comes from relying on God.
(photo taken in September 2009 - Grand Haven, Michigan)
I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.
Philippians 4:13

Worry is like a rocking chair.
You may feel like you are doing something,
But it won't get you anywhere.

Therefore do not worry about tomorrow,
for tomorrow will worry about itself.
Each day has enough trouble of its own.
Matthew 6:34

More Photos from the World Wide Photo Walk - Rockford, MI

A week ago, Grace and I went on the third annual World Wide Photo Walk with some friends. Essentially, everyone around the world walks around taking photos on the same day. You can then enter photos into the world wide contest and/or local contests. A couple friends own The Memory Boutique and they sponsored a walk in beautiful downtown Rockford, Michigan. It was a great time!!! We got some beautiful scenic photos (which I'll share with you in another blog post) and made some new friends! As we were coming back from walking along the Rogue River, we came upon a man walking his two dogs - both were sweet husky-mixes. And one of the poor honeys had a cast on her leg!! :( She got hit by a car but was walking around like a champ.... except that it was hot out, so she decided lay down a bit (reminds me totally of my Lady Isabelle) while we chatted with her owner. Of course I asked if I could take a picture of her and her owner was more than happy to let me click away! :) This beautiful dog's photo reminded me of a beautiful verse in the book of Psalms.


The Lord heals the brokenhearted and bandages their wounds.
Psalm 147:3

Book Report: The Diary by Eileen Goudge

(Book Image from Barnes and Noble)

I was so excited when this book arrived from PaperBack Swap because each time I'd go to a bookstore, I'd eye it up! THE DIARY ended up being just as good as I hoped it would be!

The story is about two sisters who find their mother's diary while cleaning out her house as she lay dying in a nursing home. In the pages of the diary, they discover that their mother's true love was not Bob, their father who passed away the previous year, but some boy named AJ and the sister's can't understand how this could possibly be because their parents seemed so happy and genuinely in love! There are plenty of twists and turns in this book and keeps your attention completely the whole way through. Is everything always as it seems to be? Are people who we really think they are? The author did a great job of describing the settings and characters without overdoing it. The ending was an amazing with a surprising twist that made this book all the more exciting!!!

Even though this gem of a book is a short and easy read, it didn't lack anything at all. I'll definitely be adding some more of Eileen Goudge's books to my list. I highly recommend THE DIARY (and I think it would make a great movie)! Grab a blanket and some coffee and enjoy!!