Re-Cap

November 11, 2008

I recently wrote about my melanoma scare. Well, kids here is an example of why tanning beds and basking in the sun is bad news. Keep in mind, I was not a regular at the tanning salon, but it was enough to have my chest sliced open. Black, white, green, purple or blue stay away from tanning beds and wear sunscreen.

I took the pictures today. I thought I'd spare you the dramatic pictures from right after. The yellowing is NOT the lighting, it's a bruise. She placed a stencil on me and traced a diamond shape laid on it side. It's a large area, but she (dr.) had orders from the pathologist.

I am not sharing to be like, "Oh, woe is me," but to tell you the sun, artificial or not, is very dangerous for you and your children.

Saturday, November 13, 2008

The family loaded up in the mini, to go look at Christmas lights. If you are ever in the Bartlesville area, please go to Woolaroc and visit. It's a diamond in the rough. It is such a nice place with so much history and artifacts. There are also shrunken heads, a highlight to most junior high students. I was one of them when I was in school.

(This was taken on Sat., on our way out of town, I had to document the low price of gas. Wouldn't you know by Monday it had risen 13c! I'll still take it though.)

They, Woolaroc, have a Christmas light extravaganza. It really is something. There is a tractor drawn hayride, tons of lights and if you do Santa, even he is there. AND he doesn't have a fake beard. We were blown down, by the wind, to Frank Phillip's lodge and had hot chocolate and cookies, listened to music and enjoyed the Oklahoma wind and the beautiful lights. The really cool thing was you can go into the museum area and look around just like if you came during regular business hours.

(In tungsten mode and the sun is barely up.)

I had read online that the key to photographing lights is to take them when the sun is either setting or rising. You have to have a little light for the Christmas ones to be visible. ALSO, if you are shooting towards the sky, turn the 'white balance' mode to tungsten.

(Also in tungsten mode, but I am loosing light)

(In front of the lodge still in tungsten. No light, hence the blurriness and you can only see the lights not what the lights are on. Enter the reason for the sun needing to be partially up.)

November 15, 2008

My baptism day. I was so nervous and to be honest, slightly embarrassed by the upcoming event. The baptism bash at my church, LifeChurch.tv, is geared towards the 'new Christians.' It is definitely NOT geared for the long time followers of Christ, which is good, but was also part of my hesitation.

(The baptismal, if you will.)

No one in my family came, BUT Matt's Mom did make the trek. If you don't know my MIL, this is a huge deal. Our church is out of her 'comfort driving zone.' Not only was she out of her 'zone' but she came without my FIL. He's a preacher and he has a duty to preach, especially on Sundays.

I've been asked, "So how was it?"

(Posing for a camera. Matt is taking the pictures following. The lighting in there is horrendous. Sorry for the poor quality and lack of clarity.)

Let me tell you...

It was better than I imagined and well worth hearing, "Megan, or Megan as Eddie called me but God knew who he meant, I baptise you in the name of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit for the forgiveness of your sins."

Folks, I teared up. I've never heard those words and I honestly could feel and hear those words spewing out of His mouth. They spewed because the Lord has been holding on to those words for 11 years and He finally got to say it. And He said it to me...

despite the freezing cold water...
was absolutely amazing and worth it...
(Eddie is the man in the background. He is the campus pastor for the new campus coming to Owasso in February 09!)

On the way home Matt asked, "How do you feel?"

I said, "Like that monkey on my back has been killed."

He just smiled.

(Because I'm a pansy and didn't want to walk outside to take a picture, this is a view of our neighbors house.)

And for today? Well, it wouldn't be Oklahoma if on Saturday and Sunday it was in the 70's and on Monday and Tuesday it snows.