Mela Kamin – 4:10 Ministries

When your husband is a talented commercial photographer, there are obvious benefits. As you can imagine, we have walls of beautiful photography, our trip pictures are coffee-table-book worthy and my headshots are always retouched to my {Ahem} precise specifications.
.
But, there is a downside … he does NOT like my “photo assignments.” He deals with cameras and clients all day and the last thing he wants to do at home is work. That’s why when you see us together, I’m the snap-happy one. (He says I hide behind the camera, but that’s another story).
.
But, my dear, sweet man sucked it up and sacrificed his Labor Day off to do a back-to-school shoot with our kids. I had some ideas {big surprise} and was more than willing to give him some suggestions. I’m helpful like that.
.
He politely took my “advice” and promptly told me I wasn’t allowed at the shoot.
.
Yes, that’s right. I was banned from my children’s photoshoot.
.
It’s no surprise to the kids. For Christmas and even a Mother’s Day a few years ago, our kids went with Greg to the studio, had their picture taken … but I wasn’t allowed within the vicinity of said photoshoot.
.
What can I say? I apparently give looks to my husband and kids that instill fear and panic. I do not put them at ease, which makes for not-so-happy photos.
.
This time, we compromised. I got to come along, but I had to stay in the van.
.
I was on lock-down and could not leave the vehicle. So, I tweeted & checked email, got a picture of myself waiting patiently:
.

.
The boys waiting while big sis got her pic taken at her school.
.

.
And snapped some photos of the behind-the-scenes action.
.
.

.

.

.

.
Do I feel bad that things go better when I’m not around? A little.
.
But, it is what it is and who could argue with shots like this:
.
Gus in all his cute spunkiness:
.

.
Brothers standing strong & united (for once):
.

.
Ace ready for anything:
.

.
Or these of the Librarian (who just got braces last week):
.

.
And, check out this keeper:
.

.
Do you see how Gus is looking up at his big bro? {melt my heart}
.
And, take a gander at the three of them:
.

.
And the little details:
.

.
Or, how about these silly ones of my boys. As you can see, neither of them enjoyed this one. single. bit.
.

.

.
I love how happy he is. It’s a smile only Greg can get:
.

.
And, one of the last shots he got was this gem … his direction? “Ok – guys, run to me!”
.
Gus’s look is fierce – love the determination. He’s really going for it.
.

.
Greg took these photos the day before school started, which is also a great tip. Take photos at the school when it’s not in session – that makes for a parking lot that is largely empty and there’s less chaos and distraction. Plus, it’s a great setting for a school shoot … the actual school!
.
well … that, and there’s no one there to complain that your kids are sitting on the sign out front.
.

.

.
Oh my – kindergarten, 2nd grade and 6th grade for my sweet, sassy three. This is the first time we have a child in full-day kindergarten, so it’s a new one for me. I’m holding steady right now, but we’ll see how this week goes without my Gus.
.
Greg took back-to-school photos of them yesterday – HE. IS. MY. HERO. The pictures are always WAY beyond what I expect (and I have high expectations because I know what he can do). I’ll share the best shots in another post a little later.
.
Here’s a picture we took last night right before bedtime – our last night of Summer. Yes, my boys go to bed shirtless.
.

.
In anticipation of their big first day, I put together these gifts to give to their teachers. I always like to have my kids bring a little something the first day – I think it shows respect and appreciation. And, a couple brownie points never hurt a kid either.
.
In the past, we’ve done school supplies, flowers or treats. We like to give a few surprises throughout the school year (homemade treats, usually) and a gift on the last day (we did framed word clouds last year).
.
These were really simple to whip up and inexpensive too. The teachers liked them and it was something a little different to show them how special they are.
.

.
They turned out adorable {if I do say so, myself}. I especially love the ruler ribbon I found at Michael’s. It was the perfect finishing touch for my “Measure of a Teacher” poem, I think.
.
I had seen these water bottle hangers that hold a drink mix pack, like Crystal Light. I thought it would be perfect to hold the measuring spoons. I used this tutorial from Heidi of Blue Eyed Blessings.
.
I purchased the spoons from the Pampered Chef outlet a couple years ago. Yes, I bought them in bulk – they were $1 or $2 each. We used them for a Mother’s Day gift for the Moms of my Sunday School class, using a “Measure of a Mother” poem I wrote for my Mom.
.
{hey – when you find something that works, stick with it!}
.
Here’s what I used:

• a pretty embossed, school bus yellow cardstock (each strip cut to 2 1/2 in. wide by 9 3/4 in. long)
• a pretty coordinating print of cardstock (used for the little detail on the pouch using a 1 1/2 in. scalloped punch)
• glue dots
• poems printed out
• ruler ribbon
• bottles of water

Here’s a closeup of the poem I wrote:
.

.
Oh and this is a closeup of the pretty patterned paper – I bought an extra piece, thinking I might just frame it – it’s beautiful. I happened to be wearing an outfit that coordinated, so maybe I was drawn to it, because of that. But that would be very narcissistic, wouldn’t it?
.

.
Note: I made my hangers a couple inches longer than Heidi’s, because I didn’t want to cover the poem when I folded the bottom flap up. If you’re using this to do the drink holders and don’t have a message inside, stick with her dimensions.
.
We so appreciate our teachers and those who will interact with our children each day. We feel very blessed to be able to have our boys at our church school, only about a mile away. Our daughter is at our other location for middle school, just across the river – about 5 miles from our home. This allows me to be close for volunteering in their classrooms, for recess duty and lunch help. The kids love it too!
.
God Bless Teachers!

I was thrilled to get Permission to Speak Freely by Anne Jackson. Last year, I read her Mad Church Disease and have been a frequent reader of her blog and so it was with great anticipation, that I read the book I had heard about there.
.

.
Anne pulls no punches, as was expected. If it’s one thing I’ve learned reading her blog is that she’s a straight-shooter.
.
Truly, I was hoping to see myself in the pages of the book. I wondered if other people thought the same things I’ve thought and wanted to take someone by the shoulders and say, “What is wrong with this picture?! Grace is fully & freely given and that’s NOT JUST for the people sitting in our church right now!”
.
There are some things I don’t feel can be said in church … like that. I’m not sure I’m ready to say them either, or in that way, but I think it’s important that Anne started this dialogue.
.
She gave people permission on her blog, and through this project, to say whatever it was they felt they couldn’t anywhere else.
.
That’s. Something.
.
I would say I grew up rather sheltered and maybe am used to a “don’t rock the boat” mentality, so this book helped me gain perspective on what is being held back collectively. And, this is just a snippet.
.
I’m serious when I say, I felt kind of like a rule-breaker just for reading it – like I was reading someone’s diary or a book that’s been taken off the library shelves. You can almost feel the weight of what is said.
.
I loved the art, the openness of what was shared and the stories. I think Anne was brilliant in how she structured the book and I could tell she was very intentional about how deep each story would go.
.
Sheila Walsh said, “Our brokenness is a better bridge to others than our pretend wholeness will ever be.” This quote has become my favorite because it so embodies what Christ would want us to realize and what our deepest desire is – as Anne puts it – “permission to go second.”
.
We are so afraid to say something because we’ll be ridiculed, ostracized, thrown out and laughed at. The more I go about shedding layers of religiosity, I see that’s hogwash straight from Hell.
.
Satan is afraid of us opening up because we’ll get closer to people, find community, grace and healing.
.
We’ll get freedom in Christ and the very things Satan’s using to drag us down in guilt & shame, can actually help to lift someone else up.
.
How ’bout them apples, Satan?!
.
.
.
Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher through the BookSneeze.com book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 : “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”