Snow Day 
Jeff was home from School on Friday. I filled the day with things the kids could do. I was "tagged" by a lovely friend, during the kid's nap/quiet hour I have found some time to answer the questions. 8 things I am passionate about 1) God 2) My best friend Steve 3) Jeff 4) Etienne 5) Chloe 6) My family 7) My friends 8) Kindness, art all forms but especially photography, books, goals--growing, sunshine in the rain, deep woods, new, anything new or very very old. Journals and writing, observing and gathering information, collecting inspiration. Laughter, especially from those I love. Quiet. Remembering. 
8 things I want to do before I die This is fun for me, my friend Nancy who is an excellent blogger bought me a French journal. It is graph paper instead of lined and the cover is hot pink. I waited months before I decided to use it as my "What I want to do before I die" journal. Some of them are quite far reaching but it is so much fun to dream! Here is a very small portion from that journal. 1) Teach all of my children how to read 2) Go to India 3) Do missions work 4) Photograph a wedding from a different culture 5) Work with the blind (read to them) or teach English to someone from a different culture 6) Find Hetal (a friend from childhood) 7) Be on the trail with my father and sister long enough to get very dirty, very tired, smell bad and hate it. 8) Adopt a little girl 
8 TV shows I watched recently 1) Chuck 2) Psych 3) Dirty Jobs 4) Myth Busters 5) Lost 6) Extreme Home makeover (Eti and I watch it together--he calls it our date, we cuddle together every Sunday night after church) 7) Jon and Kate plus Eight 8) HGTV and the food network The first four are Steve's shows that I sit next to him sometimes and read books. 
8 artists I never get tired of listening to 1) David Crowder 2) David Crowder 3) David Crowder (can I put him down for all eight?) 4) Echoes (I know it is not an artist but we set it on a timer and fall asleep to it every night) 5) Todd Agnew, Sara Groves, Jennifer Knapp, Leeland, Phil Wickham 6) Blue (Da Ba Dee) by Eiffel 65 another song Steve loaded on my Mp3 without me knowing, for me to find it when I was away from him. I remember the moment I heard it in the hotel room getting ready for a wedding, listened to it hundreds of times since. 7) Cat Stevens 8) Tracy Chapman I could list many many more, we usually in a given day listen to something classical, folk, ethnic.. 
8 Things that attract me to my friends 1) Trust 2) They like me and my husband and my children. Sounds so obvious but isn't it the truth for all of us? Being known, understood, and loved and being able to give that in return. 3) Patience...Not demanding. 4) Depth or joy ( I will take one or the other, both are hard to find in one person) 5) Honesty, openness no airs. I love confident-enough-to-be-real-people. What you see is what you get. 6) Character. Speak truth into eachothers life. 7) Share similar passions (See first list) 8) Eccentric, brave "old souls" 
8 Things I learned in 2007 1) Relationships are vital. Pouring your energy into strengthening encouraging and comforting people. 2) Maintenance is the Key not a better organization plan. I Heard Donna Otto talk about it and that word Maintenance goes through my mind now as I work in the home. 3) "My assumption is that the story of any of us is in some measure the story of all of us." Frederick Buechner 4) Nothing brings me more joy than the simple things. Loving/helping my husband, getting on the floor with my children. Being with them. The deepest joy comes in being with them, loving them. 5) It will come to light. The truth about a person will surface in time. Steve taught me this, we both learned it together these past few years. It is very freeing. Like a bird out of a cage. To cling to that, God's knows the truth, perceptions fade in the light of that knowledge. He will bring it all to light in His time. 6) "Those who nursed bitterness remained invalids. It was as simple and horrible as that." Corrie Ten Boom 7) God is the source, when I go to Him I am inspired beyond anything I could imagine alone. He takes me to greater depths, greater visions. Be a beggar at His gate. The goal is Christ obtained in brokenness in the wrestling. (From talks with my Mom) 8) "It makes you stronger when you respond correctly." My friend Naomi | 
You've wanted to do something for the blind since I've known you. That will have to be something you do for sure.
The things you learned in 2007, I really like how in depth you were. . . .btw, I remember reading that same Ten Boom quote, it's very powerful isn't it?
The pictures are just so sweet, thanks for sharing them! For some reason I kept thinking C. looked like a little clown. She needed a big red round nose. :) The depth of field w/the Jeff picture is awesome. (did I just sound like a photographer? LOL LOL)
Have a wonderful day!