Ready!

 The baby's room is ready!  We are using our walk-in closet as the baby's nursery for the indefinite future, and I am so pleased with how everything fits well in there!  There's not an overabundance of room but it is going to work out fine, and I'll have her close at hand for those nighttime feedings initially, and during the day for her naps I think it will be separate enough from the rest of the house to let her sleep well.  Now we just need a baby to occupy that room!  Here's how it all turned out. . . 

 Showing the closet door open--the wood on the side is the large wardrobe we brought from overseas, it obstructs the doorway slightly so that the closet door doesn't fully close.  I think it will work out fine, though, and even give just a little extra air circulation.

 There's the pack-n-play that Chloe and Christin both slept in for numerous years...it's certainly gotten its share of use!  The bassinet is handy though and will be helpful for when the baby is first born.  The changing table came from a big consignment sale I went to back in the spring.  All her little clothes are ready and waiting for her!

 There was even room for a basket of baby toys on the side!

 Ok, baby, we're all set!  Come when you're ready!  Pictures taken July 13, 2012.

Happy Haircut!

 After years of cutting John's hair, I finally dared to give my girls a little trim.  All of them were looking a bit scraggly and I figured I couldn't go too far wrong!  Even if I did, there are plenty of hair salons nearby that could fix it if it was truly terrible.  But, I'm happy to say they all turned out just fine!  Not great, perhaps, but good enough for now!  The girls did a good job sitting still and thought it was fun.

Chloe and Christin posed for an "after" picture...with Chloe's new bear, Cuddly, that she got for her birthday!  (wearing a paper bonnet, made by Chloe, of course!).  Happy Haircuts!

Cooking for my Freezer

With the baby coming soon, I have been extra-productive in the kitchen, trying to prepare some meals to just make life a little easier when she arrives.  I basically spent two full days cooking, one day one week and one day the next week, and was so pleased with how much I was able to prepare in that time!  Why don't I always do this?!  It worked so well and now I have many meals in my freezer prepared and ready to go.  Though hotdishes and soups aren't exactly ideal for the hot summer weather, it will still be preferable to looking at the clock at 5pm and wondering what I am going to feed the family!

I thought I'd share some of the recipes that I prepared--maybe it will inspire you to prepare some meals for your freezer too, for busy days ahead!

First, Barbecue Chicken (this could not be easier):
Rub 4-6 chicken breasts with a prepared spice rub (I happened to have some in the cupboard).  Place chicken in crock pot and cook on low until chicken is tender and can be shredded with a fork, about 6 hours.  Add bottled barbecue sauce (I used about two bottles).  Now it's ready for sandwiches!

Corn Chowder with Chilies:
This is a great recipe from the Pioneer Woman.  You can find it here:
http://thepioneerwoman.com/cooking/2010/10/corn-chowder-with-chilies/  I usually use three cans of corn instead of fresh, and also I just add chipotle powder instead of the chilies in adobo sauce, so that it doesn't get too spicy for my kiddos to enjoy.  It's delicious!

Turkey Wild Rice Casserole
This is an easy, filling, delicious meal and this recipe makes a large batch.  Perfect for eating some and freezing the rest for later!
You will need: 4 cups cooked, chopped turkey (or chicken)
2 boxes Uncle Ben's Original Wild Rice
1 cup sour cream
1 can cream of mushroom soup
1 lb fresh mushrooms, sliced
1 stick (8 Tbsp) butter

Cook the rice according to package directions.  Add the turkey, soup, and sour cream to the rice.  Mix well.  In a separate pan saute mushrooms in butter until cooked.  Add to the turkey mixture.  Transfer to a large baking dish and bake at 350 for 1 hour.

Chicken Tortilla Soup
I love this recipe because the soup is a basis for all sorts of fun toppings: sour cream, diced avocado, pico de gallo, grated cheese, or fresh cilantro.  As well, we love to eat it with chips!  You can't go wrong!  Here is the Pioneer Woman again and this home-run of a recipe:
http://thepioneerwoman.com/cooking/2011/01/chicken-tortilla-soup/
Enjoy!

Simple, Hearty, White Chili
Again thanks to the PW, here's a hearty, filling, delicious soup recipe that can easily freeze for busy days ahead.  It's great with garnishes or without and is quite economical as well.  Give this one a try!
http://thepioneerwoman.com/cooking/2010/01/simple-hearty-white-chili/  I made mine with turkey this time because after roasting a whole turkey, that's what I had on hand.  I also used the turkey broth to cook the beans.  Yummy!

Butter Chicken
We love this Indian-style dish that is just a little spicy but so very delicious over some basmati or jasmine rice.  You can find the recipe here: http://tastykitchen.com/recipes/main-courses/butter-chicken-2/  It's a hit with all my kids too!  (and there's actually not that much butter in it!)  The only change I make is to cube the chicken before marinating so that the pieces are much smaller...we like them to be bite-sized and distributed through the sauce more.  They also seem to absorb more flavor that way.  Love the lime, cilantro, tomato and cream flavors here!

Banana Oatmeal Raisin Muffins
After having each of my babies, I remember times during those first few weeks where I was just HUNGRY. Nursing 7-9 times a day and caring for a newborn can just make you want to eat everything in sight!  When Chloe was born in Chiang Mai, my friend Germaine brought me a still-warm batch of muffins very similar to this...hearty, tasty, healthy, and delicious.  Ever since I think it's the perfect gift for a new mom--easy to make and easy to eat between meals when you're desperate for some real sustenance that won't cost you a bunch of empty calories.  These mix up so quickly and are a snap to make.  Enjoy! http://tastykitchen.com/recipes/breads/banana-oatmeal-raisin-muffins/

So there you have a list of the things that are waiting in my freezer right now.  Hope you find a recipe or two that strikes your fancy!  Happy cooking!

A Very Historical Fourth of July

 We had a really fun and history-rich Fourth of July this year, thanks to my insightful husband who gets the vision for these things and carries them through!  (If it's me as a mom who makes birthdays "happen," it's definitely John as a dad who makes the historical holidays "happen"!)  The day began with John reading the entire Declaration of Independence to us as a family at breakfast.  I think it has been since high school government that I read that document!  I completely did NOT remember all the list of grievances in the middle of the Declaration, which did require some explanation from Daddy since it uses words like "perfidy."  Great little history lesson over breakfast!

Then, John had seen online that a famous historical home in our area, Locust Grove, was offering free admission on the 4th.  (I still cannot believe the fun family activities you can do for free in America!)  So we braved the heat and went for a visit.  It's only a few miles from our house and was truly fascinating.  George Rogers Clark, the founder of Louisville, spent his final years there since it was the home of his sister, her husband, and their large family.  The family often entertained guests of distinction, including several presidents, John James Audubon the naturalist, and others.  There was an interesting (air-conditioned!) museum section that we all enjoyed and then we were able to tour the house and meet various historical personages (two pictured above) dressed in their period costumes and interacting with the guests.   It was really fun!  Even for me, who doesn't get as excited about history and was tempted that morning to just stay home in the cool and read a book, I really enjoyed it!  We visited the museum, toured the house, and then the girls were delighted to find drawing paper and pencils for sketching while sitting outside on the back porch.

 John and I enjoyed looking out over the grounds and the beautiful gardens there before we all traipsed out to have a look at the outbuildings.  The stone building directly behind John was the kitchen.  Can you imagine carrying pots and dishes of food to the house and dining room in all sorts of weather?

 We came home for a brief rest and then went to join in on a fun party at our friend's the Kimbell's home.  Could their baby J be any cuter?!  She's a doll!

The kids had a great time eating and playing together...and evidently so did I since I neglected to take any more photos the rest of the evening!  It was a great evening of fellowship and good food--everyone brought something yummy--and fun to have time to sit and talk.  My girls played so happily that at the end of the night, we had to go because I was tired, not because they were done!  

But the day wasn't over yet.  We actually managed to see several really fun neighborhood fireworks displays as we were on our way home, so much so that at two places we actually stopped and parked for a minute to watch!  Then, after arriving home and as the girls got ready for bed, John selected three fun books to read as a final celebration of the Fourth of July.  One was an elaborately illustrated picture book with all the verses of "When Johnny Comes Marching Home Again" and so he sang it to them, which they thought was so fun.  The next was another great picture book with Longfellow's "The Midnight Ride of Paul Revere" which he put his best dramatic voice to--"One if by land, two if by sea!"  And finally, we ended the evening and the holiday by singing "America the Beautiful" together  (we also have a picture book of various American scenes with that text.)  What a fun way to end the Fourth!

Happy 236th birthday, America!  How thankful we are for this country; though certainly not without its flaws, we are humbled and grateful to be born into this place with its freedoms.  I enjoyed our historical Fourth of July and look forward to learning more about our nations' history as I study with the girls in the future!  Hope you all had a safe and wonderful Fourth of July celebration!

Chloe is SIX!

We had a wonderful day on June 26 celebrating Chloe's sixth birthday.  It was a hot, sunny day--perfect for summer activities--and very reminiscent of her birth in Thailand six years ago!  The day began with our traditional birthday breakfast, spread out above--Pineapple Blueberry Upside down cake, cheesy scrambled eggs, and sausage.  Yummy!  We pulled out the same decorations we've been using for the last few years--the girls don't seem to mind always seeing the same paper banner and happy birthday confetti; they think it's fun!

Chloe had requested "A cake in the shape of a rainbow" so I started with a funfetti cake mix baked in a 9x13, trimmed it to resemble a rainbow, and then topped it with icing and fruit of the colors of the rainbow!  Strawberries, peaches, pineapple, blueberries, cherries, and blackberries!  (I meant to add kiwi for green but forgot to buy them...and as it turned out the cake had no space anyway!)

We had a few structural difficulties since the fruit, with its moisture, wanted to slip off the edges...but boy did it taste wonderfully!

Happy Birthday sweet Chloe!

Now you are six!

Our funny girl with her funny faces!

The girls had been begging to go to the splash park at the zoo as a special outing, and it seemed like Chloe's birthday was the perfect day for it!  There were lots of kids, but it wasn't totally crowded, and the girls had fun trying out the water.

There's my birthday girl!

Clara Anne can model for the camera too!  She was whooping in delight at the variety of ways the water was splashing her!

However we forgot one crucial element in planning this outing--none of my girls like to have water splashed in their faces!  After some initial delight, the splash park became not as fun as it could have been and we decided to cut our trip short and head to the pool next time.  :)

The day ended with a special birthday dinner and watching a movie as a family at home (we had happened to borrow one from the library called "In the Womb" which seemed appropriate, both for Chloe's birthday and the upcoming baby!).  It was a great day celebrating our sweet Chloe.  

It's hard to believe that this cutie-patootie little blonde baby is now a tall, curly headed six year old, but that is what happens to babies--they grow up!  We are so thankful for Chloe and who she is as a person.  For a long time she really struggled with her emotions--being sensitive, getting moody and sad over small things (like who got the green cup at lunch), and getting upset at her sisters.  But over the last year or two, through prayer and training her, the Lord has really helped her improve!  She is still sensitive, but often turns that sensitivity towards others--i.e., is aware of others' needs and desires and quick to meet them.  Instead of struggling with moodiness or melancholy, she is now my most cheerful, willing, sweet helper.  She has an adorable giggle and a generally sunny spirit which is a joy to be around.  We love you Chloe and are so thankful for your life!  May Jesus keep you close to Him all the days of your life, and may you find great joy in serving Him!

An update on all things baby

It's official!  I'm having a baby!  Just kidding...you knew that already.  But, the date is drawing closer (July 25 is my due date) and I hope that by the end of the month we will have met our new little one.  Here's some baby news to share as we look forward to that exciting time...

I'm generally feeling fine, but have had lots of Braxton-Hicks contractions, often when I'm on my feet.  The weather has been HOT (92 degrees at 9:15 tonight when we were on our way home) and so I am trying to stay cool and hydrated.  Baby girl seems to be head down (has been for weeks) but sometimes spins from side to side.  For the longest time she was lying with her spine along my right side, hiccups on the lower right, kicks and jabs on my left.  But just a few days ago she shifted and is now seemingly on the left side and kicking on my right.  So amazing!

We watched a National Geographic video the other night called "In the Womb" and it was simply astounding.  It just makes me marvel at the Lord and His creative power to see all of the processes that have to happen just perfectly in order for a new person to come about.  It was worship inspiring!

I feel "almost" ready for the baby to come...though I actually have quite the list of things I'd still like to accomplish before she gets here, I know that probably all of them won't happen.  We've been trying to get lots of exercise, especially walking, but in the heat the last few days it hasn't been possible.  Maybe after the weekend it will cool down slightly.  The high tomorrow is supposed to be 106!

Christin asks every day, "Does the baby feel SO heavy, Mama?" and loves to put her ear to my belly to see if she can hear anything.  The girls are fascinated by the movement they can see and feel--it makes everything seem more real!  I am thankful that they have only shown excitement about the new one's arrival.

The doctor says all looks good--we haven't had any "guesstimates" as to her size but I hadn't gained any weight in the last two weeks (though baby seems bigger) so that was encouraging to me.  I hope to not have another almost 10 pounder!  I am so glad to still be sleeping in my own bed and not having to pack up our family; that is a big relief.  The comforts of home are truly comforting when you aren't feeling 100%!  I'm thankful especially for a comfy bed to help get as much rest as possible and A/C to keep things cool!  Though, I'm not above resorting to an ice pack on my feet to keep that swelling down!

So, a few more weeks and we'll be meeting our new little girl!  Her clothes are all ready, my bag for the hospital is partially packed, and her little room is ready and waiting.  I am determined not to get stressed if she doesn't come on time, so we'll just wait and take things a day at a time!  In the meantime, I'll keep on slowly working on my list of things to do and the girls and I are doing some school here and there as well, plus trips to the pool whenever it fits in.  I think the next month will go quickly!

Trusting the Lord for the perfect timing and safe arrival of our new little girl!

We loved Camp!

It was so refreshing to be out at the Cedarmore camp last week for our Mission Adventure Camp!  John had just finished his last class for the first year of his PhD studies, and then we packed up and were ready for a week away!  The weather was absolutely beautiful and we enjoyed our time with the kids, counselors, and parents.  Here's a glimpse of what our week involved:  Above, Clara Anne is fascinated with the landscaping rocks at this climbing wall where we sat one evening to read our current family read-aloud: North!  Or be Eaten by Andrew Peterson.

The other girls sitting with Daddy as he reads and adds in all the fun dramatic voices...

Look at that beautiful sky!  I still appreciate it so much after so many years of smog overseas!

There's my sweet four year old...

One evening the activity was bazooka ball, where you have a gun and get to form teams and shoot each other with soft green balls.  Clara Anne and John had lots of fun!

Chloe, Christin and I watched from the sidelines.

Pretty rough and tough, don't you think?

Every afternoon we enjoyed "canteen" where the girls could have a fun snack...it was fun to introduce them to "Push-Ups," a favorite snack I enjoyed as a kid.  This is in the dining hall.

We went from canteen to the swimming pool!  The afternoons were warm, sunny, and miraculously, not humid!  We had a great time swimming in the outdoor pool  (spiders and waterbugs notwithstanding).

Towards the middle of the week, the girls started to make some friends, even though the girls at camp were older than them.  The sad day came when they wanted to sit with their friends at meals instead of with Mommy and Daddy!

Having fun...

Finding flowers in the Kentucky woods...nobody minds if you pick all the clover you see!

This night there was a relay race that Clara Anne joined in on...spinning around a bat, tossing a frisbee, running with a water balloon balanced on a spoon...all important skills for life, you know!  She loved joining in with the bigger girls.

Camp wouldn't be camp without a camp fire!  How fun to roast marshmallows and make s'mores!

Perfectly golden brown...

And then suddenly we were at the last day.  Worship time...

Signing autographs...

And some final dancing and saying goodbyes.

It really was a wonderful week.  For our family, the timing couldn't have been better.  It was so refreshing, encouraging, and relaxing to be together and out in God's creation after a very busy year of studies.  We loved sharing with the kids about work overseas and had a great time just being there.  I will confess it was really nice not to have to cook for a week!  The beautiful weather was a special blessing, and we all got a few naps in during free time as well.  We pray that the Lord truly used this time for His glory, to encourage and inspire the next generation about doing His work wherever they are!

34 weeks and counting!

 We just returned from a week at camp in the Kentucky woods!  It was a wonderful week, full of worship, activity and time outdoors, with some naps thrown in for good measure.  We all truly enjoyed it but the girls especially had a wonderful time.  I uploaded all our photos tonight and will post them soon, but in the meantime here are two VERY current ones--just taken last night!  Me in all my baby glory at 34 weeks and two sweet sisters, ready to welcome her!  Clara Anne is actually in this picture too, standing just behind my right shoulder in dark purple leggings and a purple shirt.  She was waiting to join in on a fun relay race with the other campers.

Baby girl Wind at 34-plus weeks!  She'll be here soon!  I am really going to enjoy NOT having to pack up my whole family and travel internationally for this birth like I did a few times before!  It is such a blessing to be able to stay home all the way until the baby is actually born!  So thankful for that.  Baby girl is measuring right on track and has been head down now already for a number of weeks.  Hopefully she'll stay that way.  Now that the semester and this camp are over, our next major event is to welcome this sweet little one!  We're all getting excited!

Adventures in Gardening

This spring we decided to convert our back patio (the walkout from our basement level which is enclosed by a wooden fence) into a "Secret Garden."  The girls love the story of the Secret Garden and this one is truly secret since it is not visible from the street but only from inside the house.  It is right off our home schooling area and though it is a very small space, probably 3 feet by 5 feet, we thought a few pots of herbs and some hanging pots of flowers would fit into the space nicely.

To get inspired and ready for our gardening, we made a trip to a big home improvement store, and were just amazed at the garden section!  So many choices!  So many beautiful flowers and thriving plants!  Wow, you could really spend a lot of money on landscaping!  Thankfully we didn't need too many things, since our space is so small.  But we still walked away with five hanging baskets and five potted plants!

The first task was to clean out some of the "junk" that was there and make the space ready.  We did some organizing in our storage space in the basement so that John's bike and the grill, which were both previously stored outside in that space, could fit inside instead.  We pulled some weeds (there is a cement slab in the middle but dirt around the perimeter) and then laid down some pretty white rock over the dirt, to prevent more weeds.  Next John drove several shepherd's hooks into the ground and we were able to also hang an iron bar from the fence to hang a bird feeder on.  We thought it would be wonderful to be able to attract some birds to our little secret garden.

Finally all was ready and we started to place the flowers.  Two baskets of purple wave petunias, two of varicolored impatiens, and a strawberry plant quickly took their places hanging from shepherd's hooks.  The pots of mint, parsley/oregano, basil, rosemary, and a tomato plant were then added.  The sights and smells were a true transformation of that little space!  I haven't taken any pictures yet, but I'll have to do that soon!

Everything bloomed well for awhile but now some of the plants haven't been blooming as profusely; I think I need to do a little fertilizing.  Any suggestions on this?

I also have to report the demise of the bird feeder.  Initially we had bought a pretty cheap bird feeder, intending just to try it out and see if we could get some birds to come and eat.  But you know who came instead?  Yes, big, fat, greedy squirrels.  One morning John went downstairs rather early and found a fat, happy squirrel perched on what was left of the feeder--the squirrel had managed to break the feeder apart, spill the majority of the seed, and then was eating up the evidence.  John shooed him away and we cleaned up the mess, determining that we needed a different, squirrel-proof feeder.

I found a new one that was supposedly squirrel proof not long after, and was eager to try it.  For about a week we gawked in delight as the birds came, shyly at first and then more confidently, to have a little snack just a few feet from our window.  Unfortunately, they also made a mess--spilled seed, cracked some seeds and spit out the hulls, and pooped on the other flowers out there.  We were mostly attracting sparrows, and then we noticed that the sparrows started to get greedy too--6-8 of them would come at once and fight each other for the spots to feed.  The spilled seed was really making a mess in that small space, and I was having to sweep up every day from the silly birds!  The final straw was when we refilled the feeder and within two days, it was mostly gone or spilled from the feeder, and still not a different bird in sight except for the sparrows.  So, we made the tough decision to remove the bird feeder and let the birds go back to fending for themselves.  It was just too small of a space to have birds occupying it too.  So, farewell sparrows!  It was fun while it lasted!

Our secret garden (complete with a lock on the inside of the wood fence) has already brought great delight to us all, and I've especially enjoyed picking fresh basil, rosemary and mint to use in recipes.  And, now we all have a bit more motivation to spend time in the home school room, with such a lovely view in front of us!  Clara Anne has even gone out there on occasion for her reading time.  I'm thankful for our quiet little garden spot, and hope that I'll be able to keep everything thriving and healthy.  The girls love their watering responsibilities and take it very seriously to care for the plants.  Next time I'll show some pictures of the Secret Garden!

Packing, Moving, Changing

No, not us.

You might think that since I've been absent from my blog for so long, we must have a good excuse, right?  Like...moving?  No, no good excuse...just the busyness of normal life, keeping up with my girls, helping my husband, and keeping on with home schooling, house work, ministry opportunities, etc.  But, there has been plenty of change going on in other parts of our family!

For one  (a BIG one), my mom and dad are moving!  They had an offer on their house out of the blue this spring, but weren't sure what would happen with Dad's health.  I am so thankful to say that Dad is doing better--much better!  He has been on this dopamine-based drug since late March now and though it didn't have the immediate effect they wanted, he does seem to be getting better week by week.  By that I mean he is more responsive, he is getting up out of bed and keeping a more normal schedule, he seems more interested in life and the things that are going on around him, he occasionally initiates conversation with my mom or asks a question, and generally is just more involved and engaged.  Praise the Lord!  We are so thankful to see some glimmers of his personality come out again.  I was on the phone with him for a few minutes the other night and he sounded almost totally normal to me.  So very thankful to see this progress!

When it looked like my dad was doing better, my mom started to consider seriously the idea of moving.  Then, two hailstorms in a single weekend convinced my mom that she was ready to be done caring for the lawn and yard work, and that moving to a smaller, simpler, maintenance-free place was a great idea.  And, within a few days of selling their house they were able to buy a condo that met all of those conditions!  It is only a few blocks away from their current home and will be an "easy" move in that sense.  But, the work of packing and moving is always somewhat stressful, especially when downsizing, so we are praying extra hard for Mom and Dad these days!

As well, my brother Mark and his family, who had spent the last year here in Louisville, have now moved back to Minnesota.  (In fact, hopefully they've arrived by now...they were driving today!).  They made this decision over the past few months after Mark felt that being a full-time student was not for him.  They are seeking the Lord for the next step for their lives, and trusting His good plans.  We will miss them dearly!  It's been such a joy to see all five girls (their two girls are placed just older and just younger than Clara Anne) interact and have so much fun together.  And it's been such a blessing for us to have family in town, after being overseas for so long.  So, we are thankful for the season that we had and praying God's rich blessings on them as they transition in the next weeks and months.

As for us, we're not going anywhere until this baby is born!  :)  Actually, that's not entirely true--we will be speaking at a camp for girls during the second week of June, right outside Louisville.  But otherwise, we will be here for the summer.  John is feverishly trying to finish up the work due for his modular classes which will begin next Monday.  He has had an amazingly busy semester, but has done very well and has felt that his classes have been very valuable.  His big news is that he is officially a new adjunct professor for Liberty University!  They have an extensive online program and so he will be able to teach from home, which is just wonderful--using his gifts and experience, all from the convenience of his home office!  The only wild card is that they cannot predict exactly what they will need him to teach.  We are hoping for two classes in the fall to  help our finances!

I am feeling well with baby getting bigger and bigger.  She is quite active and makes me laugh sometimes with her dance moves, hiccups, and jabs here and there.  She's been head down now for a number of weeks and hopefully will stay that way!  I have about 8 weeks to go--due date is July 25.  I've been seeing a chiropractor to help keep my spine healthy and prepare my body for labor; that's been very helpful.  We're getting excited to meet our little girl!  The walk-in closet that will be her bedroom is all ready for her (except for diapers) and until that little bassinet is occupied, I'm enjoying sleeping through the night.  :)

Well, lots more I could say but I'll finish just by saying, "Thanks for reading!"  I hope to be posting more soon!

Love these pictures!

I was thinking of my dad a lot today, and praying for him, and remembering all the things I love about him.  That led me into looking at some older pictures...and I thought I'd share these priceless shots that were taken in June, 2010, just before we returned to Asia. 

 This is my dad--loving his family, soaking up time with his grandkids, and wearing his Trinity t-shirt, of course!

 Everyone had fun making a silly face--except little Christin who maybe wasn't sure what was going on!

 Saying goodbye...

Chloe giving her famous kisses where she grabs both sides of your face and PLANTS one on you!

Aren't these just priceless pictures?  Go and grab your camera now and take some pictures of your loved ones!  It's worth it!  We are praying that we may see more and more of Dad's personality return in the next days and weeks.  I'd love to see huge smiles like these on his face again! 

Thankful for the wonder of modern photography...and the memories that it preserves.  Love it!