Fingerprint Friday

There is a song by Steven Curtis Chapman that says:
I can see the fingerprints of God
When I look at you
I can see the fingerprints of God
And I know its true
You're a masterpiece
That all creation quietly applauds
And you're covered with the fingerprints of God
So look around you and see where YOU can see God's fingerprints. Is it in nature? Kids? Animals? Where do you see them? Here's how to join.

1. Blog with your interpretation of God's fingerprints. Be sure to link back here so others can find the entire list of participants.
2. After you've posted your blog, sign the Linky below. Have fun exploring the other links as well! Please sign in only if you're participating. Hopefully this will make us look at things through fresh eyes throughout the week.
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My fingerprint this week is just summer.
The heat, the swimming, the laziness, the silliness, the fun, the bugs, all of it.
We are loving every minute of it!

What are you looking at?!

What? You've never seen a tomato before?



You naughty girls.

5 things...

1. Over the weekend I got to shoot a wedding.
It was very non-traditional. The bride and groom were of a mature age, and wore their jeans for the ceremony.
The cake had Harley motorcycles on it.
It was so sweet! And the ceremony made me tear up.
They had these on the tables as favors for people to take.
I love it! A simple mason jar, filled with candy, tied with string.
So perfect. If I were getting married again, I'd definitely do this.
And I'd have a farm wedding.


2. I realize I've been whining for months on here about our internet service.
We finally have one that's reliable. It's lovely.
But. But... it's a big ol' but. We're limited to 5000mb a month.
That meant nothing to me when I first heard it.
Then I figured out that any sites with flash or videos suck up the mb's really fast.
If we go over our limit, we pay a small fortune.
And I already went over. By nearly 1000mb's.
So my blog hopping is going to have to be cut way back. Darnit.
That's the price we pay for living in the country. And being Amish. We still don't have tv.

3. The other day we had a snake in our driveway.
You can't tell from this picture, but he was about 6 feet long.


4. A few days later, we had an owl in our yard.
I looked out the kitchen window and saw a brown "lump" in the grass but couldn't tell what it was.
My eyes are old.
Then he turned his head so I could see his face. And I grabbed my camera.
I didn't have a zoom lens on it, unfortunately, and I was shooting through the window.
I was afraid if I went outside, I'd scare him off.


Then he flew up to the top of the chicken coop.
I think he was looking for snakes. If so, he's in luck. We have plenty to share.


5. I got an invite the other day to a blogger party. In New York City.
By a host named "Martha". You may know of her. She's a mogul.
She's possibly known for her tv shows, cookbooks, prison time, and uber craftiness.
A-ma-zing!!
But. But... it's another big ol' but. I don't know if I can go.
We can't seem to find childcare for 3 kids. Crazy but true.
I won't admit the number of hours I cried over it yesterday. There may have been some hormones involved...
It's next week. So I'm scrambling. Really scrambling. Trying to make this thing happen.

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I matter.

I'm not sure when it happened but sometime in the last 10 years or so I became very self conscious.

I've never been 100% confident (who is?) but it's gotten much worse lately.
I critique every photo of myself. I can't stand the way I look in pictures.
And I know it's wrong.
I am not entirely defined by the way I look.
I remember Miz Booshay talking about this a long time ago and I nodded my head and said, "Mmmhmm. She's so right."
But I still sat back and avoided the camera.

As a mom, wife, friend, and lady, it's important that I be in photos once in a while. I matter.
In this world, in this life, I matter.
To someone somewhere, I matter.

If I were gone, my kids would have very few photos of me because I've avoided them at all costs. And that's a terribly selfish thing to do!
Because I matter.

Kristi posted the other day and it stirred up these bothersome feelings again in me.

But I matter.
I'm choosing to ignore the double chin, long stringy hair, forehead wrinkles, splotchy skin and everything else I let my eyes focus on.
None of that really matters.
But I do.





It's a tough pill to swallow. But I need to do it.
What about you? You matter too.

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A party, a recipe, and a jewelry giveaway!

**This giveaway is now closed. The Winner is Brenda Smith Photography. Congratulations!**

It's the middle of summer. What a great time to have a party!
I'm joining a group of amazing bloggers for a Mid-Summer party.
You need to be sure and click around to see what other hosts are doing.
Lots of giveaways and fun going on!



Do you remember back in the Fall when I showed you the recipe for Apple Cream Cheese Danishes?
Well I switched them up this week to reflect the best of summer. Peaches!
Yeah. Peaches and Cream.


So easy and delicious. Perfect as a dessert, snack, or brunch item.
You need - 8 oz. block of cream cheese (I use 1/3 less fat), 1/3 cup sugar, 1 egg, 1 tsp vanilla, 1 pack of refrigerated crescent rolls, peaches.

Slice the peaches thinly. I don't even take the skins off.
Mix your cream cheese, sugar, egg, and vanilla until smooth.
Open the crescent rolls and seperate into triangles.
I like to curl up the edges a bit to make a little cup or bowl shape.

Spoon in a helping of the cream cheese mixture. It'll be runny so the edges on your crescent roll will help. Top with several peach slices.
Fold over one corner of the crescent to meet the other.

There really is no rhyme or reason. Just put it together. Super easy.
It's gonna taste great, no matter how it looks.
Sprinkle the top of each danish with sugar (maybe even cinnamon!) and bake at 400 until the tops are golden brown.


Now the fun part that you're really here for - the giveaway!


You're playing for a $25 gift certificate to TheRustedChain.com.



I like to make things easy.
1. Just leave a comment telling what you'd spend your $25 on if you win!
2. If you want to blog it, tweet it, or facebook it you can earn additional entries. Just leave a seperate comment for each of these you do.

~ Also, feel free to use code SUMMER10 for a 10% discount on your entire purchase! ~

Happy Summer!!

Fingerprint Friday

There is a song by Steven Curtis Chapman that says:
I can see the fingerprints of God
When I look at you
I can see the fingerprints of God
And I know its true
You're a masterpiece
That all creation quietly applauds
And you're covered with the fingerprints of God
So look around you and see where YOU can see God's fingerprints. Is it in nature? Kids? Animals? Where do you see them? Here's how to join.

1. Blog with your interpretation of God's fingerprints. Be sure to link back here so others can find the entire list of participants.
2. After you've posted your blog, sign the Linky below. Have fun exploring the other links as well! Please sign in only if you're participating. Hopefully this will make us look at things through fresh eyes throughout the week.
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This week we've had VBS every night. I'm the snack lady. It's what I do every year.
It's so exhausting!
But what a visible representation of God's fingerprints, on all the kids and hard workers.
It's been wonderful!

Kansas is...

so bright and sunny and pretty this time of year.








You want to come visit?
You can stay in our barn. Ha!
We'll drink sweet tea, play board games, sit in the sun until we're miserably hot, then get in the pool.
Maybe shoot some photos together.
Or get crafty.
We'll admire the incredible skies and dream about Fall, all while soaking up summer.

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Say what again??

People find this blog in the funniest and strangest ways.

These are real google searches that have led visitors here.

thank you captain obvious here have this rock
I. Errr. Ummmm. Thanks.

"6th baby"
I'm afraid I can't help you with that.
I have 3 and that's good for me.

fee fie my banana mo mana
Fun song. I sang it a lot as a kid.
But I got in trouble when I sang it about my uncle Chuck.

gosh shoes
Golly Socks!

pamperingbeki 4th grade
I used to be PamperingBeki. Before we changed the name to The Rusted Chain.
But back in 4th grade? I was just Beki. What a strange thing to google!

rusted chain band
Oooo!! We should start a band!! I'll be the drummer. Good idea, thanks!

my kid is better than your honor student
Yeah probably. But my kid has Jack Black eyebrows. So there.

trying to take photos of jewellery but it's really grainy - why?
Your ISO is too high.

crying alot lately
I'm sorry about that. Need a hug?

ive been told i look like jessica alba
Okay.

hillbilly giveaway
I'm not giving away my hillbillies. If you want some, get your own!

smile giveaway
That, I'll give away. I give away smiles often.
I'm smiling right now. See?
Oh yeah... you can't. Because it's the internet!!!

beky my love
Josh, sweetie... it's been 12 years. It's B-E-K-I.

i can't believe a child did this
Surely you're not talking about my child right?
My bad baby?
The one I'm told I should write a book about?
Yeah, you are. I can't believe he did it either.

rusated chain
Josh, sweetie... it's R-U-S-T-E-D. Rusted.

why doesn't every sonic have green apple slushies
I wish I knew. But you can order a "green" one by getting blue Powerade and Orange flavor mixed.
I know. I'm brilliant.

i'm better than your kid
Nuh uhhhh!!

homes for sale with a secret room
Why do you want a secret room? What are you going to hide in there?!
Moonshine? Bodies?!

why my kid is incredible
Don't know. Apparently the rest of the internet is better than my kids.

NECKLACE TO EAT
Please don't eat your The Rusted Chain jewelry.
We stand behind our product and all, but that might be pushing it a bit far.

Oh
Oh.

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Camp

These two got home from summer camp yesterday.
They were gone 5 days!



The Girl instantly ran in and gave me a huge hug.
The Boy ran straight to the family room and started playing wii.
I finally had to hunt him down and force him to hug me.

Then I made them sit down and talk to me. They were thrilled.
I asked them what they missed most while they were gone.

"I missed popcorn."
"I missed Butterfingers."
"I missed sleeping in."
"I missed ice cream."

Me, "What was your favorite thing while you were there?"
Kids, "Pizza!" and "Canoeing!"

Me, "Did you bathe at all during the week?"
Kids, "Ummmm.... technically?" "Well they didn't have bathtubs. But they had showers."
Me, "So did you shower?"
Kids, "Well we swam in the pool..."

Me, "Did you brush your teeth at all?"
Kids, "I think so. Once."

Me, "Did you miss me?"
Kids, "Nope."
Me, "Not at all?! Your favorite mother ever! You didn't even miss me?!"
Kids, "Nope."
Me, "Did you miss anything about me?!"
Kids, "Nope."

I'm so glad they're home.

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We love our sponsors!

Fingerprint Friday

There is a song by Steven Curtis Chapman that says:
I can see the fingerprints of God
When I look at you
I can see the fingerprints of God
And I know its true
You're a masterpiece
That all creation quietly applauds
And you're covered with the fingerprints of God
So look around you and see where YOU can see God's fingerprints. Is it in nature? Kids? Animals? Where do you see them? Here's how to join in.

1. Blog with your interpretation of God's fingerprints. Be sure to link back here so others can find the entire list of participants.
2. After you've posted your blog, sign the Linky below. Have fun exploring the other links as well! Please sign in only if you're participating. Hopefully this will make us look at things through fresh eyes throughout the week.
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I snapped this picture from my desk, straight out of my office window.
I don't think this view will ever get old!
And I can't help but feel abundantly blessed everywhere I look in our new home.

(on a side note, I'm sorry I haven't been able to visit your entries much lately. I'm having computer problems and can't really visit blogs. Hopefully it'll be cleared up soon.)

Forever.

The other day I was driving home alone and saw the most beautiful sunset I'd ever seen.
Absolutely breathtaking.
And I kept thinking, "Gosh, I wish I had my camera with me!"
Then the radio dj said, "Turn up your speakers. Let's all sing this and worship our God together."
It was something by Hillsong. I don't even remember what it was.
But to sing that, driving in peace, and watching that sunset was an amazing moment.
And I began thanking God for me not having my camera with me.
I didn't have to think about settings, exposure, sharing it on my blog.
I just had to soak in the moment.
He was reminding me that sometimes it's okay to just have time alone with Him.

He is forever faithful. Forever loving.

This week, our two big kids are away at church camp.
The Girl was fine with all of it, but she's been before.
The Boy was a bit more concerned.
"What if a kid just got really scared and wanted to go home? Could he?"
I assured him he'd be fine. He said, "Oh I know... I'm just thinking for other kids."
As we were eating breakfast before we left, he asked, "What about a nurse? Is there a nurse there in case someone gets sick or hurt?"
He was just playing every possible scenario through his head.
Slightly concerned, very excited, and a bit nervous.
I miss them so much this week!
But I know they will come home excited about our forever God.
They'll meet new members of their forever family.
Kids that they'll get to see for the rest of eternity.

The house is quiet with just me and The Baby while The Man is at work.
But it's nice too.
No tv. Just doing work and chores, taking care of my family.
It's such a blessing to have been given.

We listed this necklace in our shop yesterday.

Forever.


I hope you have a wonderful Wednesday!

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Move over, John Wayne.

There's a new towboy in town.



He's rough and he's tough.
He's a fruit snack eatin', tie dye wearin', dirty faced sherrif.




He's the meanest towboy in all of Tansas.
He totes a "shooting gun" on his hip and band-aids on his knees.
He keeps our farm safe.

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We love our sponsors!

Fingerprint Friday

There is a song by Steven Curtis Chapman that says:
I can see the fingerprints of God
When I look at you
I can see the fingerprints of God
And I know its true
You're a masterpiece
That all creation quietly applauds
And you're covered with the fingerprints of God
So look around you and see where YOU can see God's fingerprints. Is it in nature? Kids? Animals? Where do you see them? Here's how to join in.

1. Blog with your interpretation of God's fingerprints. Be sure to link back here so others can find the entire list of participants.
2. After you've posted your blog, sign the Linky below. Have fun exploring the other links as well! Please sign in only if you're participating. Hopefully this will make us look at things through fresh eyes throughout the week.
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This little turtle snuck up into our yard the other day.
Lilo had a fit barking, sniffing it, nudging it with her nose.
But then when it would come out of it's shell a bit, she'd run away wimpering.
Ha! It was so funny to watch her be so confused about a little turtle.

These little moments...

...fill my heart.

Last night I went to kiss The Boy goodnight and found this note.



"Dear Tooth Fairy,

I think I swallowed my tooth on accident. It must have been a long fly here!
My 3 year old brother says that he's losing his teeth.
Are all fairys girls?
Also, I can read in cursive so you can write in cursive.
Write on the back please."

This morning I snuck in to uhhhh, take a picture, and he woke up instantly.
First he checked for money and there was a dollar under his pillow.
But then he flipped the paper over and saw that the Tooth Fairy hadn't written back.
I said, "Maybe she was in a hurry."
And he said, "Probably a rookie. She just probably didn't know what to do and she was so nervous to get the money under the pillow that she missed the note."

Yes, I'm thinking his fairy was a rookie. So funny!

These little moments are the ones that make me cry happy.
They keep me up at night begging God for a little more time.
They make me want to have time stand still.
I want them etched in my memory forever.
They remind me of how blessed I am.
They are here in a flash and gone before I know it.

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Food, family, and floods.

Over the weekend we had company.
It was a short visit, but we had a good time!

The Baby made his own picnic lunch.
Sprinkles, potato chips, dried pineapple, chocolate chips, and marshmallows.


I made Mexican food for dinner, because I'm a dork and forgot that the meal should be all-American.
But then I put red white and blue sprinkles on my toffee so it was all good.


It rained. And rained. And rained.
All day on the 4th of July, this was my view.


And then at night it cleared up just in time for fireworks!
So we headed out and watched them.
The kids were so excited!
It rained so much, though, that many of the roads around us are flooded.
Oh well... stuck at home. I'm sure I can find something to do.
Make more jam. Edit more photo shoots. Work on jewelry orders.
Clean the basement. Do laundry. Whatever. I'm sure I'll find things.

How was your weekend? Long? Peaceful? Hectic?

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Jessy and Andrew

First before I forget, the winner of the necklace giveaway is Laura. Congrats!
Email me please at TheRustedChain AT yahoo.

I got to shoot a wedding recently. And it was so fun!
(These will be a bit pixelated on the blog, but not in full size.)
This gorgeous couple got married in a beautiful outdoor setting, at sunset.


Jessy did almost everything herself, along with her mom and aunt.
They made all the decorations.
They made the cake. (!!!)
She made her necklace out of a vintage chandelier crystal.
They did it all.
Her dress was made by her mom. She spent months hand sewing Swarovski crystals all over the bodice.



The first look at each other before the fun began. This moment made me tear up!


She looked crazy beautiful.
Never enough bling. (I kind of agree with this...)


A moment of prayer and pause.

...quickly slipped into a moment of excitement.






I love feet photos.
The purple and turquoise ones were her wedding shoes.
And she wanted a fun shot in her boots.
But she spent much of the day barefooted. My kind of girl.




One of my favorite things is working with super stylish people, who know what they want.
Of course I'll give input if someone isn't clear on what they want, but these two were crystal clear on the look they wanted for their wedding day.
And I loved it!


They were fierce!









Congratulations Jessy and Andrew on your big day!
May God bless you in your many years ahead.


Anyone else out there need a wedding photographer? Ha!
I'm open for it!