pic of the day - the banquet table

First I'll again offer my apologies and simply ask for understanding that me and technology are not always bosom buddies. Through my employer I was given the opportunity to purchase Microsoft Office for my home computer at a steal of a price. Yesterday evening, I set out to seal the deal and place the order, expecting a package to arrive in 3-5 business days which would contain my entire software purchse complete with step by step instructions for dummies on how to install. Oh no...that's just not how it works apparently. Instead, I made my purchase and was directed to click on a link to begin the download of the product. "Ok" I say to myself, "I can do this". Fourteen hours later, I had to leave my computer this morning still downloading or installing or whatever in the world it's doing. I could be robbing all the banks in China for all I know. Whatever happened to the typewriter? Needless to say, I was not able to share with you my pic of the day yesterday. I know, it was devastaing for everyone!

So, this picture of the day thing has turned out to be a number of things to me. There are not words to describe how I enjoy the writing, and that was never even an intended part of the effort, rather has become a resulting gift. The connection to my friends has been a tremendous blessing. I have always been one to notice and enjoy things like the red flower a couple days ago, but now, more than notice, I study. I think about why I noticed something, I examine what about it caught my eye, and because this is an exercise to hone my photography skills, i think about how to capture it in a way that when I look back 10 years from now gives me the same noticing experience.

I will be the first to say I am still learning and there are many things that I could critique until the cows come home about my pictures. Taking a perfect picutre isn't the objective though. I took this photo yesterday morning because I was struck at how lovely the sunlight filtered through my windown shades onto this centerpiece. For effect I lit the candles to play around with capturing that pretty soft look. Enjoyment. Grins n Giggles. It's all an exercise in focus, paying attention, exploring, making the most of moments of opportunity, looking back and being satisfied, enjoying the memory.

This centerpiece always makes me think of a grand midieval banquet table where I would sit proudly at the head throne-like chair eating a massive chicken leg with my hands. Don't ask me why...it's an only child thing...active imagination. There is a song that we sing at church that says something to the effect of "Come to the feast of heaven and earth. Come to the table of plenty. God will provide for all that we need, here at the table of plenty." It doesn't say arrive perfect. It says God will provide. I believe we are supposed to pay attention, seek the blessings we are offered, make the most of them, and look back with no regrets, happy to be at the banquet table.