Tag: black and white

st. lucia!

end of a st lucia day

 

Dear WordPress family: just a quick post from St. Lucia, where we are beginning Day 7 of a 14 day trip. The church where I pastor has been sending a high school student teams to St. Lucia since 2005. We go every three years to love on the kids by sharing the Gospel through our summer day camp called SpyKidz. We take the high energy, joy filled, crazy fun of our week long day camp and condense it to 4 days for the St. Lucia children. On this trip we had a couple of firsts: a visit to a prison and a home for the elderly. Both experiences were difficult, but also life changing. We also do school visits and open air concerts. So proud of our high school students and so proud to be a part of this team!

 

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5 Av 53 St

5 Av - 53 St

5 Av and 53 St where, apparently, no one can find a scraper, or, a can of paint. Gotta love New York! This will be my last post for a couple of weeks. Heading out to St. Lucia for a missions trip with 29 high school students from our church’s youth ministry. Looking forward to partnering with the Evangelical Church of the West Indies for a 5th time and seeing old friends as well. Be back soon WordPress family!

that’s how we ride

that's how we ride

I am enjoying the summer and opportunities to ride and take some photos. Taken this past week on the bridge that crosses the Illinois River in Morris, Illinois.

1st X-T1

1st X-T1

I recently sold all my Canon gear and the proceeds went towards the purchase of a Fujifilm X-T1 with Fujifilm XF 18-55 and XF 10-24 lenses. This is my first post using the new camera and 10-24mm lens. I have lots to learn, and lots of 5D MarkII images to post as well, but this is sort of a milestone for me. Hope you enjoy! This was taken in Morris, IL, along the banks of the Illinois River.

my dad… my son

my dad...my son

My dad just turned 74…my son is 26… their lives and experiences are miles apart… on our last full day in NY we took a walk on the boardwalk at Jones Beach and I was so glad to see these two men – who mean the world to me – talk and share moments together. So grateful for family.

jones beach water tower 6

jones beach water tower 6

Another shot from my recent trip to NY. This is the rest of the tower featured in the previous post. My dad and my son patiently waited while I walked around this tower and took a bunch of shots. It was a beautiful day to be on the shore!

 

jones beach water tower 5

jones beach water tower 5

I had the joy of spending some time in New York with my parents this past week. My parents are elderly now and have their share of physical struggles. They still live in the house I grew up in, so it is such a wonderful gift to go “home”…..and just….love them. My oldest son came with me…so my parents were especially happy to see their oldest grandchild. We laughed, enjoyed the sights and sounds of New York City, ate my mom’s AY-MAY-ZING Puerto Rican cooking, and this homesick Mid-westerner enjoyed a walk on the boardwalk with my dad and my son. I will post a couple more shots from that day, but for now a shot of the base of the Jones Beach Water tower, which by now, I think I have officially photographed to death!  🙂

great hymns of the faith

great hymns of the faith

Taken in a small, beautiful chapel in Fishtail, Montana that overlooks the camp that I have had the privilege of partnering with.

the meeting of the gulls

the meeting of the gulls

Stumbled upon this high level meeting of the gulls. Among the topics I heard discussed: the problem of high property taxes; the awful smell of sun tan lotion; the dreaded return of sea doos and boats; those darn geese think they own the beach; let’s get that idiot with the camera. That’s when I ran.

lake shore and light

lake shore and light

Back to a different shore: here we are again at New Buffalo, MI. It was a particularly beautiful day….. my wife and I enjoyed a walk along Lake Michigan soaking in the sun and marveling at the ocean-like size and scope of the lake. I still prefer salty air, and the unique sound of the ocean waves, but I have to admit, Lake Michigan is beautiful.