There isn’t a day that comes and goes where I haven’t, at some point during that day, doubted and/or questioned my abilities to be a parent, teach, and counsel. It has been that way since God placed me in these positions without asking me first.Yet every day, God shows up and places his thumbprint on each of my doubts. Reminding me that he takes the smallest of individuals to accomplish His greatest tasks. Reminding me of not the part that I play in the lives of others, but the significant and dramatic part they play in my life.

And in these areas my doubts continue to be turned into extraordinary blessings.

Yet in one area of my life I have no doubts. I don’t question my abilities.

That area is photography.

God has given me a gift that He has yet to tell me His purpose for. I believe this is because I have no doubts about this gift and I don’t question my abilities regarding this gift. I believe it’s because of pride.

Psalm 10:11

He says to himself, “God has forgotten; he covers his face and never sees.”

There is an incompatibility between blind arrogance and the presence of God in our hearts. Proud people depend on themselves rather than on God. This causes God’s guiding influences to leave their lives.

When God’s presence is welcome, there is no room for pride because he makes us aware of our true selves.

Taken from The Life Application Study Bible

I believe that until I remove the pride I feel about my abilities behind a camera lens, God will never reveal His purpose for blessing me with such a gift.

These thoughts have been a long time brewing. The following actions have been well thought out over many, many months.

I am no longer going to pursue photography as a business for personal gain. When Danielle Batog Photography comes up for renewal November 27th, I am going to let it go.

Does this mean that I am walking away from behind my camera lens. Oh dear me, definitely not. It does mean however that I am walking away from the pride I take in thinking that I can make a personal profit from this gift God has given me.

I believe God has other adventures in store for me and my camera. I am uncertain what they may be but I am NOT uncertain that God will let me know where He wants me and my camera to go.

I am certain He isn’t going to ask first.

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The weather in my neck of the woods:

A beautiful fall day!!! A little overcast which makes it nice and cool ~ by Florida standards that is!!

A simple pleasure:

Working in my “gardens”.

I am thankful:

For the opportunity that blogging has given me to make/meet such wonderful friends such as Vicki from Words. We had the most incredible time this past Friday meeting up in Gainesville and exploring Kanapaha Botanical Gardens. Just a heavenly place for the nature photographer in both of us. I know I took 225 photos!!! Here is one of my favorite ones:

From the kitchen:

Still not much going on there. I know. I know. With all the farming/harvesting I am doing on FarmVille there should be AT LEAST ONE good healthy meal set on our table. Right?

Creative Corner:

Looking forward to (still):

• updating my photo website
• subscribing to Ancestory.com
• scrapbooking
• playing in Photoshop Elements so I can update my photo blog

From the learning rooms:

Florida Virtual School was the right choice! Although it is taking Sam a bit to get acclimated to the routine, I feel as though it will be a perfect fit. I love it because I am actually more hands on….and I have the opportunity to fail learn Algebra again.

I am not reading (in one sitting):

The Lost Symbol by Dan Brown. Although it is an incredibly good book, I am finding that it gets a bit melodramatic and overwhelming. That’s when I take a break and sit down with my new favorite series: The Southern Vampire Mysteries.

I am now reading:

Club Dead by Charlaine Harris. What a fun series!!!!!!! (may be a little R-rated for some readers.) Very easy reading. Looking forward to reading more about Sookie Stackhouse in the next book Dead to the World.

On My Mind:

The fact that it is almost the end of the Fall semester!! Where did it go??????? My Spring classes are already closed (maxed out)! Time to get the Spring syllabi changes made and off to staff services.

Hearth and Home:

Getting down to the business of raising a teenager. See photo below!

I laugh:

Because I have sworn to delete FarmTown more than half a dozen times and still I continue to check in on my crops and water my neighbors’ flowers for $$$$. What’s with THAT????

A Picture thought I’m sharing:

Devotional/Scripture Readings/Key Verses

Joshua 1:6-8

“Be strong and courageous, because you will lead these people to inherit the land I swore to their forefathers to give them.

Be strong and very courageous. Be careful to obey all the law my servant Moses gave you; do not turn from it to the right or to the left, that you may be successful wherever you go. Do not let this Book of the Law depart from your mouth; meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. Then you will be prosperous and successful.

Many people think that prosperity and success come from having power, influential personal contacts, and a relentless desire to get ahead. But the strategy for gaining prosperity that God taught Joshua goes against such criteria.

He said that to succeed Joshua must:

1. be strong and courageous because the task ahead would not be easy
2. obey God’s law
3. constantly read and study the Book of the Law - God’s Word.

To be successful, follow God’s words to Joshua.

You may not succeed by the world’s standards, but you will be a success in God’s eyes - and his opinion is most important.

Taken from The Life Application Study Bible

What does your Daybook look like?

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“Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light, not our darkness that most frightens us. We ask ourselves, Who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented, fabulous? Actually, who are you not to be? You are a child of God. Your playing small does not serve the world. There is nothing enlightened about shrinking so that other people won’t feel insecure around you. We are all meant to shine, as children do. We were born to make manifest the glory of God that is within us. It’s not just in some of us; it’s in everyone. And as we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same. As we are liberated from our own fear, our presence automatically liberates others.”

~Marianne Williamson~

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Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.

~John 14:27~

It has been a few years since my heart has been troubled and I have been afraid. This does not mean that I live a life in a bowl full of cherries (chocolate dipped ones of course). For me it means that I no longer allow troubles to access my heart and I no longer allow fear to paralyze me.

The journey to get to this place was indeed a troubled and fearful one. It took hard work and great faith. There were times when I wasn’t sure I wanted to come out at the other end of the tunnel. I found comfort in the darkness even though I knew that if I stayed it would eventually consume me.

I was blessed that one day during my morning bible study I read the “right words at the right time”.

Seven Reasons Not To Worry

Matthew 6:25: The same God who created life in you can be trusted with the details of your life.

Matthew 6:26: Worrying about the future hampers your efforts for today.

Matthew 6:27: Worrying is more harmful than helpful.

Matthew 6:28-30: God does not ignore those who depend on him.

Matthew 6:31, 32: Worrying shows a lack of faith in and understanding of God.

Matthew 6:33: Worrying keeps us from real challenges God wants us to pursue.

Matthew 6:34: Living one day at a time keeps us from being consumed with worry.

It was what I have highlighted in red that really spun it all around for me and sent me faithfully in the direction of the light at the end of the tunnel which would heal my troubled heart and conquer my fears.It bothered me beyond comprehension that my behaviors were evidence that I lacked faith and an understanding of God!How could that be?I was a “christian” after all. I believed in God. I followed his commands - as imperfectly as any human can. But the bottom line was ~ did I TRUST HIM? My words stated “yes”. But my actions screamed “no”. And this devastated me.And so I began my journey of accepting the gift of peace that God has given to all of us if we simply:

Respect GodFollow GodLove GodServe GodObey God

Knowing God’s Word is not enough; we must obey it.What we do shows what we really believe.I am perfectly imperfect. But my heart is untroubled and I am fearless.Thank you to Patricia from Typing One Handed for hosting this week’s In Other Words. I have not participated in quite awhile and my thoughts on this topic today brought home the realization that it isn’t very often that I share my “inner” thoughts. I’ll have to do this more.

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The weather in my neck of the woods:

A beautiful fall day!!! I am looking forward to continuing to work on my backyard side garden today.

A simple pleasure:

Going to the Book Gallery in Gainesville. Although I am easily overwhelmed when I walk in, it doesn’t take long for me to want to spend all day there.

I am thankful:

That when the fall schedule of homeschool, counseling, and teaching began that I made the commitment to leave Fridays free of “work”. Although this has been difficult to do, I am proud to say that I have managed thus far to keep my Fridays “work” free.

For Miss Sam’s recent decision to re-establish her relationship with her grandparents (my parents).

From the kitchen:

Sam has been requesting her favorite Frosted Molasses cookies for MONTHS now. If I can find the buttermilk (it seems as though that is a ’seasonal’ item) I hope to have my kitchen smelling like Fall this afternoon!!!

Creative Corner:

Looking forward to:

• updating my photo website
• subscribing to Ancestory.com
• scrapbooking
• playing in Photoshop Elements so I can update my photo blog

From the learning rooms:

Miss Sam started Florida Virtual School this week. She is taking World History, Algebra1, Life Management and Biology. Miss Sam says it is too early to tell how she will like it…but I LOVE it!!! Now instead of my time being taken up with working on creating her curriculum….my time now is spent actually working hands on with her assignments…and I LOVE that!!!

I am not reading:

The Gunslinger by Stephen King. I just could not get into it.

I am now reading:

The Lost Symbol by Dan Brown. It is AWESOME!!!!!!

Dead Until Dark by Charlaine Harris. What a fun series!!!!!!! (may be a little R-rated for some readers.) Very easy reading. Looking forward to reading more about Sookie Stackhouse in the next book Living Dead in Dallas.

The Right Words at the Right Time by Marlo Thomas. I wanted to buy this book when it first came out but I resisted the temptation. I was rewarded by finding a BRAND NEW copy at a thrift shop for thirteen cents!!! Go me. It is a great book!!!

On My Mind:

• Going to my sister-in-law’s first triathlon tomorrow
• Attending an acoustic guitar concert this weekend by a student and his girlfriend
• Thinking about going back to our old church in the big city

Hearth and Home:

I swore I was not going to go into the attic this year to bring down ALL the fall decorations. But I just can’t help myself. Will be heading up there after Miss Sam’s “virtual” teacher conferences this afternoon.

I laugh:

I never thought when I was in high school that almost 40 years (!!!!) later that I will be giving and receiving”gifts” with many high school friends as we “farm” our virtual “farms” aka Farmville and FarmTown.

How funny!!!

And no, I am NOT addicted. Although I did have Miss Sam harvest my “grapes” for me last night so they would not wilt while I was sleeping.

No, I am NOT addicted!!!

A Picture thought I’m sharing:

Joann is one of those high school friends I mentioned earlier!!!!

Devotional/Scripture Readings/Key Verses

I am finding that the book of Deuteronomy is one of my favorite books of the bible.

Deuteronomy 8:11-20

Be careful that you do not forget the Lord your God, failing to observe his commands, his laws and his decrees that I am giving you this day.

Otherwise, when you eat and are satisfied, when you build fine houses and settle down, and when your herds and flocks grow large and your silver and gold increase and all you have is multiplied, then your heart will become proud and you will forget the Lord you God, who brought you out of Egypt, out of the land of slavery.

He led you through the vast and dreadful desert, that thirsty and waterless land, with its venomous snakes and scorpions. He brought you water out of hard rock. He gave you manna to eat in the desert, something your fathers had never known, to humble and to test you so that in the end it might go well with you.

You may say to yourself, “My power and the strength of my hands have produced this wealth for me.” But remember the Lord your God, for it is he who gives you the ability to produce wealth, and so confirms his covenant, which he swore to your forefathers, as it is today.

If you ever forget the Lord your God and follow other gods and worship and bow down to them, I testify against you today that you will surely be destroyed. Like the nations the Lord destroyed before you, so you will be destroyed for not obeying the Lord your God.

In times of plenty, we often take credit for our prosperity and become proud that our own hard work and cleverness have made us rich.

It is easy to get so busy collecting and managing wealth that we push God right out of our lives.

But is is God who gives us everything we have, and it is God who asks us to manage it for him.

Taken from The Life Application Study Bible

What does your Daybook look like?

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There is nothing like working in the yard on a beautiful fall day to chase the crazies away!!! Plus the homemade chili and sour cream pound cake didn’t hurt either!!

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I had a bad day yesterday. Haven’t had one in quite awhile so I reckon I was due. Not sure why. The day started out relatively good but by mid-afternoon I was despondent. Making myself miserable. Without a clue as to how to climb out of the pit.

That’s how it is with me. My spirals into the darkside blindside me. Coming out of what appears to be nowhere. But I know that isn’t so. There is a place in my unconscious that responds to triggers I have not let myself acknowledge. Therefore I remain in the dark. In the darkest of moods.

Had a Bad Day by Daniel Powter

I plan on making today better. If immersing myself in my creative projects doesn’t take the edge off… I will just grab my camera and go.

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One hair appointment at a time. (Do you think the sun was in my eyes or is it just the brightness of the highlights???)

 Here is a close up:

That’s it for today. I have a GOOD book to read (Dan Brown’s The Lost Symbol) this afternoon out on the lanai! It is FINALLY cool enough to take a blanket out there and a delicious cup of coffee.

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Kimberly from That’s My Answer has some interesting questions up for today. The one that caught my mood was:

Two Choices: This is the Two Choices game and this is how you play. I’ll give you Two Choices, simply make your choice and then offer Two Choices for the next person, etc…Easy enough, right?

My choices were:

Real page-turning book or Kindle/Sony Reader?

That’s a no brainer for me - a real page-turning book. I have this thing for the feel and smell of books. A true bibliophile am I.

The other two choices were:

CBS: Big Brother or Survivor?

Big Brother of course!!!!

Rain or 100 degree temperatures?

Rain, rain, rain. Click here to see why I love rainy days.

My two choices that I left in the comments were:

TLC or HGTV?

How about you…what would you choose??????

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The weather in my neck of the woods:

Foggy and muggy. Hoping for that cold snap that’s supposed to be on it’s way by Friday. Temperatures to drop to a cool 80 degrees (LOL).

A simple pleasure:

Playing Farmville on Facebook. It speaks to my inner simplicity. And no. I’m NOT ADDICTED!!! Are you kidding???? Have you seen my farm?????

I am thankful:

For internet friends like Victoria Gaines. Miss Sam had a question about following the laws in the Old Testament and I knew just who to ask. And as always, Vicki responded right away with her vast knowledge and kind heart.Thanks Vicki!!!

For Thia for the added topics on today’s Daybook post.

For Tasra Dawson and her inspiring photo blog. If not for her inspiration I would not have spent this weekend getting my “photo life” together.

For my mother-in-law who helped weed out my front garden and prepped the front of the house for edging where Mr. John pulled out the shrubs. It was a huge chore for me but she certainly simplified it with her weed pulling expertise and efficiency!

From the kitchen:

Sad to say not much. It’s too hot here to get into the Fall cooking!!!

Creative Corner:

Check out my updated photography website and new photo gallery.

From the learning rooms:

Having Miss Sam research why Christopher Columbus has fallen into disfavor and why Columbus Day is not as celebrated as it used to be.

I am not reading:

Smoke Screen by Sandra Brown. It was great easy reading. Thoroughly enjoyed it.

I am now reading:

 Clan of the Cave Bear by Jean Auel. I just started it last night and it has already captured my curiosity.

On My Mind:

Lectures for tonight’s classes.

• ADHD:  is it a brain disease or is it an intolerance for childhood playfulness??? (for my Developmental Psychology class)
• Drug addiction: is it a brain disease or are addicts responsible for their addictions? (for my Introduction to Psychology classes)

Hearth and Home:

Just catching up with all that went undone this weekend because we were having fun.fun.fun.

Praying:

For my oldest friend Tony Arcaro who has been fighting cancer. He just completed six months of chemo and radiation. Please keep him in your prayers as he battles to get back to playing the music that he loves.

For all those in real life friends and internet friends who have been hit hard by the economy by job loss.

A Picture thought I’m sharing:

Catch and Release

Devotional/Scripture Readings/Key Verses

I am finding that the book of Deuteronomy is one of my favorite books of the bible.

Deuteronomy 4:29-31

But if from there you seek the Lord your God, you will find him if you look for him with all your heart and with all your soul.  When you are in distress and all these things have happened to you, then in later days you will return to the Lord your God and obey him. For the Lord your God is a merciful God; he will not abandon or destroy you or forget the covenant with your foretathers, which he confirmed to them by oath.

How tempted we are to look everywhere else but to God for our guidance and leadership! We trust medical doctors, financial advisers, and news commentators, but do we trust God?

Get God’s advice first, and recognize his authority over every dimension of life.

Taken from The Life Application Study Bible

What does your Daybook look like?

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