Woodland Creatures

Ethan and I were happily working on our computers beside each other in the office. For some reason, Ethan looked up and glimpsed something outside the window about 50-100 feet away, "Ashley! Is that a dead fox??"

I looked too. Sure enough, it looked like a fox! With all my heart, I didn't want to believe it was dead, but it was laying pretty still and it was 2 in the afternoon. I didn't think fox were usually out that early.

Both being photographer-minded artists, we ran for the camera and investigated further through the living room window. We snapped a couple shots through the window, just in  case it was alive and ran away when we ventured outside.

Then, my heart leapt! I saw it's ear twitch! I swallowed, "Ethan! It's alive! It twitched its ear!" I suppose it seems a little silly to be so joyed at something like that, but I've always been an animal lover. It was nice to realize it was enjoying the spring sun streaming through the trees in our backyard woods instead of lying there dead or sick.

 

We tiptoed outside. When the shutter clicked, it twitched and slyly turned its head more towards us, watching us. It laid there for a few minutes, watching us as Ethan quickly snapped some more pictures before, quick as lightening, it darted up and bounded away. I'm so glad God let me get that little glimpse of nature! I just love little creatures.

Look at those sly eyes!

 

So Ethan actually took all these cool photos With two photographers and only one camera, we usually cooperate and take turns with the camera Whoever sees it first gets to take the pic... mostly)

And then we glimpsed this black squirrel just outside our front door munching some... bark? Left over from chopping wood. lol Very cute (Ethan took this too.)

 

 

Praising my Lord for little spots of sunshine and delightful woodland animals around us! I think he knew we'd appreciate the fox, both being people who love little creatures. Thank you Lord!

 

~ Ashley L.

Florida and Back

Our whirlwind trip to Florida to shoot the commercial went great... at least the shooting part did. The part about warm and sunny... well... that pretty much failed. It thundered almost every day and one day there were even tornadoes. We didn't know about the tornado warnings and we were happily driving along looking for some good locations to shoot some driving shots... when the rain decided to pour. We finally pulled off into a deserted subway... where we learned there were tornado warnings. When we went out again a little while later, there were power lines hanging in the road, trees knocked over, and even the Starbucks sign was split in two! Definately an adventure, but we're going to have to wait for that sun and beach experience. I couldn't believe we went to Florida and never even visited the ocean!

 

Here are a few pictures from the trip

 

Snowy when we left....

 

 

None where we arrived! The land of sandals and short sleeves

 

 

Ethan and I are both fans of blue... so we thought it was cool we were on "Jet Blue" airlines... and they served BLUE potato chips!

 

As the sun began to set, the water below shimmered a fiery gold, this picture hardly does it justice. It was breathtaking. And to think, the birds get to see this all the time!

 

 

sunset on our plane wing

 

Ethan (left) and Josh (right) planning the shots

 

getting ready for the next scene

 

a fun "dolly" shot - with a makeshift dolly since we didn't have ours with us, and no time to make one. I (the only girl in the picture ) had fun squeezing in between it and the wall there to pull focus.

 

 

Random picture of parakeets that kept us company at the family's house we stayed at and worked with

 

 

Maybe soon, we can go to Florida and actually visit the beach!

 

Really though, it's nice here now too! Sun actually shines, birds actually sing, bugs are crawling into the house (never thought I'd be glad for that one!). The other day was 75! (now it's 45 again, but it was still sunny today)

I always feel like I get closer to the Lord in summer. Perhaps it's because I love to go out and feel the breeze and the sun on my skin and listen to the birds while I talk to Him. In the winter, I sort of begin to fade. I know it shouldn't be that way, but it seems to never fail. I'm glad spring and summer are near.

Ethan says I'm his sun-powered girl. It's so true. If it's sunny and warm, I have so much more energy and life!

What I really want to be is someone who thrives on the Lord though. That's what I SHOULD be. I couldn't live without Him, that's for sure. And when I'm closer to Him and have been talking to Him and obeying Him and listening to Him, resting in Him, I am peaceful and joyful and full of life. So I suppose I do thrive on Him in a way. But it shouldn't matter if it's gloomy and cold. I should still seek Him and find hope there. I should be full of life always because He is always with me.

Anyhow... for now...

Thank You Lord for SuMMer!

 

 

~Ashley L.