A Fruit not Forbidden

Honey Hill Orchards

Jonathan and Cortland apple trees

 

 When the woman saw that the tree was good for food,

and that is was a delight to the eyes,

and that the tree was desirable to make one wise,

she took from its fruit and ate;

and she gave also to her husband with her, and he ate.

Genesis 3:6 nasb

Somewhere in history, an artist depicted the above scene in this way:  Eve (head shot only, of course) stands in front of an exquisite apple tree and marvels at its beauty.  Delight shines in her eyes as she reaches out to brush her fingertips along an apple, and a slight smile appears as she anticipates that this fruit will taste wonderful.  And beholding the incredible radiance of this tree, Eve contemplates that she surely will become wise by eating the delectable fruit.

Apple tree at Honey Hill Orchard

Maybe that first artist used an apple tree for its red symbolism.  Red is the color of blood, and symbolic for sin--we see that in Nathaniel Hawthorne's The Scarlet Letter.  A cloud of green leaves dotted with bright, inviting spots of red would certainly reflect the delight Eve beheld in the tree in Eden.  Apples have been placed in Eve's hand from that first artist's rendition through today's descriptions.

I can happily say with utter confidence that the Bible doesn't state which fruit Eve ate.  Someone simply took a guess.  Which means the apple is just another fruit which happens to be my favorite.  :)

Living life.
Capturing life.

Christine

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Adapting

When we first arrived at Montrose Harbor on Sunday, we drove past the remnants of a festival.  Vendors were dismantling their food tents, and clusters of people were plodding back to their cars.  Had we arrived after everyone left, we still would have known they were there.  Cups, paper, and signs dotted the field, the sidewalks, the road.

I don't think squirrels eat corn.  Well, city squirrels anyway.  But, being rodents (a subject I'd love to talk to the Lord about one day), they adapt pretty well to living among humans.  Apparently, they have a taste for grilled corn on the cob.  Sheesh, I've never even tried it!

Living life.
Capturing life.

Christine

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Flying Things

Praise the Lord from the earth,

Sea monsters and all deeps;

Fire and hail, snow and clouds;

Stormy wind, fulfilling His word;

Mountains and all hills;

Fruit trees and all cedars;

Beasts and all cattle;

Creeping things and winged fowl;

Kings of the earth and all peoples;

Princes and all judges of the earth;

Both young men and virgins;

Old men and children.

Psalm 148:7-12 nasb

 Living life.
Capturing life.

Christine

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Montrose Harbor

View of the city from the pier

For part of our "anniversary date," Fernando and I drove to Montrose Harbor in downtown Chicago.  Though it was a chilly afternoon, it was not very breezy, making it comfortable to relax and share some time together.  Enjoy the shots captured by Ellie and me.

Young boy fishing

Fishing at Montrose

Sailing by the city

Green amidst concrete

Living life.
Capturing life.

Christine

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September Wedding!

CAVEAT:  I am not a wedding photographer. :)

Fernando and I were honored to be witnesses to this Godly wedding!  I will post a few of my favorite photos below.

Living life.
Capturing life.

Christine

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12th Street Beach

Looking for shells

What wonderful timing the Lord has!  I received my dear Ellie back from the repair shop just in time to take her downtown Chicago to celebrate Elliot's baptism.  It had been so long since I held her that I almost didn't know what to do!  Almost.  I quickly got over it.  :)

So, here are a few moments I captured from an afternoon at Lake Michigan.

Look what I found!

Graceful

Sandy feet

Skipping a rock

Talking with Elliot

Sweetheart

Boy, cup, sand

Tina-Grace

Treasure hunting

Mother and daughter

Beautiful

Sailboats and seagulls

Peninsula

Beach to my back

Living life.
Capturing life.

Christine

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Sharing

As soon as I typed that title, a chorus of "Mine!  Mine!  Mine!" jumbled around my brain, a distant memory from the movie Finding Nemo (the seagulls in the harbor when they spotted the crab, if memory serves me).  Children are so quick to holler that out.  Our hearts are, after all, terribly selfish.

The heart is more deceitful than all else

And is desperately sick;

Who can understand it?

Jeremiah 17:9 nasb

My own little Joey, when he was four and realized his little brother was gnawing on one of his toys, ran over to Jacob, shouting, "Hey, share!  Share me!"  I don't think he had sharing in mind.

But when the Lord gets hold of a heart, it changes.

And all those who had believed were together

and had all things in common;

and they began selling their property and possessions

and were sharing them with all,

as anyone might have need.

Acts 2:44-45 nasb

Oh, let me post one more Scripture!

Instruct them to do good,

to be rich in good works,

to be generous and ready to share...

Ephesians 6:18 nasb

Living life.
Capturing life.

Christine

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Tooley Pond Road

I love the Midwest!  People are generally straightforward, honest, and hardworking.  I love the change in seasons (praise the Lord for both a/c and heat!).  I do miss the ocean, however.  I grew up in Spring Lake Heights, New Jersey just a few miles from the Atlantic.  I haven't been there since I was about 15.  I lived in Norfolk, Virginia for a year when Fernando and I were first married, so I saw the ocean a time or two.  But it has now been 22 years since I've physically been standing at the edge of the Atlantic.  I'll go back pretty soon, I hope.

One thing I don't get much of in the Prairie State is waterfalls.  So our family determined to take the opportunity to search a few out in the Adirondacks.

Tooley Pond Road is about an hour from Lake Bonaparte, just west of Cranberry Lake.  Once we figured out that the trailhead to each waterfall was clearly marked, we took off through the forests in search of some roaring water.

The first waterfalls--Rainbow Falls--were the prettiest to photograph.

A quick snapshot.

With tripod set up and smallest aperture possible.

Same set-up a little farther downriver.  I like this photo best.

OK, a shot from Danny that proves I hiked over rocks in a skirt.  :)

I'm showing you the next photo because it is funny.

It may not look funny.  Several of my "family photos" were taken with the help of a plug-in remote, a ten-second timer, and a 17-year-old who can clamber over boulders and make it back into his spot just in time.  However, when the sun is shining in your eyes, everyone is counting down, Fernando asks, "Is it ready?" and Thomas sneezes moments before the shutter clicks, it is funny.  I don't think I'll choose this one for our Christmas photo.

Living life.
Capturing life.

Christine

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Storm on the Horizon

Though I rarely listen to contemporary Christian music, a verse from the lyrics to this old Imperials song came to mind as I was editing my sunset photos:

There's a storm on the horizon, oh, let the wind blow.

There is thunder in the heavens, oh, let the wind blow.

Let the rain fall down from the sky above,

Let the tempest roar 'til it's had enough,

I'm trusting in the Lord of love, let the wind blow.

Though this was the beginning of Ellie's sensor problems, her photos still reflect the power of this storm that edged our evening.

And even though the storm passed, it left incredible beauty in its wake.

So it is with the storms that touch my life.  I might see only struggle and frustration, but God is weaving a beautiful tapestry of my life.

In this you greatly rejoice,

even though now for a little while, if necessary,

you have been distressed by various trials,

so that the proof of your faith, being more precious than gold
which is perishable,

even though tested by fire,

may be found to result in praise and glory and honor

at the revelation of Jesus Christ;

and though you have not seen Him, you love Him,

and though you do not see Him now, but believe in Him,

you greatly rejoice with joy inexpressible and full of glory,

obtaining as the outcome of your faith the salvation of your souls.

1 Peter 1:6-9 nasb

Living life.
Capturing life.

Christine

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Indeed My Heritage