Red, White, and Blue

Red, White, and Blue, originally uploaded by carolfoasia.

November 9, 2008

Got up late, and while I was having my Chai tea with whipped cream, George noticed I was red, white, and blue this morning.

Not a very flattering picture, but I was happy!

354 - Christmas Self-Portrait

354 - Christmas Self-Portrait, originally uploaded by carolfoasia.

I realized that I hadn't done a self-portrait in a very long time. So, this may be the last one for 365!

Merry Christmas!!!!!

201 - Me and Tea

201 - Me and Tea, originally uploaded by carolfoasia.

Today, I was sitting on my couch and just enjoying the moment. It has been a wonderful day so far. Got dressed to my shoes (Flylady would be so proud) with make up and a fun outfit that makes me feel like a 20 something. I went to study at Nourieh's, came back and had soft pretzels with my kids, talked with Julie and Sherry, and sat down to some Chai tea and just being me.

I thought, "I like being me today." Some days, I don't, but today I do. So, I had to capture the moment with my camera.

Hope you like being you too (Not U2 Julie!) today. :)

177 - Purpose-Driven Couch Potato

177 - Purpose-Driven Couch Potato, originally uploaded by carolfoasia.

Ingredients for making a Purpose-Driven Couch Potato:

Bible - For Lectio Divina in Colossians 1:15
Journal - For thoughts on above meditation
Hinds Feet on High Places - For devotional reading
1776 - For knowledge of US History
Crunchy Cons - For leading a discussion at the Lampost
Computer - for looking up how to spell independence, the true meaning of Machiavellianism, posting on a blog about 1776, and leading a Crunchy Cons discussion.

Add all these together in a couch and turn on the mind heat. When the discussion on Lamp-post is just beginning to boil, stir in hot Chai Latte and simmer until children need breakfast and you need closure on cleaning the closet you started working on yesterday.

Yields one serving of a refeshed heart, soul, and mind ready to face the day!

(It was 9:51 a.m., and I looked over and saw this mess and started to laugh. I hadn't closed a book, put anything away, or gotten dressed, but it had certainly been a stimulating morning! Just had to document it! My other option was the clean closet, but my husband said that was WAY too boring of a shot.)

174 - Infinite Reflections

Saturday, June 23, 2007

DSC_0032, originally uploaded by carolfoasia.

Taken at a magnificent new home.

171 - Shadow Self on a Bike

171 - Shadow Self on a Bike, originally uploaded by carolfoasia.

I had such a great day! The slower pace of summer has finally arrived. I rode my bike to run errands today (buy a new appointment book, mail a package, bring back library books) and ended up down by the river doing Bible study, eating Great Harvest bread, and watching the kids play in the fountains at the Riverfront Park. Oh, how I wished I had brought my camera to take shots of them but it was nice to have a lighter load in my backpack!

After this, I went to Amatsu Japanese Restaurant for Yakisoba and deep conversation with one of my new friends, Vicki (Our Women's Ministry Director). After that, I finished up my Bible study at Sunnyside Up Cafe (home of my book club shots) sipping Chai Tea Latte and watching the world go by in this hippy hangout downtown. Then, it was home on my bike in beautiful 76 degree weather. Oh, how I love my town!

So, here is my shadow on my bike that I took when I got home to remind myself of a perfect day (with the exception of leaving the camera at home).

155 - June Self-Portrait

155 - June Self-Portrait, originally uploaded by carolfoasia.

It was a perfect day today.

144 - Feelin' Groovy

144 - Feelin' Groovy, originally uploaded by carolfoasia.

I got no deeds to do, no promises to keep.
I'm dappled and drowsy and ready to sleep
Let the morningtime drop all it's petals on me
Life, I love you, all is groovy!
Ba da da da da da da ba bap a dee...
(Simon and Garfunkel, 1966)

I am "foot loose and fancy free," and this song expresses my mood perfectly.

I canceled going to Portland to see Swiss Family Robinson. So, there was nothing on my calendar and nothing in which to prepare because I finished up the SHAPE class last night.

I had major pain in my leg last night. It wouldn't stop unless I walked around, and it is even twitching as I type. I think it is a nerve thing. Thus, why I took a picture of my legs and feet. I am recuperating (I am thinking it is my new orthodics are not right. So, I see the physical therapist on Monday) and enjoying classical music and reading. Love it!

(I did have to shave my legs for the photo. I do it twice a year whether I need to or not. LOL!)

115 - Tired Feet

115 - Tired Feet, originally uploaded by carolfoasia.

"Relaxation Tea" at 3 p.m. kept me up until after 3 a.m. this morning! So, I am exhausted today. This pre-trip pedicure was a nice thing to do in my exhaustion though.

107 - New

107 - New, originally uploaded by carolfoasia.

I got a new haircut and a new camera. My D-80 will be coming back soon, but we decided to get a nice point and shoot so the boys can take movies (great movie capability), and I can have something lighter to carry around that still takes nice pictures.

The Canon Powershot S3 (Like Nikki's) was the camera we chose.

106 - Profile of Peace

106 - Profile of Peace, originally uploaded by carolfoasia.

Late last night while reading in Hebrews, something just clicked in me, and I looked at some recent events with a totally different perspective. How wonderful to wake up this morning in peace. So here I am in one of my peaceful places (my library's reading room) reflecting on the future with renewed hope.

102 - Smile

HPIM1587, originally uploaded by carolfoasia.

This is my first self-portrait challenge body part. My dh says I look sort of "cheeky."

I just needed to smile. I was sort of sad today. So, I needed this.

Smile, though your heart is aching
Smile, even though it's breaking
When there are clouds in the sky
You'll get by...

If you smile
With your fear and sorrow
Smile and maybe tomorrow
You'll find that life is still worthwhile if you'll just...
Light up your face with gladness
Hide every trace of sadness
Although a tear may be ever so near
That's the time you must keep on trying
Smile, what's the use of crying
You'll find that life is still worthwhile
If you'll just...
Smile, though your heart is aching
Smile, even though it's breaking
When there are clouds in the sky
You'll get by...

If you smile
Through your fear and sorrow
Smile and maybe tomorrow
You'll find that life is still worthwhile
If you'll just Smile...

That's the time you must keep on trying
Smile, what's the use of crying
You'll find that life is still worthwhile
If you'll just Smile

85 - Pain

Antique Closer Crop, originally uploaded by carolfoasia.

I realized I hadn't done a self-portrait all month. So, I thought I would communicate how I felt today. I have had a radiating pain going from the left side of my neck down my back below the shoulder blade off and on since last Monday. It seems to get better, and I go back to working out, and it flares it up again.

Today, I decided to spend all day resting it from any work. Tomorrow I will try to work it out with a deep tissue massage from Anna.

My dh thought this would be good in an antique color to intensify the feeling of pain. I also had to ask him if it was OK to post this because I didn't want it to be too racy. :)

58 - Runnin' in the Rain

58 - Runnin' in the Rain, originally uploaded by carolfoasia.

Runnin' in the Rain
I'm Runnin' in the Rain
What a Glorious Feeling
I'm Happy Again!

Well, it was sunny when I started! I was running to my iPod songs (Grease and Dreamgirls and songs inspired by the movie, Amazing Grace) and enjoying every step, but I got caught in the rain. So, here is my flattering self-portrait after sweat and rain!

I love this little run around the lake at the campus where my dh works. There are ducks and beavers and all sorts of interesting birds. My dh even popped out for a loop around the lake with me.

44 - Sleepless

44 - Sleepless, originally uploaded by carolfoasia.

A night meeting had me wide awake and "thinking" in bed for an hour. So, I just got up at midnight and processed some disappointment that I was feeling. The meeting wasn't bad, but it was surprising for me to hear the outcome of some things I realized I had my heart set on. It was good to pray and be at peace even in the midst of the disappointment. It is well with my soul. Thus, the smile. I was asleep by 2:30 a.m. with no pressing engagements the next morning. So, there was no loss in it and much more gain. I love the quiet of the night, and I miss not having insomnia like I did back before I married dh. I can't remember the last time I couldn't sleep at night.

I was reminded of Beth's photo by computer light. So, I copied you! I love having closure on the day's photo by 1/2 hour into the day! Hope you don't mind the copycat, Beth. Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery.

41 - Window to the Soul

"The eyes are the window to the soul." Ancient Proverb

38 - Pleasure

This is a place that gives me great pleasure. It is the reading room of my library. It is on the opposite side of the Children's section. It is the "old" part of the library built in 1931. It has a beautiful wood ceiling and pretty windows.

I chose a color of B&W that gives it an antique sort of look and also keeps with the B&W self-portrait theme.

I sit here while my kids search for books. It is quiet, and I love it when the sunlight pours in the windows as I sit in the wing backed chairs. It is not only pleasure, but it is also peace for me.
My favorite memory of this place was when I was going through an incredibly difficult time in 2001, and I sat here all day and read my Bible and prayed and something just lifted. It has always brought me incredible peace to be here because of that memory.

January Self-Portrait

I needed to learn how to do the self-timer, and I also have to send a picture to a friend who wants me to write a blurb promoting her seminars. So, I am killing two birds with one stone.



It was a funny day. I broke down in tears at Bible study. Pretty difficult when you are the one leading it, but at least they know that I am real. Very sweet responses. I am just in the right place where I have the freedom to cry when I need to. That is a good feeling even though now I feel a bit silly for doing it.



So, this is me after an emotional day. I decided to do no retouches with make up for the camera or even brush my hair. This is me after a good cry! I am unwinding on the couch and debriefing with my husband. What you don't see is the baked brie cheese in a sourdough round loaf and a steamer from my favorite hot beverage drive-thru. It is so great to decompress this way.