At One with the Butterflys

"Miracles are not contrary to nature, but only contrary to what we know about nature. " -St Augustine

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"You will find something more in woods than in books. Trees and stones will teach you that which you can never learn from masters." St Bernard

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A Monarch on Tammy's finger.

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A Swallowtail earing?

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A Swallowtail hairpin?

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I really enjoyed watching Tammy squirm around a bit while the Swallowtail Butterfly walked slowly up her face. It was surprised that it stayed on her for several minutes.

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Grace & Peace

Scanning.....scanning....scanning....

"Every man's memory is his private literature." - Aldous Huxley

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"Memory... is the diary that we all carry about with us." ~Oscar Wilde

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Well, a month or so ago I started scanning my 35mm prints as well as other formats. I am about 3/4's the way through my second of ten albums and have come up with a few thoughts on the subject of scanning old photos.

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Positives

-Names, dates and locations written on the back of prints.

-Memories, each picture is like opening a present. Never knowing what to expect.

-Google's Picasa

-Chronological order (actually order in general for me personally)

-Other people who can fill in missing bits of information.

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Negatives

-The quality of instamatic camera prints. (Though they jog one's memory just fine.)

-Scanners that only allow you to generate one output file per scanning.

-Pictures grouped in photo albums from different periods of time.

-Prints that get stuck in photo albums.

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Mather AFB 1984 (T-37 flight)

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LSU 1985

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Colorado 1986 (On the way to California)

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Last thoughts - getting the photo's is scanned is great and I hope I have the discipline to get them scanned in a timely manner but that is really on the completion of "phase 1". After getting the prints scanned, sorted, and organized I want to start capturing more information for some of the images. The stories behind the photos.

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Grace & Peace

More Transformations

"The way of the Creative works through change and transformation, so that each thing receives its true nature and destiny and comes into permanent accord with the Great Harmony: this is what furthers and what perseveres." - Alexander Pope

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Well, Tammy and I continue to enjoy watching a small portion of the created world that surrounds us. Our latest treat has come from watching some Gulf Fritillary and Cloudless Sulphur butterfly's lay their eggs on their specific host plants, Passion Vine and Cassia Bush respectively, and then see the caterpillars emerge.

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Gulf Fritillary (about 2 inches in length)

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Gulf Fritillary's (about 0.5 inches in length)

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Cloudless Suplhur

(Caterpillar and chrysalis)

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It is sad in some respects that caterpillars live out their lives never knowing, realizing or considering the beautifully transformed being that they were created to be. How terribly wonderful is the gift God has given to man; to choose how he wants to live out his life in this world, to consider his life after his journey in this world ends, and the freedom to be transformed at any point in ones life by a choice.

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Grace & Peace

Memories Rekindled

"A pictures worth a thousand words." - Napoleon Bonaparte

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"Don't be dismayed by good-byes. A farewell is necessary before you can meet again. And meeting again, after moments or lifetimes, is certain for those who are friends. " - Richard Bach

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Tom Dorsett, Mather AFB Feb 1987

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I recently started scanning my 35mm prints so I would have digital copies of my photos. I completed one of my ten photo albums and I hope I have the persistence to finish off about an album every two weeks. The picture of Tammy in my last post was one of my favorites and I was glad to rediscover that picture. As I started album number two I came across a photo of an old friend, Tom Dorsett. He and I lived in the Pensacola area during 70's and played little league baseball together for several years. My family moved from Pensacola in 1976 and never thought our paths would cross again. At LSU in 1981 Tom and I saw each other in a snack bar in Tiger Stadium. At the time Tom was living in a dorm room within the stadium itself. We discovered we were both in the Air Force ROTC program and over the next four years rekindled a friendship and were commissioned in May 1986. Our paths crossed again at Mather AFB in November of 1986 where we were both in navigator training. Tom would often come over to the apartment Tammy and I had rented just off base. He even brought over his gifts and spent Christmas morning with us in 1986 much to the chagrin of Tammy. Tom graduated from Nav school and his career eventually took him to Upper Heyford, UK where he was a Weapon System Officer (WSO) in a F-111 Aardvark Squadron. Sadly, Tom lost his life on a training mission February 5th, 1990 in the Wainfleet Range off the coast of Lincolnshire, UK.

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It is amazing all the thoughts and emotions from a single photo.

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Grace & Peace

H A P P P Y B I R T H D A Y ! !

"A birthday is just the first day of another 365-day journey around the sun. Enjoy the trip."

~Author Unknown

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Happy Birthday Tammy!

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California Girl - 1987

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And yes, I am ready and greatful for another trip together around the sun.

Where to begin?

"As we must account for every idle word, so must we account for every idle silence." - Benjamin Franklin

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There are a number of complex, intriguing, controversial, and divisive issues confronting the citizenry of the United States these days. (The health & welfare of our citizens, immigration, freedom of speech to name a few.) Most of these issues are nothing new to our American journey and several of these current issues are causing a renewed interest in the founding fathers as well as the principles and documents of our nations creation which is a good thing. I have found myself asking, "What can I do?" As a citizen there are a number of actions I can take and should be taking but more importantly as a Christian there are a few things I should be doing and it begins with prayer!

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Did you pray for your President today?

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Will you pray for your President tomorrow?

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Did you pray for the Justices of the Supreme Court today?

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Did you pray for your Senators & Representatives today?

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"I urge, then, first of all, that requests, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for everyone— for kings and all those in authority, that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness." -

1 Timothy 2:1-2

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Let God hear your praises for our blessed nation and our blessed lives.

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Pray that our leaders will seek out God's wisdom and guidance.

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Pray that our leaders will govern in truth and with justice.

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Pray that our leaders will grow humble servant hearts.

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And if you felt a strong negative emotion when you saw the image of President Obama I would hope that you would contemplate the "why" behind that emotion and find a way to turn it into a prayer.

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Grace & Peace

21 and Counting!

"A daughter may outgrow your lap but she never outgrows your heart." - unknown

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Happy Birthday Amanda!

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Sept 1988

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Twenty one years ago God blessed us with a beautiful daughter and you have been blessing your mother and I ever since.

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"Yipstick mommie" mugging it up a couple years later.

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