So, this article isn't really about excrement (you really are thankful, right!?!). Today, I decided to open an email that I routinely receive from Digital Photography School (www.digital-photography-school.com). Photography has been a creative outlet for me within the past 6 years. I am so grateful for my camera and for discovering how much I enjoy expressing myself through pictures. However, since we've moved to Bosnia, I haven't been taking pictures quite so frequently or with much creative endeavor. Oh, here and there I've done some "photo shoots" of the kids and enjoyed taking pictures when we've traveled. But I haven't picked up my camera to just go out and see what there is to "shoot." DPS usually has some kind of weekly photography challenge, which I haven't paid attention to in quite some time. Today, it caught my eye: a challenge to play with wide open aperture. So, on the way to pick up the boys from vrtić, preschool, I decided to see what I could find on this rainy, bleak day. Such a small thing, but I can't begin to tell you how refreshing it was. Life has been a little heavy for us lately. We haven't been laughing quite so easily, our home is not as harmonious as we would desire--we know God is always near, but we're not paying very much attention to His presence. Sometimes, it's hard to know how to do that with so much busy-ness. For twenty minutes today, I felt Him very near. I felt refreshed and creative and I remembered a part of who I am...a poignant, personal ray of grace, gently delivered to me today. So, enjoy a "wide open aperture" view of my street today.