Anna Carson Photography

All Smiles
March 2007

What I’m Listening To: There’s Only One (Holy One), Caedmon’s Call

This is the first image that I have posted that I did not take. There is a good reason for this I promise!

Actually, I am not sure who snapped it…but I am glad they did. My better half John, is the silly American in the middle of all those smiling kids. It seems they are each jockeying for the position closest to him in the shot. So cute. I couldn’t resist posting this on the eve of his return home. Some people have seen this but I wanted to make sure to share it with my blogging friends. Many of you have followed my journey the last few weeks since he has been gone in India. I have asked for prayer for everything…from keeping him safe to extra patience with my children as I cope on my own. Thanks so much to each of you for your encouragement and prayers. I thought that you might like to see a small glimpse of what he has been up to 4200 miles away from me!

This shot was taken earlier in his trip. The group he is with were visiting a school in the slums of Sugandh. The smiles here are some of the biggest I have ever seen… I mean on the kids and John! You wouldn’t imagine all the devastation that lies within a few steps from here by seeing these faces. A good friend of mine saw this photo and remarked that John was proably thinking of his own kids at home when this was taken. That was a sweet sentiment for me to hear…thanks Tim.

As I am writing this, he is still quite sick. As he boards the plane in Dehli in about 5 hours bound for Heathrow, I am praying that God would relieve him swiftly from this illness and give him rest. I am hoping that being in his bed, in his home, with all of us will be some sort of remedy and comfort for him.

See you tomorrow!

Mike’s Choice…
January 10, 2007

What I’m Listening To: Somewhere Only We Know by Keane

Hi all!

I am so thrilled tonight! After 200 posts, I just won my first blogging award! I honestly can’t remember the last time I won anything so I am so excited about this! Thanks Mike for the award and for all the kind thoughts you wrote about my blog! Please go here to read Mike’s blog. He also has a photo blog that I enjoy as well. Make sure to check them both out.

As far as the image above, after finding out about this award, I asked Mike to try to give me one shot that he really liked so I could post it for you all. His choice was from January 10, 2007 called “It’s Not What You Think”…click here to read the original post.

The Thinking Blogger Award is a meme, which means when I accept the award I also accept the tag to post my five favorite blogs that get me thinking! The first and only meme I had ever done was just a few days ago for my 200th post. Here I go again. I can’t tell you how hard it is to come up with a list of five when there are so many that I visit daily. Thankfully after searching for who has won the award before, a few of the blogs I read daily have already won so I will honor some others! No doubt the award will make it around because we all seem to be in the same blogging community.

OK, so here are my five blogs that keep me thinking (in no particular order). Please take a few minutes to visit them and tell them congratulations on their award!

Ruminations of a Country Girl…She is the sister of a good friend and she has become my friend as well now. We have never met in person but are yearning to have a cup of tea together one day (ok, I would have a Diet Coke). Bluemountainmama shares her life as a Christian wife and mother from the winding hills of Appalachia. Her blog is an ode to a life in the country and a love letter to her Father and His creation. Her writings are thoughtful and with purpose. This is another daily stop for me in Blogland that I wouldn’t miss.

Sarch’s Blog…Who would have thought that I was a motorcycle girl? Not I. I am pretty sure Sarch found my blog one day and we have been burning up the lines beween our blogs ever since. Sarch is a Godly man, a husband, and a father who takes me and his other readers along on his motorcyle journeys through Alabama and beyond. To top it off, it is a family affair…his mom, dad and his wife all ride as well! Pretty cool I think.

Corey’s Photo-A-Day…Ever wanted to relive those college days? Now you can. I have to admit, my heart will always be younger than I am so I love this site! Visiting his site you quickly understand that Corey is a package deal with his friends and their blogs as well…there are 3 more that you can link to on the side so I have to do a shout out to Jake, Kyle, and Evan (Evan’s link is HAHA RADIO). Go here for more about all of them. Also check out the band he is in Before Summer Ends. I make time to visit Corey because he shares his college life with his readers not only in words, but also in pictures and music. It is a fun stop for me that I won’t miss! Ahhhh….good times. Good Times.

PHOTOWANNABE…The fact that I do a Photo-A-Day is the reason why some of my favorite blogs get me thinking…about photography! Wander over here to Sue and you won’t be disappointed! She has quite an eye and I wouldn’t miss a day. It is an adventure to get a glimpse of the world through someone else’s lens….for me, it gives me joy. Thanks Sue and thanks for all your kind words to me. It is a pleasure to visit you!

WIFE IN THE SUBURBS (Tales from the suburban jungle)…Hopefully you all have a place where you can go where you can here it like it is…this is just one of those places for me in the “blogoshpere”. Natalee is a wife and mom in Greenville, South Carolina. She constantly reminds me of the grace I need and that my Savior offers it lovingly. The trait I love to see most in people is transparency…and Nat ooozes it. Post after post, she is a real breath of fresh air in a world that can be judgemental and painful. Thanks Nat for all of your thoughts you share.

There they are. It was agonizing to select just five. Every blog on my sidebar has a thumbs up approval. So please take time to check them all out.

The participation rules are simple:

1) If, and only if, you get tagged, write a post with links to 5 blogs that make you think,
2) Link to this post so that people can easily find the exact origin of the meme,
3) Optional: Proudly display the ‘Thinking Blogger Award’ with a link to the post that you wrote.

Thanks again to all those blogs that I visit daily. I appreciate the time you all take to write down your thoughts and take out your camera. It makes life even more sweet!

Take care!