![Illuminate [& Giveaway]](http://sarahmarkley.com/wp-content/plugins/ttftitles/cache/ffa27867965300b57307b4cb81e42b59.png){kind=small}
Last week we had a family photo shoot. My in-laws, my other in-laws, the cousins.
They were only in the country until Thursday so we had to make every day count.
And as we are pulling up to the park for the session, the rain drops begin signaling the first big storm of the year. Our photographer, if she hadn’t known our family for so long, would have called the shoot. Canceled. She normally doesn’t do shoots in January for this exact reason.
But we did it anyway. We hurried, got wet, and a little muddy.
And she was semi-frustrated. Like any good photographer would be.
Not. Enough. Light.
The clouds came in dark and consuming on a Sunday afternoon, far earlier than nightfall. She kept snapping photos and kept looking at her digital screen with pain on her face.
“I don’t know if any of these are going to turn out,” she said to us.
Illuminate.
It’s what the sun does. It’s what she expected the afternoon light would do to our faces, shining through the sheer umbrellas the children twirled and making their eyes glow. Illuminate. To give light to something. A camera captures not just smiles and families, but the God-given, earth-born light that we all take for granted.
I’m so excited that I get to show you one of my friend, Lisa Leonard‘s new designs. Her Illuminate necklace.
It is breathtaking.
And guess what?
I get to give one to one of you.
We’re going to try something new this time. To enter, lea
ve a comment about something, just like light, that you take for granted. And then, if you want a SECOND entry, go and follow Lisa on twitter. Come back and leave a comment that you did so and you’ll be entered a second time. Giveaway will close at 9pm Tuesday night.
Super easy.
[Remember, to be entered that 2nd time, you have to 1- follow Lisa on Twitter and then 2- come back and leave a comment HERE that you did it.]
What do you take for granted?
There are many days that end and I realize I’ve taken being a mom for granted. God’s given me such a precious gift in my son and being his mom. God has trusted me enough to rear another human being. I can only thank Him for guidance and grace. I love this thing called motherhood!
I think what I take for granted is my parents. They have carried me so many times, and were my strength during my painful divorce. I think that I am not grateful enough for these two courageous beings!
Following Lisa!
I take for granted that my kids will always love me…so I am trying to take more deep breathes instead of yelling, listening with eye contact instead of half listening, and giving more of my time without having to be asked.
Clean water! Sounds simple, but watching the devastation in Haiti has made me realize that water is not a “right” but a gift and a blessing
I take for granted my health. And I only notice it when it fails- just a little cold this week, but my daughter is already sick and no one has a great week when the mommy is sick. I wish I were more thankful for good health and today- good health insurance!
Honestly, just about everything.
life. family. health. job. security. salvation. grace. faith. –everything.
[...] This post was mentioned on Twitter by sarahmarkley, sarahmarkley, Amy, Stephanie Bryant, justagirl and others. justagirl said: RT @sarahmarkley Giving away the newest @lisaleonard necklace on my blog. Go leave a comment to enter: http://j.mp/5ug7Ar //Beautiful! [...]
We all take a lot for granted, don’t we? One thing I take for granted is friendship.
That is so hard to answer because I think we take a lot for granted, until we are reminded, maybe even by loss.I would call my best friend every Monday and a year ago I did the same. Only did not reach her. Finally was able to talk to her husband to find out she had died of a heart attack when I was trying to call.
I pray I won’t take my friends and family for granted again.
It would be easier if you’d asked what we *don’t* take for granted. We have so many blessings that we never take the time to see, let alone appreciate…
I actually caught myself the other day taking God’s Favor for granted, and was pretty happy with myself. I’m pretty cynical by nature, but actually caught myself thinking the other day “it’ll turn out ok, because God’s taking care of things.” Not only was I surprised to hear that as my first thought, but feel so incredibly blessed that such a comforting thought was my first impluse. (And no, our lives aren’t overly rosy)
Thanks, as always, for your words, Sarah.
Nicki
my family….specifically my husband..he is a dream to me and i need to vocalize more and give him more of my time….
Oh and I followed Lisa on twitter
time.
i waste it… and don’t treat is as a precious gift that will eventually fade away.
i know my days are numbered.
Something I know I take for granted is my Time. I have a part time job so I can spend more time with my children. I take that time for granted so often, like it’s a given that I won’t have to work full time. Like it’s a given that I will have time to spend with them and have cuddle games. Time to spend with my husband. Time to spend reading a good book. Just Time.
I think that necklace is so beautiful!
Now following Lisa!
Almost forgot, I followed her on Twitter also.
I’m @gypsywether
I took friendship for granted for years and years. I now take tim for granted. Seems like I forget that I could ‘run out of time’ any moment. It’s a reminder to make each day count.
Oops- time*
I take so much for granted, mostly my long-suffering, devoted husband.
And I am following Lisa!
I take having enough food for granted-I have never known what it is like to go hungry or wonder what it is like to not be able to feed our family.
Time- I take for granted that I’ll have more of it, I don’t always use the time I’ve been given wisely. it seems I have projects and plans lined up for a long stretch of the future, but have accomplished very little today.
Following Lisa on twitter!
Hi Sarah! I visit you every-other-day and just found this giveaway by scrolling down. Lisa’s designs are so amazing!
OK, What I take for granted?
My kids. I have rough days where I think “I can’t wait for them to grow up!” and then realize that it is happening all too quickly and I am going to miss these days so very, very much. I do not want to take a moment of their childhoods for granted.
And I am now following Lisa on Twitter:)
And YOU! I didn’t realize that you twittered too:) Yay!
i follow lisa on twitter.
i think there are days i take for granted the gift and blessing it is to be able to be home and home school my kiddos.
i took for granted the blessing it was to live close to family now that we live far away.
i know i sometimes take for granted the wonderful gift of friendship.
I take for granted that I was born in a country that gives us so many freedoms. Also, it’s easy to forget how rich we really are here in the US. We have so much and yet I complain. I’m learning to be thankful for everything.
Now following Lisa
I take being able to verbally communicate for granted. I watch my lil guy (w/Autism) become so frustrated at times, but most days I watch him work hard at learning something that doesn’t make any sense to him yet just so he can communicate with the rest of us. He continues to amaze me.
I like that word “illuminate”. Makes me think of Fancy Nancy….illuminate – a fancy word that means shine.
Honestly, I take most of the amazing blessings of my life for granted. There is that place though of expectation and comfort(of sorts) of just Knowing that something or someone will be there, especially that He will do what He says He will do. There are some things I just depend on. I’m not sure what word to use for this “knowing and depending on” rather than “taking things for granted”. For me I think the key is to continually be grateful for ALL these things I take for granted. Maybe that elevates their status. ???
Gwyn Rosser @ The Pink Tractor
http://www.gwynrosser.blogspot.com
Sleep. I fall asleep easily and sleep well all night long. Thanks for the chance to win. I love’s Lisa’s work. I don’t Twitter, or I’d sure go for the second chance. Thanks again.
There are so many days when I take my job for granted. It’s such a blessing to have and most of the time, I forget that. Thanks for the beautiful giveaway!
My husband. I often take for granted that he sticks with me, with us, through all my junk.
I’m following Lisa on Twitter!
My next breath…
All too often I take the fact that I am alive for granted. Before this sounds extremely trite, I’ll explain.
Last March my baby daughter and I came within 15 minutes to an hour of dying had the Lord not provided just the right timing for us to be at the hospital as the placenta giving her life abrupted to the point that her heart rate dropped (queuing the hospital staff as to what was happening) and a life-threatening clot the size of my tiny daughter formed in my uterus.
That day both she and I were given life. And today my little 2 pounds, 11 ounce 28-weeker is now a (mostly) healthy 10.5 month old who brings me joy every day. As for me, I plan to spend the rest of my life seeking the Lord’s purpose in keeping me alive that night.
Today…I’m realizing how much I’ve taken food for granted. Quantity, quality, availability, accessibility. I’ve experienced some humbling and enlightening moments recently regarding this.
Also, the fact that our Creator and Savior not only can, but DOES speak to us. Me. That i can learn to recognize his voice, commune with him, have intimate relationship with him, be so loved by him. If i but take the time to slow down, spend time with him and listen.
And so many other things of course…
Love the necklace!
I looked at Lisa’s designs. They are beautiful!
I also love how life looks so much better when we let God shine his light on it. Things look like we should despair, but it is so comforting that God has not forgotten or forsaken us!
I’m also following Lisa on twitter!
I’m afraid I sometimes take my parents generosity for granted. It’s awful, I know! I really am grateful for them!!
I’m following Lisa on twitter
Love her blog, too. It’s actually how I found yours.
following Lisa
health – I take it for granted all the time.
the grace of God. the love of my family & friends.
thanks for the sweet reminder. after i finish this i am headed to the phone to call a friend i haven’t talk to for a while & miss dearly =) love your blog & your heart.
I think I take music for granted… it is the “soundtrack to our lives” and so easily takes me back to different moments in time… it is such a strong emotional tool. I don’t often realize how it can change the little areas of darkness in my life when I turn on the right tunes.
I wish I were more conscious of what a gift it is and use it to my advantage more often.