Happy Halloween from Harry & Hermione

Kids had an awesome Halloween dressing up like Harry Potter and his friend Hermione... We spent the evening with friends letting the kids gather treats in their neighborhood.

Fun night with fun friends... Thanks Batronis & Pascavis families!!!

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I Lift My Eyes - Psalm 123:1

Lift My Eyes - Psalm 123:1, originally uploaded by Mark Sexton Photography.

"White" Squirrel

I've been watching this squirrel all year and I finally captured him with my camera the other day. Not sure what kind of a squirrel he is... He's not a true "white squirrel" because his tail isn't white. He isn't an "albino" because his eyes aren't red. Anyone have any ideas?

Papyrus In Fall Sunlight

Papyrus In Fall Sunlight, originally uploaded by Mark Sexton Photography.

Captured this the other day at a customer's house... looking through papyrus planted in her pond, towards the sun. My customer walked out into the backyard and yelled (with a smile), "What are you taking pictures of? There's nothing very beautiful right now." I laughed and kept on shooting. It's all in the eye of the beholder...

I uploaded those images tonight and this was one... I couldn't stop looking at it. I don't know what keeps grabbing my attention, but "it" does.

My Love Affair With Flowers, Plants, Nature

Water Lily @ Chicago Botanic Gardens, originally uploaded by Mark Sexton Photography.

It's been almost a month since I visited Chicago Botanic Garden for a day to wander & ponder. I could have spent 2-3 days there... walking, sitting, listening, watching, learning...

I've always loved to visit large gardens, nature preserves, wetlands, etc. I still remember the visit with my mom and dad to Longwood Gardens - what I've always called and remembered as the "du Pont gardens" until I just recently learned the real name. We visited during a trip to Washington D.C. in the summer of 1983. I remember walking around the gardens in awe... That's when it all started... my love affair with flowers, plants, nature...

Tooting His Horn

Early morning for Andrew today... First day of band. And, he got to take the bus :-) #fb, originally uploaded by Mark Sexton Photography.

This past week was a proud one for me... Watching Andrew head off to school (first time to ride a school bus to school, also) with his shiny new trumpet in hand ready to take his first trumpet lesson.

It was at this same age I also started playing the trumpet... Meeting with Mr. Sheckler once a week in the music room at Garfield Elementary School (GO GRIZZLIES!!! Oh wait... Garfield doesn't exist anymore as an elementary school in Monmouth :-( )

I would have to say, playing the trumpet was the start of my love for music... Mr. Sheckler was an important influence with that, as well as Mrs. Pedigo (piano teacher), Gene Appel (high school youth minister), Jeff Colleen (Dayspring director at LCU), Richard Hargrove (chorale director at LCU), and most recently Matt Ludwig (worship pastor at Eastview Christian Church). And probably most importantly, because of my dad and mom. And, although I never excelled with my trumpet... my love for music has grown more and more through the years... BECAUSE of the people listed above and the value they placed in music.

I can only hope that music, in one way or another, becomes as important to Andrew and Savannah as it has always been for me.