Safari in Arkansas

we had too much fun on our trip to the safari out in gentry this last week. the best part was getting to play with our new monkey friend, kiwi. she was the cutest thing ever! hadley loved seeing all of the "cows" that is what she called everything on four legs.

so....i decided last night that i want to get better at photography. i keep saying to myself that i'm going to do it sometime but now is the time. who better to practice on??? my sweet bff hadley of course. i only shot today in the av mode. these were a few of my favs. i don't know if i'm getting better but we sure had fun playing outside.

i heart dogwood trees

april is one of my favorite times of year because of the beautiful spring we get here in arkansas and all of the beautiful dogwood trees that lace the forest. the dogwood has always been a special tree to me because when i see the trees i think of the legend i learned as a kid. today i had to go out and take some pictures of the dogwood trees in our backyard.

the legend....

at the time of Crucifixion the dogwood had been the size of the oak and other forest trees. so firm and strong was the tree that it was chosen as the timber for the cross. to be used thus for such a crul purpose greatly distressed the tree, and Jesus nailed upon it, sensed this. in His gengle pity for all sorrow and suffering Jesus said to the tree: "because of your regret and pity for My suffering, never, again shall the dogwood tree grow large enough to be used as a cross. henceforth it shall be slender and bent and twisted and its blossoms shall be in the form of a cross--two long and two short petals. and in the center of the outer edge of each petal there will be nail prints, brown with rust and stained with red, and in the center of the flower will be a crown of thorns and all who see it will remember."