Moses: “Look here! Today I’ve set before you life and what’s good versus death and what’s wrong.”… “I have set life and death, blessing and curse before you. Now choose life…” – Deuteronomy 30:15,19

Again, this week, my camera has been inactive and I have to rely on our daughter Naomi’s keen eye for story when it comes to “Photo Friday.”

It doesn’t hurt, of course, that the grandchildren are so exceptionally photogenic (and so is our other grandchild, “Mr. T.” in Germany, but as you know his name and face remain offline for now).

The winner for the week has to be this shot of Beks (7) taking her baby brother to class.

Naomi’s caption reads: “Geoffrey likes learning about similes, sitting with Beks, and listening to Ms. Crider’s (the teacher) voice.”

If I had any questions that the children’s “at home learning” environment is focused and productive, then this comment from David (9) put them to rest: “Yay, it’s Friday! The weekend! No school for two days, and I earned my homework pass!”

Too many kids experience little difference between school days and weekends. But our grandkids’ routine of daily learning, attending class, and doing homework seems to be keeping them on track.

Picture #2 fits this theme as Craig is reading with his children on the couch. Reading together is one of the most important learning tools at our disposal as families.

Pictures #3-5: There always seems to be a lot of sunshine in Miami, and most especially around the Campbell household.

As a former professional educator (but I’m not sure the word “former” is appropriate, considering where I invest most of my creative energy) I love to see children being curious, inquisitive, creative, industrious, and engaged. Even play – especially play – is such a critically important element of learning and development.

David and Beks love building, art, problem solving, puzzles, hands-on projects and more. Naomi may have three-month-old Geoffrey on her hip, but there is no shortage of creative, productive engagement and I am thrilled to see it all in action!

Picture #6: Finally this image of Max Retriever “helping” his mother. It may not be the best composition, but I have noticed that when Rebekah is engaged in something serious – such as a pastoral phone call with someone – Max goes into therapy dog mode.

Max gets close, he leans in, sometimes he puts his head in her lap. It’s called the ministry of presence, and Max is an expert.

Most of this week, in light of the constant pain I have been dealing with, Max has quietly followed me around, and loving me the best way he knows how – by gently inserting himself and advancing his best “non-anxious presence.”

Snapshots of Time:

The point of “Photo Friday” (almost every week) is to share some of the extra images, pictures that have not fit with the content during the week. And – also – to give a nod to the power of photography in telling a good story.

The image of Beks, holding Geoffrey, listening to the teacher, and participating in class, is a photographic essay in itself.

So this is me, being grateful for the gift of photography, and most of all for the gift of being alive, an experience that is unerringly beautiful and always worthy of note.

Have an amazing weekend! In love, and because of love – DEREK

Moses: “Look here! Today I’ve set before you life and what’s good versus death and what’s wrong. If you obey the Lord your God’s commandments that I’m commanding you right now by loving the Lord your God, by walking in his ways, and by keeping his commandments, his regulations, and his case laws, then you will live and thrive, and the Lord your God will bless you in the land you are entering to possess. But if your heart turns away and you refuse to listen, and so are misled, worshipping other gods and serving them, I’m telling you right now that you will definitely die. You will not prolong your life on the fertile land that you are crossing the Jordan River to enter and possess. I call heaven and earth as my witnesses against you right now: I have set life and death, blessing and curse before you. Now choose life—so that you and your descendants will live— by loving the Lord your God, by obeying his voice, and by clinging to him. That’s how you will survive and live long on the fertile land the Lord swore to give to your ancestors: to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.” – Deuteronomy 30:15-20