Service

This pitcher, bowl, and towel was a gift that was awarded to my husband and I to thank us for our service at our church.  We both love to jump in and help when we see a need.  Over the years, that has led to us volunteering with many special events, doing a variety of jobs during our Sunday morning service, and to leading the youth ministry for almost 10 years.  The verse that is embroidered on the towel is Mark 10:45 which says, "For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life as a ransom for many."  Joe and I recently stepped down from leading the youth ministry, but our desire to serve hasn't changed.  In this time of rest and seeking guidance, we are also looking for opportunities, praying about the needs, and preparing for new roles.  Through all these changes, it is my hope and prayer that my attitude will always be to serve for His glory, not my own.

Nenya seemed sure that the pitcher needed to be inspected.

Narya seriously melts me with her little expressions!

Vilya had zero desire to be in the bowl, so each time I put him in it, he would climb right back out.

Gourds

The hamsters were all fairly well behaved for this little photo shoot.  They all seemed interested in sniffing the gourds more than they had for the pumpkins, which meant I was able to get better pictures since they weren't trying to run away.  :)

Nenya is seriously the loudest, most demanding little ham I have ever had.  She LOVES any attention she can get, even if it comes from our cat, Kira.  Nenya doesn't seem to understand that Kira is so attentive because she would gladly eat her if given the chance (which will never happen because Kira gets locked up whenever the hamsters are out of their tubs).  During the day, while the hamsters mostly sleep and just come out of their nests a couple times for some water, Kira likes to sleep on top of the two tubs she can reach so that she never misses a chance to see them (one of these is Nenya's tub).  However, Nenya has learned that Kira is basically always watching, and so when Nenya wakes up for a drink, she also tends to go to the front of the cage where she and Kira sniff noses through the mesh wire.  They have a very strange relationship.  Haha!

Narya is the most private hamster of the three I have.  She is so quiet whenever she is out of her nest, so I am often unaware of when she is awake.  She lives in an aquarium that Kira can't get near, and I think Narya is quite happy about that.  Narya is also the only hamster I have that makes tunnels through her bedding to get around "underground" instead of walking on top like the other two do.

Vilya seems happiest when he is left to just go about his own business.  He definitely likes being held and out of the tub he lives in so that he can explore, but he is also quite content to rummage around his home without being bothered by anyone, especially the cat.  I think he is smart enough to realize that Kira is not his friend.  So unlike Nenya, Vilya ignores Kira when she is watching him.

Mini pumpkins

I got a new camera!  AHH!!  This was my first official session using it with my lights.  I really really really like my camera.  I am still learning how to utilize it to the best of its abilities.  I did also have a bit of trouble with the triggers for the lights working correctly.  I need to spend more time investigating that.

Anyways, I was so happy that Nenya decided to pose well for a picture.  I am also super obsessed with her whiskers.  She has like a whole lot of them.  Haha!

Narya was a perfect angel as always.  She happily ate the food provided and stood there waiting for me to take more pictures.  She's so cute!

For once, Vilya also was an angel!  He also happily ate his food and waiting while I took more pictures.  What a sweetheart!

Grey Chair

It took me a bit, but I finally got some good pictures of Nenya!  Isn't she adorable??!!

Narya suddenly seemed really interested in the food and ended up filling her little cheeks.  Doesn't she look darling??!!

Vilya was a bit hard to control, especially because I ran out of treats and therefore he was interested in exploring.  But then he climbed onto the arm of this chair and posed for me.  

Gold Chair

Is anyone else shocked that it's already October!  I sure am!  This year is FLYING by!  Anyways, I thought this gold chair captures the beautiful colors we are soon going to see from the leaves outside.  I love watching them change color!

Nenya is cute, but sometimes her love of exploring wins over her love of food, so she can be hard to photograph.  I did manage to get a couple good pictures though!

I know I always post Narya's pictures second out of the three, but I generally actually take her pictures last.  Narya is so much easier to photograph than the other two, so I like to end my sessions on a high note.  :)

Vilya was definitely looking for a way to escape.  I think he figured he blends in with the chair so he could easily sneak away without me noticing.