***UPDATE ON TINA*** This is Tina’s sister Sandie. Yesterday sister was taken into surgery. The mass was 50cm in diameter. And had some internal bleeding. They removed what they could. They still have hope that with chemo they can give her more time. She will be much more comfortable now that the mass has been resected. She’s in good spirits and looks forward to getting back to you all. We are told to give thanks in all things. May God be glorified in this

***UPDATE *** I want to thank you all for your beautiful messages and concerns. I’m very sick as some might already know, in case you didn’t, please accept this update my sister has written that explains kind of what’s going on. I miss you all terribly, and hope to one day get back to enjoying my passion once again. From my sister Sandie. We’ve had so many friends and loved ones reach out asking how Tina is doing, so I wanted to share an update about my sister and what our family has been facing. In early August, Tina went to the hospital believing she had a urinary tract infection. Instead, doctors discovered a very large mass in her abdomen, along with mucinous tumor throughout her abdominal cavity. After weeks of scans, procedures, biopsies, appointments, and many unanswered questions, doctors have now determined that the cancer originated in her appendix. Recently, Tina’s pain and abdominal swelling became much worse, and she could no longer keep food down. She is now in the hospital. Because she has become so nutritionally depleted, a PICC line has been placed, and she is receiving nutrition through an IV to help strengthen her body. Her medical team is also working to move her surgery up as soon as possible, and it is tentatively scheduled for September 30. This has been an exhausting and frightening journey, but we remain hopeful. Tina is strong, deeply loved, and surrounded by family who are advocating for her every step of the way. Please continue to pray that the IV nutrition strengthens her quickly, that her pain and other symptoms can be controlled, that her surgery can move forward as planned, and that her surgeons will be able to remove as much of the disease as possible. Please also pray for wisdom for every doctor and nurse caring for her—and for strength, peace, and hope for Tina. Thank you to everyone who has reached out, prayed, and supported our family. Your love means more to us than we can express. We will continue to share updates as we learn more. Tina Furton Quillen Darren Quillen

Good Morning and Happy FLOWER FRIDAY. I wanted to pop in and let you know how much I miss you all. I feel your love and all of your prayers. They bring me much comfort and I don't know what I'd do without them. I would be like to be able to tell you more about my health, but the truth is, the doctors are baffled. The mass they have found is sitting in front of many organs which has made it difficult to determine what the source of the cancer is, which then makes the treatment and surgery difficult as well. So this is what I know, they are putting together a team of doctors as we speak. Surgery needs to be done quickly and will be done within the next 3 weeks. I am training for a marathon as the way they have put it, I have a long road ahead. I may not be on each day, but know that I'm thinking about you every minute of those days. Have a beautiful weekend my tribe, my people. I'm not crying, you're crying. Love to you all.

Good Morning and Happy FLOWER FRIDAY. Update: I will be meeting with a team of surgeons on Tuesday and at that time I should have a lot more to share. In the meantime, thank you for your prayers and concern, it is comforting and something I look forward to every day. Keep snapping those pictures and please lets keep lifting one another up with those likes and encouraging comments.

I'm so sorry, I made a Flower Friday post only problem is, it isn't friday. These pain meds have my head all messed up. I took it down and will post again tomorrow morning. For today, I'll just post a random image. play along if you can if not, I'll catch you tomorrow. Jake says, good morning!

It's a SMALL WORLD Do you have an image to share where your subject is small in the frame? I love the simplicity, the minimalistic value this image as to it. It was the smallest little flower that I saw the pond that day. I even picked up some specular highlights towards the back. When you see a great image, no matter the size or how difficult it is to get, you take it. Update: Still waiting on biopsy report. I will keep you all up to date.

Today's Photo Challenge: PURPLE Anything the color purple. Quote it or share it 👇 Update: Biopsies were done yesterday and now awaiting results. I'm looking to be out of the hostpital in the next couple of days. Hanging in as best as I can. You can all give me a hand by supporting one another and giving likes and or comments. #PhotoChallenge

Today's Photo Challenge: PIERS Quote it or Share it 👇 My image was taken of Balboa Pier located in Newport Beach, California. Update, my friends ❤️ I’m still in the hospital and will be having biopsies done today. As soon as I know more, I promise I’ll share everything with you. I’m doing my absolute best to stay optimistic. Keeping these challenges going with all of you is what’s helping me hold onto a sense of normal right now… and I need that more than ever. Thank you for walking this with me. Your support truly means the world. Sending love right back to every single one of you. #PhotoChallenge

Today's Photo Challenge: WILDLIFE PORTRAITS Share any wildlife portrait. My image is of an Emu. Fun Facts: 1) Second-largest birds on Earth (after ostriches), up to ~6 ft tall. 2) Can run ~30 mph, with strides nearly 9 ft long. 3) Males incubate the eggs alone for 8 weeks without eating or drinking. *** I'm still in the hospital and will continue to be until we can get things sorted out. I want to keep these challenges going so not to skip a beat, unfortunately won't be able to do much commenting. You all could help me out a lot if you could scroll down and open up images, give them a like and a comment. We all deserve to be seen.

Today's Photo Challenge: SUNRISE/SUNSET Quote it or Share it 👇 Sorry for the late start—I’m still in the hospital, so today will be much like yesterday. I’ll do my best to reply to comments.

It’s FLOWER FRIDAY folks! You know what to do! Quote it or Share it 👇 Good morning my people. A quick note to say I’m in the hospital and won’t have access to my computer. I will be trying to keep the challenges going, but won’t be making a lot of comments. Please know that I’m still looking at all of your beautiful images. I will be updating you all regarding my health as I get more information. Love to all!

Congratulations to Candace for her First place. This is such a creative capture my friend and well deserved. 🥇

Today's Photo Challenge: BOKEH What is Bokeh? Bokeh is how your lens turns out-of-focus points of light into soft, smooth shapes (often little circles). It’s not to be confused with just having a creamy or blurry background. Bokeh is specifically about the quality of those blurred lights and edges. How to create Bokeh? 1) Use a wide aperture (small f-number like f/2.8), this creates shallow depth of field so only your subject stays sharp. 2) Get close to your subject and leave plenty of space between it and the background 3) Use a longer lens if you have one, at least 50mm, but longer is better. 4) Look for backgrounds with small points of light (sun through leaves, fairy lights, reflections) — these turn into the soft glowing circles that show off bokeh best.

Let’s see your insect photos for #InsectThursday! 🪲

In case you haven't heard, today I designated as SQUIRREL DAY. If you missed this morning’s SQUIRREL CHALLENGE? Jump in, it’s pinned at the top of my page! I will leave you with this sweet girl, it's been a really long days of squirrel images and comments to return. If I've missed anyone please forgive me, I will eventually get to them. Make sure to go back through the posts on my page and check out all of the wonderful images photographers shared, give them a like and please give them a follow. #PhotoChallenge #Photography #Nature #Wildlife

Come join us!!

I'm designating this SQUIRREL DAY. I'll be posting squirrel images through out the day. (Make sure to scroll back through my posts today to see all of the images I've posted) If you missed this morning’s SQUIRREL CHALLENGE? Jump in, it’s pinned at the top of my page! Waiting for some nuts. #PhotoChallenge #Photography #Nature #Wildlife

I'm designating this SQUIRREL DAY. I'll be posting squirrel images through out the day. If you missed this morning’s SQUIRREL CHALLENGE? Jump in, it’s pinned at the top of my page! This is how this heat makes me feel. #PhotoChallenge #Photography #Nature #Wildlife

I'm designating this SQUIRREL DAY. I'll be posting squirrel images through out the day. If you missed this morning’s SQUIRREL CHALLENGE? Jump in, it’s pinned at the top of my page! Wink, wink! #PhotoChallenge #Photography #Nature #Wildlife