Christmas 2011

Christmas is a fantastic time of year. By far my favorite holiday because it is filled with so much more that just every other holiday.

Christmas is the celebration of the King of the universe taking on human form, living on earth just to die for us, lowly sinners. How incredible is that? Better than independence, costumes, columbus, or MLK.

Not to say that I don't enjoy being with my family, repeating traditions, and opening presents too.

Here are a few of my favorite images from Christmas, shot with my new Canon 7D.

Obviously didn't take this one with my Canon. But my iPhone and Instagram did a nice job. 

My grandma snuggling up with her new fuzzy sweater. 

Inside that roaster was a delicious turkey we ate for dinner. 

I think I could have eaten every one of those rolls. 

My pups resting on the couch. 

Praise Emmanuel, for He is here!

He will swallow up death forever

"He will swallow up death forever,

 and the Lord God will wipe away tears from all faces

 and the reproach of his people he will take away from all the earth, 

for the Lord has spoken. It will be said on that day,

"Behold, this is our God; we have waited for him, that he might save us. 

This is the Lord; we have waited for him; let us be glad and rejoice in his salvation." 

                                                           

                                                                                          - Isaiah 25:8-10 

        He will swallow up death forever. I can't seem to get past that first line. The astounding part is the 11 chapters before this is essentially about the destruction of certain cities. Chapter 24 is labeled "Destruction of the whole earth" and starts out by saying,
       "Behold, the Lord will empty the earth and make is desolate, and he will twist its surface and scatter its inhabitants."
         How amazing is that? So much destruction is described and even as I was reading, I thought when will this end? Then I found myself upon chapter 25. Where Gods mercy is disabled in epic proportions. God's power and just nature was shown through the oracles of chapters 15-23 and now God's grace for a broken and sinful people is displayed in chapter 25.

What beautiful words to hear on a snowy december morning.

"He will swallow up death forever."

My God is astounding.

Clouds, Clubs, Church, and Conversations... Just an Average Day.

To steal a pretty good idea from a dear friend I'm going to chronicle my day.

So today I woke up, later than I wanted to, and got dressed. ( in my bathing suit) Ate some toast with nutella and studied James 5:1-6. Then I laid outside tanning and texting for at least an hour and a half. Enjoying the intense clouds and good conversations, while evening out my tan lines.


 Then I got ready for real. Moments from calling my mother to inquire about food, she walks in the door. We decided to order chinese. Then my friend invites me to sushi and church so I of course said yes. I picked up the chinese, ate some, and went to dinner. Yes, I ate then went to dinner. On my way to Sushi Station to meet Jaclyn, I turned on B96, a local radio station. Well, whoever was mixing the songs, they were doing a great job. It sounded like I had a dance club in my car. I then enjoyed some sushi and friendship. We went to her college group called Axis. It was a good service, focusing on knowing God's will and doing something about it. We went to Steak and Shake afterward and split some chicken fingers and a shake. A mutual friend joined us, talking about the Bachelorette and boys. Just some typical girl talk but on the way home Jaclyn and I had a great conversation about life. Today was fantastic and I thought you guys should get a glimpse into one of my good days.

The Body Of Christ

So I realize that I haven't posted in almost a month but this summer has been crazy! Tonight I went to my church's college group called Crave. I found out, after I got to the house we meet at, that we were meeting to just hang out at a park near by.  So, we hung out, talked, some people played baseball and then we moved near the snack shop. Crave just started so I don't know everyone and I was introduced to someone. Less than a minute later she offered to buy me something from the snack shop. I refused, I was fine and didn't want anything. She insisted again. Someone I had literally just met bought me a push-pop.

Something minimal, cost only a dollar, but at the same time showed me something. This girl truly showed me the Body of Christ tonight. I am always amazed at how God can reinforce his presence or teachings in such small ways. God is by far absent in our lives. In fact, He is willing to be apart of our daily lives, if we let Him. My God is amazing. My God is Love. My God wants to be your God and your friend. Will you let Him? 

Coffee Shops and Live Music

Last night I went to this coffee shop to see two of my good friends perform. I had already heard these ladies play before but that evening reminded me of the immense talent God has given my friends. I also heard for the first time Judah and his band mates play. Again, I was floored by the talent these young adults possessed. I relaxed on the couch, squished in between family and friends, drank a mocha, and absorbed the music. Every keystroke, plucked string, and note hit danced on my ears. First to play was Hannah Guge, a woman who exudes godly character and is always smiling. Playing on the piano and guitar, Hannah's performance included all original songs. Her music suits the coffee shop atmosphere perfectly, being soft and elegant. She is currently in the final stages of creating her CD. I'm SO excited to have a hard copy of her melodies.

The second to perform was Judah, with his cousin and friend accompanying him. Judah played a few original songs and a couple covers. His style was more upbeat, especially with his cousin Nate playing the djembe. Judah has an incredible, soulful voice. I'm glad I could hear him play.

The last to play was Kendel and Shep Kirk, a sibling duo, rocking original music and a couple covers. Apparently, because of their close age, people mistake them for a dating couple. Well, the comical song they ended with was written to explain they aren't dating. "She's my sister, I will not kiss her, We share a mother and a father, that makes us full siblings" The entire evening was delightful and so much fun. I loved every minute of it.

                                      Here's a video of my personal favorite "Rocketship Boy"

Life Goals

Here are some of my fun life goals. It is obviously not a complete list but just some fun adventures i'd like to complete.

1. Give a motivational speech
2. Win a baking competition
3. Go on a missions trip
4. Own a bakery
5. Live, for at least a month, in Italy
6. Help deliver a baby
7. Ride a tandem bicycle
8. Learn how to long-board
9. Go scuba diving
10. Learn how to shoot a gun
11. Take a road trip with friends
12. Start driving and only take right turns just to see where I end up.
13. Cook or bake in a professional restaurant kitchen
14. Fly first class like the really fancy first class
15. Be VIP at a concert and definitely have backstage passes
16. Watch the ball drop in Times Square
17. Go to Mardi Gras in New Orleans
18. Sit in a Bentley Continental GTC Convertible. Yes, just sit in one because I know I won't ever be able to buy one.
19. Go to a revival
20. Of course all the typical life stuff like get married, have kids, the white picket fence, ya know the works.

Will I do all these things? Probably not. Will my life be less complete? Of course not. I would love to do everything on this list but I do realize there are way more important things in life. I will always have Christ and that's really all I need. Cliche but true.

By the way, if you could make any of these things happen, let me know.

Save The Storks

 So a couple months ago I found out about an organization called Save The Storks. It is a pro-life group dedicating to saving storks. At first I did not get it, but storks represent the pregnant mothers. The organization gives buses loaded with high-tech ultrasound machines to local pregnancy crisis centers. The centers than use the buses to minister to women right in front of abortion clinics by offering free ultra sounds and counseling. They care for the women and in the process save the lives of unborn babies.

I am intensely passionate about saving the unborn and this organization focuses on the mothers, not the political side. So, I wanted to do something to help them. I am in the process of organizing an art show to raise money for Save the Storks. We are displaying student work and selling the photos. All the money will go to Save The Storks.

Here is where you guys come in. In order to host a show, we need money to print, frame, and pay for other expenses. As college kids, we don't have any money, so this show happening all depends on how much support we can get.

If you want to help, please follow this link. http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/568307763/selling-photography-to-save-the-storks?ref=live

We only have a few days left to raise the rest of the money, if we don't meet the deadlines we loose all of the money. If you can't help finically please help by spreading the word. Repost the link to Kickstarter or repost the link to this post.

THANK YOU!!!

Summer

            Summer is drawing near and yet the weather refuses to co-operate (at least for the moment). This time of year is characterized by warm weather, bright colors, fragrant smells, and pungent flavors. These three months can go by so quickly. So I think that we should just stop for a moment and let our senses be washed by these colors, smells, feelings, and tastes. Enjoy the little things in life. I realize how cliche that sounds but maybe it is repeated so often because not everyone has really gotten a handle on it yet. Enjoy this summer because it will not be here forever.

Here are some photos of flowers to tickle your eyeballs.

Christianity is missing something: Love

"I am not asked to impersonate the Holy Spirit but to live a life that gives off God's fluorescence. And I resolve to remember that God often allows us to learn just as much as we travel our chosen paths as we would have if we had walked only his lighted portions. But wait, we protest, that is like saying that God allows learning even when we go the wrong way. But wait, we continue, now that we think it, that sounds a whole lot like GRACE." 
Sarah Raymond Cunningham

             As i was reading the 5th chapter in the book Unchristian by David Kinnaman and Gabe Lyons, I stumbled upon this quote. The book is about how people outside the church perceive people inside the church and why it matters. Each chapter focuses on a label that christians have gotten like political, judgmental, hypocritical, old-fashioned and so on. This chapter focused on anti-homosexual. It struck me incredibly as I realized more and more that Christians have a serious issue with loving people. And that sounds so back word even as I type that but we do. Christ was sent to earth to die for broken people. He gave us grace so that no matter what we have done we can still find life in HIm. 


" The Bible is clear: homosexual practice is inconsistent with Christian discipleship, But there is not a special judgment for homosexuals, and there is not a special righteousness for heterosexuals. For all of us, our only hope for the fracture in our soul is the cross of Christ" -Shayne Wheeler

            I believe whole-heartily in this statement. Everyone is a sinner, including myself, and that is why I am so thankful for Christ and His redeeming grace. God loves everyone! and if you are a Christian and believe otherwise I would highly suggest re-reading your Bible, especially Matthew 22:37-39, which says, "Jesus replied: " 'Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.'This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: 'LOVE your NEIGHBOR as yourself." We, this generation of Christians, have the power to change the worlds perceptions of what it is to be a Christian. Let's live a life devoted to being Christ-like, which includes loving everyone, the girl in our class who talks bad about us, the bullies who pick on us, our gay neighbor, everyone. 

Let's be a generation of faith, of love and not hatred.

Television

            There is something more to watching television than just shutting down and turning your brain off. A TV show with enough drama, intertwining plot, and surprises can do more than entertain a devoted watcher. Once a show hooks the watcher, every new episode adds to the growing addiction.

             If writers can create characters who are capture our attention; either the characters we love or those we love to hate, than they have wrapped us into what story they are trying to tell.

           Anyone who has followed a show, especially from the beginning, can say how intoxicating a new episode can be. It is almost as if you haven't talked to your friends in a week and you are getting filled in on their lives.

            Now shows like CSI or Bones have a back story flowing through each episode but also have new mini plots being introduced and resolved in each show. Those types of shows are my favorite. They have enough character development, back story and drama to keep me coming back and the new stories in each episode keep my attention.

              So essentially, I love television. I follow to many shows and my DVR is always battling with capacity levels. The first couple weeks of summer will definitely become a reunion with beloved characters, unwinding mysteries, and a well-loved Lazy Boy.

The Giant

The Giant 

Reach down,
Pluck me from my tree.
Carry me off to a distant land.
Be gentle though,
I break easy.
Drop me off somewhere warm?
Where the sun makes your skin
Glisten under its rays,
Where the wind carries the scent of
Field flowers through the air and all Anyone can hear is the crisp stream Slowly moving through the forrest.
Lay me down somewhere nice,
Would you?
Somewhere like that.

The Ultimate Form of Procrastination

In an attempt to avoid writing an essay, I made a blog. I had wanted one for a while but today I actually created a place to share a glimpse of my chaotic and random brain. I hope you enjoy.

Here's a photo from a shoot I did as a part of my Digital Photography Final.