A still moment in time

Woodlands Sunrise

Today has been different. Waking up just before sunrise, I watched sleepily and half falling back to sleep the fog outside of my two windows. I dearly love fog. Can't tell you why, I just do. But then again there's many things I thoroughly take delight in. A quarter to eight, I shrugged into my orange sweatshirt and leather jacket and plopped on my books. Walking outside in my pjs, I felt a sense of freedom. Living in the country has awaken me further of God's handiwork. Actually photography did that, but I have easier access to my favorite places. He called me this morning. Beckoning me with the fog and the still voice. I photographed worshiping in delight and in reverence. Woodlands Sunrise is one that captured me and held me still. This photograph does no justice or beauty that was actually there. Then again that's how it usually is. The struggle to put in perspective the beauty and falling short, far short of the actual beauty. No photograph will ever amount to the actual event, no matter how beautiful the photograph is. Chances are, it can't even compare.

My sunday

Yesterday, I taught children's church, helped with a photoshoots, and taught in Young Adults.  After a lovely afternoon, I relaxed with my sister while looking at creative ideas. Somewhere in the there I took a delightful two hour nap, something I rarely do unless I am sick.

Both of my lessons ironically enough was about identity. I read out the meaning of the children's names and the scriptures. I wish you could have seen them, their eyes widen in delight. Each one of them eager to know what their names meant. No wonder, it was personal and relatable.

Once again I had so much fun at the photo-shoot. It reminded me of camp, only it was so much easier. I was used to photographing up to 100 to 300 individuals in two to four hours. As you can imagine this was a piece of cake as it was shorter. But no less important nor involved. It made me happy to find a place where something was familiar to me again. Lol. I known when I'm a photographer when I immediately think of lighting, backgrounds, reflectors, and figuring out the best poses for people. My only regret was not having my lovely sb-900 flash, as it would have really made the photos even more professional. I am so critical of my work and want to deliver the best of the best. In every photo I have ever made, I find flaws.

For the first time I shared a little bit of camp in person. It was so much fun and I was so grateful to be asked. I shared many joys and some of the hardest things I ever had to personally hear. I taught on one of the major things I had learn this summer. Identity as a woman, naturally I turned into personal identity. I had studied on Identity almost for a week straight spending at least two hours a day on the subject. On Saturday night  around 11, I had a break through. It's amazing what the original language of the bible can do for you. In my research for identity, I was surprised how many articles, and videos mistook character for identity or used character to explain identity without really explaining it at all. I encourage you to do your own research, its a fascinating find. A word of advice, don't think too hard on what identity means and what character mean, think very simply. The second is look it up in the dictionary and finally look up the word identification. I think you'll find something very special. 

Website Mission Statement

So I've been working on my website.  I am using wordpress as my host... at first I was annoyed. But I am gradually getting the hang of it. Just need to figure out where to put my CSS. Hah.

But I thought wordpress has an excellent suggestion. I highly recomend this for those of you who are wanting to build your own or at least start a website. So here they are:

"On a piece of notebook paper, or whatever is lying around, describe your site. Take five to twenty minutes to come up with a purpose for your site, or better yet, call it your Mission Statement.
Answer the following questions:

1. What am I going to do with this?
2. Who is going to read this?
3. What kinds of information will I be posting?
4. Why am I doing this?
5. Who am I doing this for?
6. How often am I going to be posting and adding information?"

After you've done all that. Put take it from a list form and put it into a sentence or rather paragraph form. I had just completed this suggestion myself 5 minutes ago. The results were surprising. It put facts and mission behind my work. So try it for yourself. It gives you something concrete to hold on to. Best of blessings to you!

Being Home...

hasn't been easy. For weeks I've avoided blogging simply because I hate negativity. It isn't in me to bring others down. But as I've mulled over what I've learned, the ugly, the sad, heartbreaking tears, the joys, the bliss, and excitement...well it makes up our stories.


Being sick is never my idea of enjoyment. Coming home unable to fight my sickness for a solid month made me thankful. It has been a long time since I've been so the sick part. To this day I still tire easily, but I'm finding my laughter again and to those who will listen tell stories not of my life, but of His and others.


Working at camp was NEVER in my plans. Cough. Actually God seems to have turned most of my plans upside down of late. I always thought, well that's a usual job for summers of highschoolers /college. Nothing special, nothing extrodaniary.  Not for me...or so I thought. Turns out it was very much for me. I miss the busyness, the joys, and yes sometimes the sheer panic of trying to get things done. However, I don't miss the confusions and running here and there missing by seconds the persons I was supposed to meet only to have to run (literally) to go catch them. I miss the pouring out, and God overwhelming pouring into me. If I could only tell the stories, if I could only accurately photographs theses emotions I saw on kid's faces and of their lives.  No sane person would ever be the same. I am not. Praise God.


But that chapter has closed. I won't be looking back. The stories of the great joy and heart wrenching sobs will stay. I'll never forget, I can't forget. I'll share what God tells me, it is part of His gift to me.

Being home has me confused. It's like trying to swim in a ocean in a pool. I can't seem to relax and the more I try the more guilty I feel. For which I should slap myself. It has taken me this long to be able to clean the home and start taking over what's my responsibly, but I hate shirking. And I feel like I'm doing that.

But God has given me grace.

Recently my pastor has been teaching many of things of what God personally taught me! I am so excited! I love it! My favorite book that I brought for myself is "Explicit Gospel" I had read half way through it during the three months at camp while working the many nights in the giftshop. I couldn't resisted buying the book although it cost more than I wanted to spend. But it is so worth it. Then I really wanted to give it to my sister and well frankly anyone who wanted to get down the nitty grittyness of the gospel. Lo and behold, my boss sent me the exact book! I jumped and in down and laugh. He wrote a special message to me and it was simple, but it meant a lot to me. I promptly gave my "old book" filled with my own writing and underlines to Kate and kept my new one.  I love it so. It has gone right away with what my Pastor has been teaching. You know what's even more exciting is I'm starting to learn more!


Yes! Yes! Yes! You see I came home, and everyone was learning the messages, the lessons I had already learnt! It was a review and I am so grateful! But I love to learn and darlings, don't hold me back when I'm passionate. I felt like I was being held back in the biggest way. You see I hadn't been able to tell anyone really about camp and it was tearing me apart. I wanted to tell how great my God is, how beloved He is, and how GLORIOUS and HOLY He IS!

Oh! If you could see me now, you'd see a blonde short thin gal dancing and shouting! Can you not behold Him? Can you not see? Can you not hear? Oh! My friends I wish you a far better more personal relationship than even I have! My God is so explicated, He's so good, and He is terrifying. Oh! My beloved friends! He's so worthy!


I don't deserve His love. I don't deserve His compassions or His mercy. I'm broken. A broken image of Himself. But don't you see! He loves me! He choose me! He sent His Son, His beloved Son to pay the price. The very price I Should HAVE paid!


Oh! For the stories I can tell there's nothing great than this! The Gospel of Jesus Christ, the majesty, splendor, and of the glory of God! I want to shout louder than the angels and to cry out louder than the rocks, my God is worthy to be praised! Why, oh! He is Glorious, because HE IS! He is GOD!

So belt out that voice of yours! You were made to worship! In the darkest of times, in the merry of times we are MADE to worship the God of all creation! So lift up your hands and praise His Holy name! Worthy, worthy is HE!

The newest Love

At first glance, he isn't even cut, even less becoming to look at. He isn't ugly, just well different. But the further you spend time with him, the more you grow to think how beautiful he really is. Despite my asking Dad when I was younger for a cat six years straight, I didn't want one now. I had no intention of getting cat until Kate and I moved out and shared a small home fulfilling our sisterly dreams. Yet, He arrived.  I had zero interest in taking him home with me. None. Nada. Zip. I didn't even like him when I first met him. Yet, his skinny self and purring love soon captivated me.  I feed him for two weeks  using my meager allowance to get a cat carrier, food, and a collar. Dad and Mom gave their approval and the time was set for them to pick him up.  In that short time, every morning he greeted me with a meow and curled up on my lap when I had a break from my shift. He'd eat and then watch me perching on a rock as I finished putting out food for the campers. Every evening, I always went in search for him and fed him good night. In return, he'd be there promptly at 6:45 when I'd make my usually appearance the following morning.

When Chris, took him away the following days made me miss him. I could hardly wait to see him again. He so unlike many cats, preferring company to solace. He loves to be cuddly and follows me outside when I work. After four months, the dogs and him are finally getting along. Hopefully they will become friends. I found his name and then promptly dismissed it. Mom suggested it and I decided to try it. The name Zebedee stuck. I named him after the son's of thunder father and frankly thought it fitting. I'm so glad he found me. God certainly knew I need a cat even when I didn't. Now if I can just convince mom to let him go with me when I leave for my new home. So far...it isn't working. My heart isn't the only one that he's captures, seems like everyone in the family taken a shine to him.

Last week-heart full

Can't believe its the last week.  Blessedly, when I arrive home I'll have my hands full. I can't stand being idle. Already, projects awaits me and I am eagerly looking foreword to them. One of my friends will be joining for part of a week and possible two others will be joining later that week. At least that is what I am praying for. We will see.

So excited about this week. I have been working my fingers to the bone working on the staff presentation. Not going to lie the first two days I have been stressed and could hardly find my smile. It seemed to have completely vanished, but it was so strange. Although I have been overwrought and felt as if I was sinking, this week has been one of the best week of my alone time. It has been one of the sweetest times...


This week alone I've probably put in easily  27 hours on the presention...in only three days.  Guess what its only 30 minutes long! But I have learned so much in doing this and I'd do it again. By this time tomorrow hopefully I will finished the thing so I can be with people and enjoy the last remaining hours.

The blind beggers

1.      Then they came to Jericho. And as He was leaving Jericho with His disciples and a large crowd, a blind beggar named Bartimaeus, the son of Timaeus, was sitting by the road.
When he heard that it was Jesus the Nazarene, he began to cry out and say, "Jesus, Son of David have mercy on me!"
        Many where sternly telling him to be quiet, but he kept crying out all the more, "son of David, have mercy on me!"
        And Jesus stopped and said "call him here" So they called the blind man, saying to him, "Take courage, stand up! He is calling for you,"
      Throwing aside his cloak, he jumped up and came to Jesus.
       And answering him, Jesus said, "What do you want Me to do for you?"  and the blind man said to him, "Rabboni, I want to regain my sight!"
       And Jesus said to him, "Go, your faith has made you well," Immediately he regained his sight and began to follow Him on the road.
                                                                                                                           Mark 10:46-52
    2. As they were leaving Jericho, a large crowd followed Him.
       And two blind men sitting by the road, hearing that Jesus was passing by, cried out, "Lord, have mercy on us, Son of David!"
        The crowd sternly told them to be quiet, but they cried out all the more, "Lord, Son of David, have mercy on Us!
       And Jesus stopped and called them, and said, "What do you want Me to do for you?"
   They said to Him, "Lord, we want our eyes to be opened,"
   Moved with compassion, Jesus touched their eyes; and immediately they regained their sight and followed Him.

                          Matthew 20:29-34

3.  As Jesus was approaching Jericho, a blind man was sitting by the road begging.
        Now hearing the crowd going by, he began to inquire what this was.
They told him that Jesus of Nazareth was passing by.
         And he called out saying, "Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!"
         Those who led the way were sternly telling him to be quiet; but he kept crying out all the more. "Son of David have mercy on me!"
          And Jesus stopped and commanded that he be brought to Him; and when he came near, He questioned him,
          "What do you want Me to do for you?" and he said, "Lord, I want to regain my sight!"
   And Jesus said to him, "Receive your sight; your faith has made you well,"
          Immediately he regained his sight and began following Him, glorifying God; and when all the people saw it, they gave praise to God.


                                                                                                           Luke 18:35-43


I'll leave you to discover for yourself the exquisiteness of similarity of these three passages. Praying that you find the jewels as I did and even more.