Newest Additions!

Here's to the newest additions!

2 Vintage Suitcases I picked up at a garage sale for 4 bucks! (For a photoshoot project) One's this awesome avacado green with a sweet satin, deep buttoned interior and the other is a brown leather oldie, probably from the 1940s!

1 Beautiful Planner from Target! I looooooooooove planners! I'm definitly a list and plan-things-out type of person. I've already written ALOT in there! :)

Just thought I'd share my excitement with the world.

Obedience vs. Performance

In our relationships with God, the line between obedience and performance can be a blurry one; but it's important to grasp because obedience leads to life...performance leads to death.

Obedience is seeking God with your whole heart.
Performance is having a quiet time because you feel guilty if you don't.

Obedience is inviting guests into your home for dinner.
Performance is feeling anxious that every detail is perfect.

Obedience is wanting to do your best.
Performance is wanting to be better than everyone else.

Obedience is saying yes to everything God asks you to do.
Performance is following a list of man made requirements.

Obedience springs from fear of God.
Performance springs from fear of failure.

All of these things are SO relevant to my life right now. I deal with the obedience/performance battle all the time. When I remember these things though, it's easier for me to be at peace and let the gentle hands of an all powerful God shape me into what I am to be.

A Heart of Repentance

I've been so reminded of the faithfulness and strength found in the Lord. I have been in a place where I've tried to do things on my own...and it's all been in vain. I haven't gotten anywhere at all. But yesterday, I felt the Lord calling my heart to be with him at lunch. Surrendering to Him changed the rest of my day completely and it was wonderful! Not like my day was perfect, but my heart was at peace.

Then as I was driving later, the Lord put the word "repentance" on my heart. It's a word that has been on my heart a lot. When we struggle and struggle with the same sins over and over again, we begin to wonder what's going on. Why are we still struggling if we are Christians? I think the answer lies in repentance. We may be sorry for what we've done, but are we repentant? The Lord simply said to me yesterday, "I've called you to have a heart of repentance right now. That means you do things My way. Not for your own happiness. You don't have to struggle between how you feel about the situation and what I say about it anymore...it's only about what I say. When you do these things, everything else will be taken care of." It may seem weird, but I feel like this truth has totally set me free! :) I'm excited to embrace this truth. Thank you Jesus.

Father, this moment I am choosing the way of truth. I want to set my heart on your words. Help me choose the way of truth the rest of my days. Let it be so.

How Deep the Father's Love for Us

Last night, I had the craziest series of dreams. I'm not even sure how to describe how real but random they were. All I know is that at one point, I was suddenly called on to sing "How Deep the Father's Love for Us" for a random choir performance. When I woke up, it was like my mind would not stop singing that song. I just simply couldn't think of anything else. It was pretty neat. :) So today, the message of that song has just really been on my mind and I love it! Here are the lyrics:

How deep the Father's love for us,
How vast beyond all measure
That He should give His only Son
To make a wretch His treasure

How great the pain of searing loss,
The Father turns His face away
As wounds which mar the chosen One,
Bring many sons to glory

I will not boast in anything
No gifts, no power, no wisdom
But I will boast in Jesus Christ
His death and resurrection

Why should I gain from His reward?
I cannot give an answer
But this I know with all my heart
His wounds have paid my ransom

Ponder anew what the Almighty can do...

God made you alive with Christ. He forgave us all our sins, having canceled the written code, with it's regulations, that was against us and that stood opposed to us. He took it away, nailing it to the cross. Colossians 2:13-14

We give thanks to you O God, we give thanks, for your Name is near. Psalm 75:1

Guide me in your truth and teach me, for you are God my Savior, and my hope is in you ALL DAY LONG. Psalm 25:5

Today is Saturday, July 14, which means it's the beginning of my really long title campaign, just like Sufjan Stevens does in all his CD tracks.

I love this blog so much! It's a little sad because it's taking away from time with my REAL journal...poor guy. I'm also diggin' the new layout. That's right, I said diggin'.

It's been so nice having Megan back in town for a few days. Last night and this morning we went DRESS SHOPPING! And I got a super cute one! I can't wait to wear it. :)

July is going by really fast...but I'm actually really excited about school starting again. It means I'll get to see people more and start ballet!

Well, apparantly I don't have that much to say again. But that's ok. I want to encourage you all to praise the Lord. He is good. He is good. He is good.

"Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in the heavenly realms with every spiritual blessing in Christ. For he chose us in him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in his sight. In love he predestined us to be adopted as his sons through Jesus Christ, in accordance with his pleasure and will— to the praise of his glorious grace, which he has freely given us in the One he loves." Eph 1:3-6

Go to the Library! Make your dreams come true! And buy a mac!

Man, the last bit of yesterday was so good. As soon as I got off work, I randomly stopped by the library and got two exciting books! First, "French Women Don't Get Fat" which I've heard great things about and have been dying to read; and second, "The Ballet Companion." I've never read a hardcore ballet book before and this one is like a textbook! It is SO informative...I've danced for years and never knew some of the stuff they have in there! Anyway, I've already read a third of it which is impressive considering it's huge. Today I'm planning on devoting a significant amount of time to "French Women..." Yay! The library is great. I walked out being so excited that I had new reads and it was totally FREE! Can you tell I'm excited? :)

I'm also really excited because this whole photography thing seems to be going well...really well. It's fun to be at the very tippy edge of pursuing it. I got to talk to my aunt yesterday who is a photographer and she was so encouraging and helpful! I'm trying to get an internship lined up shortly and am saving for the equipment I need. Haha, it is all so crazy expensive! I'm actually thinking of buying a macBook Pro...but not just because of photography (although it will be amazing for it!). I've always wanted one, my compy is gettin up in age, and a laptop would be really nice.

In all reality, the mac thing probably won't happen, but that's what's fun right now- checking out what is possible. And, call me crazy, but I really like trying to fit things into a tight budget...it's a challenge or something.

I also had a lovely late night of tweaking photos, watching Remember the Titans, and just generally rattling around in my clean house last night til Meg got home at 4 AM. She's home from Switzerland! I'm so glad!!

Prayer brings Peace

Prayer is such an amazing gift. I've been having a hard time emotionally the past couple of days, and then I realized all I was doing was thinking, thinking, thinking about it (which of course, makes things worse). I was sitting here at my desk and remembered, "Hey, I definitly need to pray about this instead of just mull over it!" Prayer is where the answer lies. Prayer is where the communication between God and me comes in and soothes my troubled heart. Prayer brings peace. The Lord is so good and I simply want to meditate on that. I've gotten to be in the Word alot recently and have just been bouncing between Galatians, Ephesians, and Philippians. It's been lovely.

Life is hard but God is good. And so we live.

Jenn and Kassie's Photo Shoot!

Here are my favs from Jen and Kassie's roomie pictures yesterday! For my very first time ever taking pictures where the people actually expected me to deliver art-ish, awesome photos, I thought it was pretty good! I learned alot in just this one try. Thanks so much girls for being my trial run! Y'all are so BEAUTIFUL!

Nothing Specific :)

"These mountains, which have seen untold sunrises, long to thunder praise but stand reverent, silent so that man's weak praise should be given God's attention." -Donald Miller. Through Painted Deserts.

What amazing, humbling truth. Lord, loosen our tongues that we may speak of you beautifully, the way we are supposed to.


This weekend was so wonderful! My brother and his wife (and their puppy!) came in town and we had a blast going out to the Farm on Saturday and shooting off fireworks. The best part of it was just being out in the open underneath all those bright stars, being overwhelmed with thoughts of God and the mystery of His love for us.


Last night, I got to see a bunch of my dear HS friends. Personally, I had a blast talking about things like Macs, photography, iPhones, travelling, and Sufjan Stevens. :) I also have a new music recommendation! Enter The Worship Circle: Village Thrift. It is AMAZING! Warning: It's definitely in that "different, artsy, weird" music genre. Read the reviews on iTunes...they sum it up pretty well.

Tonight I'm going to shoot roomie pictures for Jenn and Kassie! I'm so excited! I'll post my favs when they're ready!

Dunder-Mifflin, This is Pam.

I have to brag! Google Analytics tells me I have a blog visitor from Scranton, Pennsylvania. As we all know, that's where the best show of all time, The Office, is set. SO PROUD! (and silly, I know) :)

If you don't have Google Analytics for your blog or website, get it! It's so much fun! Brian, I'm talking to you!

Age Old Message, but Don't Take Them For Granted

Happy Birthday, Dad!

Today my dad is 55! My awesome grandparents with an awesome sense of humor came by the shop today and brought us McDonald's "Senior Cokes" - for only 32 cents - claiming he could get them now since he was a senior! Isn't that just great? I love my grandparents. And my parents. And my life. I've been given so much. Sometimes I stress about relationships and things, but how empty would my life be without them? There are people who would love to be in my shoes - I have an amazing family, good friends, and a loving boyfriend. I never want to take them for granted. Even though it's hard sometimes.

So I encourage you, if you are having troubles with some friend or loved one...remember what they have invested in you. Remember all the people who are alone who would love to have those frustrations simply because it would mean they would have somebody. Remember Who gave them to you. Remember He calls us to be kind, patient, selfless, and compassionate. Remember Who made them...and what Image they are made in! Wow!

Anyway, thanks for letting me be sappy...but it's true. Love to you all!

Beautiful

Well, we had our weekend of sunshine and apparently it's time for another storm. I love watching the darkness gather on the horizon, waiting in anticipation. I know this is weird, but storms actually make me feel safe. I think it's because I know Who makes them and it is evidence that He is in control.

This weekend was so good! Saturday I got to hang out with some of my dear friends from HS. We went swimming, got coffee, talked alot, and then went to Melina's house and SALSA DANCED! I love it! I also stayed up til 4 AM (which never ever happens anymore...responsibility, jobs, ya know) and got to hang out with Meg. She's now on her way to Switzerland! Wow...maybe some day I can go to Europe :) Later though, Kassie, Chase, and Megan came back and we went to the pool and were loud and obnoxious, just having the time of our lives playing silly middle school pool games. When we got back to the house, Jenn and Dan were there and they had cooked AMAZING hamburgers for us! How sweet! Then we got to see Kassie and Jenn's new apartment (which is adorable). I'd say this weekend was a winner!

One of my dear friends, Elizabeth Brown wrote this and I wanted to share it:

"There's something wonderful about being a woman. I dont know if its just the fact that I have desire and vision for beauty or the fact that every little detail of the smallest thing can fill my heart up to the brim. As a woman it is easy to relate to God as the lover of my soul, but i also see the need to know the mother of my soul, that he celebrates the feminine, that those joyous little details are there to intice me to praise him for his tender awe inspiring handiwork. There is also power and authority in being woman that is not supposed to look like man. Picture Galadriel, Joan of Arc, "I am no man". God, where is your church? She is hiding, afraid of what she's been told to be. She thinks she herself is not good enough, that she must compete with man, but she has her own role to play, just as man does, and there is nothing frightened or hidden about her. She will rise to mother, love, and fiercely defend those she as laid in her heart. Woman completes the image that God designed. His church must have both sides serving him boldly and to their fullest capacity."

I love that vision. It is my heart. Although I struggle with it so much, I believe the Lord has called me to share that message with girls and women. Hm. Having the Lord walk beside me is so sweet. I have nothing to fear.

Man, it's really pouring rain now! The streets are like creeks! I love it!