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!