Just for you

It's been a long day. One of those days where things keep piling up. People are yelling at you and you have no clue why. Things are being misplaced. You're being pulled in lots of different directions. To the point where your brain starts hurting. You want to tell people to grow up, stop acting like a baby, and put on their big girl pants. Just one of those days...

And at the end of it, I get in my car and sigh. And then I look up....
And God quite literally says to me, "Here my love, I made this for you"

...and I rested

When sparks fly

You know that lazy rainy day when all you want to do is stretch out on your bed like a cat and enjoy the sounds? When you start thinking about your future, what you think you'll be doing a year from now. Then Sparks by Coldplay happens to come on at the perfect time. And for whatever reason, all the anxiety you were feeling seems to melt away and things seem a little more simple. Not so complicated, so detailed, so exhausting. It's like God takes a special interest in what makes you happy for that minute or so. A thank you is needed. And then it's all ok again...

To family groups 62 and 64:

I have never been so encouraged by summer camp as I have this past one. You guys taught me so much. You taught me how the grace of God works. You taught me how prayer works. I wrote down your expectations and hopes for being at camp and prayed over them. Nightly. And God showed up in big ways. It's amazing to me how God uses nobodies to affect others. Just like with Daniel. Throughout the entire week, I was so blessed by how you guys opened up and allowed God to work in your life. Letting Him soften your hearts and break down the walls. He brought you to that mountain top with Him. But just as Andrew said, Jesus doesn't live in Deland, Florida. He's here. With you. During those hard times when you feel like no one understands. No one knows you. No one loves you. He's there. The feelings you felt during camp and how close you felt to God during that time CAN continue. The question is, are you able? Are you able to be devoted? How big is your God?

Thank you for letting Tim and I be your small group leaders. Continue to rest in Him, seek Him, know Him, be devoted to Him. "Hold fast the pattern of sound words which you have heard from me, in faith and love which are in Christ Jesus. That good thing which was committed to you, keep by the Holy Spirit who dwells in us." 2 Timothy 1: 13-14

Dear Photography

Dear Photography

I wanted to take this opportunity to express to me how much you stress me out. No, really, you do. The fact that when I participate in what you have to offer, I'm then considered an "artist" is probably the scariest of all. Me? An artist? I mean really, let's be honest here, I'm no artist. Yet people continue to call me that.
Although you stress me out, I've always had that kind of connection with you. Remember that afternoon in June? Yes you do. The one where me, Melissa, mom, dad, and scooter went out back for some fun? I was wearing the worse possible outfit combination possible. A camo-print shirt and sunflower shorts? Clearly dad must have dressed me, he was always putting his daughters in camo. I think we spent 5 hours in the backyard. I got bit by mosquitos and Melissa stepped in dog poop; and you were able to produce the most beautiful representation of mom. Good job there. We ended up in the neighbors pool, jumping in picture included.

So you and I have history. After I got my first DSLR, we got to know each other a little more. A LOT more. Suddenly you kept throwing stuff at me. ISO....Aperture....Shutter Speed. New vocabulary. I've never been fantastic with dictionary definitions. It's been all about the result.

It's been 5 years since I started learning. 5 years. And I still feel like I don't know what the heck I'm doing. See how much you stress me out? I guess that's the thing about me and you. You scare me and yet I'm determined to get better. Not professionally though. Never professionally. But as an amateur, yes. You'll always have a place in my life. You'll always push me to be better, even when it scares me.

Then sings my soul.

Then sings my soul, my savior God to thee. How great thou art.

So simple. How simple is it sometimes? You know, "God, my soul sings out to you because of How great you really are." But we, as humans, over-complicate it. With extra words. Unnecessary verbage. Useless banter.

Can we bring it back to the love of God? To the unfailing, uncomplicated, overflowing love He gives. The kind of love you only find in Him because we are incapable of loving like He does. To the point of death, on a cross, just for us.

It's ridiculous really. To comprehend His love for us. Without the law, without payment, without anything but us.

Oh my God. Thank you.

I AM.

A tribute to my mom. The most spectacular woman I'll ever know.

I AM strong because my mom is strong

I AM brave because my mom is brave

I AM beautiful because my mom is beautiful

I AM in love with Jesus because my mom is in love with Jesus

I AM a friend because my mom is a friend

I AM a lover because my mom loves

I AM independent because my mom is independent

I AM a cook because my mom is a cook

I AM real because my mom is real

I AM compassionate because my mom is compassionate

I AM a dog lover because my mom is a dog lover

I AM a romantic because my mom is a romantic

I AM my mother.

My Blog: it's an excuse

Really I'm just using this as an excuse to post some pictures.....even though they're of one subject...