Simple, Eloquent Thoughts or So I Imagined...

Another new hair cut!

2008-08-20T18:37:00.000-07:00

Here's my new haircut! I like it so far! :)
It's not a great picture of me but that's okay!!

It's been a while...

2008-08-19T05:29:00.000-07:00

I have been checking my blog lately but not posting anything exciting on here. The past couple of weeks have been a whirlwind. Last week I went to Chicago to visit family. Actually I flew into Chicago and then headed to Normal, IL. Yes, there is a town with that name! I did get to stay in Chicago one night and I always love going there. I always go some where new and see something different while I am there. I enjoyed spending time with my family as well!

The next few weeks are going to be busy with work, photography, and just life in general. The pictures are from my time at the water front near the Navy Pier! I love being around water and I have a love of sailboats. So, I was definitely happy to be there! The one picture my sister doesn't like but I was just being goofy and the other one is of me and my mom.

EMHE Continued....

2008-08-05T05:02:00.000-07:00

It's taken me a while to get these pictures up BUT, here they are! My mom was able to go out to the site almost everyday Extreme Makeover was here. So, I can not take credit for the pictures! Although I would love to! :) I will post some of my pictures up next week when I get back into town.
I had a lot of fun going out to the site. I wish I could have been a volunteer at some point but I got to be a spectator and that was fun as well. :)
So, the pictures are not in order as to how I thought they would be but, I think if you follow the show you can guess which pictures are of the designers and which are not! There is one picture of me in front of the house and yes, that is my mom with Ty (her new best friend!) The picture of the guy with the camera made me laugh...he looks like he is stalking his next victim! He was funny to watch...I saw him at the benefit concert for the family and also at the site.
The family came home yesterday and from the pictures I saw on www.charlotteobserver.com they were beyond thrilled to see the house. It's beautiful and definitely going to be cherished for a lifetime!

Say "hello" to Flannery....

2008-08-04T11:51:00.000-07:00

This is Flannery....I had the wonderful privilege of doing a short photo shoot for my friends April and Jeremy Hunt. They are a beautiful couple, whom I wish I could just be in their presence more than I already am! Flannery was born in June and is so precious, I thought I would share this photo I took of her on Saturday. I am looking forward to watching her grow up! She is definitely loved by so many already in our community!

The first of many...EMHE in Charlotte

2008-07-31T07:15:00.000-07:00

Here is the first of many pictures from the Extreme Makeover site...my mom went yesterday and I will be going on Saturday. Yes, my mom got to meet Ty and I now joke with her that he is her new best friend! :)

First story ~ Bahamas

2008-07-21T08:16:00.000-07:00

In my last post I talked about going to the Bahamas on a missions trip. I must confess the trip was not all "missions" oriented. The second week was more of a fun time. We sailed from the Bahamas back to Miami! But this part of the trip was not exactly the best time for me. One day after swimming around an island we had stopped at I decided to get back on the sail boat I was designated too and laid underneath a blue tarp. What I didn't realize is that the sun would be reflecting under the tarp on to me! I didn't think I needed more sunscreen! I ended up getting sun poisoning on my face. This has been something that affected me in many ways. (I will get to a couple of those ways in a moment.) I ended up having to be put on the lead sail boat and be taken care of by a nurse who just happened to be on the trip. I think she might have just been in nursing school at the time! Anyway, my face blew up like a balloon and I had to stay out of the sun. By the time I got home my face was still swollen and it had started to peel...which was interesting! I looked scary and no there are not pictures that I know of!
I can be out in the sun for no less than five minutes and my cheeks will become flushed and stay that way for hours. Most people think I have gotten sun burn again but that's not the case. This happens all year round!
The pastor at my church was on the trip and every time he sees me he asks the same question "how are you feeling?"! He got to see me at my worst which is not exactly a pleasant thought because I looked horrible! I actually saw him a few weeks ago and he asked me that question again. I then told him how many years ago that was and he kind of freaked out! He has asked that question for 18 years! There were days when I didn't think he would know my name and just know me by the fact that I had gotten severely sick!
So, needless to say the trip started out good but ended badly for me!
I had fun though and I don't think I would have wanted anything different to happen. I think everything happens for a reason!

Some Reflections

2008-07-17T06:42:00.000-07:00

I was sent an email recently asking for me to think back on all the missions trips I had taken over the years when I was at my church Central Church of God. (Yes, it's a Pentecostal church and no we don't swing from the chandeliers!:D)
In my reflections this morning I was thinking about how my life was shaped and molded in such a deep and profound way from those trips.
It was on my first missions trip that I knew I wanted to a) travel and b) be involved in missions some how.
I went to the Bahamas for two weeks with well over 100 people from my church. I was twelve years old at the time. And no, my parents were not there....yes, they let me go with out them! We stayed in a building that I believe was used as a gym. There were several guys that left a few days ahead of the rest of us so that they could build our showers. Otherwise we would have been without showers for a week! I was apart of the VBS (Vacation Bible School) and that was fun. I really don't remember much more of the trip. I do remember getting sun poisoning really bad on my face. My face blew up like a balloon and to this day my pastor at Central still asks me "are you feeling okay". It's been 18 years! :)
Then I went on more trips with my church. Twice I went to NY on my spring break during high school and then a few weeks after I graduated I went to England. I also went on one more trip with my church to Israel. After my trip to Israel I ended up joining an organization named "Youth With A Mission". I went on many more trips! (And there are still more trips to be taken!!!)
So many stories! Maybe I will post some more later on this week!

Extreme Makeover Home Edtion is Coming to Charlotte!

2008-07-16T07:49:00.000-07:00

I just found out last night that a family in my hometown Charlotte will be getting a new home in a few weeks. I love this show and how it portrays what as a community we should be doing all the time...helping people out!
And I admit it would be nice to see Ty! :D But, I am excited that a family here gets a new house. I wish I had time to volunteer but I will be busy that week with work!

My sister has a hard time surprising me!

2008-07-14T07:05:00.000-07:00

Last night I learned that my sister is coming home for a visit soon and it was supposed to be a surprise! She couldn't wait to tell me and so she called on her way to work yesterday to tell me that she is coming home for a brief visit.
I just have learned to laugh about the fact that it is really hard for her to surprise me. I have a way of finding things out even when I don't want to know. I think it's funny and she gets mad! She just doesn't know how to keep a secret! :)
It's Monday, I'm back at work!

Friday night randomness...

2008-07-11T18:28:00.000-07:00

Friday night is usually reserved for date night for most people. Well, I am not like most people and so my friday nights are usually taken up with hanging out with my family and a few friends! :)
Tonight I watched the movie "The Bucket List". I thought it was a really good movie. Full of life lessons and a few twist in the plot that I was not expecting. Maybe I was just hoping for the best! If you haven't seen it, then you should.
If you have any movies you think I should see then send on the suggestions...I am not into scary, intense type of movies...those mess with my dreams at night.
Maybe one day I will do a dream post...I have the most unusual dreams and I remember them each night!
And here are two more flower pictures that I took at another wedding last month...

A new hair cut!

2008-07-10T05:25:00.000-07:00

Okay, here are two pictures...I don't like either but they show off the cut! :)

I went to get my hair cut yesterday and I got 3 inches chopped off! It feels great! :)
I will have a picture up soon!!!!

I'm at work and not wanting to work!

2008-07-09T11:29:00.000-07:00

So, I have been on the internet reading up on the news of the day. I have also caught up on some of my favorite blogs. One of which is Adam Housley's blog... http://onthescene.blogs.foxnews.com/author/adamhousley/
I have made several friends on the blog and one of them I should say something about here. Her name is Susan and she lives in AZ. She is Adam's unofficial personal assistant! I think she should be paid and I know she does! :) She is always researching different topics so that she can learn more about the subject at the time or to learn more about where the other people on the blog are from.
So, there is my "shout-out" of the week!
I am still at work, still slightly bored and very much ready to go home! AAAHHH!!!
I have a lot of work to do on my friend Sam's pictures as well. I hope to work on them tonight. Soon, I will post a few of those pictures on here as well.

The 4th...

2008-07-08T08:18:00.001-07:00

So, I have decided this week that I need to continually update my blog.
This past weekend I spent the holiday with my family. I had a great time. One of my favorite things is to go see a baseball game. So, as a family we headed down to Knight's stadium. The fireworks display was great! Probably the best I have ever seen.

Oh the above picture is of me and my mom!

New photos...

2008-06-18T18:08:00.000-07:00

Here are some photos I worked on tonight...tell me what you think if you would like!

It's been a while...

2008-06-11T08:27:00.000-07:00

Since my last post. So, if you read this regularly...please forgive me!
This last weekend was good and bad. Good b/c I got to relax a bit and not have to worry about running around all over Charlotte to do things. But bad b/c a friend of mine passed away. Matter of fact he was a friend to EVERYONE he met. I knew him when he was in the youth group at my old church. Brandon was 24 when he passed away Saturday morning. Last night was his funeral and I laughed and cried along with hundreds of others whose lives were forever impacted by a kid that had a wonderful smile and a heart that was huge. He grew up into a wonderful young man. I don't know why this happened but I do know that God's timing is perfect and for some reason He chose to take Brandon home to be with Him. Last night was what I would term a "celebration" of his life. Yes, we are all mourning along with his family but we were also celebrating a life that was fully lived. I was reminded of Ruben Studdard's song that he recently came out with named "Celebrate Me Home" last night. It's what we did for Brandon...we celebrated him home...

Primary Voting

2008-05-06T12:59:00.000-07:00

It's voting day in NC...in case you live in a cave and don't watch any type of news...
As of late I am getting more into politics. It's strange but I think at this point in my life I am starting to understand a bit more about the political arena. I like listening to what each canidate has to say as long as they are saying something significant. I like to be informed as well.
It's going to be an interesting time leading up to November and I think it's going to bring about some interesting changes within the political arena.
Oh and yes I did vote. I think if you are of age you should register and go VOTE! It's a privilege and right that many don't take advantage of!
(okay, that's my little rant for the day!)

Another plug for a friend...

2008-04-22T11:38:00.000-07:00

Hey everyone if you are reading this and in the Charlotte area please come out this Friday night to the Evening Muse and see Sarah DeShields perform...8pm! It will be a fantastic time with great music and great people to hang out with!
Here is her blog and website: www.sarahdeshields.com and www.sarahdeshields.wordpress.com She's brilliant...so go check it out! :) Oh and she is from my favorite part of the world...the UK! :)

Also, lately I have played over and over in my car the Switchfoot CD "Nothing Is Sound" and I LOVE it. Switchfoot is one band that I have fallen in love with over the years on my own. I don't remember anyone saying "hey listen to these guys". I just picked up a CD and the rest is history. They are brilliant and talented as well. I saw they have a new CD out and I am excited to get it. Check them out as well: www.switchfoot.com.

Yes, this has been a blog on plugging music that I dearly love! :)

Laminin

2008-04-21T10:05:00.000-07:00

I just had to share this. I love listening to Louie Giglio and this I think is a wonderful video. By the way I never knew what Laminin was until I saw this video...it is unreal!

Physically today I am not doing so well...

2008-04-17T07:37:00.001-07:00

I have one slightly swollen eye and my nose is a little swollen, itchy, and red. I think it's allergies but who knows. So, physically I am not doing well but everything else is good.
This week I get to help out a couple from my church and house/dog sit for them. They have horses too but there really isn't any point in me helping with the horses...I don't know if I would survive! The horses definitely would survive but I am not so great with them. I have memories of trying horse backriding and feeling like I was going to fall off the horse at any moment. I don't really have a keen sense of balance either.
Anyway, back to the point. I am excited to help the couple out. They are traveling to the Dominican Republic so that they can teach at a conference there. They were missionarnies there for 20 years I believe. I have always looked up to them as spiritual leaders in my life. I got to minister with them in Mexico last year. It was such a beautiful, precious time of ministry. They have requested prayer so I am putting this up on my blog so that you the reader can pray for them too. Sally and Pedro are there names!

Beautiful Day!

2008-04-07T07:07:00.000-07:00

I was reminded of the mercy of the Lord through out the day. Too often I get caught up in myself that I tend to forget what is going on around me. Yesterday during worship at church I sat down and starting writing out some thoughts. (This tends to happen at times during worship.) I feel the Holy Spirit is breathing words that for me need to be written down to remind myself where I have been and where I am going.
I also had some time of prayer with a friend of mine yesterday afternoon. It was during that prayer that I was overwhelmed by the love of the Father. Especially when at times I feel so distant He is still there.
It was a beautiful day!

I'm excited!

2008-03-28T05:36:00.000-07:00

This weekend I will have the opportunity to photograph a wedding with a wonderful friend. I am looking forward to it. Also, this wonderful friend is playing tonight in Charlotte at The Perk on South Blvd. Her name is Sarah Deshields...google her name, you will find her and you will love her music, and photography!
I am also excited b/c I feel like the fog that has been shrouding my life is finally starting to lift. The sun is penetrating through the murkiness of the fog and I am seeing the outline of beautiful things to come. The dark cloud of cynicism is being pushed away by the vast and overwhelming mercy that only comes from the Lord.

Walking around in a fog

2008-03-24T16:58:00.001-07:00

This past weekend I took some medicine for a cough that seems to be hanging on for dear life. I hate it. I hate that I can't get rid of the junk that seems to be plaguing my chest. Coughing stinks. So, I decided to take the medicine and my mom thought it would be a good idea for me to take a double dose. It wouldn't hurt...I am not driving anywhere and hopefully it would help me sleep. I didn't get any sleep and every time I went to yawn I got really dizzy. This went on for two days! (side note: medicine affects me worse than the average person. I normally can not take a full dose of many medications due to the adverse reactions...unless I want to be out for a few days.) I felt like I was walking around in a fog. I started thinking about how lately spiritually I have been walking in a fog. Wondering when it will lift so that I can see clearly what is before me. I feel like I have a fog of cynicism shrouding around me. I don't know where it has come from. But, I know I have allowed it for too long. I see God move everyday in my life and other's lives. I am pressing through...with prayer and with fellowship. I know the fog will lift and when it does things will be just as clear as water coming down from a spring in the mountains.

I will leave you with this picture...
I took it yesterday and hopefully it will be used in a portfolio of mine soon.

August Rush

2008-03-24T16:52:00.000-07:00

Just recently I received the soundtrack to August Rush. I LOVE it! I loved the movie and while most critics panned it I thought it was great. I am a sucker for a cheesy, girly, romantic movies. I get involved in the story...if I can feel the emotions that the people on screen are going through I generally see that as a good thing. The soundtrack is a wonderful blend of rock, classical, and gospel. There is only one song on there that is kind of cheeky it's a remake of "La Bamba". The kid who sings it has a great voice though.

Glorious One

2008-03-06T16:24:00.000-08:00

I am trying to write at the moment and my dog has decided to be in "freak out" mode. I am not sure what she wants and she is just standing beside me panting away. Usually when she does this there is a big storm outside and she is freaked out by that. Not tonight though. It's a clear, starry night. The air not too cold just yet.
Yesterday while trying not to lay down again in my bedroom I realized that I have a slight intrusion I have not had before...a TV! There has never been a TV in my bedroom and now that I am back home there is one. (It's always been in the living room...I wonder if this will make me more unsocial with my family...I hope not!) It's great when I am bored or sick (like I have been this week) but, I spent some time listening to one of my favorite worship leaders sing "Glorious One" while deciding to be on my computer and later on in the evening I kept singing the song over and over in my head. I woke up today singing it. It inspired me along with reading some friends blog's. Having a TV in my bedroom can be great but it is also a big hinderance to my wanting to sit and write and delve into scripture. It's going to take discipline to just simply either leave it off or turn it off.
I thought about how I can talk about things all day long but if there is no action behind the words then I am just rambling. The scripture in James comes to mind... "For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man observing his natural face in a mirror; for he observes himself, goes away, and immediately forgets what kind of man he was." James 1:21-22
I feel that lately I have been more inspired creatively to write and to put some of the writing into photographs. My photography was something I felt was just a hobby and a far off dream to use it as an art form...but that's changing. Long ago dreams are coming true and it's pushing me to dream more.
It is my hope to continue not only writing here but also in my journal. There are days when I don't feel like writing or putting my thoughts down on paper but I need to do it. So I don't forget what is stirring inside my soul. Glimpses of the Glorious One...the ONE who pours dreams into my heart everyday begging for a chance to become a reality.

A few changes...

2008-02-29T10:27:00.000-08:00

I thought it was time to change things up on the blog. So, I have changed the title and the colors...I don't know if I will stick with the color scheme but hey it works for right now I guess. :)
I had the thought "Simple Eloquent Thoughts or So I Imagined" the other night while waiting in line at the bank. Yes, I have strange thoughts in the most unusual places. A lot of times I have what I feel are wonderful thoughts, so beautiful and eloquent...then they get onto paper and for some reason the thoughts don't turn out quite like they are in my head.
Maybe one day I will write something that is truly inspiring and beautiful...until then you get my rambling words on random subjects. Hopefully I will blog more as well this year.