Pardon me while I compare my insides to your outsides

Posted on August 26, 2012 by Joy

While shooting pictures yesterday for something unrelated to birds on a wire, I turned around and saw this site that had to be captured. It goes right along with how I have been thinking and feeling. It was as if it was placed there just for me and all I had to do was look up.

I laughed while thinking, “I wonder if this bird ever looks around and thinks, ‘Why don’t I look like they do?'” You have to admit, he kind of stands out. Do you think he sees his uniqueness as a blessing?

My temperament is one that craves relationships and interaction with many different people. I invest heavily in the lives of those I love and enjoy doing so. However, when I am experiencing inward turmoil I want to retreat and be quite. Lately, while going through certain stress I have been unable to withdraw which forces me to interact with others when I am out of sorts. This can be disconcerting.

In the past couple of weeks I have found myself looking around and thinking, “How does she do that?!”

“How does she work full-time, grocery shop during the week, run her children back and forth from soccer practice, gymnastics and piano, keep her house clean, volunteer at her church, serve on the PTA and have dinner waiting when her significant other returns from work? And what about doctors appointments in between and the unexpected illness?”

So tell me ladies, are you one of these women? If so, are you really doing everything that it appears you’re doing? Do you have hidden super powers? Are you saying affirmations in the mirror multiple times throughout the day to keep up the pace?

Most days, I feel more like this chick…
I can relate to the white bird on the wire. Sometimes I feel that my uniqueness is a gift and adds to my awesomeness. Other times I see it as a hindrance and something to be overcome. Here is what I know about feelings, they are constantly changing. Feelings in and of themselves are not to be trusted. So I must rely on truth, grace and the love that I know to be unchanging.

What are your thoughts? Am I way off base or do you know exactly where I am coming from on this?

Weekly Photo Challenge: Urban

Posted on August 25, 2012 by Joy

Takin’ it to the streets…of my favorite little town…tucked away…unscathed…a haven of sorts, where life doesn’t move so frantically and people still have purpose.

For more interpretations of “Urban” click here

Weekly Photo Challenge: Urban (eof737.wordpress.com)
Weekly Photo Challenge: Urban (3rdculturechildren.com)
Weekly Photo Challenge: Urban (dailypost.wordpress.com)
Weekly Photo Challenge: Urban (theretiringsort.com)
Weekly Photo Challenge: Urban (streetification.wordpress.com)

Five Minute Friday: Join

Posted on August 24, 2012 by Joy

Stop, drop & write. It’s time for #FiveMinuteFriday!

This is a great topic for this week as we are connecting people into small groups at our church all weekend. Thousands of people will choose to do life with other human beings instead of walking it alone. How cool is that?! I think very!

As I looked through pictures last night, I found this series that I just love of some of my best girlfriends daughters. After reading Lisa-Jo’s topic this morning, I think it very fitting. We all want to join in. Bad or good, we want to be a part of something other than ourselves. We want to know that other people want us around and to be a part of their circle. Even 2 year old’s want to join.

Often times, when there is something we don’t know exactly how to navigate, all we really need to do is look at our children. They can be far better teachers than adults.

“Grown-ups never understand anything by themselves,
and it is tiresome for children to be always and forever
explaining things to them”
~ Antoine de Saint-Exupéry ~

STOP

Wanna join in? Click here

Weekly Photo Challenge: Merge

Posted on August 18, 2012 by Joy

red, brown, yellow, black and white, they are precious in His sight…

You can see more interpretations of this week’s challenge by clicking here

Five Minute Friday: Stretch

Posted on August 17, 2012 by Joy

It’s #FiveMinuteFriday!
Where a beautiful crowd spends five minutes all writing on the same topic and then sharing ‘em over here.

Are you ready?

When reading this week’s prompt, I immediately thought of a set of pictures I had taken recently. This one of licorice is at the top of my current favorites. In fact, it’s my screen saver.

It acts as a reminder that being “stretched” doesn’t have to be stressful or negative. It can be quite beautiful, appearing as bright colors and meaning different things to those affected by my disposition.

I have prayed that God would shape me into what He created me to be so that I would not miss a single blessing or opportunity relating to my overall purpose in His plan.

He is showing me more and more how to stretch myself in a good way, revealing His handiwork in my current circumstances. Proving that, though there was a time when stretching myself would have been represented by black licorice, today, it is beautiful, vivid and intertwined with His grace.

STOP

Wanna play? Here’s how:
1. Write for 5 minutes flat – no editing, no over thinking, no backtracking.
2. Link back here and invite others to join in.
3. And then absolutely, no ifs, ands or buts about it, you need to visit the person who linked up before you & encourage them in their comments.

No more pain

Posted on August 16, 2012 by Joy

“She went to be with Jesus and her earthly father, my grandpa Ed at 9:46. It was peaceful and I was with her.”

This was the text I received from my friend whose mother has been battling an aggressive form of cancer that just recently spread to her brain.

A few short months ago I had the incredibly privilege of capturing four generations of women through the lens of my camera. I was honored when Erin asked me to come to her family home and record precious moments with her mother, daughter and grandmother. What a gift.

I would love to honor Krista by sharing a few photos of her with her favorite girls.

Thank you Erin for introducing me to your amazing mama who, in spite of the disease ravaging her body, never lost sight of the bigger picture.

“And I saw a new heaven and a new earth: for the first heaven and the first earth were passed away; …And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away. And He that sat upon the throne said, Behold, I make all things new. …These words are true and faithful. And He said unto me, It is done. I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end.” ~Revelation 21