This morning before I got Josiah up I had a few minutes to spend with the Lord.
Honestly, this is extremely rare. I kid you not that ever since Josiah was born, any time I've tried to get up early to spend time with the Lord, without fail he wakes up. I.Kid.You.Not.
Anyway, this is beside the point. I was reading through my journal entry from this time a year ago, and I melted into tears at the Lord's faithfulness, and I just need to share this with you all. Those of you closest to us know the depth of the struggles we were in. You know our story, and our pain, and you see where we are now. I look at these blessings different these days, knowing how quickly and easily money and earthly things can be taken away. I don't hold them so tightly anymore. I know there will be struggles in the future. But I hope and pray that things are never as dire and desperate as they were a year ago. Here is what I wrote at the beginning of March one year ago:
Earlier this week a friend of ours out of the blue sent us $80. Obviously, we were quite blessed! Then yesterday we went out to Teen Mania for alumni reunion weekend. During one of the services we went up for prayer and this man had a very powerful word for us, that God's favor was on us and He was about to really bless us. After the service this man slipped Rob a note. We looked later and rolled up in this note was $100. We were blown away that twice this week people blessed us with money! But it wasn't until later that I noticed the significance. The total we'd be given that week was $180. If you think about it, a 180 degree turn takes you in the complete opposite direction of where you're headed. We have been on a path of discouragement, joblessness, financial struggle, emotional struggle, uncertainty, lack of faith, etc. But this week God is saying "I am changing the course of your path. I'm doing a 180 degree change of where you've been. You are going to experience encouragement, a job, financial blessing, vision for the future, your faith will grow leaps and bounds. Change is about to happen." .....This is stuff that we would never experience if we didn't go through the fire and trials beforehand. We wouldn't see these kinds of miracles if it weren't for the trials - I feel so blessed that God chose us to go through these things.
Despite my bitterness, lack of faith, frustration, even anger, God's love never fails, it never gives up, never runs out on me. Our lives are going to be a great testimony to others!
Really, this speaks for itself and I don't need to add anything else. I am completely and utterly blown away at God's faithfulness.
Tuesday, February 26, 2013
Monday, February 25, 2013
Telling a Story with a Diptych
I've seen so many photographers make diptychs with their photos (placing two images side by side to tell a story), and I've always thought it was only possible with photoshop.
This weekend I took some time to go through tutorials on how this can actually be done in Lightroom! Needless to say, I'm quite thrilled with how my first diptych turned out. You can see the original on my facebook page HERE.
By the way, the tutorial I followed is HERE .
This weekend I took some time to go through tutorials on how this can actually be done in Lightroom! Needless to say, I'm quite thrilled with how my first diptych turned out. You can see the original on my facebook page HERE.
By the way, the tutorial I followed is HERE .
Tuesday, February 12, 2013
Pinterest and Fake Beauty
I'm cautiously admitting to spending a healthy amount of time on Pinterest. But I just love how easy it is to keep all of your ideas and things you love so accessible in one spot!
Pinterest has literally supplied nearly my whole menu for the past month and a half.
Also, having a billion photos at my fingertips, I've also gained a lot of inspiration in my own photography.
I've learned how to do "ombre" nails, thus avoiding spending lots of money getting my nails done all the time.
And I've acquired many at home workouts for those days when I simply can't get to the gym.
This little corner of the internet has served me quite well.
Along with all of this good stuff, however, there is a major downside that I believe is affecting a lot of women.
Everywhere you look on Pinterest you find pictures of thin, ripped, strong women with hardly an ounce of body fat. Those pictures have captions like "Motivation to get in shape," "Tips for the fitness junkies," or "Lose 10 pounds in 2 weeks with these workout tips."
Friends, this is SO UNHEALTHY! It's so easy to be inundated with these images that we think that it's the norm, or everybody but you looks like that. We all have very different body types, and the women featured in these photos are so very, very different than many of us. Can you push your body past its limits and get in amazing, kick-butt shape? Of course! But I'm just afraid that these photos are casting an unrealistic goal to us.
For one woman, 140 pounds would be a healthy weight. To another, that would actually be overweight. And to someone like me, that would be anorexic! Ladies, it's time to love yourself. It's time to be okay with who you are, accept your body type, and focus on being the best YOU. Use Pinterest to gain ideas and inspiration, but tread carefully. If your aim is to look like the images you are putting before you, chances are you'll never reach that image and will live in a state of unhappiness and dissatisfaction with yourself.
You are so incredibly beautiful just the way you are. Don't let Pinterest tell you otherwise.
XoXo
Pinterest has literally supplied nearly my whole menu for the past month and a half.
Also, having a billion photos at my fingertips, I've also gained a lot of inspiration in my own photography.
I've learned how to do "ombre" nails, thus avoiding spending lots of money getting my nails done all the time.
And I've acquired many at home workouts for those days when I simply can't get to the gym.
This little corner of the internet has served me quite well.
Along with all of this good stuff, however, there is a major downside that I believe is affecting a lot of women.
Everywhere you look on Pinterest you find pictures of thin, ripped, strong women with hardly an ounce of body fat. Those pictures have captions like "Motivation to get in shape," "Tips for the fitness junkies," or "Lose 10 pounds in 2 weeks with these workout tips."
Friends, this is SO UNHEALTHY! It's so easy to be inundated with these images that we think that it's the norm, or everybody but you looks like that. We all have very different body types, and the women featured in these photos are so very, very different than many of us. Can you push your body past its limits and get in amazing, kick-butt shape? Of course! But I'm just afraid that these photos are casting an unrealistic goal to us.
For one woman, 140 pounds would be a healthy weight. To another, that would actually be overweight. And to someone like me, that would be anorexic! Ladies, it's time to love yourself. It's time to be okay with who you are, accept your body type, and focus on being the best YOU. Use Pinterest to gain ideas and inspiration, but tread carefully. If your aim is to look like the images you are putting before you, chances are you'll never reach that image and will live in a state of unhappiness and dissatisfaction with yourself.
You are so incredibly beautiful just the way you are. Don't let Pinterest tell you otherwise.
XoXo
Friday, February 1, 2013
Family Date Night
Before we had Josiah, Rob and I would have a date night every Friday night. After my job loss and things got tight financially, and especially after having a baby, weekly date nights just aren't possible. However, even in the hardest of times, we've still made it a point to do something together. We love Friday night frozen yogurt. Josiah loves it too - it's his big treat! Tonight I just wanted to capture a few moments of our Friday night family date.
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