4/52

                                                                 Hudson & Jasper

These are two of my favorite people, although I have many!
The light coming through the window was very soft, a winter light.
Jasper is always staring at something, and although it might just be empty space, I can't help but feel like he's thinking deeply, like he knows more than we think he does.

This week I:

• went dumpster diving in a paper dumpster
• tried to give blood but was rejected because my veins are too small
• took the SATs and did not die
• watched the movie signs and then went ice skating, which makes any week good
• had a lovely moment at midnight one night where I stood outside in all the sparkly snow and a full moon and branches outlined with ice and just couldn't even take the beauty of it all. then i heard the most beautiful, haunting hoot of an owl coming out of all that silence. it was breathtaking. I really took it as a message from God.... I think sometimes He uses the things around us to nudge on the shoulder. For me, that noise in the cold of winter meant everything was going to be okay. God is bigger than any of my day to day trials. That's definitely what that owl was telling me, haha.  
• thought a lot about loving others and had some big realizations about the fact that I'm really selfish. I have that realization a lot. In so many of my friendships, I fail to be kind and caring and a good listener simply because I'm preoccupied with my own self. I have that realization a lot. But I know things can change. I need to have faith in the power that Jesus has to change hearts. also, i sometimes fear or desire other people's opinions or approval instead of only God's but to end, here is a great quote that has helped me with that:

"If you are kind, people may accuse you of ulterior motives. Be kind anyway. 
If you find happiness, people may be jealous. Be happy anyway. 
The good you do today may be forgotten tomorrow. Do good anyway.Give the world the best you have and it may never be enough. Give your best anyway. 
For you see, in the end, it is between you and God. It was never between you and them anyway.” -Mother Teresa

3/52

The most chaotic, crazy, dysfunctional, fun cake making experience ever. do normal cakes take seven hours to make? no. do most people choose to make a cake at the ungodly hours of 10pm to 5am? no. but do most people enjoy themselves as much as we do? definitely not.
i'm telling you, good friends can make anything the best. there's no such thing as smooth sailing when it comes to cake making with us, but probably no one's ever had this much fun.

2/52

Self portraits are narcissistic, but sometimes sisters aren't cooperative, parents aren't photogenic, and no one wants to see another picture of my dog. Sometimes I've got to look to myself for inspiration. In myself I see: depth and shadow in my face, scared eyes seeking courage, and lips that are shy to smile.  But, "Be the living expression of God's kindness: kindness in your face, kindness in your eyes, kindness in your smile." - Mother Teresa
I hope that after someone has spent time with me they know they are loved & valuable, and have glimpsed the kingdom of God. I am so far from this, but each day I lift those eyes to God and pray for the corners of those lips to be tilted upward. In my weakness, I pray to be a reflection of the one who created me. I believe hearts like mine can change. God can move mountains, after all.
     
January is devoid of inspiration, when you're trying to take pictures. The trees are bare and our faces are pale and we feel oppressed.
                                But I know there's joy in winter, we've just got to look harder!
This week I:
laughed so hard that I cried
ate frozen yogurt for dinner
had real life experiences translate into realizations about God's love & grace
sang badly at the top of my lungs
spent time with my nose buried in a book
spent time with God, more real and true than I had in a while

these things are telling me it was a good week.

love, e

1/52

A picture a week, every week in 2013.

This year, I'm going to take a photo every week, which is 52 photos. Pictures that capture the essence of daily life, or capture an expression, emotion, gesture, or characteristic of a person. I'd like a lot of them to be portraits. But here's number one, and it's not a person, it's just a star. Still, it makes me smile and brings to mind glowing new beginnings, perfect for the start of a new year.

        "May your coming year be filled with magic and dreams and good madness. I hope you read some fine books and kiss someone who thinks you're wonderful, and don't forget to make some art- write or draw or build or sing or live as only you can. And I hope, somewhere in the next year, you surprise yourself." -Neil Gaiman
   
                               "Behold, I am making all things new." -Revelation 21:5

 Sure, this verse is talking about  someday in the future, the end of everything we now know and the start of a new heavens and a new earth, but I also think it's something God is doing in us each day, making us new. Redeeming all that is broken.

                                                                hello 2013!
                                               I don't know what you will hold,
                                                             but I'm excited.
                                                      because no matter what,
                                                         life is an adventure
                                                   that can only be dived into
                                                               headfirst
                                                     going deeper & deeper
                                                               into joy
                                                                  &
                                                                love
                                                                 &
                                           the glory of God revealing itself
                                                       every single day.
love,
e