So it's Christmas break and I haven't posted anything for a while. Probably because I was always super busy this last semester, and if I wasn't I just wanted to hang out or sleep. Now that it's break though, I have a bit more time, at least this week anyway. Still have work to do to get ready for Israel in the spring, but I do have the time. So, here are some recent edits I did of my friends' recital photos. Brighton is my wonderful, beautiful roommate, and she and our friend Courtney had their recital this past October. They sounded wonderful and were so cute, especially when they sang together! They're lots of fun to be around, and it definitely showed in the batch of photos and in their recital. Melody is another good friend and is having her Senior Recital in the Spring. I'm super bummed I'm missing it, but I know she'll do wondefully. She has such a great voice, and is so cute. I'm gonna miss these girls this next spring! Anyhow, here are some of the long lost pics that I finally got around to editing. :]

{Brighton}

{Courtney}


[Courtney and Brighton]









[Melody]
{Dave Tuck was doing most of the picture taking. Mel had asked me to come along to take some shots as well and Cesar was helping out Dave with the lighting, so here he is doing just that}

Pictures are my life. People are my life.
Taking pictures of people in my life. Even better.

A few months ago my best girlfriends and I took a trip to Ireland to visit one of our other best friends.
We had lots of fun touring castles and old mansions and sitting in little pubs and cafes all over in Ireland.
Just talking and laughing and of course, me taking pictures of it all.
It was fun to be with my girls for a few weeks after missing them for a whole year.
One of the days we did a shoot and I'd like to post some of those photos here.

Here some favorite pictures of some of my favorite people in one of my favorites time of life. :)

[Jenny]



[Bre]



[Heather]



[Us]

Now Ahab told Jezebel everything Elijah had done and how he had killed all the prophets with the sword.
So Jezebel sent a messenger to Elijah to say, "May the gods deal with me, be it ever so severely, if by this time tomorrow I do not make your life like that of one of them."
Elijah was afraid and ran for his life.
When he came to Beersheba in Judah, he left his servant there, while he himself went a day's journey into the desert. He came to a broom tree, sat down under it and prayed that he might die.

"I have had enough, Lord," he said. "Take my life; I am no better than my ancestors."
Then he lay down under the tree and fell sleep.
All at one an angel touched him and said, "Get up and eat." So he got up and ate and drank. Strengthened by that food he traveled forty days and forty nights until he reached Horeb, the mountain of God. There he went into a cave and spent the night.
And the word of the Lord came to him: "What are you doing here, Elijah?"
He replied, "I have been very zealous for the Lord God Almighty. The Israelites have rejected your covenant, broken down your altars, and put your prophets to death with the sword. I am the only one left, and now they are trying to kill me too."
The Lord said, "Go out and stand on the mountain in the presence of the Lord, for the Lord is about to pass by.

Then a great and powerful wind tore the mountains apart and shattered the rocks before the Lord,
but the Lord was not in the wind.
After the wind there was an earthquake, but the Lord was not in the earthquake
After the earthquake came a fire, but the Lord was not in the fire.

And after the fire came a gentle whisper.

Recently my life has been go and go and go. I feel as if I haven't had to slow down and even reflect on anything that I learned in a day, let alone reflecting on the Word of God. I have been so consumed with my friends, my homework, my job, my photos, but haven't had time to be still. Like Elijah, I've been on the run. I've felt down trodden. Overwhelmed with life. I may not fear for my life like Elijah did when Jezebel sought to kill him, but I sure feel like I've had enough. I feel that I would want the Lord to just rid me of all these burdens and responsibilities and bring me back to Him right now. Of course, I'm not suicidal or anything, but I just long to feel at peace in the presence of my Father. To not be discouraged in my zeal for the Lord. But I know, I do not have to be in heaven right at this instant to gain that peace. I know I do not have to be where He is to be still. The Lord calls me to go out and stand in His presence. Not in the wind. Not in the earthquake. Not in the fire. But in the silence, by a gentle whisper. The Lord desires that I am in His presence in the quiet. Away from the noise of homework. Away from the noise of work. Away from the noise of campus life. Away from the noise of this life. He beckons me in silence. He keeps my heart and soul in peace in His presence as He is here with me. He calls me to "be still" and know that He is God (Psalm 46:10). To be still and wait patiently on Him. For it is in the stillness of being in His presence that I may hear His Word to comfort my soul.

I pray that I may be able to be in the presence of my Lord in the quiet. Gain peace and rest by the gentle whisper of His voice. That I take the time to get to know Him more. Grow close to Him and find my refuge and my strength in Him in the stillness of life. Thank you Lord for sending your Son Lord so that I am no longer under your condemnation and am able to have peace. No longer do my bones have to waste away. No longer do I have to fear or feel burdensome, but I can find comfort in you Lord. I can find rest. Thank you Lord for speaking to me in the silence.

[Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls...]

I am a horrible blogger

oh but how I surpass at wasting time.

yes, how wonderful.