Photos in the Afternoon

I took my lovely roomie, Amy Ahrens, on a photo shoot this afternoon. She's such a good sport! She hates dressing up, but she did it for me! I haven't edited these yet, so they are straight out of the camera. I just wanted to share! Enjoyed the challenge of this shoot. Enjoy!

This is one of the shots where Amy couldn't stop laughing, I love getting her in that comfortable place because it makes some great photos. 

This one and the two below I have titled the River Dance because she was interpretive dancing with the flowers before we went into the river. 

I made her get in the middle of the water because I love the serenity of it. I follow a photographer that often does this with her subjects to see what they will do. Interesting I must say. 

At this point the chair started sinking, so we had to get creative. Loved this shot that I caught. I've called it the Wading Act. 

The Sojourner 

This was really just a shot I got while adjusting my camera. I wouldn't use it for reprint, but I think it's Amy just acting crazy, so I wanted to share. 

I think she looks a little like Jane Goodall here

The Still Small Reminder

Body image is something I struggle with a lot, and if you are a woman I would assume that you have the same struggle. Our struggles may not be the same when it comes to image, but it's still an image issue. Recently I have been reminded of how much it is us just wanting to please the world, it's us not thinking we're good enough, not seeing us as loved and I could go on and on. I was reminded by a great friend of what one woman said over the summer, "Really God looks at the heart, he doesn't get caught up, and he looks at the real you." Not the person we put on, not the person we compare ourself to and defiantly not the person we see ourselves as. I read a blog post today that I needed to hear- truth. Recently the struggle has been greater, and this post reminded me that we are small and God is the I AM. He's not the person that you have coffee everyday, He's not human and He's not who we often make Him out to be. Here's a little excerpt from the blog I read...
I say: “Nobody really loves me.” God says:I love you. (John 3:16) 
I say: “I can’t figure things out.” God says: I will direct your steps. (Proverbs 3:5-6 & Proverbs 16:9)                                                   
I  say: “It’s not worth it.” God says: It will be worth it. (Romans 8:28) 
I say: “I can’t forgive myself.” God says: I FORGIVE YOU!(I John 1:9 & Romans 8:1) 
I say: “I can’t manage.” God says: I will supply all your needs. (Philippians 4:19) 
I say: “I’m not smart enough.” God says: I give you wisdom. (I Corinthians 1:30) 
I say: “I feel all alone.” God says: I will never leave you or forsake you. (Hebrews 13.5)   

I needed to hear some of those truths this morning as a reminder that God is the one I need to look to in all things, find myself in Him, my image in Him, my future in Him because He is the I AM. 

Spring Fever

Well it's that time again. The last 8 weeks is the hardest for me to handle during the spring semester because I really want to be outside. Today I have office hours, so I am dreaming about hiking and being in the woods. 8 weeks will end soon, and when they are done this girls is done with school! It's weird because school is something that I have done every year in the same way since I was 5. Now I'm 21. WHOA! A lot of people have been asking me the one question we all get asked at this stage, 'What are you going to do with your life?' It's funny because I thought right now I would be finishing up application stuff to go over seas and live in a foreign country for 2 years, that was up until last September when God really halted me in that process. That started this long journey that I am still on, and I am realizing more and more of what a privilege it is. I have applied for a few jobs, applied for an internship in Africa and even started raising money to go on another trip to Africa. However, none of those things were what God has for me to do. You may be asking what that is exactly, and to be honest I have no clue. I do know 3 things though- I love people, I want to make their story be known and most of all I want to tell them about Jesus. For a while I walked around feeling lost about what was going on in my life-because after all I'm supposed to have it all together right? I mean I did go to college.- But, I've realized this is a learning opportunity. God is allowing me to learn more about His spirit, He's allowing be to learn more about what it means to truly follow and abide in Him. I'm a people pleaser so sometimes not having the answer is the hardest part for me, but I have been learning that if I'm not having the faith that God will show me in His timing then I don't really believe He can do it. How ridiculous right!? Along the way I've held close to some things like James 1.2-4 "Consider it pure joy my brothers when ever you face trials of many kinds because you know that the testing of your faith will develop perseverance. Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be more mature and complete not lacking anything." What wonderful words-not lacking anything. I read 2 things yesterday that have put this whole journey into a perspective. One was in John 1. 27 where it says "the thongs of whose sandals I am not worthy to untie." and then the second thing was also in John by it was in chapter 2. It's where Jesus tells the Jews want a sign to show who he really is and he says to destroy the temple and he will raise in 3 days. It goes onto say the disciples remembered this time after Christ's resurrection. It says after remembering this they believed the scriptures and what Jesus had said. It struck me because in the chapter before these men started to leave everything, but they really didn't believe or fully understand until after the resurrection. 3 years! I was just amazed and struck by that point. (it's always interesting how sometimes we can read something over and over but the Holy Spirit impresses upon us different pieces at different times. Awesome!) That's where I'm at right now. I'm following Jesus, and I believe what the word says and what I know to be true right now, but I am just following blindly. I don't know my next step but God does. He knows the outcome, and He is so far ahead of me that I can't even imagine what He's doing. It's my job to be obedient in the day and continue to do what I know I have been called to, follow at all costs. When I'm uncomfortable have faith and follow, when it seems like things have changed have faith and follow, I could go on, but I think you get the point. So, I'm in deep spring fever both spiritually and physically. However, I am learning a lot, and I'm thankful for it.

Wonderful People Wednesdays!

I want to dedicate Wednesdays to show appreciation for great people the Lord has placed in my life.
Today is dedicated to the Barb family. Eric and Kelly Barb have been married for a little over a year, and I am so thankful for God bringing them together so we can have them both here at SEMO. God has graciously placed these two people in my life to guide me in leadership positions, befriend me and accept me into their family. I get to meet with Kelly each week to have her guide me in a mentor relationship. I think it's funny because she tells me she doesn't believe she has anything to offer, but I see Jesus working in her and growing her all the time, and I think that gives her a TON to offer. I just want to be around her to experience God using her. She's a great example to younger women who desire to be great wives and women in the Lord. I can see her submission in her marriage and growth through that process. It's really a blessing to see her learning and walking through her faith because it spurs me on in my life. Eric is a great leader and teacher. I really enjoy having the chance to hear him speak about the Lord and what has been placed on his heart each week. It's great to see a leader after the Lord and greatly desiring to seek him. They put the Lord first in their marriage and that's just a great example for us as younger adults to see. I'm greatly encouraged by the way they lay down their lives to allow the Lord to use them as he sees fit. The Barbs are probably the most humble people I've come across in my life, so they would never admit to any of this, but I think many of the people who have crossed paths with them would agree. So, Wonderful People Wednesdays is dedicated to the Barbs this week. I hope you have the opportunity to cross their path sometime to get the blessing.

Story from Germany

I haven't written in a while, but I plan on writing tonight. I wanted to give the link to the story that I wrote about Germany. Here it is, and I will write a post tonight. http://www.semissourian.com/story/1807050.html?response=no

German winters

Well, I have kind of failed at my goal that I set in my last post. I didn't realize how busy I would actually be when I got to Germany. So, I will catch you up!
Florida:
 Finished my time up there with a great Christmas celebration with the family. Went to the beach Christmas eve and did what I love, laid in the sun (I only got a little burnt and we found a baby octopus). I finished my book, which I would like to give a small review on at the end of this post. We then opened presents when we got home. We went to bed late, slept in and then lazed around all Christmas day! Yeah! Then I got ready and headed out on the 26th. I got a killer headache on the flight to Germany so I slept the entire 8 hour flight. (that's never happened).
Germany:
 I made Germany blue because it's so cold, especially after coming from FL. Well my brother, Lane, was in the hospital when I got here. For those of you who don't know he has T-All Leukemia. He was finishing up his last high risk block, but there was some sickness so he was still there when I arrived. It was a shock really seeing him because he's changed A LOT from the last time I saw him. However, I have gotten to experience how German medicine works. They really care about the patient, and they take all the time they need in the world, and it's so different from the way Americans roll. He got great news the second day that I was here, all the bad cells were gone, AND he was ready for transplant. They took a day to discuss it, but he will be getting the stem-cell transplant. The whole preliminary process has already began, and he will be hospitalized to make sure he is clear and healthy, starting on Jan. 7th. His transplant will start be on Jan 17th. I am leaving on the 10th, so I will still be here for a little bit of the process. After the transplant he will be in the hospital for 5 weeks, and then he will be in the 100 days to being cured. I've learned a lot about the process, and I have met some really tough little kids.  Lane is soon to be 9, but we had a conversation today and I swear he's like 14 now. He's a tough cookie, and he's always quick with a joke. I'm excited for the transplant because it's been a long 5 months for them. He wasn't home for any holidays from Halloween on, but he gets to celebrate New Years Eve (Sylvester as the Germans say) at home. So we are going to set off fire works and eat great food. Hopefully I will have some pictures.

So, that's where I'm at on the Xmas trek right now. There will be more for sure because I know some more is going to happen. I hope after Erfurt and New Years I will do the picture blog I was talking about. For those of you readers, I am going to give a very short review of Delirium that I finished in Florida, and I will post a picture of the cute little guy we found at the beach. Have a great New Years!

I like to call him Fred because he just looks the type. He's cute in his own little way!

Delirium: Lauren Oliver

It's a book that is the start of a trilogy. It's of a futurist distopia were people in the United States believe that love is a disease. It's written in first person, so you hear all of the girls thoughts. It's a choice that isn't used very often, but I think it works, and it's interesting in this book. I think the progression of the book is really led by this format. The book jumps right into what is going on in the world at this time. It explains how Love is a disease and what is done to fix it now days. Oliver takes you on a very emotional journey throughout the book. There is love, betrayal, adventure and murder - really the whole 9 yards if you will. I think this is a great, quick read. It's for the teen audience, but I am never opposed to reading teen books. If you liked the Hunger Game series you will for sure like this one. (And if you haven't read the Hunger Games I suggest you do because it's awesome) The second book in the Delirium Trilogy: Pandemonium will be released Feb. 2012.

(I told you the review would be short, and I would like to start doing some short reviews on the books that I read. The next will be The Help. I know they're not real reviews, but it's just to share the books I read with you.)

Florida Winter

I know I haven't blogged in a long time, but one of my goals was to blog while I am on my Xmas-trek (as I've named it). I arrived in Tampa yesterday, and I am at my mother's home until the 26. On the 26 I will be heading to Germany.
On the way here I got the pleasure of sitting by a woman who drank 5 bottles of Vodka and a man from Englad who acted like Economy class was the worst thing he had ever seen. I think airplanes and airports are always fun. I think it's fun for me because I get to people watch. I know, it's kind of creepy, but it's a simple joy in life. I think people are so interesting, and I probably would take pictures of them if that wasn't, what I would assume to be, boarderline illegal. (But sometimes I even write small stories about their lives from just watching them). Either way, I made it, and I am pumped to be here because Christmas on the beach- I'm all for it.
I start the Florida Fun tonight with a beach trip for my younger brother's b-day. It's really blowing my mind, they even are still watering the grass here! It's the middle of December! Well, I just wanted to give the heads up of my goal. I will proabably do a picture blog because I have wanted to do one of those for a long time! Well have a great day! Hope you're staying warm!