End of 2011...

Hellllooooo FRIENDS!
:)

It's almost 2012! After I post this, I will have done 110 blog entries this year!
Although that doesn't seem like very many when you consider the fact that there are 365 days in a year.
Hmm...

Today I was a second shooter at my first wedding photography gig! It was great! I really like being a photographer at a wedding and would so do it again.

I am exhausted though. I woke up at like 4-430ish to drive out to Lancaster at 5am.
It was worth it, and I would do it again in a second!
(If you're wondering to yourself why I got up and left so early it's because, yes, I'm still home, and yes that was MY decision. and yes, I'm still very much a homebody ;) )

Last year, I posted some happenings from 2011 and wanted to do that again!

SO...in 2011

I...

-Student taught in 1st AND 6th grade
-Graduated from college!!
-won 2 CDs on the radio
-Got A JOB
-Had 3 interviews
-realized even more, that God doesn't need me to DO things for Him. (and I don't/can't earn His approval. It's just there.)
-Got my Nikon D3100
-Had about 6 photo sessions
-Second shot a wedding
-Started medication
-Saw Mat Kearney in concert
-Got my very first OWN apartment!
-Started two babysitting jobs
-met a handful of people from two different churches
-joined a gym
-had my first "car" breaking down" experience

Quite the year! Lots of change and transitioning and there will only be more to come.

I think I definitely learned a ton this past year. About myself. About teaching. About what it feels like when God is the one carrying me through my day.

I don't worry as much. I have a lot more control over my anxiety and nerves.

God's shown me through all of that that His strength is verrry apparent in my weakness.

I'm excited for 2012 but at the same time, don't want to look far past next week!! ;)

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!

Provisions and Christmas

Welp...another Christmas has come and gone. It went too fast!
I was in Maryland the past couple days with my family and loving life. I don't know why, maybe being older, but I appreciated everything about it so much more than I usually do this year.

-Opening presents with the rents as our cat explored through the mountains (okay maybe not mountains) of paper.

-Going to MD Christmas eve and having our traditional oyster stew and crab soup dinner.

-Watching a Christmas Story with everyone.

-Christmas day with grandparents.

-Yummy big breakfast!

-Stockings and presents with cousins, aunts, uncles and everyone.

-Dutch blitz playing.

-Christmas dinner.

It was just SO great!! And I'm so thankful.

Unfortunately I don't have any pictures to share.

Before I move on, let me just tell you...it is a STRANGE thing to hear your grandparents explaining facebook... hahah just...weird. annnd moving on...


I got the apartment!!!!!! WOOHOOO!!! I waited more than a week for that news and was getting very impatient.
It was by far the nicest one and the one I can most afford. It's on the main street in a little town, walking distance from the library, the post office, subway, and chinese food ;)

I'll most likely post pictures when I can. I haven't moved in yet, and still don't know my move in date because there is a girl living there now who needs to get out.

This is my first time, really ever, to have to pay for most of my expenses and I'm really learning so much and seeing awesome ways of God providing!

God's provisions are the best EVER.

I looked at 3 apartments and it's just amazing that the nicest one was the cheapest!
Right after I found out that I would need to be looking for apartments (and thinking about my income) I got contacted by someone for a babysitting job. Whoa God, SO AWESOME how your timing is perfect.
This month as far as my job job goes, I'm not making much because of the week off..and no sadly I don't get paid for that. So I'm missing a weeks worth of pay...BUT I'm also second shooting at a wedding on New Years eve and making almost (not quite) what I would make for that week!! Whoa God. Provisions. Blowing my mind.

The other thing is...I have close to no furniture for my new apartment. ha. I'm so excited to add my personal touch, but I've been thinking about all the stuff I need.
Well it just so happens that some family of my family is moving permanently to their second house and they are getting rid of things.
So, I'll be getting pots and pans, a toaster oven and maybe even plates and silverware!! How awesome?!

Provisions!!

It also puts me wayy more at ease because I feel like this is really the road I'm in fact supposed to be going down. I wasn't sure if I should really move out of where I'm at just yet, but now I know it's right. BECAUSE of the fact that everything seems to be falling into place. (and of course I have been praying all along about where I would be)

ALSO- the lanlord is a woman who is 1) a christian 2) knows one of my friends' family 3) Is probably distant cousins with the women I live with now.

Whaaat?!

There are just so many comforting signs that God has placed in my path that have me feeling so grateful.

My dad is even saying "don't worry about it, if you need help (money wise) we'll help you"

Whoaa folks...my mom would say that in a heart beat, but my dad is another story, so even that was a HUGE comfort.

So yes.

Provisions.

God. your. awesome.

Sorry for the jumble of thoughts! But I've been so excited about it all!!

:)

Hope you had a wonderful Christmas!

Following the Light

It's been a while since I have blogged! (and I have to say I don't really like how blogger has appeared to have changed..? what's the deal?)

Life has just been so busy.

I took some pictures for two friends last Saturday, and I realized something.

I LOVE light.

In my pictures... I am seriously DRAWN to it.

One of the couples I took pictures for wanted to have pictures taken in the city. We did a couple on a college campus first, and I was in love with the lighting there. When we went to the city, there wasn't as much cool light because of all the buildings (and the time of day I guess)...
we went in this one place though, where the light was streaming through the windows and I just was like..."Over there! Let's go!" haha. They said "man, she is drawn to the light.."

and that's what made me think about it.



Isn't that cool? It's naturally in me, (and probably you too) to want the "light" because light is so much better than dark.

6 For God, who said, “Let light shine out of darkness,”[a] made his light shine in our hearts to give us the light of the knowledge of God’s glory displayed in the face of Christ.

Umm. LOVE.

I also realized this morning that it gives my blog title a new meaning!!

Following the Light

How cool is that?!


In other news...

-I have been blessed with another babysitting job. It is perfect timing and I wasn't even looking! Someone contacted me about it. It'll be every other Saturday from about 11am-7pm.

-I won two CDs on the radio last weekend!! Kim Goss and a CD sampler. (and I haven't even opened them yet...can you say busy?)

-I'm apartment shopping and hoping to rent one I applied for last Tuesday. Still waiting on that news...

-Taking some engagement photos today at Messiah College.

-Job is going great!! :)

Be blessed today friends!

That dreaded word...

Change.

It's that word I loathe.

I try my best to steer clear of it.

Avoid it.

I fear it.

Most days I pretend that I can handle that word all on my own.

It makes me feel all, scrambled up inside.

It feels like I just got settled and I can already feel the winds of change coming my way again.

It feels like everything I put some comfort and reliance on is going to crumble soon like an old stone building.

I'm thinking about moving again which is kind of exciting, but it's stressful. Especially because I have like no money.

I'm not certain about it yet, but the idea is there, therefore my brain feels the need to worry and obsess over it.

I'm scared because I don't think I've ever lived by myself, and let's just say the apartments that are the cheapest leave out some of the "safety" element. Not that they're not safe, they just don't feel as safe.

Let me just tell you, it's not easy to find an affordable apartment, near my job, that also allows for pets and feels homey and safe. ha

not like I've been looking all day or something.......noooo. not me...

I've also found myself worrying about the job thing again. Ugh! I'm so blessed and thankful for my job now, and I really do love it there. I don't necessarily love the job itself all the time, but I love everything about the school... It's just that sometimes I get caught up in wondering about what I'll do next year.

It's another one of those things though, I can't know...until it comes...so I have to wait and trust.

That's hard.

bleh. I've been so frustrated with people lately.

I keep finding myself thinking..."whyyy did you just say that?!"

Like...? people frustrate me and I don't understand them sometimes.

It reminds me that I need to make sure I myself am thinking before I speak because I don't want to hurt another persons' feelings like they hurt me, with their words.

..but life goes on I guess.

Big day for Elliot

Today is a special day for the household I live in. Why?

One of their daughters/sister had her baby boy today!! How precious and special this day is for them.

Before they went over to the hospital to meet their new grandson, they finished up with some gifts they were bringing him. She had a book for him, and she wrote his name in it. (supper cute..) On the back she wrote... "We Love You Elliot!"

Something really struck me about that the moment I saw it.

They hadn't even been to the hospital yet. They hadn't seen him, held him, breathed in his baby smell, or met him before. Ever.

but they already love him.

(you might thinking of course they do!)

But I was just really thinking about it. They love him simply because he is theirs. He's their grandson. He's her nephew. It didn't even matter that they hadn't even met him. He was loved simply because he belonged to them. (and he is fiercely loved.)

How much more does God love us because we are His!! He loved us before we existed. It doesn't matter what we do. It doesn't matter what we look like. He. LOVES. us. Simply because

We. are. HIS.

We belong to Him and we are His children.

Love, love, love this truth.

Try to make that sink in for you and rest in it!

WOO Jesus!

Do you ever realize that you're holding your breath?

I've been realizing myself doing it a lot lately...and then I have to remember to breathe. literally and figuratively..

This week went super fast. Today didn't really feel like Friday at all... BUT I'm so glad it is! I love the weekend.

Do you know what else I seriously LOVE?!?!

.....CHRISTMAS TIME!!!!!! :D

I. love. Christmas.

and all that goes with it.

I loveee the music.

The lights.

The decorations.

The busy malls.

Wrapping paper.

Candy canes.

Warm feeling of togetherness.

Presents.

Family.

Stockings.

Traditions.

Food.

And best of ALL, although I have to admit guiltily that I tend to push this to the back burner... JESUS' BIRTHDAY!! :D

I LOVE CHRISTMAS!! WOO!

Speaking of Jesus and His B-day, I heard this song on the radio this morning for the first time and really loved it. Take a listen, I'm positive you'll be glad you did.

Peace, love an hugs to you today. :)

Blessings!