Ah...the sound of laughter...

Here are a few snapshots I took last Sunday of a dear little kiddo...

He has an amazing story, and to hear his laugh and see his smile just made my year!

Elijah, I am so proud of you!

Africa

So, you know...I need to be a better blogger. It dawned on my that I still had the back post up, sorry ya'll. That's a bit crazy. Speaking of back, I'm good. It most aggravates me when I stand at church...isn't that funny. I hurts when I stand for periods of time, movement is good. I'm all good though, thanks for your thoughts and concerns.

So, I'm gonna give you a link to a blogpost by a family of photographers in Kansas City. Christian photographers. Amazing photographers. Inspiring People. Difference makers. I've randomly found their blog awhile back, have stalked it, and finally posted....and I got a reply (in the same day, less than two hours). WHOA. I was impressed then, too.

So, check them out at We Are The Parsons.

Most of you know that I feel compelled to go and make a difference, go somewhere, out of my comfort zone, to do God's work in another place. I've gone to some Central American countries with the church, but I'm feeling called to Africa. I don't know when or what or where, but I do. I had applied to the Peace Corps but was medically denied, and thought maybe it wasn't to be. However, it is. I know it is. It's just a matter of time.

So, pray for me. Where to go. When to go. How to go. All those things, I wish to be made known to me.

Please go see their blog..I linked to one post, but go to the real blog too to see all their wonderful talents.

Okay... so there it is. Take me to Africa.

Lumbar Spondylolysis

So, this is what's going on with me....

 

It explains the pain and discomfort I've been having... who knows the reason. Crazy.

I'm taking it easy and will try to figure out how to make it better.

If you want to read more about it, check out this.

Andrew Update

He makes me smile. This boy is special!

 

 

 

 

Will Update

Will update.... love this boy.

 

 

 

 

Kate Update

Some snapshots from Kate this weekend when I went to Texas! Not the most correct pictures I've taken, but I like them all.

 

 

 

 

self expression

Yeah...so then I was cold.....outside....with a camera....and cold fingers... and bored too.

This is what happens when all of the above occur!

A goofy Emily taking portraits of herself.....making silly faces.

But, ya know what...it was fun...

ice

Snapshots from the storm........ ice on everything!

You'll see some tree branches, but also some of the grass too. Poor Wally doesn't like walking on icy grass. It's funny, sort of, at his expense of course, to watch him tiptoe so gently over the blades of grass and then come running back to the door...and then he slides! Ha. he slid yesterday and couldn't stop..I laughed so hard. Poor buddy.

hope.

As many of my friends, I find it hard to write what I'm thinking and feeling on this momentous day. No words that I can write would even come close to expressing how I feel on this very night, January 20, 2009. I'm so proud. So proud. It's been a bit of an emotional day, and I am going to bed tonight proud, knowing that history has been made. I'm 30 and this happened. It happened for my 4 year old niece, Kate, who can't wait to tell her Preschool teacher Mrs. Stewart, an Obama fan nonetheless, that she knows Barack Obama is our president. It happened for my 3 year old nephew, who is so very excited and dances around the living room singing "Yes We Can". It happened for my 10 month old nephew, who has no idea how much this will impact his life. He smiles. I'm so happy that I can see the hope for their future. I'm thrilled to be a part of this. I am blessed.

shootsac:t-shirt:yes

Have you ever heard of a Shootsac? Well, it's the most awesome little carrying case for photographers. I've always admired them and thought it would be awesome to have one, but never followed through. This year for Christmas I had a hard time figuring out what I needed (wanted)...and I finally asked for it. You'll have to see the website to see all about it. But it's awesome. Interchangable covers are the coolest. It holds up to 6 lenses and fits beautifully around people!

This is actually a great story.... about three years ago I gave the majority of my old college t-shirts from OSU to my stepmom. I asked for a blanket made of of them...and I didnt' have any preference. Anyhow...two years ago she was working on it and gave it to me for Christmas. The kicker was that she had to finish it....so I handed it back and never saw it again. For. Two. Years. OMG.
So, this year, I asked for it to be completed so I could get it. And, I love it. It didn't really bother me that I didn't have it, but I reallly wanted it now. And, I love it.

So, I was watching a CNN interview of Scout T., who is a photographer our of NY, that followed Barack Obama around before he announced his presidency run....and throughout the campaign. She was able to capture amazing images that tell the true story of what she saw on the campaign trail of this changing world. I told my mom I wanted this book, but I said it kind of quietly and never mentioned it again. And guess what...she had already pre-ordered the book for me and it was waiting for me the day after Christmas.
Awesome. Yes.

trail:zoe:bump

Trail Mix. I made it for a group of my staff and for holiday parties...and I still have some leftover. It was delicious though. I'm trying to pawn it off on people....

Zoe Cat. I love her so....she's so sweet. No matter how hard my day is...she's always right on the chair when I walk in the door! Oh how I love my Zoegirl!

Damage...this is what happened to me this week. It doesn't look as nearly as bad as it felt or as bad as it sounded.
An elderly man ran a red light (thankfully I'm fine and I saw him coming and almost totally avoided him) into my car!
BLAH. Get this...I hadn't even seen my first payment for my new car clear the bank yet... how crazy is that.

gumdrops:wax:visit

These are the BEST gumdrops, ever. I had them at my dad's house on Christmas Eve, and then went to Whole Foods to buy my own! The flavors were: Pomegranite, Acai, Grapefruit, Lemon, Key Lime, and Tangerine.... most delicious! Very worth the splurge.

Me. My eyes. This day I had my eyebrows waxed...and little Violet was with me. She was a little caught off guard and wanted to know why I'd allow someone to do such thing to my face...and I was fine with it until they were super red! It was fun...but she did do a good job, the lady at JC.Penney.

Oh my...simply Violet. She came to visit for four days. I forgot how hard it was to be in charge of someone full time. Sometimes I think it's awesome to be single, still. Granted, it's still what I seek for my future!

miss smiley face

I have to say, "I'm sorry" on here. I have been so negative and pessimistic, and I don't need to tell the world about that. I want to get better at that, and see the goodness in the world... don't get me wrong...I'll have bad days, and I've had a few this week, but I also had most excellent days...and I hope to share more positivity here...that's really more about me. So, I'm trying to start over and not complain (too much, at least).

A lot of people do a photo-a-day project in their life....but I have decided I can't really do that. However, I plan on taking more photographs documenting little things in my life and posting a brief story about the photo I took, why I took it, etc. I'm not going to proof them at all, just straight out of the camera. I plan to start sharing a few photo's at a time...

I hope you enjoy...

So....I've become a pretty bad blogger. I'd like to be better, but it just seems to slide down the priority list. These are three snapshots I took on Christmas this year. I decided to actually get out from the camera and enjoy the activities, thus not capturing more thant maybe 25 all day long. Which is sooooo not like me. What's really cool though, is that my sister-in-law, Karen, got a new camera...which means that other people will be taking pictures! Hooray! Hooray! I think it's just great!

So, cheers! Merry Christmas from the three kids, Kate, Will, and Andrew!

 

 

 

Covenant

Yesterday I went to church....and it was beautiful. This is my new covenant for this year, that we all said together and plan to live by. I've already typed it up and I'm placing it beside my bed, in my car, and at my desk. I need to be reminded....

"I am no longer my own, but yours, o God.
Put to me what you would, rank me with whomever you would;
put me to doing, put me to suffering; let me be employed for you or laid aside for you, exalted for you or brought low for you; let me be full, let me be empty; let me have all things, let me have nothing; I freely and heartily yield all things to your pleasure and disposal.

And now, o glorious and blessed God, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, you are mine, and I am yours. So be it. And this agreement which I have made on Earth, let it be ratified in heaven. Amen."