Wednesday, June 18, 2008

Giving Back

Okay, so I want to share my newest endeavor with all of you! For every session we (Shadow Lake Portraits) book, whether that be wedding, senior, family, etc....10% of the profit will be given to Romania Reborn, a non-profit organization dedicated to providing "hope, help, and homes for children." Specifically, they sponsor relief and missionary work among orphans, abandoned babies, and other needy children in Romania.

This ministry is special to me because my brother was adopted from Romania shortly after the fall of communism. Through my life, I have been blessed beyond imagination & “when someone has been given much, much will be required in return.” This has inspired me to go forward & share this with you! It is an exciting thing to know that you can help a child have a home, get an education & make a life for him or herself! By choosing us, you are not only choosing a photographer, but you are choosing to give in a way that will keep giving forward! Thanks for partnering with us in this way!

Your memory of a lifetime, will give another a lifetime of memories.

Spread the word!

Saturday, June 14, 2008

Detox

Alright, I know you're all thinking.....man, she's going deep with this, and I might by the end, but seriously, I'm just writing to say how incredibly odd my family is! (Though it's rather endearing!) My mom borrowed a "detox" contraption, where you stick your feet in salt water & add this electric thing in the water....and the color the water turns after 30 minutes, will show you what in your body is really needing detox....in theory, if you do this enough, it'll "clean you out." SO....what did we do tonight? Had my aunt, her two kids & all of my fam try it out....while the rest stood around and watched. AH! what a great past time eh? I can't believe this....we're serious crazies some nights.

But bringing this around, don't you wish we had a test like that, where we could stick our feet in the water of life, and depending on the color, we'd know if we needed to really work on pride, lust, envy, greed, or any other thing we are holding above God? It'd be great too if there was something we could do for 30 min. a day, and eventually it'd just be gone! Well, I can say from experience, that God Himself WILL tell you what you need to be growing in or working on, and if you purposefully spend time with Him and His Word, you will see those things working their way out of your life & being replaced with the goodness & purity of Christ himself....AH detox.

Tuesday, June 10, 2008

Realization

Rainer Maria Rilke wrote, "Once the realization is accepted that even between the closest human beings infinite distances continue to exist, a wonderful living side by side can grow up, if they succeed in loving the distance between them which makes it possible for each to see the other whole and against a wide sky!" Just heard this & I love it.

Thursday, June 05, 2008

L-0-V-3

So today I've just been going through stuff... if you know me much at all, you know that when people close to me hurt, I hurt with them...it's hard for me to not feel pain of my friends or family. I can't give you details, but would ask for your prayer. Strength, courage & humble honesty is what I need right now. Also, for the others involved who need peace, wisdom & faith beyond understanding. I was reminded tonight of my favorite Bible passage...Romans 12:9-12 which starts off with "Love must be sincere."

hm....

even typing that makes me go blank. Am I sincere in my love? How does that play out in my life? Who do I need to love more? How is God using me? Am I honest in my love for God & where am I in my journey with Him? "Love must be sincere."

wow....can we say that when we think of how we treat our brothers? neighbors? friends? our bosses? our co-workers? the people we see on the street? in the check out line? "Love must be sincere."

Do everything in Love.....sincerely & with a pure heart. only by the grace of God can this be done.....only by his Mercy can we be freed of the bondage that looks to hold us back from loving others unconditionally, from loving God as much as we should....He's freed us & because of His love, we love. I'm praying for your love & hope you'll pray for mine.

Tuesday, June 03, 2008

Just a note...

So this is not my thought, but took it off a comment of a friend's post & it really spoke to me....we all have difficult times, times where we think we wont make it through....and if we do we'll be charred or broken. If it speaks to you too, let me know!

"I looked at one of those Hawaiian "Sugar in the Raw" packets the other day at Starbucks... it says, "volcanic soil" on them... somehow through the havoc volcanic ash imposes, the soil nearby in its rarity is rich and in some ways purified (I guess that means the sugar grows sweeter there?). I like to believe that these moments we have that are 'uncomfortable and difficult' in some way make our heart's soil rich like that. No doubt, what God grows in your life will thrive because of times like the ones you mentioned."