by Amy | Oct 21, 2013 | Blog, The Art of Faith
It’s snowing.
That fact alone is leaving me feeling a bit overwhelmed. When did it get to be practically-2014? I bet some of you are feeling the same way. Then I get overwhelmed by all the things I wanted to do and didn’t do, and should do, and could do, but don’t do…
Ever feel that way?
The problem for me is that when I start to get in that rut I begin to feel enormously inadequate. I look around and see people who have it together and are making strides. And I feel like a hot mess on an August afternoon.
So this afternoon while I was feeling a little blah, I began re-reading 1 Corinthians. It’s what the high school Sunday school class is studying now, but I’ve only taught on chapters 7 and 8. I hadn’t gone back to the start of the book until today. In chapter 1 I’ve got a whole paragraph highlighted. It’s verses 26-31.
“Brothers and sisters, think of what you were when you were called. Not many of you were wise by human standards; not many were influential; not many were of noble birth. But God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise; God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong. God chose the lowly things of this world and the despised things—and the things that are not—to nullify the things that are, so that no one may boast before him. It is because of him that you are in Christ Jesus, who has become for us wisdom from God—that is, our righteousness, holiness and redemption. Therefore, as it is written: “Let the one who boasts boast in the Lord.”
What a passage for those of us feeling overwhelmed or not up to par today.
When God called us into a life devoted to Him we probably weren’t super stars. And we probably still aren’t. This is His design. His plan, His work has always used the weak to lead the strong. It has always used the lowly to shame the mighty, and used the small to do His biggest work. Most of the Bible’s most iconic players were average, below average, and riddled with imperfection. So if you are feeling that way today, take heart. You are in the perfect place, the perfect state of mind, the perfect position to be used for greatness. You only have to submit to His plan and the possibility He has for your life.
For further reading check out James 1. Especially verses 9-11. It’s another reminder that God uses those who are not an image of wealth and perfection from a mortal view.
Amy
by Amy | Oct 18, 2013 | Blog, The Art of Faith, The Art of the Moment
Tonight Practically Canada is expected to get mixed precipitation. As in rain…mixed with snow. It’s only a matter of time now and winter will be upon us again.
I love fall and I hate to see it come to a close. I’m a fan of sweater weather and the smell of dry leaves. I like the eerie feeling in the air as things begin to close up, grow dark and quiet for a long winter season. I like cemetaries and the way they look with deer peeking out from behind grave stones and crow circling overhead. I love the colors and the flavors and the spooky side of this time of year.
So I thought I’d take this opportunity to put together a little image essay. These are a few things that caught my eye as I walked around my block. The beautiful thing about photographs is that you can savor a moment forever. This way, even if snow falls tonight, we’ll still have the color of the leaves, the smell or fresh apples, and the sound of crunchy leaves lingering in our minds.
by Amy | Oct 16, 2013 | Blog, The Art of the Moment
This is Hannah. She’s a senior and she is especially dear to me. Last year she approached me and asked if I could begin mentoring her. Since then, I’ve had the pleasure of encouraging this fine gal along her spiritual walk. I’m so blessed to call her a friend.
Hannah is incredibly, musically talented. She plays the violin and the piano, and sings. She plays in the youth worship band at church. And she is a hot tea connoisseur. Which I totally dig, because I love chatting over a good, hot drink.
Hannah has ambitions of traveling far and wide. Dreams of seeing Norway and Ireland and all kinds of other places. I know this one is going to grow some major wings. I know this girl will {indeed} go places and do great things.
by Amy | Oct 9, 2013 | Blog, The Art of the Moment
Savanna lives in the country. Shade dapples the property. Classic cars peek out from behind the barn…projects to be done. The grass is green, bunnies hop through tall weeds, the sun makes the color of the world vibrant.
In this rustically idyllic setting, Savanna fits in perfectly. She’s fun and tough, and the kind of girl who walks around outside without shoes.
Like all the seniors I’ve book so far this year, I know Savanna through the youth group I volunteer with at church. So I offered her the same discount that Gretchen took advantage of. Throughout the rest of the post you’ll find the verses she chose to memorize and recite at her session.
“They replied, ‘Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved–you and your household.” Acts 16:31
She and her dad restored this 1960’s truck together. I’m simply crazy about the color. She calls it the “Turtle” because it’s green and slow.
“For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,” Romans 3:23
“For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.” Romans 6:23
“In fact, the law requires that nearly everything be cleansed with blood, and without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness.” Hebrews 9:22
“For the Son of Man came to seek and save the lost.” Luke 19:10
Be on the lookout for more from this session on the Facebook page later this week. And don’t forget to come over to the Facebook page every night for a new costume idea throughout the month of October.
Amy
by Amy | Oct 1, 2013 | Blog, The Art of the Moment
It’s no secret that I love high-schoolers. Especially the girls. But not in a creepy way. They are living such an exciting time in their lives and there is still so much more to come. The energy, beauty and possibility found in soon-to-be graduates is infectious. Which is why I love senior portrait sessions.
Meet Gretchen. She was my first senior session of the year. I know you will like her as much as I do.
This year for teens involved in the youth group that I volunteer with I offered a special discount. For every Bible verse they could quote to me {up to 5, excluding “Jesus wept” and John 3:16} I’d knock $10 off their session cost. Gretchen nailed all five. Throughout the rest of the post I’ll be writing the verses she chose to quote to me.
Jesus answered, I am the way the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” John 14:6
“Therefore, I urge you, brothers in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God–this is your spiritual act of worship.” Romans 12:1
“All scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness.” 2 Timothy 3:16
“In the beginning was the Word and the Word was with God and the Word was God.” John 1:1
“I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will counsel you and watch over you.” Psalm 32:8
by Amy | Sep 25, 2013 | Blog, The Art of the Moment
You know the phrase, “All because 2 people fell in love…” I’m sure you’ve seen it on picture frames, wall decals, signage above a gallery wall of family photos. A few weeks ago I had the great privilege of photographing one of the most beautiful weddings I’ve ever attended. It was like walking into an issue of Wedding by Martha. One thing that stuck out to me during my day with this lovely couple was a sign that read:
“All because 2 3 people fell in love.”
That’s the truth. This wedding is the story of how Erika, Elly, and Matt officially became a family. It’s not simply the story of two adults getting married, it’s the story of a family being formed.
Just look at this beautiful family, and prepare to be amazed. This day was Erika’s vision and she carried it out in amazing, affordable, DIY fashion. Every detail of their big day was thoughtful and beautifully carried out. (more…)
by Amy | Sep 6, 2013 | Blog
I’ve lived in North Dakota {aka Practically Canada} for more than a year now. And in that amount of time I’ve learned some things. Most of what I’ve learned has had to do with coping with seasons. Particularly winter. Go figure. One thing in particular that I’ve learned about winter is that it follows what folks up here refer to as “fall.” Now, I put that in quotations because it’s almost not even a season up here. Yes, it does exist, but only briefly. The leaves change from green to red. But here the red is a warning.
As in “Red Alert…Winter is nearly here.”
So you can image how my hear sank when I looked out my window a few days ago and saw this:
Because here in Practically Canada, we don’t just see pretty leaves. We see this:
While the rest of America thinks about fall and pictures this:
Fun and games at the fall festival
Our mind fills with thoughts of this looming over us.
You see this.
We imagine this.
You look forward to this moment.
We know this moment is coming.
So please, summer. I’m begging you. Stay a while longer. And Fall, take your time. There’s no rush. And Winter…don’t be such a jerk. Just because you stick around for 8 months of the year doesn’t mean you are the favorite. It only makes you seem vain.
by Amy | Aug 6, 2013 | Blog, The Art of the Moment
One hundred years. Can you even fathom that? I certainly can’t. I can’t imagine what it would be like to have seen and remember when telephones became commonplace. Then to see them transform into something cordless…and something that we now carry everywhere with us. To remember the earliest of records and the invention of the MP3 player. To have probably known people who fought in the Civil War {or at least remembered it} and have lived through many, many others. If you were 100 years old you would have lived through Charles Lindbergh’s flight…then seen a man walk on the moon.
Incredible.
I could go on all night. It just blows my mind.
That’s why several weeks ago when a friend who comes to my fitness classes approached me about taking some formal portraits at a family reunion honoring her mother’s 100th birthday…I was all over it.
So I showed up with my camera to her {stunning} home. The garage door was open and there was a woman sitting in a wheelchair surrounded by family. As I walked up the driveway I figured that this must be another relative. Someone probably in her mid-80’s. She chatting and asking questions about the evening. This didn’t look like a 100 year old woman. For goodness sake, she was sharp as a tack and beautiful.
“You must be Amy. This is Jean…our guest of honor.”
This was her. In all the years that I’ve been blessed to live I’ve thought about time a lot. In school I learned history. In elementary school we counted out the days. Evey year on the 100th day of school we were supposed to bring in 100 of something, to give us an idea of what 100 “looked” like. I’ve pictured 100 in pennies, elbow macaroni, crayons and even Kleenex. But never have I seen 100 look as brilliant as Jean.
Being able to photograph these precious family portraits was a great honor. I’ve still got some editing to do…but here is a sneak peek for you.
{Jean and her four children}
{The whole gang. 38 in all!}
{Look at all those beautiful great-grands}
