Nighttime rituals

So, one of the amazing contributions that I bring to our marriage is that I make Rob floss. He hates it, but I faithfully make him anyway. Tonight we were about to shut off the lights when I remembered we hadn't flossed yet...

"Hey, we didn't floss yet."

"I don't want to!"

"Well, you didn't want to go to Kindergarten either, but aren't you glad you did?"

"No, I didn't learn anything in Kindergarten except the fire drill."

My funny husband. I love him...and he has really clean teeth.

Life and Art...again

I always hope for my art to mean something. Someday I want to be able to cause people to hunger for life with my art. However, I've never been a good creator. I feel like my art is always copied, and that bugs me sometimes. I wish that I could just pull something out of my head and paint it. But, today I learned that even copied art can impact someone.

I was talking to my mom today, and she was telling me about my great Aunt Mable. She's 90 years old, has cancer, and can't see anymore. The other day she told my mom that she can't really remember any images of her sister (my grandma) except for this one painting I did of my grandma in high school.

All I did was take a photo of my grandma and paint it bigger, detail for detail, no creative interpretation...just straight rendering. But, that painting touched my Aunt Mable, and that's the only reminder that has remained in her memory of what her sister looks like.

I was so touched today - grateful to be a part of such a special memory.

Here's a quote that encourages me with art and being creative/original:

"Even in literature and art, no man who bothers about originality will ever be original: whereas if you simply try to tell the truth (without caring twopence how often it has been told before) you will, nine times out of ten, become original without ever having noticed it."

-C.S. Lewis

Virginia Tech

My heart broke today hearing about what happened. I actually felt like throwing up listening to the details of the tragedy.

I've been thinking about it. I've been thinking about the strangeness of the United States. Even with the news of what happened, I still feel safe going to the grocery store or walking to my car. Isn't that weird? It's weird because the fear and pain that people are feeling today over in Virginia is felt everyday in places like Northern Uganda. When something extremely tragic happens in that country, countless other extremely tragic things are happening simultaneously just miles away. And, they'll probably happen tomorrow.

I sometimes feel like I live in this strange, unreal Pleasantville. I hurt for those people, here in the States and all over the world. But, as I sit here, safe and content, I know that I have a huge responsibility. I can't only enjoy it, I should be active in the midst of it...active to help those who can't help themselves.

God's heart

I found an interesting verse today. Do you want to know God? Here ya go:

"He did what was right and just, so all went well with him.
He defended the cause of the poor and needy, and so all went well.
Is that not what it means to know me?" declares the LORD.

Jeremiah 22:15-16

More to discover

Life...fun...love...beauty...the one...the wonder

Bridges

Rob and I had the priveledge of shooting this wedding a couple of weeks ago. One of my favorite things about doing weddings is getting to interact with the huge variety of people involved. I love photographing people who I wouldn't typically know or have contact with. I get to see their tender and vulnerable side. I get to see them excited, nervous, and relieved. By the end of the day, I feel connected to them and am so excited to give them the gift of their day seen through another eye.

Our new friend

Meet Hank.
We did, and we connected for a couple minutes.
He let us take his picture;
we attempted to capture the meaning that stands behind him.
He has a lot of days lived.
He has a lot to share.
Things left un-understood.
Things left un-done.
Things left to be discovered.
Things to create.
Holes to be found.
Holes to be filled.