Hit the Slopes (I wish!)

Living in Indiana you never know what the weather is going to do. Wondering if there will be a white winter or not; there's not enough snow to go sledding normally. This year we got a ton of snow, and I went sledding for the first time since I had lived in Michigan 10 years ago. 

Oh how it made me feel like a kid again! It was so much fun. We bought some dollar store sleds and headed to the park in our neighborhood where there was a nice big hill. It was all iced over and PERFECT for sledding down! It was great to do something special like this to end 2012 with. We hadn't seen our cousin's in a while and I enjoyed getting to make memories to last into 2013.

<3

Winter 2012

December 28

 Me and my beautiful cousin CJ. She made her hat!

Me. Since I never seem to be "there". I wish I would've had my sister take a pic of me sledding! Ha! That would have been hilarious.

 My gorgeous sister Lee. <3

 Ok now, the hill wasn't THAT big....

 My two youngest siblings

 Juniper Tree

 My youngest bro heading back up the hill. He was trying to give me his best swag. ha!

 My Sis Maddy going down on her stomach

The group!! Minus me because I was taking the pic of course. :)

Photography Contest Entry at "Beloved Star"

I thought it might be fun to enter a portrait into Nela's photography contest over at 

Beloved Star

This is my Papaw Dave.

This photo was taken one year after he survived as one of the oldest men to receive a multivisceral transplant to remove a cancerous tumor that was wrapped around his major vital organs.
 This photo is not great technically but it's one of my favorite shots ever because of what it means to me. My grandpa loved going to the fair and this was the last time we went as a family. Here he's wearing his favorite hat, and his cherry shirt that he got from Michigan, where he fondly visited so often.

At the time he didn't know I was taking this picture, and I didn't know that this would be such a powerful memory. 
I thank God for that one year because he passed away six months later.
Love and Miss you Gramps.
<3

Dear Sawyer

Piglet sidled up to Pooh from behind. "Pooh," he whispered. 

"Yes, Piglet?" 

"Nothing," said Piglet, taking Pooh's paw, "I just wanted to be sure of you."”

-A.A. Milne

lists, goals & upcoming projects & plans for 2013

As the end of 2012 draws near I begin planning for the upcoming year. 

The fact that we don't get into the holidays helps me tremendously! I have been able to take the time to plan for the things that are ahead. 

.lists.

reading

For 2013 I am going to have a reading list of books I have never read. I've already acquired a great many books for that list. My goal is to read as many of them possible throughout the year. If you have any suggestions, I'd LOVE to hear them! Here are some titles that I have collected so far and not in any particular order.

Captivating by John and Stasi Eldredge

Red by Ted Dekker

Les Miserables by Victor Hugo

The Dangers of a Shallow Faith by A. W. Tozer

The Hobbit by J.R.R. Tolkein

Sons of Encouragement by Francine Rivers

The Overcoming Life by D.L. Moody

Desiring God by John Piper

The War of the Worlds by H.G. Wells

Nineteen by Jodi Picoult

And SO many more! I love all kinds of books, so suggest away!

Crocheting/knitting

a blanket for myself

a sweater

scarf

baby blanket

                                    

  .Goals.

To take a photograph whenever I "see it"

learn a language(or two)

Read the Bible through in a year

take more meaningful photos

take more travel/landscape photos

lose weight

buy a new car

keep up with regular journal and bible journal

blog once every other day

grow in the Lord

Learn what it truly means to serve

and more....

.upcoming projects.

So excited about some of my upcoming projects! 

100 Strangers Project

One of the projects I will be doing is called "100 strangers". I will find people I do not know, ask them a little about themselves and then ask for permission to photograph them. This is going to be a really inspiring project for me. It's also going t be very challenging! However, I will have an entire year to meet 100 new people for my project. I'm really excited about it! 

The 365 Project
Is where you take one photo each day for a year. I'm excited because I have tried this twice before and never finished. It has always pushed me to be creative and to really try and think about what I'm taking a picture of. 

 The Writing Project

I have been working on two novels for quite some time now. I'm going to try and work on a page(or more!) of each novel every day next year. Hopefully I will complete them by the end of 2013.

The Coffee Shop Project

This one is an attempt at trying as many coffee shops as possible while collecting a list of my favorite flavors, atmospheres, beans and ideas. I'll keep a journal of what I like and don't like, or ideas I have of my own. This is because I would love to have my own coffee shop/cafe someday!

The Knit/Crochet Project
Guys, It's official. I'm teaching myself how to knit. My goal is to make a scarf, hat, blanket and sweater. Let's see if I can do it....I know how to crochet but knitting seems to have "cleaner" stitches if you know what I mean. Also will be knitting and crocheting for some organizations and things. <3

.plans.

College
OH HO plans.....Well I'm going to college! Happiness and peace in this heart today about college. Not that I've thought that I HAVE to go, it's just that I've struggled forever with what, when, where, how long, etc. After much prayer and consideration, God showed me the what, when, where and how. My plan is to go to a local community college next year and study Child Development/Early Childhood Education. I would like to get my Associates in Applied Sciences.  I'm so super EXCITED about this!! This was completely from God, he showed me because I've never had any desire to do anything in that field, but I feel that this will be used towards the missionary calling that God has placed on my life. Taking this all a step at a time. 
Can't wait to see where this goes. 
<3

Bible School

There is a  bible college that has a free online course. I am planning on taking that starting at the first of the year. Looking over the course work got me so excited that I wanted to start right away! I am super interested in learning more about doctrines and what I really believe. Also growing in my relationship with the Lord and learning how to serve where I am. 



Photojournalism

I'm going to take an online photojournalism course. I don't necessarily have to get a degree but I definitely want to learn as much as I can. I love capturing real life and bringing out feeling  and emotion through my photography.

I hope everyone has a happy new year!!
:)