Living a gloriously messy life. Enjoying the adventures of every day living. Finding beauty in the small things. Girl + Pup + Jesus
Tuesday, December 15, 2009
Weddings are apparently on my mind
Wednesday, December 2, 2009
Rain and English Class
I am in love with this winter and the Christmas season. However, I am not liking the rain! Cold, wet days are no fun at all. Not during December especially. Rain is wonderfulWalking to class at 8:00 this morning was awful as I was trying to dodge the rain, the cars, the mud, and the wind. Not to self: get rain boots ... ASAP. The South is no place to not own a pair of rain boots. Seriously.
Class .... fun, fun. Not really. Math was fine; we reviewed a whole bunch of junk for our final exam tomorrow. College Algebra is an adventure in itself ... as is Anatomy and Physiology ... but especially my English class. Ug! I am SO readyy to be through with the class and this instructor. I have learned a lot about respecting your college professors even if you do not agree with their opinion or what they are saying. I somehow have to kep my feelings and opinions out of conversations. Let's just say its rather hard at times.
Monday, November 30, 2009
Thursday, November 19, 2009
Friday, September 18, 2009
Music Videos....yet again
10 Traits You Should Possess if You Want to be a Good Photographer
Both Rick and I have recently posted on what makes a good photo. But what about the other side? What makes a good photographer? See how many of these traits you possess.
1. You need passion. You need to be obsessed with getting the shot. Not just any shot – THE shot. In other words – you need to think about, dream about, talk about and live photography.
2. You need to be dedicated to the craft of photography. This doesn’t mean you need to be an expert. It means you need to be dedicated to BECOMING an expert. No matter how long it takes.
3. You need to be a story teller. Story telling is at the heart of good photography, accordingly, good photographers need to be able to tell stories with their cameras.
4. You need to care about your subject. You need to be a subject-matter expert, wether it’s birds or people or cars or waterfalls. Good photographers learn all there is to know about their subjects BEFORE they pick up a camera. Always photograph your subject as if it is the only way it will be remembered throughout all time.
5. You need patience and lots of it. You need to be willing to practice and study often. You need to be willing to search out or wait out the light. You need to be able to sit in a blind waiting for that next bird or sit on the corner waiting for that next perfect subject. And you need to be willing to invest hours, not minutes in those pursuits.
6. You need a sense of wonder and imagination. You need to be curious about everything you photograph and then you need to be able to play with that curiosity to see what you can come up with.
7. You need to share. You need to be willing to pass on what you learn willingly to others. You need to show your photos to everyone. You need to protect and preserve for others all your important photographic memories.
8. You need to be the kind of photographer who makes OTHER people want to become a photographer.
9. You need to try a little bit harder than the next guy. The good photographers wait an extra 15 minutes for that perfect sunset color. They study their manual at night even when they are tired. They spend money they don’t have to attend workshops and buy books on photography. They go the extra mile…and then they do it again.
10. You need to develop a recognizable style – even if that style is – no style!
Wow! What a list. Re-reading this it looks like it’s hard to be a good photographer. Guess what – it is. If it wasn’t hard, everyone would be a good photographer.
Sunday, August 9, 2009
Music Vids.
M.I.A. - Paper Plans .... this song just makes me laugh. It brings back memories as well haha .... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JqlY0VOFtyA
Tenth Avenue North - You hold My Heart
Monday, July 13, 2009
Wednesday, July 1, 2009
Thursday, June 4, 2009
Wednesday, June 3, 2009
Fried Rice
Monday, June 1, 2009
Randomness
Okay, that's my rambling for the night. Lastly, here's my schedule for the week (which will probably change....):
Monday (today) - Babysit some awesome kids
Tuesday - Piano lessons, babysit, chill out at the pool, run
Wednesday - gym, and who knows...prob catch up on late bday gifts
Thursday - run, work
Friday - gym, study again for the last time
Saturday - TEST
Sunday - Church, wedding!! =D
"....If grace is an ocean ,we're all sinking..."
Tuesday, April 21, 2009
Piano List
(Not on youtube .... mostly cause it's not very well heard of, but it is awesome :-))
Sonata in c-minor, op. 13, "Pathetique" (Movement 1 and 2) * Ludwig van Beethoven
(The first part sounds boring, but once you get to 1:30 it's all down hill from there :-) Although he does repeat which makes it seem SOOO long ... but watch the whole thing - It's beautiful!)
Fantasie Impromptu, Op. 66 * Frederic Chopin
Sonata Quasi una Fantasia, Op. 27, No. 2, "Moonlight Sonta" * Ludwig van Beethoven
River Flows in You * Yiruma
Prelude I (1927) * George Gershwin
Hungarian Dance #5 * Brahms
(Duet with my teacher)
Nocturne, Op. 48, No. 2 ....
... and Op. 9, No. 2 * Frederic Chopin
Sunday, April 19, 2009
His will, not mine...
* Being an intern for a photographer - GRRR. I really want to pursue photography. I love it. I love capturing God's amazing creation, people's emotions, ect. I had a chance to work with a wonderful and fabulous photographer who is local ....
* Working at a local church as a music assistant/music secretary as a part time job, M-Thur ....
* Probably i360 will not be working out too...
I was reminded today from a dear friend that it's not MY will but HIS (God's) will that needs to be done. So then it struck me - is God clearing the way for me to do something for HIM instead of searching out my own desires? Is God preparing the way for something huge that I might not have been able to do if I was involved in any of the above or any other thing I didnt mention?? And right now I am believeing the answer is yes. I think He is. I have been so caught up in ME, and what am I supposed to be doing, instead of seeking out what does GOD want me to be pursuing so I may bring glory to Him, or so I may be I lighthouse for His name? AND... In church we sang a hymn which again reminded me of HIS will not mine. And while I have heard this hymn who knows how many times (and it is also one of my favorites), it struck home yesterday....
There is no shadow of turning with Thee;
Thou changest not, Thy compassions, they fail not;
As Thou hast been, Thou forever will be.
Great is Thy faithfulness!
Morning by morning new mercies I see.
All I have needed Thy hand hath provided;
Great is Thy faithfulness, Lord, unto me!
Sun, moon and stars in their courses above
Join with all nature in manifold witness
To Thy great faithfulness, mercy and love.
Thine own dear presence to cheer and to guide;
Strength for today and bright hope for tomorrow,
Blessings all mine, with ten thousand beside!
Saturday, January 17, 2009
Monday, January 12, 2009
2008 in Review -
Okay so here's a quick list of what went on this past year....
December 27th, 2007 - Let for Europe with MK for a 6/7 week trip to Europe; and as I have said before, it was a dream come true!!!
January 2008 - I LOVE Macs and Brioche and snow. I stayed with a dear family in Germany, but visited Luxembourg (several times), France and Switzerland. I didn't think about the rest of the world (family, boys :P, life, issues, problems, ALL of it) for most of the time ( ...until I received a strange email from a guy friend. GR. But he wasn't thought of most of the time). But it was such a breath of fresh air to get away from EVERYTHING. I was able to see all kinds of neat things in Europe. I think my favorite things were the Swiss Alps and, of course, the Eiffel Tower, and people who had a sense of style! lol...seriously. I came back feeling "trendy" ;-) Oh and for the first time I rode trains. I like them a lot - accept for the weird European guys that have to stare at you. ugh. It was a FANTASTIC time....especially with the world's best roommate and ping-pong buddy, MK =)
February - Alright moving on, I got back from my European expedition on the 7th. GAH I didn't not want to be home. Seriously. lol I remember MK and I trying to come up with a plan for us to stay a couple more weeks. Then when that one didn't work, we had fun trying to come up with another to not have to go home. Lol sad they didn't work ;-) Oh my, the funny times with me being jet-lagged. Getting up at 4 in the morning, then getting SOO sleepy at 6/7 in the evenings. Chris proposed to my 2nd older sister the beginning (i believe) of this month...yes while I was gone. They had a very fast relationship. Whatever works I suppose. During this month I continued trying to find out what God was wanting me to do...It's such a pain. I am hating the question "what are you doing after you graduate" cause I DONT KNOW!!! And while I desired to go to a certain school, later on I find out, this was not God's plan.
March - What a month....on some topics it was awful, others it was AMAZING. My oldest sister informed me that I was going to be an aunt in November - !!! I was very excited! I was very busy this month getting ready to graduate HS, my senior piano recital, piano guild, and piano festival...A LOT OF PRACTICING! I had to develop some endurance during the next coming months. I like the Enchanted movie too...lol. I've been VERY swamped with school work, especially math. Trying to keep up French!... Camping, "the office" marathons, and playing in the rain.
April - GAHHHH. This was a month full of mistakes and learning experiences. I didn't enjoy this month very much lol, except for getting to go on a 4-day trip to the Okefenokee Swamp with dad and all the boys... we paddled 33 miles. My arms were killing me the following week. But yet another trip I enjoyed greatly. Had to get Senior Portraits done. I don't like them very much but OH WELL. "Build a bridge and get over it." Took a "Spring Break" trip down to FL to see J and A, lol poor A was so sick (morning sickness). It was fun, but very rainy :P
May - GRADUATION!!! Yay!! I was so ready to be done with School, as I am sure all seniors are during the last semester. But I still am not sure as to what I will be doing in the fall. Guild and my Senior Piano Recital all went very well! =) This is what I played for my Recital:
*Toccatina, Kabalevsky
*Prelude in B minor, Chopin - second favorite
*Sonata, Scarlatti
*Sonata, Beethoven
*Hymn arrangement
*Dawn, from Pride and Prejudice movie ('05) - this one was my favorite
And I was the 2008 homeschool Prom Queen :)
June - 2nd older sister and Chris got married on the 7th ... I am so happy for them! I've had a lot of "1st timers" recently...lol and I've felt like an idiot too. haha. wow. I've been doing a lot of Gourmet cooking the last few weeks...It's a lot of fun and I enjoy it.
July - My bday =) spent up in the Appalachian mountains in WVA...AMAZING and very beautiful! I know that God does not want me at TFC this fall...that was hard to face. But I know that it's for his plan. And July 4th was spent over here with everyone... good times :)
August - My amazing friends surprised me with a bday party .... !! It was VERY sweet of them! They did a very good job keeping it a secret! Mom and Dad gave me my bday/graduation ring - Blue Sapphire with White Sapphires around it. I love it and it's beautiful!! The couple MK and I stayed with in Switzerland came for a 2 week visit - I loved getting to see them! I started working on Pathetique mov. no 1, Beethoven. I Love it! I've already played the 2nd mov but wanted to get the first one. It's very different, and very difficult, but it's also beautiful.
September - J and A's Wedding anniversary (2 years) was the same day. I will be staying home for the fall :-( I am trying to learn how to be content with where God has me. I am struggling a great deal with being submissive. gah it's rough to learn. ADD Now weekend at CBC - Olive and I were leaders of the CBC girl middle school group. I greatly enjoyed getting to share with those girls and to let Christ have his way in all of their lives...and he most certaintly did! Oh yes, and 2-week beach trip =)
October - Yay for fall weather! Although, it's been a little hot so far. But the trees are turning colors and showing God's amazing handiwork - My favorite time of the year!
November - Gabe DM was born the 7th =) I am an aunt...J and A are doing wonderful! They are going to be awesome parents!! 1st time voter! Although, I am not a fan of either candidates for the presidency This country is not going to do so well.
December - I enjoy being an Aunt!! Christmas and New Years was quiet and different, but good.
January - So far the New Year as been very good and prolific. I am more content, but I am also looking into different opportunities that the Lord has opened doors too. I am so excited to see what is in store for this year and what will go on, although I know there will still be plenty of trials and things that will come up, but I continue looking to Christ as number one and not let things, or people, get in my way. Joshua 22:5.
SOOOOO, after that very long post, that was some of my year in a nutshell. So much more went on that I would like to go into and share but not right now. I'll do a better job this year about blogging more often!!! Goodbye and God Bless!!!