I'm a fan

of these people. Even though the one on the left is a stinker, and closed his eyes. [smile]

"Studying" with Anne

Meet my friend, Anne, from the Netherlands. She's a riot.

Vintage Shopping

So I went to Goodwill and an amazing vintage store today for gathering props for my next photography project. Difficult, I know! =) This amazing vintage store is in the basement of a sporting goods store. I think that makes it even better--it's a hidden treasure!

The REAL book about Camping.

Tins I got at Goodwill. Two dollars each. Have I mentioned I love thrifting? I almost just got the sugar and flour ones, but I promptly returned for tea and coffee. How could I pass up such an amazing find?

One of the four plates I got at Goodwill. 99 cents each. Bam.

Cloves tin, glass milk bottle, and a Beta Lactose tin on the Camping book.

I also got white gloves and a red gingham apron at the vintage store. I tried on some dresses when I was there, but none fit. (No sizes printed didn't help) There were so many hats there. It was fabulous. There was a whole cabinet of gloves and aprons. I definitely want/need to go back to look at more of the books, life magazines, cookbooks, and everything else.

Hebrews 12

Verses 1-3:

"...let us throw off everything that hinders

and the sin that so easily entangles,

and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us.

Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfector of our faith,

who for the joy set before him endured the cross,

scorning its shame and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.

Consider him who endured such opposition from sinful men,

that you will not grow weary and lose heart."

It is so easy to get fixed upon all the distractions that our world, and even our technology, offers. But if it is taking us away from focusing on God, we need to seriously reconsider our use of it, or putting a cap on it. Jesus suffered so much, and so many of us (myself included) don't even give so much as a second thought some days. He was not deserving of such as death, or any death at all. But he died on the cross, so none of us would have to--so that we can have hope on dreary days when nothing seems to go right.

And then it goes on to talk about how only a loving and true father disciplines his son,

that if he doesn't discipline, the child isn't really his. The end of verse 10b says,

"God disciplines us for our good, that we may share in his holiness."

Verse 11-13,

"No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful.

Later on, however, it produces a harvest of righteousness

and peace for those who have been trained by it.

Therefore, strengthen your feeble arms and weak knees.

Make level paths for your feet, so that the lame may not be disabled,

but rather healed."

As much as I hated being disciplined as a kid, I am so glad my parents did. Who likes a spoiled brat for a friend? I remember that look that mom and dad would get. Just that look from one of them, and my heart sank. I knew I was in trouble and there was no way out. My excuses wouldn't get anything but more trouble. Disappointment. I hated seeing that in their face. It wasn't a condemnation, just disappointment--at least for the moment. How much more grief should I have when I disappoint the God of the Universe who rescued me from the deep miry pit of my own sins?! He brings me up out of that pit and sets me on sturdy ground. It is time to stand up, tall and proud for what He has done for me. I might need discipline, but it is what I deserve. I will hate it when I get that discipline, but it is good in the long run. Thank you God, for the pain that transforms to peace.

Verses 14-16:

"Make every effort to live in peace with all men and to be holy;

without holiness no one will see the Lord.

See to it that no one misses the grace of God

and that no bitter root grows up to cause trouble and defile many.

See that no one is sexually immoral, or is godless like Esau,

who for a singe meal sold his inheritance rights as the oldest son."

Verses 28-29:

"Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken,

let us be thankful, and so worship God acceptably

with reverence and awe, for our 'God is a consuming fire.'"

I am loving the book of Hebrews! It always amazes me at how things seem to pop off the page and seem like they were meant JUST for me. Even if I had read them before. God is so amazing. I am so privileged to get the opportunity to serve and praise Him.

Hebrews 10:17, 22-24

Then he adds: "Their sins and lawless acts shall be remembered no more." 

And where these have been forgiven, there is no longer any sacrifice for sin...

Let us draw near to God with a sincere heart in full assurance of faith, 

having our hearts sprinkled 

to cleanse us 

from a guilty conscience

and having our bodies washed 

with pure water. 

Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, 

for he who promised is faithful. 

And let us consider how we may spur one another

 toward love and good deeds.

What a beautiful visual!! Our hearts, full of all of our sins and errors and sprinkled clean and our very bodies are washed pure with water. We are pure through Christ. Isn't that such a beautiful thing?!

All of our sins are washed away in that beautiful water that Christ pours onto us.

Broken Chains

Chains be broken
Lives be healed
Eyes be opened
Christ is revealed

I have decided
I have resolved
To wait upon You Lord
My rock and Redeemer
Shield and reward
I'll wait upon You Lord

As surely as the sun will rise
You'll come to us
Certain as the dawn appears

You'll come
Let Your glory fall as You respond to us
Spirit rain
Flood into our thirsty hearts again
You'll come
You'll come

We are not shaken
We are not moved
We wait upon You Lord
Mighty deliverer
Triumph and truth
We wait upon You Lord

As surely as the sun will rise
You'll come to us
Certain as Your word endures

You'll come
Let Your glory fall as You respond to us
Spirit rain
Flood into our thirsty hearts again
You'll come
You'll come

Chains be broken
Lives be healed
Eyes be opened
Christ is revealed

Heard this song at Upper Room tonight. Beautiful words.

Amanda

Trisha

Happy birthday Trisha! Gosh, you are old. 23. Well I'm in North Dakota, waiting for you to get here. But for some reason you are staying in sunny Oregon. Silly. I guess we will just have to celebrate in style this summer. (yes, the queens of thrift shopping must conquer the stores!)

I love and miss you, Trisha! I hope your birthday is a most splendid one! (Eat some cake and do some shopping for me :)

I am sure that this picture is at least four years old, but it is all that I have.

Time for a photo shoot!

http://www.hallmark.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/ecard|10001|10051|123725|147551;-102001;11443;-102034;183075|ecard|P1R8S|ecards?cardType=premium&isComboCall=false&template=n&categoryId=183075

Spring Break

Picture it. Spring Break, 2010. Going from 40 degree weather in Illinois to...lower 30s in North Dakota. It's the best ever. Today I made two batches of carmel rolls and did lots of cleaning.

My family has many socks! :-)

Title

A video I made last week....mom will probably be the only one who will enjoy it, unless you enjoy Rascal Flatts. :-)

Thoughts on Slavery

Here are some of the final images from my portrait project. I came across many different people—differing political backgrounds, opinions, accents, and living situations. I took the majority of the images by the Hershey store in Chicago and told people that the Hershey’s company uses slave labor for much of their products.

I just asked their opinion about it and if I could take their picture. Some did not let me take their picture, one didn’t speak English and the first person I asked about it just didn’t know what to say and laughed it off.

As for these people's opinions....

• The man on the top left--"Well, I'm against that."
• The man on the bottom left (pardon his 'French')--"That's bulls--t"
• The couple--"Well, I obviously don't approve of anything with slave trade."
• The man on top right--"I wasn't aware that Hershey's did that...capitalist."
• Charles--"I'm a Democrat. I do not shop at Wal-Mart because they are products from slave labor entities. I do not eat chocolate."

During crit yesterday, one of my professors commented on how I could have taken the picture first and then asked their thoughts. I want to continue going into Chicago and asking people, and I'm going to try to remember to take their picture first. And I have to remember to be more assertive of moving the subject so they are in a better composition and lighting situation. Truthfully, I was so nervous and out of my comfort zone on Saturday, that it was hard to remember.

Did I mention I got lost for about an hour?