Be Thou My Vision | Photographer Retreat

Last week I was out of the office for a few days. I went to Bend, Oregon for a 3-day retreat with a small group of other women photographers. The experience was not what I expected - but a definite blessing. We were pampered, prayed for and loved. Those few days changed me, and though sometimes change is not easy, this time it was necessary and good. Here are a few pictures from my new friend Patti. I took some photos (as you will see) and have yet to download them from my camera. But Patti's photos definitely do the place much more justice than mine. :)

The accommodations were shared. However, since there were an odd number of attendees, one of us got our own room. Go figure I was the one who got my own cabin. I was a little confused about why it worked out that way - since I am alone all the time anyway and there were moms on this trip seeking a place to retreat. But, I didn't complain. :) Here are a few pictures of the cabins we stayed in for the retreat:

In the second picture below, do you see the small silver circle on the ceiling above the bathtub? That is the water spout. Yes... the bath tub filled up from the ceiling. So neat!

Me, taking photos of my cabin: The group of us:

Just a glimpse of our catered meals. The resort took (very good) care of us each morning and evening.  This is our evening waitress, Emily. She was one of the best servers I've ever had. We loved her so much we left her a card at the end of the retreat. :)

Dessert was served in the sitting area and we ate it during each evening session:

This right here about sums up quiet time:

And... the beautiful view there in Bend, Oregon:

Gratituesday: Normalcy

This morning is probably the first morning in weeks that I have felt... normal. Back to my good ol' self. I have been seriously down and out, facing some issues I apparently had been avoiding for way too long (oops). In addition to avoiding issues, for the past few months I have either been holed up here in my office or on the road (or in the air). The loneliness caught up to me. I think what was in order was some real, good, adult conversation. Non-work related. Face-to-face, at that. And I got it yesterday. And a good glass of wine! Whoooboy was that refreshing!

I am grateful today simply for feeling normal again. The sun is shining, the birds are chirping, and I have a really good cup of joe right here next to me. Mmm mmm good.

Oh! And... I am also super grateful that I have new plants. I have challenged myself to keep these alive until my husband comes home. :) The plants you see here are (clockwise from top left) your basic flowers (that should bloom all summer long, offering me fresh flowers w/o the $10/week grocery store bill), spinach, basil, nothing (or dead cilantro, whatever you want to call it), and a mix of lettuce greens! I am SO excited to not have to buy all of these at the grocery store weekly! I use all three of these greens in one of my favorite salad recipes, and it really feels good to know that they are grown in my backyard and cut fresh each time I make a salad. :)

And because I keep mentioning that I am going to share my healthy food recipes, I'll throw in my (current) favorite salad recipe to this Gratituesday.  A little off-topic, I know. :)

1 handful of baby spinach leaves 1 handful of lettuce greens (romaine, etc.) 1 small handful of argula leaves 1 small handful of basil leaves 1/2 cup of artichoke hearts, drained from a can 2tbsp olive oil, drizzled on top salt/pepper to taste sprinkle freshly shaved parmesan cheese on top (as you can see I went a little overboard. I am trying to convince myself that all the greens make up for all the cheese. hah.)

Delish! Oh and if the artichoke hearts were NOT soaked in a vinegar/zest liquid upon purchase, I'd sprinkle the juice of 1/2 a lemon on top as well. Such a hearty meal!

P.S. I am in the market for a deck painter. Lynchburg friends, do you have any recommendations for me? :)

A Sailor's Delight | Lynchburg Landscape Photographer

When I was in the fifth grade my class was assigned a project on clouds. We could choose our specific projects but the goal was to identify the types of clouds in the sky over a period of about five to ten days. Like any natural procrastinator, I took all of my photos on the last two days of the project and threw them together as if my teacher would have no clue that my photos depicted an entirely different weather pattern then the rest of my classmates. (Who all lived in the same 20mi radius, mind you.)

Now, I was never actually held accountible for that bad decision of mine, but apparently it has stuck with me all these years and I think I still feel a little guilty for it. I digress. Guilt is not the only thing the project gave to me that has stayed with me all these years. Ever since that fifth grade lesson on clouds and meteorology I have had a lovely fascination with the sky. Not that you would know anything about that, because I don't think I have ever posted a single photo I have taken of the sky.

The truth is, I am super intimidated by nature photography. I feel like there is no way my photo could ever do the beauty of this earth justice. Especially because to even get close to the real thing, I would have to do a whole heck of a lot of photoshopping. And it's just not the same to me.

But I love the sky. I do. I am always looking up when I am outside. I love when the sunlight sparkles through the trees. Or when rays shine through fluffy clouds and give me a glimpse of my idea of heaven. Or when there is that one last little layer of pink across the sky over in the west as the sun sets. Oh... the pink sky at night... my dad taught me a little sailor rhyme when I was a small girl and I still repeat it in my head as I look at those pink skies. "A pink sky at night is a sailor's delight... a pink sky in morning, sailor take warning!" Pink skies in the morning are rare, though. At least rare for me to recognize. I only know that because it is very rare for me to end that little rhyme with a thought of "uh oh." :)

I want to take more photos of the sky. I want to push myself to capture what it is that I love, and I love the sky. This is me, pushing past those little fears of mine...

Gratituesday: the ups and downs

I have been thinking a lot lately about this journey I'm on of becoming a business owner as well as defining who I am as an artist. Sometimes I get lost on my way and I forget who I really am at the root of it all: I am a follower of Christ. To me, that is the most important thing. When I get distracted, I get distraught. I become overcritical... I don't like my work. I don't like my attitude. I don't like my selfish nature. Recently I have been experiencing some ups and downs both emotionally and in my work and relationships. I believe it is all reflective of my spiritual health. That said, I love it when life whips me into shape. When things happen that force me to get my act together. It's usually during these times that I have revelations about my work as well as the motivation to take action against my negativity. Because then I have more room in my heart for joy. Today... today I have joy. Despite the circumstances and the discouragement I am experiencing.

Today... I am grateful for the ups and downs of life. That I have such a range of emotions going through my heart and mind that I am never bored. That the ups and downs continue to teach me about myself, as well as help me explore who I am as an artist. But most importantly, that the ups and downs force me to remember what is most important in my life and that is knowing who I am in God's eyes. I am beautiful, I am perfect, and I am good.

And so are you.

(me, Easter 2010, taken by my dad)

April 12, 2008

Just wanted to take a brief moment and say Happy Anniversary to my beloved Husband. This was one of the the happiest days of my life and I am so grateful for you and our marriage. I love you (and miss you) very much. xoxo