Until Further Notice

This shoot should have been blogged long, long ago - but I'm almost glad it wasn't, so now I can post some gorgeous sunshine and green grass and beautiful smiles in the midst of the frozenness of December.  

This is Jilene, winner of the free themed photoshoot earlier this fall and her quote is below.  I hope we captured the jovial, celebratory spirit of not only her quote but her personality! Enjoy (:

Until further notice,

Celebrate everything. 

Week 24/52 - O Holy Night

  O Holy Night 

the stars are brightly shining 

it is the night of the dear Savior's birth

long lay the world, in sin and error pining 

till He appeared 

and the soul felt it's worth 

 a thrill of hope

the weary world rejoices for yonder breaks

a new and glorious morn

fall on your knees 

oh hear the angel voices 

O night divine 

oh night when Christ was born

I've always loved this song.  The poetry in the words, and obviously the melody of the music is hauntingly beautiful.  But I feel like for the first time this year I actually got a grip on the magnificence in this song.  "Long lay the world in sin and error pining - till He appeared, and the soul felt its worth."  Can you imagine the freedom? I feel like that was me.  I've known Christ since I was little but had allowed the enemy to blind and condemn me.  And then there was Christ appearing and my soul feeling its worth in a way I'd never even imagined.  Hence the thrill of hope that I've been rejoicing in.  This Christmas I'm praying for all of the family and friends dear to me and all those I haven't met - that you would all be able to experience God's presence in a way that makes you want to fall to your knees and praise Him.  Today has been nothing short than a perfect blessing and I hope the same for all of you!

I didn't intend for this to be the mini-series it turned into, but the ideas just kept coming - and then the sunshine did too.  Cool random fact: every photo in this post was taken at -6 or -8 degrees.

Merriest of Christmases to you all!

Week 23/52 - Home

another aeroplane
another sunny place
I’m lucky, I know
but I wanna go home
I’ve got to go home
let me go home
I’m just too far from where you are I wanna go home
  oh, I miss you, you know

it'll all be alright

I'll be home tonight

I'm comin back home

And I am.  The semester has come to an end and I'm sure there are many reflective productive things I could be focusing on right now and I'm sure I'll reach that point in my mental processes but right now, I seriously cannot think about anything else but HOME.  And trying not to count down the seconds till I get there.  Sitting in the airport looking forward to a full night of traveling that ends at my house with my family and my puppy and me in my own bed and I am so thrilled.  I knew this day would come quickly but still not soon enough and I am overwhelmed by these last few months...but guys, I'm going home.
Home.

Week 22/52 - Winter

how did I ever get this broken

I never meant to fall this far
I feel like I'm completely frozen
can I find a way back to where You are

 it came creeping in so slowly
and now it's covered up the truth
in the name of being holy
we got so far away from You
cause I've been searching for the sun
but I don't know if anyone
could tell me how to find my way home
all the things that I've become
are all the things I'm running from
I don't want my heart to turn to stone

this cold has been so bitter 

can you save me from this winter

Snow, glorious snow.  Finally came to Lancaster Pennsylvania and I have been overjoyed - it finally looks like winter.  Just in time for me to be able to shoot for this song.  It may seem like a sad song...Okay, it is a sad song.  A sad beautiful song.  I know from experience that figurative winters can sometimes be even colder than the season.  But I do know that God can keep your heart from turning to stone; and he has saved me from my winter. 

Disclaimer: I personally love winter as in the season that comes in (or should come much before) December. 

This is my hero model of the day, Meredith Sullivan.  I cannot say how much of a joy it was to be able to shoot again even for a short time, especially with such a stunning subject.  She fit exactly the mood I was hoping for with this song too so I am extremely satisfied.  Thanks so much Mer! Just had to post the others from the shoot, they're too good to leave unseen (: 

Week 21/52 - Remind Me Who I Am

 

 when I lose my way

 and I forget my name,

 remind me who I am

in the mirror all I see is who I don't wanna be,
remind me who I am.
in the loneliest places when I can't remember what grace is

when my heart is like a stone,
and I'm running far from home, remind me who I am.
when I can't receive Your love,
afraid I'll never be enough, remind me who I am.
if I'm Your beloved, can You help me believe it
tell me once again who I am to You, who I am to You
tell me lest I forget who I am to You, that I belong to You.
I'm the one you love,
that will be enough,
I'm the one you love.

From a rainy night this past summer.  I'll probably be posting older photos until I get my camera back.  Been wanting to post this one for a while now, so it works out well.
This song has been a God-send at a time when I really needed it.  And it's also the reason I started learning guitar so I have a sentimental attachment to it. And it's just a really, really good song.
I miss this road.  I'll be there in... SIX DAYS! 

Week 20/52 - Your Love is a Song

I hear you breathing in
Another day begins
The stars are falling out
My dreams are fading now, fading out
I've been keeping my eyes wide open
Your love is a symphony
All around me
Running through me
Your love is a melody
Underneath me
Running to me
Oh, your love is a song

The dawn is fire bright
Against the city lights
The clouds are glowing now
The moon is blacking out, is blacking out 

  

Currently extremely aware of His love all around me, running through me, surrounding me and playing like a melody in my head.  <3

  

Also currently UNaware of the location of my camera and it is not within my power to retrieve it; needless to say, I've been suffering from shooting withdrawals and am having a hard time keeping track in my head of all the pictures I want to take when I finally get it back.  In the absence of my photographing device, here is a photo from the very beginning of this year.  I'm also a little homesick (okay, maybe a lot.) but I am ONE WEEK away from being back in my beloved home state with my wonderful family.

19/52 - Times

Well my love is over
It's underneath
It's inside
It's in between
The times that you're healing
And when your heart breaks
The times that you feel like you've fallen from grace
I'm there through your heartache
I'm there in the storm
My love I will keep you by my power alone