Week 37/52 - Enough to Let Me Go

oh I'm a wandering soul

I'm still walking the line 

that leads me home alone

all I know

I've still got mountains to climb on my own 

on my own, on my own

do you love me enough to let me go?

to let me follow through

to let me fall for you

do you love me enough to let me go?

I only have vague ideas in my head about this song, and this photo.  What I can say for sure is the concept of loving someone or something enough to let them go is a rather somber one for me, and that I love sunshine.  

Week 36/52 - A Place Only You Can Go

oh, I know this song won't do
enough to prove my love to you
in my heart you'll always know
there is a place only love can go
there is a place only you can go

My lovely friend Emily from a lovely Sunday afternoon. 

Isn't her smile contagious? (: 

Week 35/52 - Healing Begins

so you thought you had to keep this up 
all the work that you do 
so we think that you're good 
and you can't believe it's not enough 
all the walls you built up 
are just glass on the outside 

so let 'em fall down 
there's freedom waiting in the sound 
when you let your walls fall to the ground 
we're here now 

this is where the healing begins, oh 

this is where the healing starts 
when you come to where you're broken within 
the light meets the dark 

Just think about that.  Think about the fatigue of all the pretense and carefully executed impressions we try to make.  Think about the shattering of our self protection and self promotion.  Think about the explosion that happens when God's healing meets with our pain.  Think about the calm that follows the chaos of the storm.  

Now that you're brain is dead from all that thinking, a little bit about this photo.  That's my roomie, Shelby.  I love her.  Most of the time.  She loves sunshine.  All of the time, as you can tell - the photo is completely candid - she didn't even know I had the camera out. (;

Week 34/52 - Slumber

  

days they force you

back under those covers

lazy mornings they multiply

but glory's waiting

outside your window
so wake on up from your slumber
baby, open up your eyes

I love the colors of the sky.  Even if you're not a morning person, you should try getting up for the sunrise sometime.  And hey, after you enjoy it for a while you could always go back to sleep!  But really.  Mornings are beautiful and this life He's given has so much to offer...so open up your eyes (: 

Thank you to my sweet friend Rachel for modeling for me at just the right time!

Week 33/52 - Perfect

you're so mean when you talk

about yourself - you are wrong

change the voices in your head

make them like you instead

Taken at Woodlands camp during a momentary lapse in the craziness of our two week trek down the East Coast in January.  I don't know why, but I just had that one phrase in my head from a song I heard somewhere while I was editing this photo and couldn't get away from it.  Although I doubt this concept was the the intent of the original author, I know that it is a constant battle for me and many people to "change the voices" we listen to in our heads.  The voices of ourselves, the voices of those around us, society, lies straight from the enemy - all of them loud, confusing and chaotic.  It's a constant, conscious mental decision to change the voices of discouragement, despair, and condemnation to encouragement, hope, and freedom.  Even more important than telling yourself positive things is ultimately listening to that Still, Small Voice that speaks only truth and love.  

Week 32/52 - Getting Into You

I'm getting into you 
because you got to me, in a way words can't describe
I'm getting into you 
because I've got to be
Your essential to survive
I'm going to love you with my life

I've been a liar and I'll never amount to
the kind of person you deserve to worship you
You say you will not dwell on what I did but rather what I do you say
I love you and that's what you are getting yourself into

This song.  I stumbled upon it this morning - it's been a long time since I heard it.  It speaks for itself, and if I tried to explain it I would just be repeating the lyrics.  But as I was sitting in the coffee shop with sunshine streaming in through the windows thinking about how scary it is to step out in faith, how unworthy I am of any of His love and protection and I heard "I LOVE YOU and THAT'S what you're getting yourself into," all the doubts and fears were washed away.  I was overwhelmed by how big and forgiving and constant His love for me really is.  

This picture.  Is from a year ago almost exactly.  In the middle of Alaska winter I would get an urge to shoot, an idea, or the snow would be perfect and I would just get in the car and drive somewhere.  I had the time, was on my own schedule and was undeterred by the cold. Oh, those were the days.  I can look back a year on this blog and find another photo that I posted from this shoot - and I can remember wanting the time to slow down so I didn't have to grow up anymore.  But time didn't stop moving on, and neither did I. 

 Oh how grateful I am for photos and the seemingly uneventful memories they can bring back.  

I guess today was a day to ramble on a bit.