Shooting with Soul

About a year ago I bought a bunch books and I'm sad to admit I haven't read most of them yet.  I bought quite a few books on photography since photography is one of my favorite hobbies. One of the books was Shooting with Soul by Alessandra Cave. This book is full of exercises to help you express yourself creatively through photography.  I got stuck on exercise three and then this book somehow found it's way back to the shelf and was forgotten. The other day I found it again and starting flipping through it's pages. 

I decided that I should give this book another try.  Since I spent money on this book it only makes sense that I should read it all the way through and get the most out of it.  I'm all for improving my photography skills so my plan is post each exercise here on my blog. 

There are a lot of exercises and some may be a bit challenging  but I know it's going to fun. 

Plus I've been kinda wondering what to do with my blog.  I've run out of ideas and this seemed like a great way to motivate me to post more frequently.

Now I best go and start reading this book...

Book Review; A Lost Pearle

A while ago my family went to a homeschool convention.  They had a lot of booths set up, most of which sold curriculum, but there was one booth that I was drawn to. I'm not lying when I say I could have spent my whole day at that booth.  It was the Lamplighter booth.

I love Lamplighter Theater.  In my opinion, they make the best Audio Dramas. I've recently learned that not only are they known for their audio dramas but the republication of old books. I love books and old vintage things so it just comes natural to love their books.  I'm in love with the old style covers of their books.

So I knew that I could not leave that booth without buying a few books.  One of the books I chose was A Lost Pearle by Georgie Sheldon.  It sounded like a very exciting book and after reading it I am quite pleased with myself for buying it.  

So far, this is my favorite Lamplighter book. From the first chapter you are swept into this exciting story about the beautiful Pearle who is suddenly, and of her own accord, thrown into a life of hardships and trials.  I loved Pearle mainly because it was not her outward beauty that made her shine but her inward beauty.  Everyone she met seemed to always be falling in love with her. It didn't bother me too much because the Bible says, "A wife of noble character who can find? She is worth far more than rubies." Proverbs 31:10, and that's what I saw in Pearle.

With each chapter you get pulled even more into the story as each you lean more of the mystery.  I don't usually read mysterys but  I find that whenever I read a book that has a mystery in it I love it.  The author wasn't revealing all the facts and it kept me flipping pages, eager to find out what was going to happen next. Each character you meet has some important role to play in the story and the author doesn't reveal to you their role until the end.

So, in conclusion, I really love this book! I have to say that each Lamplighter book I have read has been a real treat. The Lamplighter books are always so rich and, in my opinion, very satisfying.  Plus, since they are Christian books, they teach about very important lessons in the Christian's life.  If you want to check out Lamplighter their Website is: http://lamplighter.net/c/

Learning to Notice the Little Things...

God is good to me.

Sometimes I need to constantly remind myself of this because life doesn't always go how I want it. I have my good days and my bad days and each day I'm faced with a boatload of new feelings and important choices to make.

But one thing I will always be able to do, no matter the circumstances, is look back at my life and see how much God has blessed me. Even when I find myself facing trying times I know that God is always right beside me all the way.

I've come to realized that it's not only the obvious things in life that can cause one to feel blessed by God.  Though those moments when God makes Himself so clearly known are quite incredible, it's important that we find God also in the simple and rather ordinary happenings of life. I'm learning that God is very present in my life and He wants me to notice Him in the small areas in my life.

A year ago after I graduated from High school I was really anxious about what to do with my life (I still am, hehe). I was feeling overwhelmed by the closing of one chapter in my life and the opening of another.  I was hoping to maybe find a part-time job because I knew college wasn't the next step for me. Things didn't go my way and it wasn't until I surrendered and came to a point where I could truthfully say I was content with the point in life I was at (which was staying at home and serving my family) that God opened the door for a local job.  The fact that God didn't choose to change my circumstances until I was happy and content with where He had me in my life at the moment had a huge impact on me. It showed me that God truly did care for me. He was not distant from me but, like I said above, right beside me the whole time.

That job only lasted a month and turned out to be a hard and trying experience for me.  But God had opened the door, and I can now see that God used that job to teach me some very important things about myself.

Too often I get so overwhelmed by the busyness of life.  And then when life is the opposite and I'm not busy I feel unproductive. Regardless of which way I feel, I can always find peace in my morning devotions. Before I start the day I usually read a passage from the Bible (I'm currently reading through the book of Job) along with reading a chapter from a book about Christian living. One morning I was again struggling with being content and I was feeling really anxious about the future. In my devotion that day I read Philippians 4:6-7 "Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus."  That verse was just what I needed to hear that morning. I prayed to God He replaced my anxiety with peace.

God continues to bless me in these small, yet wonderful ways. I can't tell you how many times the sermon on Sunday has been exactly what I needed to hear; or I finish a project and the next thing I know God opens the door just in time for me to start my next project.

It's the little moments like these in my life that cause me to stop and feel the blessings of God pour down around me. 

I'm still at a point in life where I still struggle with learning to be content with God's plan for my life.  I'm anxious about not knowing what's next.  Sometimes it's hard to be content.  But I have to take it one day at a time and keep my eyes focused on God as I wait to see where He chooses to bless me next. One blink, one look away, One short second of taking my eye's of off God causing me to give into my doubts and insecurities and I might miss the next blessing God sends my way.

God does care for me (and you) and I'm learning that each day it's the little things in life that cause me to feel the most blessed.

God is so good to me!



...Oh, and  by the way, since I'm done with my Astrid cosplay, I don't know what to do on here next.  Maybe I'll make another tutorial, Or maybe I could share a story I've written.  I guess you could say I have a collection of short stories and I'd be more than happy to share them. Hmm, what shall I post next...?