and the winner is...

And the early Monday morning winner of my weekend Praise giveaway (completely randomized by a VERY droopy, lap-sitting Piper for your nice winnage today) is Alison! Alison, please contact me with your mailing address, and we will send your print out to you this week!

For those of you who really, really wanted to win this print, I am offering a special, at-cost price (plus shipping) in 5x7, 8x10, 8x12, or larger print. If you are interested, please contact me with your mailing address by next Monday, and I will make an order. (Prices will range between five and ten dollars, even on the larger prints. Like I said, I'm offering them to you at cost. I will confirm price with you if you contact me. )

NOTE: Only those who commented on this post are eligible to take advantage of this special rate. This offer is for a limited time only. Expires Monday, August 24, 2009. (Hee hee! Just had to try that...)

Other orders may be placed under these prices.

Real post coming later...

a thousand to praise

“For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are My ways higher than your ways, and My thoughts than your thoughts.

“For as the rain comes down, and the snow from heaven, and do not return there, but water the earth, and make it bring forth and bud, that it may give seed to the sower and bread to the eater, so shall My word be that goes forth from My mouth; it shall not return to Me void, but it shall accomplish what I please, and it shall prosper in the thing for which I sent it.

“For you shall go out with joy, and be led out with peace; the mountains and the hills shall break forth into singing before you, and all the trees of the field shall clap their hands."

- Is. 55:9-12

A thousand posts. A thousand ways to say, "this is who I am" even as I am changing, as the words I write lend themselves to the process. A thousand steps on a path that hasn't ended, days and moments lived in another Author's book, glimpses of here and now and yesterday and tomorrow. A thousand ramblings, some not-so-quiet ramblings, random thoughts imported into finite Internet pages for the world to read and ponder and muse or dismiss.

Am I nearer to God than when I began, closer to rest in Him that sent me seeking His heart at the beginning of it all? Perhaps. I don't know. It is only Jesus who can judge. I am drawn on, as Lewis says, "further up and further in," and His higher ways are breathtaking. I no longer try to figure Him out as I am moved to simple praise. And joy. Joy I don't understand, joy I never grasped before.

They are clapping now in the breeze, the trees. Can you hear them?

-----------

I promised a giveaway with my thousandth post. I have been saving this 8x10 print for such a purpose.

To enter, simply leave a comment on this post before next Monday, August 17th. (Comments are hiding at the top of the posts now...)

I will have Piper draw a name out of one of her newly-beloved hats (oh, how I tried to get her to wear them when she was small, and now she wears them all the time of her own volition!) and announce the winner on Monday morning.

Writing Contest

If you like general writing/editing/publishing information, writing inspiration, or plain entertainment, you need to check out the Novel Doctor, aka editor Stephen Parolini. This little piece is my entry for his most recent contest, based around a first and last sentence that he offers. I can't say I died over it, because I don't have time or energy to die over these things when there are so many other things out to get me. I have to admit to some amazement over what you can fit into 400 words.

I was also rather surprised at my own morbid side. I started out with a depressed guy whose wife had just had twins. Then I tried a suicide attempt that didn't work. I thought about a sci-fi attempt with that first sentence, but come on, I have enough toddler drama to keep me busy already without having to figure out what happened to the sun.

Do enjoy this, if you can. Or, get over to his blog and enter your own, because I'm sure you all have better ideas than I!

The sun didn’t rise on Thursday.

Maybe it isn’t really Thursday, Annie thought, dragging her aching body out of bed. Maybe it was still Wednesday night. The crash was nothing but a nightmare. The sun had to rise today. It was her wedding day.

She groped in the dark for a light switch, tripping over a pile of clothing and stumbling into the wall beside her closed door. She flipped the switch.

Oh great, the power was out. Of course. Her digital clock wasn’t glowing.

Annie rubbed a hand over tired eyes. The darkness was so thick she couldn’t see her hand in front of her face.

She scrabbled through her bedside table drawer for a flashlight. She tried flipping it on. Hmm. Batteries must be dead.

Frustrated, she pitched the light across the room. It hit the alarm clock off her dresser, clattering to the floor.

The clock radio began to play.

“…80 degrees and clear for you today, with mostly sunny skies...”

Annie froze at the sound, then pitched forward, passing from one black world into another.

----------

Her cell phone was ringing. Where had she left it? Her head was spinning. She opened her eyes into darkness, pulled from unconsciousness by the urgency of the identifying tone.

“Jase?” She croaked into the mouthpiece. Why was she croaking? “I can’t see.”

“I’m coming! I’m here!” She thought her apartment door was coming down in the other room. Her ears were ringing.

Someone burst into her room, hitting her leg with the door. Then he was beside her, his touch piercing the isolating black.

“Please help,” she pleaded. “The sun didn’t come up today…”

----------

She was four months late for her wedding. The sun did rise that Thursday. One of her bridesmaids attended her in a silver frame at the front of the church.

Too many tears, Annie thought, leaning heavily on her father’s arm for her walk into Jase’s arms. But she could see them. The tears. The camera flash. Those who loved them. The look on Jase’s face. The tie he was wearing. She couldn’t quite see the color yet.

She stepped toward him. After weeks of blackness, she’d forgotten what colors she’d chosen for her wedding.

Sunlight streamed through cathedral windows across the aisle, bathing Jase in light, drawing her smile.

Ah. She chose the blue one after all.

the country helps me breathe sometimes

Our wedding/photography trip to MN was a surprise to me in many ways, from how well my body handled the trip after a really stressful week to the discovery that I can actually be homesick for the open spaces and cornfields of the Midwest.

Gabe and Katie were very happy, and they DID get married, and it was a wonderful day. I don't often get a chance to see the bride and groom just hanging out together on their day like these two

Piper was such a trooper - she handled everything really well, and she loved playing with the dozens of kids running around and involved in the wedding. We let her listen to her music in the car while we were driving - she loved the new experience! Now, she's clingy and fighting a nasty diaper rash, poor thing. We're both adjusting to having the house to ourselves again after my sister left from a two week visit.

The break was good for me. I have a ton to get done, but I don't have anything major coming up before July - I've gotten past my hurdles for now. Hopefully things will start slowing down and weddings and processing can start coming together...

Oh yes, and I am rambling now, but I am actually posting to announce the giveaway winner. Izzy - you're it! Piper pulled your name out of the pile and sweetly handed it to me this morning when we did the drawing!

I also want to thank everyone who stopped by and left me a comment for the print! Commenters who did not win may purchase a print for a special commenter price of $18.00 + shipping (regular price is $25 per print). This discounted price applies ONLY TO THOSE WHO COMMENTED to win the print.

Email me if you are interested.

Some wedding photos to come a little later in the week.

Weekend Giveaway

We're headed to MN for the weekend to shoot a wedding and be in a wedding and generally cause all kinds of trouble for our good friends, Gabe and Katie. You know the drill by now. Just leave me a comment on this post, and I'll be mailing an 8x8 print of this image out to you if Piper draws your name on Monday (after 8:30 a.m.)!

Even the sparrow has found a home, and the swallow a nest for herself, where she may lay her young — even Your altars, O LORD of hosts, my King and my God. (Ps. 84:3)

Have a great weekend...

CONTEST CLOSED

she speaks - of where the light is

"That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked upon, and our hands have handled, concerning the Word of life — the life was manifested, and we have seen, and bear witness, and declare to you that eternal life which was with the Father and was manifested to us — that which we have seen and heard we declare to you, that you also may have fellowship with us; and truly our fellowship is with the Father and with His Son Jesus Christ. And these things we write to you that your joy may be full.

"This is the message which we have heard from Him and declare to you, that God is light and in Him is no darkness at all." (1 Jn. 1:1-5)

After days upon days of clouds and rain, I am always captivated by light, in any form - the our living room Christmas lights, the play of light and shadows anywhere, sunspot flare, or the glow of a fading sunset.

I never get tired of the light, how it so beautifully reveals what I would not have seen otherwise. It brings a magic of its own to everything I shoot. This is my meditation today, the wonder of the Word Jesus who is the Light of Life, and the beauty that He brings to what I am and have and do.

This is my reason for writing, the drive behind the passion I that pour into my art - to bear witness to the Light, to declare to you what I have seen and heard, so that your joy may be full, as I am finding mine to be.

I write from where I am, speak as Paul spoke of his struggles in Romans, weighing and pondering and processing the transformation that is occurring in me as my mind is renewed by His Spirit. I write so that I will remember what He is doing, to try to grasp the reality of this faith that I find so solid. I write to encourage my readers, to give to you what He is giving me, to live my life before you in simple, godly sincerity in such a way that He may somehow reveal Himself to you through His work in me.

I cannot say everything. I cannot include every verse, every reference, every experience, every nuance of what He is doing in my life in every post I write. As John said, there are not enough volumes in all the world to hold what He has done and continues to do and reveal.

There is a conference scholarship contest my blog friend Emily advertised yesterday. I would like to win this scholarship, to meet and fellowship with some of the women who have encouraged me in this way, to learn to speak more boldly of Jesus to you, to gain some practical training and ideas about how I may better communicate this Light that captivates me.

This "She Speaks" Conference is being hosted by Proverbs 31 Ministries, the name of which would have made me quite nervous not too long ago. The conference, which is being held in North Carolina this summer during the weekend of July 31 - August 2, offers three tracks - a speaking track, a writing track, and a ministry leadership track, and I would like to try either the speaking or the writing track - I think both could help me grow so much, help me understand more than I know now.

God has given me a passion for His people, and I so want to share all the fullness of Him that I know with my readers. I love that I get to try to do that here, and that so many of you offer grace for my imperfections and understanding for my "not-there-yet." I love that so many of you let me know that He used something I said here to encourage you. It is my call, to encourage and build you up in Him with the gifts He has given to me. And I have to thank you for trusting Him in my life, and thank you too for speaking into my life as He has led you.

Whether I win a scholarship or not, I want my readers - and everyone with whom I come into contact - to know and enjoy the fullness of His Life, Life that I am finding every day more and more. Here, I give you according to the grace that is given me. Here, I choose to invest what He has given me wildly and passionately to see what return the Master will bring, for I know He works where I do not know ("even in an economy that seems to be falling apart," she says with a wink and a smile).

I always pray that as my readers "listen" to my voice, you do hear His through the muddle of me. I know the women judging the scholarship contest will be praying about the winner as well. I can't really afford to attend if I don't win, but I know I can trust God with the decision - He knows what He has for me to do, and where He would like me that weekend. I'm willing to wait and see what He does!

Weekend Giveaway

Yes, it's that time again - time for me to let you have the blog for the weekend because I'll be working my tail off on Saturday shooting a wedding.

It'll be the usual routine this weekend - anyone who leaves me a comment ON THIS POST between now and Monday at 8:30a.m. (Eastern Daylight Time) will be entered in a drawing (conducted by the very cute Piper Joelle Rhiannon Sauer) to win an 8 x 12 print of the photo above. I know a lot of you loved this photo, so here's your chance to own one!

When you comment, please leave an identifiable name or link or email address so that I know who to contact about winning. If I can't contact you, I can't consider you to win!

I'll announce the winner on Monday morning.

project 4:8 - giveaway time

I've been running a project-slash-contest over the last month at my photography blog, which I am calling my 4:8 Project. I started the project to focus my photographical eye on the words in Philippians 4:8 (true, noble, right, just, honorable, pure, lovely, admirable, commendable, excellent, virtue, good, praiseworthy, reputable, authentic, compelling, gracious, good report). Each time I post a photo for this project, anyone is welcome to post a permalink to a photo of their own for any of the words in the list below, from three different versions of the verse.

Every month, I plan to award the owner of one photo an 8x10 or 8x8 print of their choosing from my daily photos. The final day for my first print giveaway is today. If you would like to participate in the contest, feel free to head over to this post and leave a link to your photo in a comment there. NOTE: To keep things simpler for me, comments left on this post will not be considered.

Photos do not have to be professional - I'm looking more at how well the photo fits the word you have chosen.

I will be announcing the winner tomorrow, so hurry and make your entry!

[Update: The Winner Is...]

Daily Click!!!!

Piper and I made the Shutter Sisters Daily Click again this morning! I needed the smile today - and the memory of that warm window breeze! Thank you, Shutter Sisters!

(View my first Daily Click if you like!)

a heads-up for a thumbs-up!

For my interior home decorator friends out there:

My newish blog friend, Laura Frantz, has a chalkboard wall in her house that she has entered in the Etsy Small Projects Contest, and she needs votes to win the prize. Why am I posting this, you ask? Well, she has just such a lovely idea (homeschool moms I know, you're gonna love it!!!) and it's so inexpensive to do ($40), and the site (odeedoh.com) holding the contest is awesome for nesting types who like to glean ideas!

So. That is that. If you feel like registering for a cool new site, I know she'd appreciate your thumbs-up!

Happy Saturday!

Hey April, we won!!!

His Delight Is In Me

And for this week's fun project - here is the giveaway header, given to Ash over at His Delight is In Me. Stop over for a bigger look and an inspiring break - this girl's writing is wonderful!

And the Winner Is...

Or, shall I say, "the winners are..."




HisDelightisInMe - Ash, you said "header" twice. Please confirm your preference. I have enough trouble trying to get Piper to give me the names once she draws them without wringing your preference out of her! ;-)

and

Cheri (aka "The Mom Lady") - 8 x 10 Print from my Daily Photo Gallery

Weekend Giveaway: Give 2

Because I like to find out who is online from Friday - Monday morning, (I have a theory going on this phenomenon...)

This weekend, I am doing a double giveaway (which means I will have Piper draw two names to receive a gift).

To both winners, I will give

1) an 8x10 print from any one of my Daily photos

OR

2) a custom blog header created from my stock images.

Those of you who like my photography, this is your chance to get one of my favorite photos! To enter, just leave your preference (print or header) with your comment on this post between now and 8:30 a.m. on Monday.

(Explanations for this giveaway include a lack of sleep last night, a lack of inspiration for a post this morning, and a lack of motivation to work this weekend. Having something to look forward to doing next week will keep me accountable to really work this weekend so I have the freedom to play! Besides, I seriously love hearing from you all!)

January Contest Entry

Oh blah. Again, no dice. You can see the finalists here! Stop over and vote, if you like!