red white and blue

 

for the win

mighty mississippi

I just realized that I never wrote anything about the flood that took (still is?) taking place in Mississippi that I finally got to see first hand at the beginning of June. Actually, what really is spurring this post is just wanting to share the pictures with you. It is a very strange thing when the favorite pictures you have taken in quite some time are of a natural disaster that is affecting people you actually know and care about, and in a land that is, quite literally, so near and dear to home. I feel like I'm learning more about photography these days and getting more comfortable with my camera/lens and photoshop (which is maybe the best gift my sister has ever given me). So I really like some of these. The time of day was so pretty. But you could argue that the content is not. Because of that, I see this huge juxtaposition between what is lovely about nature and how untamed (and in this case, harmful) it really is. I think that is fascinating.

And in a way, that poses some sort of problem for me. I don't want to think this kind of thing is beautiful. When I took these, I didn't want to make them look ugly to try to convey more of how tragic this sort of thing really is in our little part of the country. Some of that happened naturally of course. But some of the landscape I saw really was gorgeous. I'm telling you, it's hard to make a delta sunset look like crap. Maybe what's wrong with this event, these landscapes and these pictures isn't enough to cover up with is right.

Just a thought. 

Regardless, everytime I look at these, I hear Lissie singing "Oh Mississippi" in the background. I wish I could make that happen for you, but really all I can do is point you in the right direction.


Oh mighty river, oh Mississippi
oh all of the troubles your banks have seen
please take me with you
far from this land

here we go. again.

This big, white box with its constantly blinking cursor haunts me.

There's just so much I want to tell you....about last year, about my hopes for next year, etc. The school year has come to a close. It's over. And that was the end of the 2nd year of my internship. By God's grace (seriously), I fulfilled my 2 year commitment. And so begins my 3rd year.


This absolutely was not in my plan at the beginning of this gig. I entered being dead-set on physical therapy school and will be leaving (Lord-willing) bound for seminary to get a counseling degree. I entered into an RUF full of strangers, and will be leaving.....well, not yet. And because we're getting another girl intern here (HOO-RAY), I'll get to spend all of my time with the older girls. I'll probably spend a good bit of that time marveling that they are in fact the "older girls" now. I have no concept of what it means to be a parent. None at all.

So you should know that by now that I absolutely love my job. And I'm not using that as a blanket statement so I can now tell you all of the crappy things about it. I mean that, as you see, the trajectory of my life has been altered from its original plan because of it. I love working in ministry, and the places I get to do that, UVA and Charlottesville, are so dear to me. This year has been especially vital in helping me to realize both of these things. It certainly had it's ups and downs. At times it was flying by, and at others it was going painfully slow. Yet through all of the times, Jesus taught me more of one simple truth: I am with you. What a beautiful, loaded statement.

And that's why I want to stay around for another year. Jesus has been kind to let me see some of the work he's doing here and in me. That is motivation enough to keep doing this weird little job.

If you feel so led, I would covet your prayers: for this summer as we lead a Bible study, as I raise support, and as I continue to be in Charlottesville and learn what that really means. I would also love your partnership by supporting me financially. In reality, everything I have is a gift. This is especially true of my job. I couldn't be here without the sweet generosity of friends and family. You can donate at ruf.org.

So, with that said, I will kindly thank you for reading and revisiting this little blog (and life?) of mine, and say cheers! to summer.

still here

If you have talked to me much at all in the last month, you know that there's a lot of thinking going on in this head of mine, about my future, about my current life here in Charlottesville, etc. If you haven't, then there's a chance that's my fault, and I do apologize. And now you know: I'm currently in thinking mode. Which is probably why I've been hesitant to update this little blog of mine about this little life of mine. To make up for it, I even began to wonder if I should start posting recipes (and even pictures of the recipe if I'm feeling pioneer woman-like), as that seems to be the trend. I just can't bring myself to do that. But I promise I still love those of you who do.

Thinking, searching, praying, hoping, waiting.....I've come to learn that these are exhausting. And they have each taken up much of my time. But thankfully not all of it. Jesus has also been kind to grace me with such a thing as 30 rock (from the sun), which allows my roommates and me to daily "liz lemon our cares away." I challenge you to think of something that would be more beneficial to do with our time. Just don't tell me what you come up with.

Then there's been the large part of my life that I would like to call "interning." Actually, I'd probably try to call it something else if I could, because we ALL know by now that I'm not trying to learn how to be a campus minister.  But I'm told that's what I am, so we'll stick with it. And even though I mentioned 30 rock before this, I assure you my job takes much more precedence. Most days.
Moral of the story: I'm still here, and I'm still loving it.
And if you met my first years (or freshmen) girls, you'd know why.

I wish I could give you a pithy something to summarize what you just read, but I do believe I just gave you the abridged, spark-notes version as is. More thoughts to come. Maybe.

I hope your today has been filled with love. Love from Jesus, a friend, a spouse, a parent, a stranger, whathaveyou. Happy valentine's to you.

and.....go

I'm a little amazed at how much my brain has been stretched lately, especially since being back. Not in learning new material, or even really in doing anything new. Just in relating. In keeping up with another thinking, speaking, acting human being. In conversing with another person of a completely different way of processing, way of seeing the world. In listening, then figuring out if/what to speak, then maybe even doing so. Or getting that order completely reversed. In attempting to love them and let them love me. In trying to remember what the heck we last talked about and what I'm forgetting to ask about. In trying to figure out this thing called "life" together.

And in doing that with multiple different persons, be it friends, students, family, housemates, acquaintances, folks near or far, etc.

I really do not mean to portray these things in a negative light.
I do mean to say that my mind is being used and challenged.
I like that.

while mindlessly scrolling around NPR today

I found this article. I had not previously heard of Milton Rogovin, so the news of his death was not heartbreaking to me. His pictures of the "forgotten ones" as he called them, however, struck a deep chord. The article says, "he allowed his subjects to compose themselves as proud people, not as victims, in front of the camera." And you can see it in their eyes. And they are beautiful.

While I have no experience with photographing people whom I don't know, and am not sure if I ever will, I certainly hope to be a noticer also the "forgotten ones."

I would also like to thank my current book, To Kill a Mockingbird, for heightening such emotions. Atticus Finch has won me over, again.

happy mlk day

This is my gift from me to you. It's certainly appropriate for the holiday, but also for cloudy, cold day we are having here in c'ville.

Enjoy.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WA6Q5-Ap3o8