Mounting Photos...

At the studio we mount photos 8x10 and larger onto photo boards, so they're nice and sturdy, rather than flimsy.

Here's a little glimpse at the process...

readying the photographs, mounting paper & photo boards

(tacking iron)

& into the massive vacuum-sealing machine

Love these tools & new know-how!!

For the past two weeks I've gotten almost 40 hours between BBS & Bookland. That was the goal, and thankfully it seems to be working out well.

Now the goal is to use my 'free time' outside of work as well as possible... 

(I've been journaling & journaling about this and working on prioritizing my thoughts and how I'm spending my time.... maybe I'll share more later, but today I'm off to meet Kara in real life!!! Yay! :)

Quick t shirt update (by Shannon)

Love this idea by Shannon...

She's a creativity/cooking/spiritual inspiration!!


Quick t shirt update
(shared straight from Shannon's blog via Google Reader)

I love Hanes mens white v necks.  They are comfy, cheap, and can be easily layered.  I own a bunch of them.  In efforts to make one a little more fun than the normal plain white t shirt I used some embroidery thread to do some decorative stitching along the hemmed edges.  I'll probably end up doing another one in another color, maybe with stitching along the arm hole seams and neckline next time.

SC visit, part 2...

After finishing up in Charleston Saturday afternoon, Jeremy and I headed to Mom & Dad's for a night's stay....

...the door sign and sister hug were the best! :)

Family night ensued....

Kayla had been working on that bubble since we got there, and she finally got it just before we left! :)

arms-length get-everyone-in-the-shot-bf-we-go pic :)

Thankfully before heading back to Raleigh, we saved a few minutes for a suuuper quick stop at the beach and Cracker Barrel to see Stephanie, Shannon & Cade!! ♥

It was a quick trip south, but for a bonus trip, we sure did squeeze in a lot of hugs and sweet times!!!

So thankful!! <3 <3

Speak up...

So do not be afraid of them, 
for there is nothing concealed that will not be disclosed, 
or hidden that will not be made known.

What I tell you in the dark, 
speak in the daylight; 
what is whispered in your ear,
proclaim from the roofs.

Do not be afraid of those who kill the body
but cannot kill the soul.
Rather, be afraid of the One
who can destroy both soul & body in Hell.

Are not two sparrows sold for a penny?
Yet not one of them will fall to the ground
outside your Father's care.
And even the very hairs of your head are all numbered. 
So don't be afraid; 
you are worth more than many sparrows.
-Matthew 10:26-31

Apparently it's more important to please God with our words... by speaking up... rather than keeping quiet in fear of man....

Makes me think....

What's my motivation for speaking up?

What's my motivation for keeping quiet?

What has he whispered in my ear
or told me in the dark?

What needs to be spoken in the daylight
and proclaimed from the rooftops?

Sweet spot...

What's your sweet spot??

Do you have one?
or more than one?

Have you identified them?

Can you?

Will you?

And once you do...
Can you spend more time there?

What will it take to make that happen?

My sweet spots feel so all-over-the-place...

At times I don't know how to hone-in even if I want to..

I do want to.

I want to be intentional in finding them 
and to make a point to focus more time & attention there... 

If any of you lacks wisdom,

You should ask God, 

Who gives generously to all 

Without finding fault, 

And it will be given to you. 

-James 1:5

Thankfully I have some extra time to journal and pray and read this day.... Back to it...♥

SC visit, part 1...

Afam... catching up:)

Charleston!!

class meet-up

partners :)

after the rain... 

Thankful to get to tag along for this trip!!

Especially thankful to get to stop in and out of home on the way to & from Raleigh! ♥

Learning to frame...

My new coworker Liz taught me how to frame start-to-finish yesterday!

And I got to practice three on my own... :)

matting

stapled in place

wire for hanging

aaand sealed with a sticker

Time for Day 2...

Day 1 of week 6...

I get to start a new job today!!!!

After all the asking, seeking, knocking, I got a job at this sweet little studio a mile from our house!!

It's a photography studio + children's boutique, so she's going to need the most help processing orders and editing clothing for the website.. (at least that's what I think she'll need the most help with:)... 

This is the photohop test she gave me when I got there!:)

We have a busy week ahead, but come Friday we get to head to Charleston (for Jeremy's school project) and then home Saturday night & Sunday for a quick visit with our families!!!

Yay!!!! :)

Happy Monday, Friends! <3

Running shorts in Raleigh...

Promptly upon arriving in Raleigh, Jeremy & I noticed the copious amount of RUNNING SHORTS worn in this town!! -not just by college students although they're surely leading the trend, but by everyone it seems!! 

And then of course I had to eat any words I may have spoken harshly about trends & how funny it is to see so many people dressed the same! ....because I found this very cute pink pair at GoodWill for $1.39... and I couldn't resist, so I joined the club! :) 

(too bad I'm not even a runner. pretty sure it doesn't matter. I instantly feel cooler..... haha-- jk! :)

So then I realized something..... 

Running shorts are to Raleigh-kids 

as

Rainbows are to MyrtleBeach-kids!!

True story!! :)

This city is surely growing on me, but I have a feeling I'll always be a beach-kid at heart! ♥

(aren't you glad to know just a little bit more about Raleigh now!? ;)

...and aren't you GLAD it feels like FALL today!!! How Glorious! The running shorts can wait, my jeans and I are going for a walk!! :)

Keep Asking, Seeking, Knocking...

Sunday was an Architecture studio day... 

Jeremy had lots (and lots!) of drawing to do, and I had a few things I wanted to be still and work on, so I joined him for the afternoon...

(working on my 146 Poems of Love submission I keep talking about)

Once I was finished with my 'work,' I decided to get going....

I wanted to enjoy the nice weather, stroll through campus, and enjoy the walk home (only 1.5 miles) in time to fix supper by the time he stopped for a break.

I'm glad he lets me tag along like that sometimes! It's great to see him in his element, for sure!
Plus, some things just need to be documented, right!? :)

The walk was like therapy. 

I love how the Lord works that way with me.

Even with all my stopping and picture taking, it probably only took me 40 minutes, but it felt like weeks worth of ministry to my heart.

(note to self: do this more often!)

I was walking and thinking/praying about my recent job-searches (or lack thereof). It seems as though it was so easy at home because I already knew the community and actually had friends and work people to network with!

But here, starting from scratch, has seemed so hard.

(Thankfully I'm getting good hours and very decent pay at B&N, so it's not that I'm in a hurry or desperate, I just really want to press into what is for me here.)

So as I'm walking and thinking and praying, I just kept asking, What in the world do you have for me here?

I've looked a few places, but I'm not sure where else to try...There are really so many choices, how in the world do I narrow it down? 

Then I briefly thought about the Ask / Seek / Knock verse (Matthew 7:7). And the thought that crossed my mind was something like: I don't know what's in store here or which door is the right one, but that doesn't mean I should stop knocking. Surely the more doors I try, the more chance I have of leaning into the right one.

And so after supper, when Jeremy returned to his project, I retreated to our little living room & cozy futon.

I reread Matthew 7 and asked God to help me sort it out a little more...

To ASK we have to use our mouths... our voice... (and since out of the heart -the mouth speaks (Luke 6:45), we actually have to first believe with our hearts that someone is listening!)

To SEEK we have to use our eyes... our vision... (and sometimes, especially if it's dark where we're seeking, we might even need to engage our hands as well).

To KNOCK we have to first use our feet to get to a door, our will to go for it, and our hands to make some noise on that guy. Right??

Sometimes doors fling open and opportunity finds us...

and sometimes they don't...

most-of-the-times we have to walk up and take the risk of knocking!

And since still sometimes 

-nobody's home-

-or they're busy-

-or we have the wrong door-

we must keep going!

Ask again...

Seek some more...

Keep knocking... 

I really didn't want to hear this answer. 

The answer I'd already decided on: I did it. I knocked... It was kind of hard & uncomfortable, and even though I have no answer, I did it, and now I'm done... All done. 

...not the best response on my part. Kind of lazy of me too. 

Life can be so much harder than I feel like it being. 

But what joy when we persevere! 

What joy when we keep on knocking and someone comes to the door with a smile on their face and a welcome mat for us to walk in on!

We've got to know that's the kind of joy He's got in store for us!! [and when we walk through the hard, murky, and often very uncomfortable to get there, (1)we will appreciate it, and (2)we won't miss it!!! ]

Thank you, Jesus, for your encouragement. And for your hard answers that I don't always want to hear, but know that I need. You are better than I can imagine.

Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and it will be opened to you.... ...Which one of you, if his son asks him for bread, will give him a stone? Or if he asks for a fish will give him a serpent?  If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give good things to those who [keep on] ask[ing] him! (Matthew 7:7-11)

online reading...

There's some good stuff out there...

a few things I've found enjoyable & beneficial recently...

Love146's love story. Do read this if you have a minute.

I can't tell you how many times I've read it and cried.

What to do with this sorrow? How can I respond? 

(I did send in two images for the 146 Poems of Love project... but my heart is not satisfied... I'm still thinking and praying for more ways to take action.)

Danielle's Take Heart blog: Series of guest posts on adoption (Sept.5-10)

& now her one sweet love adoption fundraiser-giveaway.

Jessi's  FREE monthly home goodness. You can download the goods for free: a September calendar printable, week plan page, aaand a 1Peter2:9 print. Soo lovely!

Truly, I recommend Naptime Diaries all together. Shocker. I know. :)

Robin's marriage post: just... breathe... [at incourage.me]

Bob Goff's tweets: I basically love everything this guy writes. It's full of hope & life & truth. 

He has a book in the works I think. Looking forward to that one.

And I've got to thank Kara [at just1step.com] for the inspiration for this post. 

She's my blogland-Raleigh-friend that I'm hoping to get to know in real life. :)

{her link loves}

Happy reading!

Any favorites to share?

Date night [in Raleigh]...

This is the first 5-6 week stretch in years of not at least slowing down for a little Friday night date to relax and laugh and enjoy... (yep: years! -since we started dating in November of 2005!!)...

It's also the first Friday night I haven't had to work since we arrived in Raleigh four weeks ago!

So, clearly, we were beyond thrilled to get some reprieve and go enjoy the city we're calling home!


We started with burritos,


a review of J's current project/ideas,

and about a thirty-minute snuggle-nap on the couch...


It was Heavenly!!


By the time we got out the door it was 9pm. Late for us, but we were already feeling quite refreshed and looking forward to getting out...

Fayetteville Street is apparently where things go down in Raleigh.


There was live music,


city lights,


and a Port City Java that rivaled the one in Wilmington (best one ever in my opinion!).

It's so hard to get our head around the fact that we live here.

And that all of this is about 7 minutes from our little abode!

It was a sweet night. So good to relax and spend some time not-striving.
Very refreshing after such long busy weeks!!
<3

(thanks for all the love and prayers! we're definitely encouraged! praying you are too!!)

stretched...

Grad school has pushed J to say some pretty hilarious things in the past few weeks...

things like...

I guess I'll sleep in December.
Apparently they don't value that here.

and...

Grad school is intense.
It's like getting kicked in the face -- by a ninja!
"Good morning, Hi-YAH!"

haha!!

Truth be told, these have not been easy days... but they have been good.

We are being stretched and pulled in new directions and are praying new prayers with new fervor & diligence!

And as hard as all of that can feel at times,

I wouldn't change a thing.

The blessings have certainly been maximized as we've pressed in!

This is my encouragement and prayer....

2 Cor. 12:9-10

For when I am weak,

then I am strong.

amen & amen.

<3

Still time to Love 146...

  

I've been wanting to prepare a submission for this project by Amber Morris, and with all the transition, I just haven't done it yet....

BUT, there's still time!!

Poem or Photography submissions are due via email on or before September 30th. 

Wanna submit one with me??

Check out Amber's post about the project:

Once Upon a Time: 146Poems: "I am very excited to invite you to participate in a special book project: 146 Poems of Love. It is a project inspired by the organization ..."  

blessing & cursing...

Proverbs 30 got me this morning...

"If you have been foolish, exalting yourself, or if you have been devising evil, put your hand on your mouth. For pressing milk produces curds, pressing the nose produces blood, and pressing anger produces strife." (vs.32-33)

I have grumbled and complained where I should not.

I have hoped that my complaints would not sound like such, would not be taken as ingratitude, but that they would produce some sort of good. And this just cannot be... It just doesn't work that way. It is true: "a man reaps what he sows" (Galatians 6:7)...

Pressing the nose produces blood... not goodness.

So here I am -putting my hand over my mouth. 

I will not curse, but only bless.. 

I will not grumble & complain in deceit that good will come of it. That is pure lie.

(Jessi made a challenge along these lines a little while back... Good words:  NaptimeDiaries.com)

{{the window pictured above is a collage/painting thing I made in 2009ish for a silent auction-fundraiser for Abiding Village.}}

wait for it...

Psalm 37

Trust in the LORD and do good;
dwell in the land and enjoy safe pasture.
Take delight in the LORD,
and he will give you the desires of your heart.

Commit your way to the LORD;
trust in him and he will do this: 
He will make your righteous reward shine like the dawn,
your vindication like the noonday sun.

Be still before the LORD
and wait patiently for him;  
do not fret when people succeed in their ways,
when they carry out their wicked schemes.

Refrain from anger and turn from wrath;
do not fret—it leads only to evil.
For those who are evil will be destroyed,
but those who hope in the LORD will inherit the land.

(read the rest here...)

Sweet encouragement....
Trusting him. 
Waiting and watching and asking for eyes to see....