I enjoy documenting real life, so while I was shooting an everyday lunch at the Bradleys’ house I turned my camera to Maralee just doing what Maralee does. And this day that involved a routine licking-of-the-peanut-butter-knife, only now it was being studiously photographed. These shots make me laugh every time I see them.
Worshipping in a new setting has the potential to change hearts, and this morning’s service out at Camp Redeemer (Camp Solaris near Firth, Nebraska) was no different. The building is different. The people dress differently. We’re without the normal sights and sounds of what we’re used to. Instruments are different and acoustics are different. There’s no children’s church or nursery—that’s different! But God is not different. And our minds—now stripped of the things we’re used to—work a bit differently to route our heart towards the God who is Eternal, Unchanging, Righteous, and Holy. He is. And He is worthy of praise. It doesn’t matter where we are, we will praise Him because we love Him.
Eternal God, Unchanging, Mysterious and unknown.
Your boundless love unfailing, In grace and mercy shown.
Bright seraphim in endless flight aroung your glorious throne.
They raise their voices day and night in praise to you alone.
Hallelujah! Glory be to our great God!
Hallelujah! Glory be to our great God!
Lord, We are weak and frail, Helpless in the storm.
Surround us with your angels, Hold us in your arms.
Our cold and ruthless enemy, his pleasure is our harm.
Rise up, O Lord, And he will flee before our Sovereign God.
Hallelujah! Glory be to our great God!
Hallelujah! Glory be to our great God!
Let every creature in the sea and every flying bird;
Let every mountain, Every field and valley of the earth;
Let all the moons and all the stars in all the universe
Sing praises to the Living God, Who rules them by His word.
Hallelujah! Glory be to our great God!
Hallelujah! Glory be to our great God!
Me: Jeremy, remind me who won the Pork contest this year?
Jeremy: David Houfek
Me: [to self] And the Houkeks won Cornhole, too? Watch it, Houfek family! 2019 is gonna get real.
So basically the Houfeks won Camp Redeemer. Amy Lockwood mentioned she might work on a pork recipe this next year and I plan to build my own Cornhole game and practices shall be held in sunshine or in rain. Watch out, David and Nicole! And oh my goodness, I would like another helping of the amazing pulled pork served Saturday night. YUM.
For the third year straight we made our way south to Camp Redeemer for a weekend full of fun!
I wake up on adoption days and feel the exact same joy as I do on wedding days. A new family is being created! It’s such a hopeful and profound commitment to *loving another* that I am overjoyed and sobered all at once. In January I had the privilege of photographing Amariah’s permanency as a forever member of the Cranford family. Matt and Elaine made true legally what was already true in their hearts. There’s simply nothing like witnessing those moments where a judge confirms that parents are going to give all right of an heir to this child. It’s incredible.
To watch Matt and Elaine’s family grow over the years has been the coolest. Congrats, friends, on your latest adoption day and thanks for letting me be a part of it. We love you, Amariah!
This is my beloved friend Rebecca and she’s my absolute favorite Christmas elf. Every year she comes over to help me wrap all our Christmas presents. It’s tradition that we watch Elf—with Livia lounging on the couches in front of us so she can’t see the gifts—and that we drink Diet Mountain Dew.
I’m so grateful for Rebecca’s help when my own joints get cranky after hours of repetitive tasks. This girl is a joy and a blessing to us!
It’s this beautiful woman’s birthday today! (It’s also my parents’ 45th wedding anniversary. Happy anniversary, Mom and Dad!) It’s a sign of true adulthood when it’s your birthday and you go to a friend’s house to celebrate her 5 year old instead.
This one. She gives me a nudge in the costume department and I can’t help but join her in some sort of crazy scheme. All the elf love for Redeemer tonight. Yummy treats, great company, and as always, a hilarious white elephant tradition was upheld. We now have a literal white elephant in the house. Maybe he’ll show up on the DPP. You never know.
I’ve known Liz for [cough cough] quite a long time now—that’s what happens when you go to high school in the same city and then return there years later with your families! Liz and I have a lot in common and it’s a joy to spend time encouraging one another in our pursuits of serving God’s church and capturing His beauty via photography. We’re snapping pics of each other’s families this fall, and here’s evidence of our time spent together recently on one fantastic football Saturday.
