All images snapped in January 2014.

When I think about what I want to do in the future, and some of my favorite shoots of the past, women are at the top of my list. Photographing women as they work, as they love, as they learn, and as they grow (sometimes physically, always relationally/emotionally/spiritually) brings me great satisfaction.

I have MANY images from last fall to share with you. Enjoy this shot of Elaine Cranford, taken in November 2013, in the final days before little Asher came into the world.

Thoughts, in no particular order:

• Getting away, pretty much anywhere, inspires me.
• I love having to walk to reach my destination.
• I’d like walking more if I didn’t have stupid joint problems in my feet.
• Beds with messy sheets appeal to me if the bedding is nice.
• I know these are mostly wide angle shots, but really and truly that margarita was huge.
• I did not feel good after drinking half that margarita on an empty stomach.
• LIGHTWEIGHT. That’s me.
• Jeremy is my favorite travel buddy ever. I just love him.
• Watching schoolchildren recite the Pledge of Allegiance on a rooftop playground is charming beyond all words.
• The end. For now.

Sometimes mornings are running dialogues where one of the players has the most lines. The third grader is the star with the second player, her mother, interjecting a few pointers along the way. The thoughts that are most prominent will be repeated, possibly over and over, until they are sufficiently acknowledged and understood. It seems as though this dialogue—which, let’s face it, is really a monologue—takes precedence over all else while the second and more lowly player believes that getting dressed, brushing teeth and eating breakfast are the more worthwhile activities. Sometimes the star of the show recalls Very Important Activities, like saying goodbye to her goldfish, that all of a sudden must be done before she walks out the front door. It is the second player’s job to think and act quickly, assuring the star why the fish will be fine without an adieu.

Eventually the first player carries her monologue-dialogue out the door with her. This morning it was carried into her Papa’s car and what happened there I cannot say, though I certainly can imagine. All the words and important thoughts and stories to tell are sucked out that door with her, like a vortex that leaves silence in its wake. All the flurried energy goes with her and behind her there is great silence that envelopes all the second player’s thoughts like a thick blanket. Quiet, stillness remains.

Soon enough the star will choose different words to express herself. She may share her lines with someone else on most days or perhaps even take them to an internal place to sort out before relying on the second player. I enjoy this thought as I sit in front of my computer with a cup of coffee at hand. Someday these words about little things will become words about big things and they will have power to change the world, a few characters at a time.

Every January I begin sifting through December’s images to find new ones to post. The December Photo Project usually produces a plethora of shots, and since I only post one a day, I like to show the rest when the DPP is over. That being said, this shot was snapped the day after Christmas and therefore was not DPP fodder, but I’m posting it all the same. If you’ve never scrolled through old photos to re-purpose, you should. Today I rolled through about 20 pages on my old Flickr photostream and had a ball walking down memory lane.

Today we wake up with a child eager to open the presents under the tree. We watch her and claim her excitement as our own. We help tear the gifts from their boxes, cut tags, unwind cords to she can play with the things we’ve given her. We wear silly hats, rush out to the last dregs of snow in the yard to make snowballs with the new snowball maker. We take pictures and smile and then lay on the couch for a Christmas nap. We look forward to ham and potatoes, green beans and another celebration yet to come.

Jesus’s birthday. God incarnate, God come to earth as a tiny baby boy, prepared for an eventual death to free mankind from their sins. This is the reason why our family celebrates of a day of gifts and good food. Jesus! Behind the physical manifestations of a party is this supernatural reason for the party—eternal life with our God, made possible by the perfect life and sacrificial death in our place. Today we celebrate with joy the birth of our Savior knowing full well that we’ll celebrate with grief in a few month’s time his death on our behalf. It’s all more than a little mind-boggling. And it requires faith to see what we cannot see and to listen to God’s whisperings in our hearts.

Praise be to God for the gift of Jesus today. We are grateful. We long for the day we see him again face to face and faith becomes sight.

21 Now I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away. Also there was no more sea. 2 Then I, John, saw the holy city, New Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. 3 And I heard a loud voice from heaven saying, “Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and He will dwell with them, and they shall be His people. God Himself will be with them and be their God. 4 And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes; there shall be no more death, nor sorrow, nor crying. There shall be no more pain, for the former things have passed away.”

5 Then He who sat on the throne said, “Behold, I make all things new.” And He said to me, “Write, for these words are true and faithful.”

Revelation 21:1-5

Silent night, holy night,
all is calm, all is bright
round yon virgin
mother and child.
Holy infant, so tender and mild,
sleep in heavenly peace,
sleep in heavenly peace.

Silent night, holy night,
wondrous star, lend thy light;
with the angels let us sing,
Alleluia to our King;
Christ the Savior is born,
Christ the Savior is born!

I like this shot so much that I don’t mind at all that it’s blurry.

Day 22 of the December Photo Project. Time is flying by! Three more shots and we’re done, folks. Wow.

My pretty and industrious hard-working Wrapper was back for the third year in a row today! This girl can wrap like no one’s business and I am so grateful for her cheerful service to our household. We keep things fun by watching Elf (also for the third year in a row) while we wrap and tie. Thanks, Rebecca! I’m so glad for your help.

Today involved shopping. Which then required something to keep up my stamina. You know how that goes.