Scavenger Hunt Sunday: May 29th

1. Classic Still Life

2. Self-Portrait

3. On the Floor

4. Lines

5. Fresh

Fabulous Friday I books

I know I just posted this in the last post, but I decided to post it again for Rachel from Rachel Photography's Fabulous Friday challenge. The Bible is my favorite book, and I especially love the Psalms. The words I read strengthen and challenge my thirsty soul.

For the word of God is alive and powerful. It is sharper than the sharpest two-edged sword, cutting between soul and spirit, between joint and marrow. It exposes our innermost thoughts and desires. -Hebrews 4:12

Applesauce, Creation, and Inspiration

Applesauce with cinnamon sprinkled on top is yummy. Sometimes I go overboard and create a tower atop the applesauce. It still tastes good, and that's what matters most, isn't it?

I kinda love to take photos of plants and flowers. A lot. They're just so beautiful and they reflect God's glory so wonderfully.

I love quotes. Especially Quotable Quotes. They make me think and challenge the way I live as well as encouraging my heart when I go through deep valleys of sorrow. The following quote is one that helps me to keep going.

"Sometimes the Lord rides out the storm with us and other times He calms the restless sea around us. Most of all, He calms the storm inside us in our deepest inner soul." -Lloyd John Ogilvie

I love Jesus, Lord of Heaven by Kutless. God's love is so deep and so wide. It amazes me and I stand in wonder of his unending grace and forgiveness.

I love God's word. His words of truth pierce my soul, teaching me to live for Him and Him alone. I can't get enough of the word of God. When I think that God inspired all Scripture (2 Timothy 3:16), it makes me want to drop everything I'm doing and dive down deep into Truth.

The instructions of the LORD are perfect, reviving the soul. The decrees of the LORD are trustworthy, making wise the simple. -Psalm 19:7

What do you love? What inspires you?

Flashback Friday: Yonki Lake

My mind drifts back to that cool Sunday afternoon in the middle of March. The senior class of 2010, my class, was going to Yonki Lake to go swimming and spend some time together before the end of the year. The hour and a half drive through the mountains of the Eastern Highlands was long and dull, but we kept going. Although it was chilly and rain drops fell, hearts were warmed as we made memories to last a lifetime. We swam, went fishing, played rugby, made friends with some of the nationals, ate homemade brownies, and had deep conversations. The afternoon ended way too soon.

Click It Up a Notch Photography Contest - May

Strawberry Blonde

Yesterday my friend Natalie came over and dyed my hair for me. It took forever, but that's probably because my hair is long and thick. 

Before:

During:

Immediately after:

Next day:

I've always wanted to go strawberry blonde, so I finally decided to take the plunge! Has anyone else dyed their hair recently?

One More Glass

Mmmm...I love iced tea. I could drink five glasses or more a day!

Fading Beauty

"The grass withers and the flowers fade

beneath the breath of the LORD.

And so it is with people.

The grass withers and the flowers fade,

but the word of our God stands forever.”

Isaiah 40:7-8

See, What A Morning

After seven long, grueling hours, it's finally on Youtube! Playing hymns and worship songs is something I could do for hours and hours on end. I love See, What A Morning by Keith and Kristyn Getty. Here's my rendition of the song on flute.

The words are so encouraging and hopeful! This is the original song if you'd like to listen to it.

In the Mood

This afternoon I decided to play my flute for about an hour and record a couple of songs. One song I ended up making up on the spot as I recorded it! I admit that I miss playing my flute all the time, even though I told my mom I wouldn't when I started my freshman year at Cedarville. After playing for eight years, it just makes sense. Does anyone else play the flute, and if so, how many years have you played for?

Galations 5:13

Since I'm in a mood to edit photos with verses, here's another one for you. I bought a new dress at an Asian festival this afternoon, and I was trying to find a necklace to wear with it so I could take pictures, but the cross necklace that I wanted to wear was tangled up in a bunch of other necklaces. For twenty or so minutes I worked to free the cross, but it was to no avail. Eventually I just gave up and found another necklace from PNG with pretty shells on it to wear.

Psalm 150:4

Rain to Sunshine

While there has been lots of rain this past week, the sun finally came out today and it's supposed to be out this whole weekend!

Raindrops are beautiful.

I loved feeling the warm rays of sunshine on my back this afternoon. It was truly a perfect day - blue skies, some scattered clouds, sunshine, and not too hot or cold.

 

1 Corinthians 13:12

What do you think of this? I don't like it all that well but I would like your opinion before I make my final decision so let me know what you think!

Soul Surfer

My friend Natalie, her sister Suzanne, and I went to see Soul Surfer last night. It was amazing! The movie was really encouraging and challenging. This is going on my list of movies that I watch over and over again! Have you seen the movie? Are you planning on watching it?

Me, Natalie, and Suz

Fabulous Friday I you and your best friend

Rachel at Rachel Photography is hosting her first photo challenge and I'm participating! The theme for this week is you and your best friend. Growing up, I didn't really have a best friend, but my friend Melanie and I both shared a common love for guinea pigs. We got to know each other when she moved in next door when I was in third grade and she was in second and ever since then our friendship blossomed. We made two guinea pig calendars over the years with the help of Melanie's mom and had so much fun together!

Mel and I with our guinea pigs Ruby and Claudette

Another friend, Sarah, was born in the same hospital I was 11 days before me in Papua New Guinea. It's actually her birthday today! Our families have become very close and we always go on vacation together. Her parents held her back a year in school, so that made it harder for us to do things together, but whenever we got the chance we would get together.

This is my favorite photo of Sarah and I, taken at Malolo Plantation Lodge in Madang, Papua New Guinea on a vacation with our families.

I love and miss these girls so much!

Visiting a Dear Friend

My good friend April invited me over to her house for dinner on Tuesday night. We hadn't seen each other since last July, so it was really good to get together! Her mom served chili and cornbread for dinner, as well as fresh strawberries. The food was delicious! After dinner April and I played Scrabble and drank hot tea. We also had a yummy dessert. I barely won Scrabble and it was a long, tiresome game. When we finally finished, it was time to say a quick goodbye and head home.

This vase was sitting on their dining room table. I think it's really pretty.

This dog is so playful and adorable. Look at that cute face!

Here's April and I before she and her mom drove me home. I wish I got to see her more often! =(