This is the result that a Facebook personality test gave me. Actually, it's strangely accurate. For those of you who are JWFers reading this, we would classify this description
as "Beaver-ish"... :)

You think you have obsessive-compulsive personality disorder. Everything must be ordered and controlled, even if it takes a lot of time and effort. You spend so long taking care of the schedule and making sure that the rules are upheld, that the point of any activity is lost. You won`t complete a project until it is exactly perfect, and you prefer not to work with others because they just don`t do things in the right way.

My Lord, the God of Jacob

"'Cease striving and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth.' The Lord of hosts is with us; The God of Jacob is our stronghold. Selah." Psalm 46:10-11

The name "God of Jacob" means something entirely new after yesterday's Sunday school. I don't even look at the above two verses the same...

The Lord is a God that allows us to come to Him on a relational level. Jacob was a deceiver, one who was willing to wrestle with the Lord, but most importantly... he was human. Just like me. In all my humanness, the Lord allows me to come before His throne of grace and mercy and dwell with Him. Thanks be to the Lord for His love!

Just Too Much

For those looking to see a picture up for today, I've decided not to post a picture everyday. Number one, because I'd rather not, and... well... there's not really a number two. I'd just rather not. It's too cumbersome a task to post something every day, believe it or not. So, anyway... I hope I didn't disappoint anyone too much. :)

When we long for a life with no difficulties, remind us that oaks grow strong in contrary winds, and diamonds are made under pressure.
-Peter Marshall

Stinker...

How much cuter could he possibly get? This is a picture of Jaren that I took tonight at Scott and Christin's. This little goofball made silly faces at me every time I would hold the camera up to take a picture of him...hehe...

Dessert Bound

This is Becca yesterday. :) She was bound and determined to have some dessert. Finally, she ate her sloppy joe, and french fries... and along came the much anticipated dirt pudding.

Photography Outing

The Dayton Art Institute is hosting this exhibit:

It's a photography display that's been going on from December 15th and will continue until April 20th. Anyone interested in an outing sometime between now and April? :)

Second Time Around...

Yes, if you must know... I've already posted this picture. Oh well... I used different effects on it this time, so there! Anyway- I hope y'all like it. :) Goodnight, all.

Here it Is, Folks...

Fill and soft lighting effects were used on this photo. This was taken on the same day that the picture posted on November 19th was (Both at Hilltop).
I'm definitely looking forward to this upcoming summer. Hilltop is developing and changing, and it's so incredibly exciting! Anyone up for creek stomping as soon as it gets warm outside? :)

Oops...

I missed a day in blogging a pic. Sorry folks...

Anyway, here's the one for today:

(The "duo tone" effect was used here, along with a spot filter.)

This is to no one in particular, due to the fact that it seems not many read this blog... but, an honest desire I've had lately is to travel. Great photography-worthy scenes come along quite frequently here in the great state of Ohio, but I'm sure that the exotic places of the world hold much more. Hmmm... Barbados sounds lovely, or perhaps... Hawaii or something. Honestly though, how often do opportunities like that really come along? Close to never. Oh well. I'll make the best of striking sunsets, and busy people.

On a different note, I gave reference to a man's blog by the name of "OnePicADay" a couple of weeks ago. I don't think it would be a bad idea for me to post one picture a day. In light of this favorite hobby, and what I hope will one day be a career... posting a picture a day does not seem too daunting a task. So, to whom it may concern... here's today's picture:

This photograph was taken two summers ago. To me, this picture represents a moment of serenity...

Lovely

Just a note... today was a wonderful day. :)

Afraid to Live

There's a few moments I'll never forget within the past 21 years. They're the few moments where I truly lived... and experienced things that were amazing.

...a 2 hour walk, and great conversation at Taylor University when I was 17...
...singing with a congregation of about 2000 at New Phile...
...boating at Lake St. Mary's with my mom...
...a genuine talk at Taffy's...
...laughing for almost 4 hours straight, while catching up with a friend recently...
...four wheeling side by side to 6 deer in the field...
...white water rafting in the pouring rain...
...standing beneath the clearest field of stars that I've ever seen my senior year in Tennessee...
...creek stomping two summers ago...
...every Friday night get together with the "crew"...
...a long, solitary walk along the beach at 1:30am...

All in all, these moments have been so special, but infrequent. The truth is that I really do want to live. This is an unexplainable process of thoughts, but these thoughts have been clouding my brain for the last... well... year. The experiences I've had thus far have given me a taste of something wonderful that I just can not seem to grasp. How I long to jump outside of the ordinary... but something is holding me back, and that something has the tendency at times to break my spirit. I'm not too young to live, but I feel as though I've spent so many years just waiting around for the extraordinary to come along. Were these years wasted? No, but perhaps they could have been better spent.

At times, I wish someone without inhibitions would come, take my hand and lead me to a place of freedom. I don't fear tomorrow because of what may happen... I fear tomorrow because of what I might miss.

I desperately want to break away from the mundane, but have not been able to do so. Quite possibly, I'm afraid to live. There's uncertainty in that... in leaving the comfortable parameters that I've set for myself. Yet... somehow, I'm sure that once I step outside of these boundaries, it will be more rewarding than I could have ever dreamed.

With all these emerging thoughts, I don't know how to act... I don't know what to pray for... and I'm not sure what to do. I need help, but as I said earlier, there are no words to describe that which I am so immensely longing for.

His Artistry, My Delight

This was the sunrise a few days ago. This is the amazing thing... these colors are true. I didn't edit or "doctor" it up. Wow... what a picture to wake up to!!!!

Emily Bear

Check this little girl out. She's 6 years old, and began playing piano at 5.

Oh Baby!

Baby Joshua, you are not even a day old but we already love you so much, and we're all praying for you.

"In the day of prosperity be happy, but in the day of adversity consider-- God has made the one as well as the other..." -Ecclesiastes 7:14a

Keep in Prayer...

"O Lord, our Lord, how majestic is Your name in all the earth, Who have displayed Your splendor above the heavens!" Psalm 8:1

JWFers... Amy D. is in the hospital while I'm writing this. Her water broke this morning... please, please keep her in prayer. She still has about 2 and a half months to go in her pregnancy.

Father... keep this baby's life in Your hands. You are sovereign... You are majestic and just... but You are also merciful. Please have mercy on Amy and Scott.