Week Forty-Six

 

Left and Right.

 This and That.

Black and White

Mind over Matter.

Choices, choices choices.

So, I'm not really sure what this is. I'm behind two weeks in my 52 weeks project, and finals are tomorrow, and it was dark when I finally had time to take this picture, and I'm wearing a Green Bay Packers shirt which really doesn't fit, and you can see my laptop plugged into the wall in the background, and, and... the result? Something strange that I tried to make look cool. ^.^

Bear with me. I promise to try and be more original in the next coming weeks.

xo
and
so long for now,
-G

Week Forty-Five

Some days you just need to soar.

Week Forty-Four

Once upon a time, there were moments of awakeness, and then a lifetime of slumber.

At first, the thought is appealing; to sleep forever, and then awake, restful and refreshed. But for Acedianna, the awake never came.

     Acedianna was a young girl who had much to live for, and much to gain. She knew this, but sadly took it for granted. Her parents worked hard and strove for success so that she, their daughter could have a happy and wonderful life. But this too, she took for granted. She did not work hard for herself, she did not care about her future, all she cared about was now. And now, she wanted to be happy. But it was the wrong kind of happy. It was a happy based solely off of self pleasure, and comfort, and over time Acedianna became lazy.

The days melted into one another for Acedianna, but she did not notice. She was too busy not being busy; sleeping, being pampered, and eating fine delicacies were what her days consisted of. For awhile, it was utterly wonderful, but her spirit soon became slothful. Over time, she started to feel bored with her life. But she was so used to having things done for her that she did not know how to do them for herself. Everything became dull, lifeless, slow. She started to have a burning desire for adventure, but she did not how to acquire it. She searched and searched, trying to find it, buy it, but she did not realize that adventure never finds us. We have to go out into the world and find it for ourselves.

 

But that was too hard. Acedianna wanted something easier.

 

She became tired, tired of her life, tired of everything; so her favorite pastime became resting, and soon her days were slept away. She was sad, for she did not know how to be happy without being indolent. 

She had a favorite spot outside under a tree, where she would rest her conflicted mind. She would often wake up to the songs of the birds, and it would make her heart heavy, for they had a wonderful, simple life, she thought. Completely wild and free, full of adventure. So tired was she, straining to lift her head; to catch a glimpse of the creatures, for the sounds drew her in. Still, it puzzled her, for how could they be happy without having anything, and especially without having anything done for them? It must be because they are stupid, she convinced herself. Yes, that was it. She was so much better than the birds. She didn't have to do anything, after all! They were just silly, petty little animals, and if they knew any better they would demand the other birds to get things for them. She had glimpsed for a second, the simple and beautiful life she could have, but her stubborn heart would not have it. She was too bent in her ways and determined on having things done for her. What she did not realize was that by doing this, her life was being lived by others.

One day, as she lay down in her favorite spot, she thought about her life and despite how stupid the birds really were, they were the closest things to friends she had, for they didn't do anything for her. They never helped her, served her, or worked for her. They just simply were. 

 

 

Acedianna lay her head down to sleep like she always had.

And to awake in this life, nevermore.

Week Forty-Three

"You are here.

Be present.

Live."


"

This post is a wee bit late, so my apologies. :] It's not anything special, really. I need to set aside more time for my photos, I'm nearing the end of my 52 weeks journey! How did it go by so fast? Only nine more weeks, which means only nine more photographs! Oyy. I'm going to miss it. But I don't think I'll do another one for a little while. But, you never know...we shall see.

My mom is super cool and knows that I love rocks, so she bought me this beauty as an early Christmas present. It's so unique; the colors, the details and the shape. I'm simply in love, to be honest. She's a keeper...but always has been and always will be. [;

Week Forty-Two

 And when Dorothy looked back, the yellow brick road had turned to dust.

Week Forty-One

Life is hard.

But so very beautiful.

There is pain in this world, but let it not allow us to forget the beauty that encircles our everyday lives.

When one often thinks about beauty, grandeur places and pricey material items come into mind, among other things. But this does not mean that other things cannot have beauty as well.

This week, take some time and look around you. Notice the gentle swaying of a feather in the wind, the vibrancy of a budding blade of grass, the way that light seeps through window panes. Count the legs on the working ants, take a deep breath, plant something in the yard, or make a point to watch the sun rise or set. Look for beauty in the ugly. With new eyes, wander around the city that you live in, or take some time to lie down with a blanket in your backyard and wait. You start to become aware of things you never noticed before, or things you were too busy to acknowledge.

Some of my favorite simple things I find beauty in are:

The way a leaf becomes transparent when the sun casts its light directly on it,

Kitty-cat eyes. If looked upon deeply, they are filled with wonder and colors so crisp,

Right before the sun sets, the golden light. When the tiny flies are wandering about, it almost looks like glitter in the warmth of the sun,

Reflections. Glass is one of my favorite things to photograph, I love the way light and colors become pastels, and in a way, texterized. 

Go search.

Find the beauty around you.

And start a list.

Because, well, lists are fun to make anyways. :]

Happy listing!

Week Forty

Hate is a strong word.

A long time ago, there breathed a girl by the name of Ira. She was the same as you and me, and took joy in the very things every young girl does. She would often play with her dolls, tea sets and dress up her teddy bear in pretty ribbons. Ira had a few friends, but in her mind, she considered them more as acquaintances.  She was often left out in groups, and never had anyone come over to play with because she was afraid that if she asked, no one would come. You see, even though Ira was shy, she was quick to label others, and predict their actions, whether they were accurate or not. If she would only try, try to give other girls the benefit of the doubt, she may surprise herself and make a friend. But she did not. Although in the beginning some of the girls were indeed cruel and excluding, not everyone was so. But Ira became hardened and wary of others, repeatedly telling herself that they were talking behind her back, and purposefully scheming to leave her out. And this was her folly. As the years passed, and Ira grew older, so her heart grew bitter towards others.  She too often let herself falsely accuse everyone around her of exclusion, but what she did not realize was that she in turn, was cutting herself off from everyone else.

As a way of coping with her loneliness, she kept a journal of her thoughts and feelings, and wrote in it throughout the years. In the beginning, it was a good thing, and something that helped Ira figure out what to do. But slowly, her focus became something else, and her words became hateful, and drifted from figuring out the problem to writing hurtful words about others. In the back of her mind, Ira knew this was wrong…but it felt good.

    

Day by day, her mind, body and soul were consumed with hateful thoughts, and the anger swelling up inside of her heart was so immense, it started to overtake her whole being. Wrath was emitting from her body, becoming an obsession so great, she was desperately trying to find an escape. She hated the other girls. She hated everyone she knew, and completely despised anyone who came her way.

One day, after a long day exhausting day, Ira was so angry and fed up with the world; she ran outside and brought her journal with her. She hated everything, absolutely hated it. "Why was everyone so cruel?" She thought to herself. They were awful. They were horrid. And she did not care that she hated them. Anger poured out onto the pages of her journal. As the tears fell hot and fast from her anger filled eyes, she thought about her whole life and how the world was so completely wicked. Them. It was always them; they were the mean ones, not she.

 Ira hadn’t even been aware that she had begun to write about her what was going on inside of her. With a sudden jolt, she felt pain in her fingers, and her hands stung fiercely. She suddenly looked down, and what was visible were two things.

Blood. And one word, repeated.

Hate.

Ira soon put it together. The thoughts, the pain, the words, all slammed into her like a ton of bricks. She had been so consumed with rage and anger, she hadn’t even realized that she had been writing so intensely that her fingers had begun to bleed. She finally saw her obsession for what it really was, an addiction to hatred.

Wrath had overtaken her life, even to the point of self-infliction.

Hate is a strong word. 

These photos are a bit darker than usual, so I hope I didn't scare off too many people. ;]

If you're wondering - *No photographers were injured in the making of these images.* [;

The blood was completely fake, and rather sticky, too.

Nothin' like good old corn syrup, water and red food coloring! ;)

Week Thirty-Nine

Break through, and break free.

Whatever it is that you are struggling with, 

Right now,

In this moment,

Let.

It.

Go.

There is always  a ready hand awaiting to hold yours gently. Jesus never lets us go.  We may not feel it at times, or sometimes we decide not to feel it, but his hands have been and always will be holding us. He catches us when we stumble, when we fall.

Reach out.
Grasp the life that was given to you.

Week Thirty-Eight

Not all

who wander

are

lost.

"He makes me lie down in green pastures,
he leads me beside quiet waters... 

 ...Even though I walk

    through the darkest valley,

I will fear no evil,

    for you are with me."

~Psalm 23:2-5

Week Thirty-Seven

 I had a little tea party this week with a few friends. :] It was such fun, and now I don't know why I haven't done it more often.

I promise I'll try and catch my creativity this week...it seems to have run away and hidden inside a teapot.

xo,

me

Week Thirty-Six

"In dreams we enter a world that is entirely our own."

Week Thirty-Five

Tally marks.

I was very young when it happened. I remember waking up and coming downstairs to see my family staring at the television. There was smoke, orange blurs, and a building and a half. The screen kept replaying a scene of a plane flashing across the sky.

I was almost too little to understand, but I knew it was bad.

I can't even begin to imagine or comprehend how it was for all of those people in New York City. The chaos, panic, fear.  Or those who had loved ones on the planes, whether they were the pilots or the passengers. I cannot understand, I can only try to.

It was the day the nation prayed.
And a day we will never forget.

9 tally marks. 11 tally marks.

Such a little number in comparison to the number of those who died as a result of this terrorism.
Today we remember. We remember the bravery displayed by many on that day, and who continue to show, by fighting for what's right, fighting for freedom.

September eleven.

Week Thirty-Four

Lazy, hazy days.
They are the best.

Sunshine,

Fresh air,

Green grass,

Earth's dirt beneath my feet,

Life is beautiful.


Today, embrace something natural. Buy yourself some flowers. Go to a park, ride your bike. Dip your feet in the river. Enjoy the beauty around you.

xo,

me

Week Thirty-Three

sunshine is meant to be felt
photoshoots meant to be had

flowers to be picked

smiles for sharing

laughter to be heard

lace to be cherished

fields to be used
moccasins for having

sunsets to be watched

lipstick to be worn
aqua to be accented
swings to be swung

dressing up to be often
and

friends to be loved.

This week some friends and I dressed up in variations of white and had a little photoshoot in a field. :) It was something we all had always wanted to do. 

The grass was so warm looking, the light so soft, and the sunset so beautiful. It was almost too much joyfulness for my little heart to take in.

 

aren't they just gorgeous?

...click&listen...

Week Thirty-Two

I never expected to be writing about this so soon. It's always too soon, but I always imagined too soon would be farther away.  It  never really is, though. 

Time is so precious and life so fast.

My Grandfather passed away on August 20th. I don't even know how to describe how wonderful and what an incredible and amazing man he was. And how blessed I was to have him as a Grandfather. <3

He was a WWII, Vietnam and Korean war veteran. He was a fighter pilot and proud of it. He basically flew every plane there was...and he loved it with such a deepness within him I'll never forget.

He was one of my favorite people in the whole wide world, and I am going to miss him so much. I could really go on and on and on and on about how much I loved him. He meant the world to me.

I'll miss the times when he would tell his stories about the good old days - and the WAY in which he told them. No one will ever tell them quite like he did. For him, it wasn't just talking, his whole being got into the story, not just his voice. Passion is what it was. Because when you are passionate about something, every fiber of your body tingles with excitement. And that's what my Gramps' was- passionate about life. His whole outlook on life in general was so inspiring - he had a love for the everything in this world. Anything got him excited, even the slightest thing. I think as time goes on and life progresses we often lose that awe and wonder for the everyday things, because they become so normal and routine. But not for my Grandpa, he really knew how to enjoy the little things in life, which in the end are the most important of all.

I hope that I can be like him in that way.

Even though he didn't live close, my heart aches knowing that he is no longer in this world. Over the past few years I had been able to visit him quite often and I'm so thankful and blessed to have spent so much time with him. Even though it makes it harder to say goodbye, I wouldn't trade those moments with him for anything in the world.

Nothing at all.

I know one day I will see him again, and that right there, is the greatest gift of all.

I love you so much, Gramps. Your memory will forever be inside of my heart.

<3

"Off we go into the wild blue yonder,
Climbing high into the sun;
Here they come zooming to meet our thunder,
At 'em boys, Give 'er the gun! (Give 'er the gun now!)
Down we dive, spouting our flame from under,
Off with one helluva roar!
We live in fame or go down in flame. Hey!
Nothing'll stop the U.S. Air Force!"

"Minds of men fashioned a crate of thunder,
Sent it high into the blue;
Hands of men blasted the world asunder;
How they lived God only knew! (God only knew then!)
Souls of men dreaming of skies to conquer
Gave us wings, ever to soar!
With scouts before And bombers galore. Hey!
Nothing'll stop the U.S. Air Force!"

"Here's a toast to the host
Of those who love the vastness of the sky,
To a friend we send a message of his brother men who fly.
We drink to those who gave their all of old,
Then down we roar to score the rainbow's pot of gold.
A toast to the host of men we boast, the U.S. Air Force!"

"Off we go into the wild sky yonder,
Keep the wings level and true;
If you'd live to be a grey-haired wonder
Keep the nose out of the blue! (Out of the blue, boy!)
Flying men, guarding the nation's border,
We'll be there, followed by more!
In echelon we carry on. Hey!
Nothing'll stop the U.S. Air Force!"