The Colorful Life Challenge - January. Rest.

The Colorful Life Challenge

There's a line from a song I've been listening to of late, it goes like this:

"You make all things
bright and beautiful
Wild and colorful
You make our lives
Bright and beautiful
Wild and colorful
You are the artist"

He is the artist. He makes us bright and beautiful. Wild and colorful are our lives as we live life with Him. With Him. Oh the sweetness of that reality. For we have been created to live this life here on earth with a Holy God.

A few months ago, my dear friend Marianne asked me about doing a photo challenge to journal the goodness of God in the everyday of our lives. We'd grab our cameras and start shooting daily frames all through 2016 and invite friends and friends to be to do it along with us...we were both excited for the adventure. Life unfolded differently than I could have ever imagined at the end of 2015. My aunt, who had been ill through Christmas and into the new year, went home to heaven on January 3, 2016. The number of her days on earth came to an end and it was God's time for her to to see Jesus face to face. My family grieved her absence with surrender and with the joy that comes from abiding in His presence, it was hard to say goodbye. I have come to know that when deep heartache comes, even deeper still comes peace into the places of pain. The pain of saying goodbye does not mean an end but a beginning that is filled with the joy of knowing heaven awaits. January has been filled with rest. Resting in the promises of God. Resting in His faithfulness to my hurting heart. He is good. He is good at being good. He is forever and always good. My heart adores Him. He is my joy and my comfort. He is wild and colorful and bright and beautiful...He is my forever.

With a rested heart, I am ready to see what He will bring as this beautiful year unfolds.
#thecolorfullifechallenge

Day 8 - Music Notes

"Music that moves you...tell us your favorite artists/stations"

The songwriters and the singers: 

Chris Tomlin

 Matt Redmond

Tenth Avenue North
Justin Rizzo

 those Rend people over at Rend Collective
Will Reagan

 Brooke Fraser

 Luke Wood

Kristian Stanfill

Jonas Brothers - yep, love their early stuff
Nat King Cole

 Bing Crosby
Ricky Nelson
Dean Martin
Joshua Bell

The tunes:

Nothing I Hold Onto by Will Reagan
my cell family sings this and it's unlike anything else to hear so many hearts singing out about climbing the mountain with our hands wide open...

Come On My Soul by Rend Collective
reminds me of the psalms when David would tell his soul not to be downcast

He Is Faithful by Torwalts
hearing my church family join together and sing this out on Sunday mornings is pure happiness

Heart After You by Luke Wood
...it's better to take Refuge in You, Lord...

I see Heaven by Torwalts
 favorite for forever reasons

On The Street Where You Live by Nat King Cole
Nat can sing it like no other : )

White Christmas by Bing Crosby
could listen to this all year long...I sorta do!

O Mio Babbino Caro by Joshua Bell
this guy on the violin...simply beautiful

God's Great Dance Floor by Chris Tomlin
seeing over 30,000 people worship to this song
 at Passion made my heart sing

Crazy Love by Robbie Seay Band
 the lyrics are timeless - HE loves us with a crazy love

Chasing by Desperation
I will never stop running after YOU, Lord

The recordings:

 Passion: Take It All - as my friend would say...repeat...all  day, every day
 The Struggle by Tenth Avenue North
 Pride & Prejudice soundtrack...had to include this one : )
Long Trip Home by Joshua Bell

Day 7 - Grab a book

Day 7 - What's on your current reading list? Or what have you read that you recommend?

Current reads:

Redeeming Love by Francine Rivers

Pride & Prejudice by the beautiful Jane Austen

One Thousand Gifts by Ann Voskamp

Get Lost by Dannah Gresh

Wives of the Signers: The Women Behind the Declaration of Independence

Lucky by Glenn Packiam

Photography blogs : )

Past reads:

Secondhand Jesus by Glenn Packiam
Photography blogs!

On the list for soon:

Moby Dick

Favorites: must reads : )

The Unquenchable Worshiper by Matt Redmond

Little House On The Prairie books by Laura Ingalls Wilder - I just love - these books! 

Those oranges and horehound candy sticks they found in their Christmas stockings are my favorite! 

Sugar would be of course!

Photography blogs : )

Day 6 - On Currently

"A currently post. Tell us what you're loving, not loving, eating, reading, etc."

Watching...old movies - black and white and in color. A Cary Grant one is on tonight. An island, a sailor, a lady and her young charges, an unfolding of crazy events with a wedding performed via Navy radio!

Reading...Redeeming Love by Francine Rivers. It's calling to places in my heart.

Romans - with my cell family. Loving the new revelation with community.

Listening...to "Breaking Through" by Jeremy Riddle. It's on replay on my phone. Love how God doesn't stop breaking through to our hearts.

Feeling so refreshed and loved...from time spent with two of my favorite people in the world...my forever sis and my forever bro - Mare and Joel - love you both forever!

Creating...seashell garland. I saw it on a Jane Austen movie and have been making it a little at a time. It's a dream of mine to string it from wall to wall at my wedding...one day. : )

Instagraming...nothing. I need to post!

Editing...photos of a newbie : ) My friends have a beautiful baby boy. His thatch of hair...heart melter.

Singing..."Let It Be Jesus" by Christy Nockles

Learning...how to see the big picture. God is showing me HIS mercy and reminding me that HIS ways are so much sweeter than mine.

Eating...peach cobbler. Mmmmm

Talking...to my folks. : ) Listening to their day.

My friend Mare...love her so much, she is also blogging for blogtember, her blog is changing my world.

Find her here - http://fullyinlove.wordpress.com

My friend Christie - who put her living room furniture back into place today, whoo!

My friend Jen - she's been baking today and sweetly packaged sugar cookies for my family.

Missing...my uncle who left this earth recently. He is so dearly missed.

Fighting...the sense of sadness about something that God is walking me through. His arms are holding me.

Listening...to who God says I am to HIM.

Expecting...joy again.

Today...was filled to the brim with quiet and rest. So needed. So thankful.

Ready for...tomorrow. Sunday is my favorite day.

Day 5 - On Passions and Callings

This year has been a challenging time of not feeling passion for a lot of things God has put in front of me to live out for Him. My heart has felt so closed off to living fully for many different reasons. The beautiful reality is that HE is faithful in those times when I do not feel faithful and HE reminds me daily to not give in to basing my love for HIM and my passion for HIM on how I feel or on how circumstances look to my eye. My ultimate passion is for the ONE who has saved me from death, HE who has redeemed my soul, who pursues me with relentless love - forever I am HIS own.

Part of the joy of living with Jesus is that callings and passions are birthed in us and as we know HIM more and more, we are made to have a desire to change what is around us with those passions.

I am passionate about...

Worshiping right where I am and not waiting for Sunday

 Living in community

Stepping into the lives of people around me to love them

Seeing children set free in the name of Jesus...rescue is a beautiful reality

 Eating cookies for breakfast...mmmm : )

Teaching young and older how to play the violin

Looking through a camera lens to photograph people

Sitting down with a friend to hear their heart

Not drinking coffee...I'm a tea girl : )

Seeing truth + justice prevail

Day 2 - On Being Happy

It's day two! : )

What makes you happy, from the little joys to the big game changers

Rain

Goldfish...the real kind, not the crackers : )

Christmas carols all through the year

Being with my mom and dad

My brother's smile

Long walks

Seeing that purple color light the sky in a sunset

Bird shows...you know the ones where they fly up together and make a beautiful turn and then another and another...love our Creator's fun imagination!

A baby's cry

Violins

Jane Austen books and movies...and the soundtracks too

Jimmy Stewart

Westerns...like The Rebel : )

Cotton candy

Hot cocoa

Cell nights with my church family

Listening to hearts, hearing hearts

Living in community

Proverbs 3:5-6

Learning about trusting God when life around is so uncertain and when hopes and dreams spiral to the ground, HE is with me.

Surrendering my will for HIS will

Being pursued by the ONE my soul loves

Being quieted by HIS love

HE is my joy forever

I love encountering happy things like the above...knowing that I can choose joy in the unhappiest of circumstances, knowing that Jesus is my joy forever, is a truth my heart rejoices over day after day.

Day 1 - about the author

A girl who writes Brave Love has created a blog project called Blog-tember Challenge...my dear friend and I are jumping into the fun of posting every day in September. And below is day one!

"Imagine the front sleeve of a hard cover novel. Give us your "About the Author" so we can get to know one another, and for fun tell us what your imaginary novel would be about."

About the Author

 
I'm Alice. Like in Wonderland but I like to tell others that it is now Foundland for me because Jesus has made me HIS. HE is my all and my enough - two truths I am learning about every day. : )
I'm a daughter to my mom and dad - I'm so thankful for their love and their wisdom. I have a sweethearted older brother who plays all kinds of instruments.
The house I live in is settled in a small town...fields and wide open spaces...my favorite is walking out to see the stars at night, they glow with promises.
A calling that God has unfolded for me is photographing people and their stories - I photograph for a living and it makes my heart sing to step into the lives of those in front of my camera. I'm a Canon girl and I love shooting the sunlight. : )
9 years ago this month God led me into the doors of my church family...HE has grown me immeasurably by leading me to love the ones I gather with each week. Living in community changes one's world forever. Takes the self out real fast...my so it seems never ending thorn.
Twice a week I get to step into the fun and the joy of being around musicians & singers who follow Jesus, cables and direct boxes...oh, and those mixing boards too. : )
My favorite subject in school was reading...still love it.

Imaginary novel
If I could write a novel one day it would be about a girl who searched out old forgotten violins. She would find a way to have them restored with the hope of giving them to young and old who had the dream of learning how to play...maybe one day. : )

On Photographing a Wedding...

Parking my car. Grabbing my bag. Walking down the street. Festival all around. Moonwalk. Booths. Sidewalk. Kind man makes kind comment. Smile as I open the door. Slipping inside. Wedding set up ambiance. Wedding colors: purple, black & white. Meeting the lady in charge. Making introductions. Meeting the Groom. Setting up my stuff. Finding the corner to stash my bag. : ) Seeing my friend. Meeting the Bride. Meeting the bride's best friend. Meeting the family of the bride & groom. Little children all around. Snapping photos. Conversations everywhere. With the bride. Best friend putting on her make up. Peaceful and calm in the room. Bride smiles. Snap a pic. Finding the groom. Photographing the guys. Some cake too. Groom pics. Outside. Brick wall. Back with bride. Dress is so pretty. Stunning. Beautiful. Lovely. All of the above. Pics with gals. Time for a wedding! Line up. Aisle walk. Bride with her dad. Dad gives his little girl away. Pastor. Marriage. Mr. & Mrs. glow with happiness. Two become one. Covenant forever. Hugs of congratulations. Outside pics. Sunlight. My favorite time of day. Group pics. First dances. Wedding meal. More dancing. Toasts. Happy tears. Hugs. Change cards. Cake time. No smashing. : ) Dancing goes on. Fun tunes. Oldies. Newbies. Twist & Shout. Happy couple. Happy guests. Time to pack up. Saying goodbye. Hearing the bride express her gratitude. Makes my night. Walking down the hall. Saying more goodbyes. Hearing the groom express his gratitude. So sweet. Walking to my car. On my way home to visit with my out of town family and pick up half price milkshakes. : ) Reliving the day in my head. Feeling that sweet sense of joy. My heart is so thankful. Doing what I love to do - photographing love...I love doing what God has called me to do for HIM...all for HIM.

On The Night Before My Friend's Wedding

So much awaits to be photographed tomorrow. It's my friend's wedding day. Her family and his family have come from across the states to join in the celebration of two lives becoming one.
Marriage is teamwork.
Marriage is the leaving behind of two worlds to begin one new world together in covenant.
Marriage is the beautiful representation of the believer's future with Yeshua.
Marriage is the day to day living out of 1 Corinthians 13.
What a beautiful sight it shall be to see my friend say her vows of marriage to the one her heart loves.
What a delight it shall be to photograph the love between my friend and her groom.
My heart is overjoyed with the thought of tomorrow!

On Grieving

This day unfolded so differently than I imagined. Strawberry picking had been planned for today. My friend and I were going to join other friends and introduce them to the fun of picking berries. We didn't go berry picking. We went to a funeral service. My dear friend who was carrying twin girls delivered early and today she and her husband buried one of their baby girls. Her name was Rachel. It means Little Lamb. Her daddy said she was full of movement inside her mommy's womb. So active, so filled with life. She was so beautiful. Little hands and arms and a face so small, my heart wept as I saw her. She was perfectly created to live her purpose. 
My friend is strong. Her faith in God is sure and her heart knows HE is faithful and sovereign. Both she and her husband have placed their trust in the Lord. Forever, for all times. Through this time. HE is faithful. He has given and He has seen fit to call a baby girl home. Blessed be the name of the Lord. My friend said those words to another friend. Life words. Hope words. Words that are not only being said by my friends to comfort their hearts, they are living those words too. 

Sweet baby girl, you are home. You are home with your Lord, King Jesus.

All is well.

The Birds of the Air

"Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they?"  Mathew 6:26
 

On a Sunday Sermon

Of all the Sundays to be in service...I had to be in the one today and I needed to hear every word of the sermon. Love Covers Sin. Another reminder, another revelation on Love.

 Lord, YOU always know what I need, even if I don't like it. YOU pursue my heart and YOU never give up. I love YOU more than life...show me more. My heart longs for more... the more that I want is YOU.

On Stars

The stars are MIA for the second night in a row. I miss gazing up and seeing them in the midnight sky. The clouds have lowered with the front that's coming in. Until the nights are clear again, the frame below twinkles with merriness for all.

Piano Lessons

Thursday afternoons were my new favorite all through the fall months of last year.
 I started learning how to play those shiny black and white keys.
Middle C and all the other notes.
My wonderful teacher moved to another state right before the Christmas holidays. So, now, I get to put into practice all that she taught and I learned.
Learning how to play the piano is like learning another language.
I love it because learning how to play is another way I have to worship my Creator.
That beautiful sound of the treble meeting the bass is like a waltz under the stars.
It's beginner days right now...no Mozart or Beethoven yet. :)

Christmas carols...got some of those down.

 The ones about pickles & autumn, those are the ones that have been whirling about in my muscle memory.

 There's so much more to learn...so much more to come...

On a Best Friend

She's like a sister to me. Says so on our Facebook pages. Goes beyond a Facebook page...back 21 years and 3 months to the day we met and our families became friends. Good friends. Like family kind of friends. On Christmas Eve we all get together to celebrate the Promise fulfilled of a Savior King. There's a meal, oh there's a meal. :) There's conversation filled with laughter. It's a beautiful time. It's amazing how a friend can make time so much sweeter...so thankful we're friends forever.  

Lemon Picking

My dad and I walked down the street to our neighbor's house tonight. The stars were out pulling their familiar all night party, they blinked to say hello. With flashlight in hand, my dad's hand, we made our way up to knock on our friends' door. After cheery greetings...their dogs joined in...we stepped into the fragrance of their lemon tree to pull off a few. Pullin' off lemons in the dark is rather interesting. They were green, making us think we were picking off of a lime tree. The yellow broke through after some time on the counter. :0 Fresh hand squeezed lemonade coming soon...

An Introduction

Sometimes pictures speak on their own without any words to describe what is seen. 

Other times, words speak and the understanding from those 

words can paint a picture in the mind of the reader. 

Both are so unique. Both are needed.

Both will take a turn here on this new blog.

Rain Journals.

One frame and one word.

It's the beauty of every day and the everyday things.

 ~
Colossians 3:17