Monday, September 30, 2013

just words

It may come as no shock to you, but I love pictures.

To me, pictures tell a story that words could never even start to tell. I talked about this in a post awhile back. About the fact that I tell stories with pictures, not words. Yes, I do enjoy writing. I like to tell stories with words about my grandparents' strong love or how awesome my dad is (just turned in a college paper on that subject, no joke) or what the Lord has been teaching me lately.

But to me, a story without pictures is not much of a story at all.

I'm not ashamed to admit that I prefer little kids picture books over adult books with just words. Or that blog posts with just words normally make me exit the page before I have even finished the first two paragraphs.

I have found that recently I have a hard time thinking in words. (If that doesn't make sense, have no fear. If it does, you're my kind of person.) Even as I sit here, typing these words, I am struggling to find the right ones. But I know I need to force myself to not fall back on my pictures as my only means of communication. Just as I push myself in photography to learn new things and take better pictures, I need to push myself to communicate better with words.

So this is me pushing myself. This is me applauding you for actually reading the whole thing.

This is me using just words.

Saturday, September 21, 2013

Watch Your Surroundings

(This post was written in May, and I am just now getting around to actually posting it. See how lazy I am.)

The other day I was walking along, and I saw the perfect opportunity take a couple pictures and do a how-to-frame-your-photos-so-they-look-good post.

First off, take a look at the above picture. The first thought that comes to my mind when I see it is that I wanna hop into the picture and take a long, rambling walk down that road which of course continues on for miles and miles and ends up in a beautiful little town where everybody knows everybody. This picture evokes a sense of peace, a sense of romance, a sense of adventure. 


Now what would happen if we zoomed out and turned the camera? 

While this picture isn't horrible, I wouldn't keep it. There is too much going on. The barn is very distracting, and so is that white thing directly in front of me. While yes, the mountains are still beautiful, and the grass is still green, I don't get sense of peace, romance, or adventure.

So there you have it...a simple fix to make your pictures a little bit better!

Friday, September 20, 2013

Five Minute Friday: She

She leaps out of her pen every morning, and waits semi-patiently as I dish out her breakfast. She wolfs down said breakfast and bounces off to her kennel. Her happy face watches me through the fence as I head off to school and I am greeted with the same sight when I return home. She can't talk with words (obviously) but she says more with her eyes and her actions than some people do in 3 months worth of words. She is my best friend, my partner-in-crime, my happy spot. As someone once said,"If I had a dollar for every time my dog made me smile, I would be a millionaire."

Wednesday, September 18, 2013

bright colors and bovine

So I am teaching myself about this beautiful thing called f-stops. They are a life changer. I don't know what I shot the above picture on, but the one below was like 3.5 or something. (Professionals, don't get all out of whack if my terminology is all wrong, I'm still learning...obviously.) Anyway, f-stops make me happy.

 These colors also make me happy.

 I know the sunflowers are dying, but I have been wanting this shot for way too long to not share it on here.

 This evening my brother, mom and I moved cows. I only got a couple of pictures at the start of the operation but the ones I did get turned out pretty good. 

 Sunlight streaming through the trees speaks to me.

 Such sweet, gentle bovine.

Ummm...or not? Rewind about 2 seconds and move a tree out of my way and you would have been able to see the black cow jumping and kicking. Apparently she thought she needed more apples or something. In the end though, we got all of the cows to the right places and nobody got hurt. 'Tis always a good day when that happens.

And now I am off to bed. Bonne nuit! 

Saturday, September 14, 2013

a few pictures from the last few days

 I have wanted a picture of this sign for a long time. The other day I finally stopped to get it.

 Looking east from where I live.

Random beautiful barn, cornfield, and reel gun on my way to school.

 One of our roses...kinda a strange color (light purple-ish) but still pretty.

So delicate.

 (I love her.)

 I love how long all the flowers are lasting.

 Fresh flowers bloom among the dead ones.

 Shikpoke.

 Life is all good now.

 Busy bees.

 Random pine cone with a glob of pitch.

 The End.

Saturday, September 7, 2013

true love

Once upon a time, two people fell in love and got married. 

They had four kids and raised them near on small town on hard work and love. 
They had good times, and they had bad times. 
They were role models for many, many people and were a blessing to everyone they came in contact with. 
And they loved Jesus with all of their hearts. 

Today they celebrated 57 years of marriage. One day after the man came home from a 6 week stint at a nursing home. The love I saw displayed during that time is what it's all about. 

Life's a long and winding ride
Better have the right one by your side
Happiness don't drag it's feet
And times moves faster than you think

(Happy Anniversary Grandpa & Grandma. 
I love you guys and am so thankful for you and the impact you have had on my life.) 

I am thankful for...


  1. pink daises
  2. baby dimples
  3. hair that curls (and doesn't frizz)
  4. bright sunshine
  5. mocha frappuccinos
  6. calves
  7. mail room notifications
  8. thunder showers
  9. pouring rain
  10. fog
  11. my dad
  12. homework that is done
  13. country roads
  14. scarves
  15. hometown football games
  16. my little (only in the sense of age) cousin
  17. random texts
  18. encouraging words
  19. my camera
  20. the feel of my dog's head resting on my knee
  21. checking things off my list
  22. favorite songs
  23. chocolate
  24. my grandparents celebrating 57 years of marriage
  25. my grandpa coming home finally
  26. comfy clothes

Tuesday, September 3, 2013

John Deere tractors and wheelchairs.

What do these two things have in common you ask? Well this afternoon they had a lot in common when I went to visit my Grandpa at the rehab center and my Uncle & Aunt's family was there. I (of course) had my camera and got some pictures. So if you care to see some really adorable kids and some beautiful older people, read (or look as the case may be) on!


















As I scrolled through these pictures, I was just hit by how much I love these people. I am so beyond thankful that God placed them into my life. And speaking of thankful, my Grandpa may be coming home on Thursday! Prayers would definitely be appreciated as he moves home and both he and Grandma (and the rest of our family) adjust to normal life again.