Things I Learned In The Tetons

On June 24, my dear friend and I got up before the sun, hopped on a plane, and headed to the Grand Tetons to spend a week in creation with other people who love Jesus. What an experience it was! Here are the pictures that turned out (only one of two rolls turned out, sadly) and a few lessons I learned.

- I learned that first impressions are almost always wrong -

- I learned that there are really good and really terrible ways to organize sleeping bags and packs in a tent -

- I learned how to give good hugs, how to comfort others better, how to cry more - 

- I learned that God delights in us and is always saying "come" -

- I learned that rafting is ridiculously fun ("CARPE DIEM!") -

- I learned that I'm less introverted than I originally thought -

- I learned that everyone has a story and it often explains a lot about them -

- I learned that s'mores with York peppermint patties are THE BOMB -

- I learned that the in-between, "little" moments are the ones that make for the greatest memories -

- I learned that swimming in 50 degree water will make your lungs freak out and want to stop working -

- I learned that Enos can break and if they do, it's probably all Austin's fault -

- I learned that sleeping in an Eno Village in the mountains is an amazing experience like no other -

- I learned more about the depth of God's love as a father -

- I learned more about evangelism and how exciting it really is -

- I learned about the depth Jesus' grace and how much of me (all of me) He deserves -

- I learned that God is more concerned with out depth of relationship with Him than anything we can do -

- I learned how much fun car rides can be-- especially ones with good music and Sharpie tattoos -

- I learned how important it is to listen and respond when God speaks to us -

- I learned how great it is to be away from technology for a while -

- I learned how ridiculously hard it is to leave people that you grow to love in a matter of days -

To all 39 of you: thanks for being part of such an amazing week. I know it sounds so cliche, but I feel like God used every last one of you in my life in a special way, whether I even had a real conversation with you or not.

Be bold. Be filled with the Holy Spirit. Take Jesus' love with you always. Change the world! 

Love you all!!!

Three Life Lessons

I. slow down

What a rush we all seem to be in. I don't think I realized until recently just how much I've bought into the American way of life:  

 "go, go, go!" 

 I don't want to trade sincerity for efficiency. I don't want to swap quality for quantity.

 Last week as I was rushing to my car, I saw a woman sitting on a bench, people-watching and probably waiting to encourage the next person to walk by. I have often seen her downtown, chalking an uneven piece of sidewalk so that nobody trips on it or inviting a stranger to stop and sit a while. She offers to listen and sympathize and encourage. This woman is such a rare gem. She really knows how to slow down, I thought. I want to be like her. I don't want to be so preoccupied with my own schedule that I can't fully be a giver, an encourager, and a friend. I want to walk a little more slowly, actually stop to smell the flowers, take moments to just be still. Maybe stop to say the words that someone needs to hear, even if it means I'll be five minutes later. Because, as Ferris Bueller once said, "life moves pretty fast. If you don't stop and look around once in a while, you could miss it." 

II. listen with your eyes

We all have stories to tell. We all want to be heard, valued, and loved. One of the easiest and most powerful ways to make others feel loved is to listen; to value what someone has to say, and in turn, who they are as a person. As a soul. 

Too often I find myself halfway-listening. Scrolling through something on my phone and not giving the speaker my eyes. I can be understanding a good percentage of what they're saying, but without my eyes, they won't really feel like they have my undivided attention. This seems like a no-brainer, but with the way technology is taking over the world, it's a growing problem. 

III. be here now. 

With the rise of social media, technology, and an endless number of distractions, I've heard this little phrase more than ever. It's simple, really. I'm here now. I'll never be here and now ever again. So why not enjoy this very moment? 

Listen Explore

Two weekends ago, Aleah and I had the privilege of meeting Nate & Amanda Howard and several other lovely creatives and photographers at Listen Explore. It was such a rich, encouraging time of sharing stories of our creative journeys, hiking, laughing, learning, eating really good food, and talking around a campfire. Overall, it was really encouraging to meet other photographers with similar goals, struggles, and dreams. And hearing the Howards share their story and thought process behind their work was just so inspiring. I'm so thankful I got to start off my summer with a sweet burst of inspiration. 

To my fellow Explorers: I'm so glad to have met you all! I can't wait to see where you all go with your crazy dreams and amazing talent. 

The Successful Failure

Sometimes things go as planned… and sometimes they don't.

If your field trip ever gets thwarted by a visit from the First Lady…


-Speculate about the mysterious people in business attire
-Question the police officer with the well-trained dog
-Give up and visit the State capitol
-Spend all your pocket change on overpriced parking
-Ride in historic elevators (but don't ring the bell more than once. It's right below the elevator operator!)
-Try to blend in with the elementary school kids on their field trip as you climb to the top of the dome
-Drive aimlessly around the city, taking pictures in the middle of the street
-Freak out when you see a merry-go-round and promptly park next to the "no parking" sign
-Let the excitement overtake you and fall off the merry-go-round before you can even get on
-Play cat-and-mouse. (make sure you have good climbing shoes so you don't fall a great many feet.)
-Chill on the ground for a bit
-Take lots of pictures

11:38 on a Tuesday

Today I was working on writing my final paper of the year when I stopped to photograph my mamma's garden and a few little details lying around. So here's a glimpse into the messy-beautiful of our home.