Archive for 'Musings'
All Things New
Posted on 07. Feb, 2012 by maryanne.
Emerging
The hillside in my pasture is covered in yellow blooms. They don’t know they are a bit early. The warmth of the sun is calling them, drawing them from their earthen slumber. I hike out to where they are and fall into them, desiring their cheerful companionship.
This hasn’t been the beginning I had hoped for in the year 2012. My 365 project was a thrilling ride full of exciting days and new friends. So far, 2012 has not been that way. In November I felt like I heard God speak something to me. I had been out shopping with my mom for my birthday and I came in the door with packages in both hands. ( My mom is so generous.) I was wondering where to put my new things when I heard a small voice inside saying, “It’s time to get your house in order.” I recognized the familiar voice of my God. I just didn’t like what He was saying. It was time to deal with the old before I could embrace the new. This wasn’t just about the new shoes she bought me, either. It was about everything. Everything. Resistance came quickly to the surface. How could I do that?
Time to Work
I have been doing my best to follow through on that prompt since the beginning of the year. I know it is important to follow through on the last thing He told me before I can ask Him for more instruction. There are some great books out there that pertain to this topic. I now have three on my beside table. I carry them with me everywhere. My favorite is probably Organized Simplicity by Tsh Oxenreider. But, the bottom line is I still have to roll up my sleeves and partner with God in the work He wants to do in my life.
Now most days you can find me in the middle of a dust cloud as I sort through the details of my life. It is good, and God is teaching me much. Humility seems to come with handling and sorting through the filth and clutter of my life. I am seeing where I have been, and where I don’t want to be. This helps me to develop a vision for where I want to go. It is amazing how physical things represent spiritual realities. Every time I make room in another space in my house, my spirit breathes a little more deeply. I don’t like doing it, but I am trusting God has a plan, and I can already feel the benefits of my continued obedience.
Finding Treasures
I still need to get out in the sunshine every now and then and see the glory through my lens. I find God there. He is with me in the mess and the beauty.
As I sit amidst the jonquils, I count my blessings. I am grateful for the simplicity life is taking on these days. Although I miss the excitement of the last year, I am thankful to be in the center of the will of my Father. Peace is far more valuable than popularity. I study the delicate yellow blossoms and I am drawn to those that are still emerging. They are a picture of both the pain of transformation and the beauty of redemption. Elegant petals strain to be free of their outer skin, and slowly open to the sun that draws them forth.
I want to be like the jonquils. I want to come forth and shine too.
Shedding Her Skin
Hope in Yellow
At Last
Perfect in my Pocket
Farm Aprons
Work Brings Joy
Gathered
Psalm 16: 5,6 ”LORD, you alone are my portion and my cup; you make my lot secure. The boundary lines have fallen for me in pleasant places; surely I have a delightful inheritance.”
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Back to the Beginning
Posted on 25. Jan, 2012 by maryanne.
Dripping in Diamonds
When I awoke this morning, the woods outside my kitchen window were sparkling, as if they had been showered in diamonds. My heart began to race. It’s been over a week now since I sent both of my camera bodies away to be repaired. After a solid year of shooting every day, I felt like I was in a drought. A kind friend loaned me a camera this week but when I picked it up, the battery was dead. While rummaging through my camera box for another battery, I found my old Canon Rebel XT. A sight for sore eyes. I picked it up and it fit into my hand, like an old friend. I slipped on my green rain boots, neglecting to change out of my plaid flannel pajamas. I was a sight I am sure, purple and pink plaid with tall lime green boots, practically sprinting into the woods.
I knelt down trembling, hovering over the dewy earth. This was a visual feast, and I had been given a seat at the table. It was if God himself was extending a personal invitation to me. “Come, eat.” Hmmm, yes.
The morning sun met yesterday’s rain, still clinging to webs and blades of green. With my knees cold and wet, the briars tugging at my clothes and hair, I remembered. This is where it all began for me. This is where I first felt my heart beating nearly out of my chest. This is where I marveled at the glory, the detail, the splendor, in a whole new way. Every artist knows it well. That moment when you know you have to be part of something or you just might die. I knew then that I wanted to be part of capturing the glory. I wanted to put it in my pocket, saving it to show others and bring them along. “Look at this!” I want to say to everyone I meet. “Look at what creator God can do.” He spills out diamonds after the rain so we can remember that hope is always a morning away.
New Mercies Gleaming
I sympathize with David, who danced in his ephod in front of everyone. He had to worship, discarding anything that might hold him back. His own wife thought he was mad. I wonder if I am too sometimes. Walking around the woods in my pajamas and rain boots is not a new thing for me. (okay, I do it a lot) I often forget myself when I see the beauty through my lens. It is worship for me as well. I see the attributes of God through creation, and hear his voice when I am in this place of awe. I am also humbled by creation which often worships him much more appropriately than I do. Everywhere I look, I see nature pointing back toward him. This earth knows its maker, and longs for all to be made new. Flowers, trees, grass, they all strain upward into his light and warmth. I feel this resonating in me as I walk, crawl and climb to catch a glimpse of his glory through my lens. I too long to gather his robe in my hands, to see his glory passing by.
I do not think it is a coincidence that I found my XT today, a camera I previously would have thought useless to me. I see God’s provision more clearly now through simplicity, after going without my bigger cameras for awhile. I don’t always have to have everything I think I need. God alone is my source, and I am incredibly grateful that He reminded me of that today when He took me back to the beginning.
Psalm 136:4-9 ~ “Thank the miracle-working God, His love never quits. The God whose skill formed the cosmos, His love never quits. The God who laid out earth on ocean foundations, His love never quits. The God who filled the skies with light, His love never quits. The sun to watch over the day, His love never quits. Moon and stars as guardians of the night, His love never quits. ” (Message Version)
Hope Gathers
Cupping Mercy
Refreshment
Colors and Intricacy
Working Her Magic
Pearls Suspended
In Worship
Sparkling Evergreen
Peaceful Surrender
Dancing
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Camera Breaker, Heart Stealer
Posted on 16. Jan, 2012 by maryanne.
So Grown Up
This is what I was doing when my Canon 5D broke tonight. I was clicking away and then the viewfinder went black. I took off the lens to investigate and the mirror had slipped out of place. I knew immediately it was not something I could fix myself. With my Mark 2 in the shop already, I knew our session was over. Fortunately I captured some lovely images of my Katie-girl before it came apart in my hands. I did some reading about it on a couple sites, and evidently this is a known manufacturer issue and I am hoping Canon will fix it at no charge. I could blame it on her incredible beauty but that probably isn’t covered with Canon.
I have very much enjoyed my girls being home over Christmas break. Katie and I had a girls day out today and got our make up done. I don’t remember the last time I did that. I have to say it was good for us both. Just what we needed. Then we had a sweet photo session when we got home. She is leaving to go back to Wake Forest tomorrow and I wanted to capture her one more time before she left. Isn’t she lovely? The best part is that her heart shines just as beautifully. How did I get to be so blessed?
Sophistication
We also captured her with her guitar at sunset. I am so proud of my Katie. She has become quite the songwriter, like her dad. She has an amazing song on the new Playchase Christmas album, called “Nothing I’d Rather Do”.(If you click on that link, don’t click on her name. It comes up with another artist. Just click to preview the song.) It is really beautiful. Makes me cry because she wrote it about her daddy and me
Here are a few of her at sunset with her guitar.
Lovely Katie
Sunshine and Melodies
Joy
Country Girl
Singing the Sun to Sleep
Freedom
Magic
Fly
With both camera bodies officially out of commission, it might be a little bit before I get to post again, but you can bet I will be back as soon as I get one in my hands. I miss this piece of sunshine on the internet.
Blessings everyone. Happy Monday.
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When Life Seems Foggy
Posted on 10. Jan, 2012 by maryanne.
Clouds on the Ground
January came in muted, head down, wearing a heavy coat of fog. Her clouds enveloped the light, quieting and cloaking it in a mist almost indiscernible. I cannot tell if this fogginess is inside or outside. It all seems hazy. Outside I strain to see the end of the road, but the clouds rush in and nothing seems clear. Inside there are important decisions to be made, but I do not know what to do. I feel an urgency to move forward, but how and where to?
What do you do when you cannot find your way?
Quieting the Light
I have no choice but to wait. The fog seems to be symbolic of this season. Perhaps it is a gift and not a curse. I must wait. And while I am waiting, why not have a cup of tea? Read a book, call a friend? Pray?
Breathe.
It’s okay to wait and trust the One who knows what lies on the other side of the mist. I have a feeling I will have plenty to do when the light shines again.
Time to Meander
Sometimes the best magic happens while we are waiting. How did I get confused into believing again that it was about what I could do? I repent and rest.
Rest.
Could it be that He is in the very clouds that I feel are holding me back? Perhaps He is not holding me back at all.
He is just holding me.
Psalm 62:5 ~”Yes, my soul, find rest in God; my hope comes from him.”
Winter Tree in the Mist
Waiting for Clarity
Finding their Way
Light for my Path
A Light Burning
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365 Project Day 186: Harvest
Posted on 06. Jul, 2011 by maryanne.
Husband's Harvest
Canon 5D Mark ll, 24-70 2.8L, 70mm focal length, 4.5 aperture, 1/125 shutter, 125 ISO
With one hand he pulls weeds from the loamy earth, now broken and forgiving from the tilling and sweat of his brow. With the other, he gleans the fruit of his labor. The harvest at last. He lifts a fistful for me to see. I smile, glimpsing the gleam of a golden band, dirty but shining. A symbol of our own commitment to sow and work, side by side. Contentment washes over me as I see him there, those beautiful blues picking up the color from his faded jeans. My Carolina boy, in his garden. A thunderstorm threatens in the distance. I will remember this moment. Him so proud, so peaceful, reaping the benefits of his diligence. The sun casts her last light of day across the tips of the corn stalks, and I breathe in the humid summer air, laden with the smells of life and growth. I love meeting him here, at the end of our driveway. At the edge of the garden. He gathers enough for us to taste the first beans of summer. We can’t wait to share them together.
Harvesting
Fruit of His Labor
Forgiving Earth
Last Light Dance
As I wash and snap the beans, I notice something sparkling in the water running over my fingers. I smile as I see my own ring shining there. Yes. Again I say yes. Yes to partnership in this dance. Yes to sowing, yes to toiling and a big yes to the reaping!
Just as I cut the water off and put the lid on the pan, I hear the mudroom door open and close. He is there, in that orange t-shirt and faded blue jeans. Farmer, husband, Carolina- boy of mine. “Yes”, I say it again. So glad he is mine. Loving the harvest.
Psalm 85:10-12 ~ “Love and faithfulness meet together; righteousness and peace kiss each other. Faithfulness springs forth from the earth, and righteousness looks down from heaven. The LORD will indeed give what is good, and our land will yield its harvest.”
Sparkling Reminder
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Cross in the City
Posted on 17. May, 2011 by maryanne.
Oh the cross
I saw this on the way home from the Chik-fil-a Leadercast that I helped to cover a little over a week ago. I was struck by the shadow a telephone pole cast over the bridge in front of me while I sat in traffic. It was definitely a cross. As I was going through my images today to edit them, I saw it again and had to share. Even now, I am moved by what I saw that day. The cross, cast over the city. The story of the good news of Christ is told everywhere. We just have to open our eyes to see it. If I had not been stopped in traffic that day, I would have missed it. So grateful when God stops me in my agenda to remind me of His. His is so much better.
Colossians 1:20 ~” and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether things on earth or things in heaven, by making peace through his blood, shed on the cross.”
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The Rest of the Posy Shoot
Posted on 18. Jan, 2011 by maryanne.
Because I loved these all so much, I wanted to share all my favorites from this shoot.:)
Got one bowl of oranges in there too.:)
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Favorite Christmas
Posted on 04. Jan, 2011 by maryanne.
I desperately love these people.
I cannot close the door on this Christmas Season without posting some of my favorite images from our family’s time together. This has to be one of my favorite Christmases ever. Our little family was together a lot. We traveled to Virginia and North Carolina to see extended family the week before Christmas. That is a lot of time in the car together. We fought, we laughed, we loved. All rich and good.
The above photo is from our annual getting-of-the-tree. I have been so busy working on everyone else’s images that I never got to work on ours. I hope to remedy that from now on. These moments are just so fleeting and valuable.
Here are a few from that day at Coopers Tree Farm, our favorite place to shop for our tree every year.
The next set of images is a mixed bag from traveling, Christmas Eve and Christmas Day.
Johnny setting the baby bird puppet straight
Hanging out at Red Robin... Yum!
Walking through downtown Williamsburg
The Fabulous Three
Time in the Hurricane Simulator Christmas Eve
More Hurricane Simulating 
Walking into PF Changs Christmas Eve
Christmas Eve after all were in bed
Christmas Morning with all in place
Waiting to come down. The last year of this?
Blue Man Group Tickets!
A gift to Bonefish Grill for mom and dad:)
Sister Love
Finally, A white Christmas. Icing on the Cake!
A Picture of Faithfulness
The last image is one of my very favorites. Chris is down at the barn getting water for the horses in the snow. My faithful husband who serves me so well. The horses are my project, and yet he holds them as a priority because I do. Love that man.
Yes, a wonderful Christmas season. I am so very grateful, and looking forward to what this year my bring.
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Welcome Winter
Posted on 28. Dec, 2010 by maryanne.
Winter entered this year softly and sweetly with a blanket of snow on Christmas night. Welcome winter. We are glad you are here.
