MOVED!!

I've been working on getting a real website up and running for about 3 weeks now, and my hard work has finally paid off!! I will no longer be using this blog anymore, because my new website has a blog built-in! :) Go take a look at all my pictures, and update your RSS feeds with the new link! :)

www.amanda-joy-photography.com

PS - Go look through the pictures! You might find your face.... :)

Raw - School Project

I always portray happiness, joy and fun. Why not go with the opposite? Why not take off the masks?

Uncomfortable.

Raw.

Just look down.

I try not to blog about boring things. Or boring pictures. But I'm breaking my rule today. These are my boring thoughts and boring pictures. 

This is me. 

I went for a walk today. It was cold.

I made up a game for myself: find something to blog about. 

But I couldn't. I couldn't find anything. Mostly because the sidewalks were so treacherous that I couldn't lift my eyes up long enough to see anything worth taking a picture of. 

And then I stopped. ('Cause there was something in my way.)

Why do I always try to see something new? Why do I always try and look around for something I haven't seen before? 

What if I'm supposed to just look down?

Isn't it that way in life?

Why do I always try and see what's next? Why do I always want to know what God has for me tomorrow?

Can't I just look down? Look down where He's planted my feet?

I was rebuked. 

Proverbs 16:9

The mind of man plans his way, but the LORD directs his steps.

The numbers are getting to me.

I've been working like crazy to get my business all in order this past month. I've invested in Quickbooks, and have been doing my best to get accustomed to using it in my workflow. 

What an addicting program! (Did I mention I'm a nerd?)

So... I took a break. 

Enough of numbers, invoices, customers, jobs, and money. I need Cheezits. (Or.... as a friend on Facebook reminded me... Chee-"zits"....)

But I don't care. Really.

I think the numbers got to me. Because all of a sudden... those little joy-filled crackers ended up in my hot chocolate.

So, what's crazier? That I dunk my Cheezits in hot chocolate, or that I moved my mug by the door for a better picture?

But all of a sudden... it didn't matter. I had just dipped my camera strap in ranch.

Maybe I should just stick with numbers today...

The end.

(Isn't that a good story?)

Guilty.

Everyone has guilty pleasures.

Mine is a camera. (Go figure!)

Something about using a Canon makes me feel guilty. 

(Canon's make the best cheap cameras though... so I know my Nikon body isn't offended. I'm sorry if you are.)

Something about using on-camera flash makes me feel as if I'm breaking the rules.

Cause I am.

With my point and shoot.

New Years resolutions

Romans 12:9 -

"Let love be without hypocrisy.

Abhor what is evil.

Cling to what is good."

Cling. 

Cling to hope.

I wait for the Lord, my soul waits, and in His word I hope.

Psalm 130:5

Giving thanks

Snow is here. And until this morning, I hadn't wandered out with my camera. 

I haven't had time.

So I wandered.

With my bare feet in boots, my pajama pants and mittens.

And I worshiped.

What beauty.

Happy Thanksgiving!

Revelation 7:12

"Blessing and glory and wisdom and thanksgiving and honor and power and might, be to our God forever and ever. Amen!" (Woot!)

This is why I love Him.

I'm at a loss for words.

We found out some pretty hard news about dad's cancer tonight - and we have every reason to feel hopeless. 

(Read more on my story of hope here)

And yet,

"Is not your fear of God your confidence,
         And the integrity of your ways your hope?" (Job 4:6)

The beauty of my parents is when they comfort each other.  The way they look at each other when dad is in pain and mom is about to cry. 

It reminds me of how God knows how to comfort us in our time of need. He knows us better than husband and wife. 

"This is my comfort in my affliction, that Your word has revived me."

(Psalm 119:50)

That is why I love them.

And that is why I love Him.

"Not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son to be the propitiation for our sins."

(1 John 4:10)

Mel's a-gettin' married!

My sister's getting married today. 

And I'm shooting her wedding. 

And I'm a bridesmaid.

And.... I'm nervous.

She'll be beautiful, and I'll cry. Then, I'll be super happy that I finally get my own room - to myself.

I wish I could say more - but I just don't have words this morning. Instead, I'll steal some from Solomon: 

"An excellent wife, who can find? For her worth is far above jewels."

"A woman who fears the Lord, she shall be praised."

That's what she is - a woman who fears the Lord. And that's what she'll be - an excellent wife.

I love you, Mel.

My life in a photo.

This is my life.

Hope. School. Grief. Jesus. Work. Joy. Chemo. Jesus. Homework. Birthday. Peace. Photoshoots. Stress. Jesus. Missing my poor neglected instruments. Jesus. Tears. Hospitals. Trusting. Sleep. Jesus. Hope.

This is my life.

Do you know the One who upholds me? 

Psalm 37:24

Though he stumble, he will NOT fall, for the Lord upholds him with His hand.

Jesus.

"I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; neither shall anyone snatch them out of My hand. My Father, who has given them to Me, is greater than all; and no one is able to snatch them out of My Father's hand." - John 10:28-29

All things wet and wonderful

 I love rain.

 (Note about image below: This is my camera's image. I had nothing to do with it. I set it on the ground and pressed the shutter. Not bad for a camera, eh?)

The rain stopped before I could get some authentic raindrops. So I made my own.

Drip drip.

I went in search of natural drips. This is a natural drip.

This is not a drip - this is a spider web. And very artsy looking. My God is sooooo artsy. Can't you see the beauty?

This is a natural drip too. Even though I hate tomatoes.

Jesus is the best artist.

There's something about black and white rainy images that makes me sad. And discouraged.

But I'm so thankful, that in spite of life's drips....

I can have hope.

(Doesn't this picture just have hope written all over it?)