Pink

I'm stumped for ideas today so I have two posts. The first one was actually from yesterday and attracted me because I liked the sunlight streaming into my apartment. The second one is part of the skirt fabric I wore to Judy's funeral today. Judy loved pink and one of my favorite memories is when she first was going for chemo. She knew she would probably lose her hair so she dyed it hot pink before chemo. As a show of support, several of us from the church began to wear pink, my mom even going as far as dying her entire head pink! I just dyed one strand pink and it stayed in my hair for almost a year before finally fading away. The church also had wrist bands designed that say, "Galatians 6:2" which reads, "Bear one another's burdens and so fulfill the law of Christ". It was our way of saying we support you and love you Judy.

Now that Judy is home with her Savior, there is still sadness and hurt in the midst of her absence. But looking at the pink items I am now surrounded with, I remember her spirit and her willingness to love those around her. She truly was the bravest person I have ever known and I'll continue to see that color and remember my dear friend and the great and victorious race that she ran in life.

Anonymous Eyes

Even sick people can take photos! But honestly, my day has been mostly sleep, tissues, liquids, and more sleep. I had a vistor though who agreed to have their picture taken but not to have it posted. I decided it was too good not to post and I think this vistor will forgive me eventually. To make this anonymous, I used photoshop to just focus on their eyes (which are lovely I think!) and added the oil painting effect for a more dramatic, artistic look. What are these eyes portraying?

A gift

Today, I celebrate a gift that God gave me. A mother who is one of the most beautiful and amazing people I've ever had the priviledge to know. I know everyone must think that about their mothers...but I swear! Mine is extremely special. She is the kindest person I know. She makes the best pie crust you have ever tasted. And on top of all that, she laughes all the time, smiles at even the toughest situations, and hums all day long...one of my favorite of her many unique qualities. I could go on and on telling you how much I love her, how she is my best friend, how special of a person she truly is. But I would fill 20 world wide webs with information before I was half through. So mom? Once again I say I love you with all my heart. Sorry about the medicial tape on your present, but I forgot to bring home real tape. Either way, I got my portrait of your 51st birthday. You are beautiful!

Dusk reflection

The last few days have been a blur for me. I can't even remember what my pictures were of for the last few days. I think Judy's death is affecting me harder than I thought it would. I have a peace about it, but it's still hard to imagine not seeing her or hearing her laughter or feeling her hugs which were always so full of love. Sometimes you hug someone and you can tell they are distracted or not feeling well. But Judy's hugs always had love behind them.

I tried to get a new reflection picture from far away, but the basic zoom wouldn't cut it and it came out blurry. But that's okay because I am feeling sort of blurry today myself. So I added an oil painting filter and here is what I have:

I don't feel like doing much, but God seems to be telling me, get up and get that camera out. Don't let this picture pass you by!

The layered New York sky

This morning, I caught a glimpse of the sky across from my grandparent's house and noticed how it seemed like layers of colored stone. I'm not sure if the picture caught the colors that I was actually seeing, but it was definitely worth a chance.

What the world lost

What the world lost tonight was a friend. Someone who could always make me smile, someone whose laughter was contagious, someone whose hugs were filled to the brim with love. What the world lost was the kind of person who would do just about anything for you. The kind of person that cares about the your smallest hurts and your tinest victories. The kind of person who delights in simple things, like a beautiful summer day or flowers blooming just outside your door. What the world lost was a person who knew how to have fun, a person who knew what family means and brought so many people into her own family with love and joy and patience. What the world lost was a person who knew what strength was, who showed us everyday what it means to be courageous, faithful, and true.

Maybe only a few of us knew her, but you don't get a chance to know too many people like that. And if we carry on that strength, faith, and love that she showed in her life, the world will be a better place.
Judy, I'm going to miss you terribly, but your great faith in our Lord Jesus Christ has truly changed me and I'm going to keep on living knowing that we'll meet again. That now, you don't have to be in pain anymore. And that someday, we'll be together in the presence of our creator...and we will praise Him for all He has given us. Be at peace, my good friend.

How do you take a picture of a feeling?

The world is full of artists, poets, musicians, people who paint the world through their imaginations, perceptions and feelings. But how do you take a picture of a feeling? How do you use photography to describe all that is going on inisde you? I don't know that I can answer that question just yet. Although today, I will try anyway.

I'm losing a very good friend of mine to cancer. Someone who has been stronger physically and spiritually than anyone I have known. Today, I feel like a light is leaving the world and so those of us left behind may be just a little bit in darkness. Even though we know that this light will not be leaving us forever, its leaving will make us feel dimmer, like a shade is resting on our shoulders. We know the sun will shine again. It just might take a little while before we feel that warmth on our faces once more.

In my apartment, I have a little sun room with windows all around. Outside the windows is a large tree that takes up one side of the view. My picture to today is at dusk and I'm zooming in and out while using a f20 aperature setting. This is a picture of what I'm feeling: it's dark, there are shadows and mist, but there is also light trying to filter through. That is the best I can do.