living in the tension

whew-- finally got the picture on there! That's the new logo to go in the corner of the pictures (minus the white square)
ok-- onto the real blogging.
I have made lots of reference to the "wonder" of what life will bring to me right now. What God wants, where my heart is leading and praying that the two beat in rhythm together. Kent gave a great sermon this morning about lent. It's living in the tension of landing in the arms of God after dying to ourselves and waiting to be resurrected in Christ. I started this blog a just over a year ago cause I was living in that same tension... only not willing to let go. Many circumstances played in, but my body gave up and stopped working right. As I look back at some of those first blog entries I think to myself.... have I not gotten anywhere, or learned anything over the past year?

I said many of the same things- trying to find out what life will have next for me. But I think I am finally learning, or at least willing to now. I think I am relearning how to surrender. Relearning that peace is never going to come from me- only from God and only once I am ok with being who I am now. Not struggling with the mentality of "I was once" or "if only I". Life is what it is. It's not about me, it's about living.

This past year has been a lot of things. Exciting, at times. Frightening, at times. unknown, most of the time. But I'm learning that it's not about what was, or what's next it's about being fully present in who I am now and accepting that. Dreaming big and living the now that will get me to those dreams.

I feel like God has lots in store for me, for us. Do I know what that is? No. Will I find out? Yes. Through prayer, and obedience- but most of all through surrender.

One of the first few posts I made on this blog had this quote:
Peace.
it does not mean to be in a place
where there is no noise, trouble
or hard work. it means to be in
the midst of those things and still
be calm in your heart.

We are doing an awesome lent series at church about the exodus and leaving behind the things that keep us from God. In all reality I have a lot that has kept me from God over the past year and while I have let go of much, I have not surrendered it to God. I've got 40 days to find a symbol and bring it to the junk yard on Good Friday. Cause on Easter morning the junk yard will be cleared for new life construction.

Til then. I daily continue to be me.
It's not about me, it's about living!
ck

I still can't get pictures to load... anyone have a suggestion? HELP!

new picture logo

I have toyed with differnent sizes of "ck photography" on pictures to copyright them as my own. Today I thought I would come up with something catchy. These are the two preleminary logos.
One is for use on darker pictures, one is for use on lighter pictures where white won't necessarily show up.

They will just be like a small stamp in the bottom corner of the picture. What do you think? Would you cange anything?

URHHHHH!! I hate new blogger. It loads my picture and tells me to click done and it will publish it in my blog--- but there is no "done" that appears!!

So, I guess I will be trying again later!!

I am going to try this again... ugh! still not working!

excitment, anticipation- emotions all over the board

Sorry I haven't blogged in forever. I have had tons going on and lots on my mind, but all too much to type out.

Work has been crazy. On friday everyone got laid off but me and 2 others. I don't know how much longer any of us will be there. I am being assigned to a new project, but after that who knows. Please pray about that. Although, I met with a friend today and going to investigate some new leads on some work. Still torn on direction of what to do with my life and where my heart is leading, tugging, and ultimately where God wants me to be.

In other exciting news I just signed another wedding for the summer. This super cute couple is getting married in August and are students at Western Michigan University. What an exciting time! I can't wait to do their engagement shoot. Along those lines i have been designing some stuff for the photography side of my life. I had once seen someone put together an engagement album with blank space for people to sign for their guest book at their wedding. What a great idea... so I am in process of putting a sample together. Here are a few samples of the first 4 pages. The rest will eventually be posted on my www.ckphotography.blogspot.com.

Hmm, what else is new? Not much. I am looking forward to some time with the nieces in a few weekends. I was tentativly toying with doing some engagement pics (which we have reschedule at least 2 times), but my dear friends just lost their dog. They are crushed and anyone with a dog knows that they are part of the family. Lynde and Brad we are praying for you!

Well I am off to bed. Gotta make some contacts tomorrow and next Sunday we have our church neighborhood party and we are prety pumped to get connected.

Have a great weekend!
ck

Edit: I don't know what just happened but I had to change my blogger stuff cause google bought out blogger! So, things might be looking different.

Edit for real: Why I was really logging back in was to say that I hunted down where I had seen the guestbook idea. Krista Norman (who I shot a wedding with this summer) did this for one of her customers. Thanks for the idea Krista. Check out her work at her website

comercial opinion recall

Ok Maria, you are right. I did love the rock paper scissors one and I likedthe blockbuster one with the "mouse". But I wasn't a fan of the careerbuilder ones.

Anywho- I still say it doesn't rank up with the best of them-- but it will be ok.

It's still FREEZING!! -10 at least. So I am going to put on some cozy clothes and snuggle.

Blogger is still being dumb so no picture again today.

They lost-- but hey we still like em!

Ryan and I were all pumped to watch the Bears win the superbowl. They didn't and frankly it wasn't even worth watching the commercials!!

I spite of the loss we were still decked out in bears gear having out own personal party.

I am not really looking forward to getting up way early to go to work tomorrow. We have about a foot and 1/2 of snow in or front yard and the roads are still ice covered in packed snow which is icy. UGH! All the churches in town (well it seemed like all) were canceled by 5pm yesterday. People have been told to stay home, the malls closed, the highways were closed so they could clean up major accident. It's nasty and I just want to stay in my warm house. But I guess on the other hand I will just get stir crazy and wish I was at least at work making money-- so when all is said and done-- I hope to get to go to work tomorrow.

Other than that, not much else is new in our world. Hope you all had a relaxing Super bowl Sunday!!

I have a pic of Ry and I in our bears gear-- but blogger is being stupid. I will try again later

You must click on this- soo funny

I guess some people have seriously way too much time on their hands. I just found this link on Kelly's blog and well check it out. If you are a girl-- it's a must see.

click here

Mindyou Kel also has found other random things on line like the sock monkey dress among the many! Crazy girl- always finds something to make you laugh!

Thanks girl

Snowed in-- well at least we would like to be.

Ok-- This is not a black and white picture it is the gray an white view outside our front door. It's soooooo nasty out. This picture was taken ths morning and we are expected to get 6 inches today (Saturday), 4-6 on Sunday (supposed to be wind chill -20) UGH! 4-6 more inches on Monday. It's about 6 derees out with 30-50 mile an hour winds which means ZERO visability cause of all the blowing snow. Needless to say I am prayin Ry can drive home from work. I don't think we will be going to church tomorrow-- we will listen online-- I don't want to get stuck somewhere and it just feezes on your windsheild even with the defroster on and wipers going.

So-- It's a good day to clean, read, and well, work on some stuff for my dad that is LONG past overdue! Sorry dad, I'm working on it.

Maria I now understand your Denver blizard more than I cared to!!
What's your weater like (except- if it's nice, maybe I don't want to know)
Love you all-- be safe!