Crazy

Life has been crazy. Since I posted, I have done three seniors - I have two planned for Wednesday - performed a choir concert, and am preparing for two very large and exciting events: Libby Dean's wedding - Saturday!!! - and Chicago, with Sarah Anne Barlow. I am really looking forward to both. However, God has been doing some major work in my heart as I prepare for both exciting events.

For Libby's wedding, God is teaching me to empty myself of all that I think I am, that I might be filled with His spirit. Without submitting to His call to rely on Him, I will be unable to accomplish what I must do to serve Libby and her fiance. Also, I have been learning to pray for others. I have prayed for others my entire life, but lately I have felt a need, a call to pray for certain friends of mine as they undergo transitional times in their lives with new and exciting, sometimes scary, things.

Secondly, I have had to completely trust God with my finances. I am a very anxious person when it comes to money, and I am prone to fall into temptation when money is in question, regardless of how much or little there is. God has been providing for my needs in a very tangibly way for as long as I can remember, yet I am still prone to worry. When I worry, I doubt God's sovereignty and provision, and this is a large area of sin and temptation in my life. That is why, in God's sovereignty, He had Mr. Stalker teach at youth group about anxiety. It was a slap in my face. I was blown away by Mr. Stalker's demonstravite humility and faith in God's provision. He shared a little story with me about a test of his trust in God's provision, then stepped out in faith to help me in my unbelief. I am so grateful to God for the people He has placed in my life to teach and instruct me with humility.

As I prepare for the upcoming days and weeks, I am not sure what will happen. However I am sure that God is trustworthy, that He is faithful, He knows my needs, and He cares for me. I can rest in that knowledge.

Cait

Senior: Alyssa H.

Alyssa is a very bubbly, fun-loving girl who happens to be graduating this year. Not only fun to be with, Alyssa is a woman of God. She is pursuing all God has called her to with zeal and enthusiasm. Alyssa, I am so excited to see what God has in store for you as you obediently follow His call. God bless!

Here are just a few of Alyssa's seniors; you can see the rest of the session here.

Oh Happy Day!

First, I want to tag myself. I think it is really neat, and I haven't been tagged, so I'll just tag myself! Okay, well I'll just post eight little known facts about me.


1. I am an EVEN numbers person; I believe in even. Unfortuantely, I was born in 1.1991 and will graduate in 2009. *sighs* Oh well; God is gracious.


2. I am a very emotional person; you may laugh if you know me, but hold on. I am an emotional person, but I find it extremely difficult to express those emotions to others. (I must not communicate well... anythoughts?)


3. I LOVE CUCUMBERS. When I eat a cucummber, I feel like picnics in the park, a walk in the rain, and everything fresh and clean.

4. I cannot stand hot water on my face. Ever. Period.

5. I (obviously) have a fascination with sharpees; there are five black ones, one green one, and three red ones currently on my desk. Who knew?

6. My mother's mom - who just passed away - was directly related to John Hancock. Her maiden name was Hancock. Yeah, I know!

7. (this requires reader particiation!) If I wasn't a photographer, I would be a ________, and if I wasn't that, I'd pursue ________.

8. and finally, I LOVE OPERA!


Secondly, for my 17th birthday, I wanted tickets to see a real, live opera. Long story short, no can do. Until the other day, when my mother waked into my room and slaps these papers down on my desk. It took me a minute to find out what they were, and sadly, when I found out I stuck to little known fact # 2. I didn't show my excitement. However, I am so excited to go see my very first opera with my mother on June 1st. "What opera" you ask? Well, none other than Madame Butterfly which I have heard wonderful things about!

Mom, I hope you know just how much I appreciate those tickets, especially since I didn't convey that to you. Thank you! I can't wait until June!


**BONUS**


9. I love feet, shoes and pictures of both. Here are some of my favorites...

Nevermind; the image uploader can't find the server right now... maybe later. Sorry!

Of Elephants and Vikings

I just came from the Rebelution Tour '08 in Hickory, North Carolina, and oh my. It was amazing. I learned so much. When I got there I was feeling very proud of my accomplished 'hard' things, looking forward to my pat on the back. As soon as the first session started I was slapped in the face with the truth. I have never done a hard thing in my LIFE! I am going to post a few things from my voluminous notes, but do not take my post as the standard for the conference; I am merely recapping my thoughts. Please go to the conference, even though it may be hard, you must be at one.

A little of background; the Harris brothers' goal and message is 'teens rebelling against low expectations.' In the first session, Alex discussed the "myth of adolescence," and listed somethings that the world expects out of teens today. This list included - for older teens - making bed daily, completing chore (singular) without reminding, and cleaning room weekly also without parental help or reminding. I do none of these consistently. I fail at even the WORLDS standards! How will I ever reach God's standards? Truth: I won't. I must rely on God to change my heart, my sinful heart, into something He can use. Then, I must work. Hard. Though I am excited to see how God will work in my life in the upcoming times, I know it will require work.

Now, you may wonder why I titled this post as I did. Alex started the conference by telling us a story, or rather a truth, about elephants. He said in other countries, elephants are used on farms. The owner will at night, tie a small length of rope to the animal's rear right foot, and tie the other end around a stake in the ground. The elephant will not leave it's tether. Why? Can they not beat over 100 grown men in a tug-of-war contest? This is from my notes:

A young elephant is removed from its mother and shackled to a large tree with heavy iron chains. For days, weeks, even months, the baby will attempt to free itself. After enough time, he gives up hope of freedom, and surrenders to his shackle. He has learned that he cannot escape anything tied to this foot. The owner can then easily exchange the heavy chains for mere twine and a stick.

This is an excellent analogy of out youth today. Once our society has firmly placed the shackles around our minds, we stop trying, and except our 'limits.' The teen years are not the beginning of our lives, and they are not the end. They will, if used correctly, launch us into our future.

After a short break, Brett came and talked about doing hard things. He started out sharing a very humorous and traumatized story from his past. You can read it here. "Growing people will do hard things." What does that (doing hard things) look like?

1. fighting sin - wrong and easy

2. battling discouragement and complacency

3. more than is required - A and B the C of D

4. GETTING OVER FEAR OF FAILURE - nothing stupider than not doing something that worthwhile because you might fail

5. looks different for each person

6. often small things (NOTE: see 'Vikings')

7. your best life - finding it difficult and still trying

Vikings: we all know of them. The Norsemen that terrorized the coast of Europe, undefeated. They attacked in lightning-like forces. Here now, gone in a moment. How did they remain so victorious? They rowed their own ships. Arriving to and leaving an attack quickly was vital for victory, so instead of entrusting one of the most important aspects of their 'campaign' to hired help (who didn't have the drive the Vikings did), they rowed themselves to their battles. (As Brett said, "You know they were ripped!") They embraced their oars in order to develop the muscles required to wield the sword. If they didn't put themselves through such strenuous physical activity, how would they be able to conquer? If they couldn't cut through waves, how would they cut through foes? They had to do hard things in order to do hard things.

This was such an encouragement to me. After all, I haven't done any hard things. Brett said that the small hard things can be harder because we don't find them as important. It can harder to be consistent with your devotions and chores than to do big hard things. I cannot rely on others to 'row' my to my battles; then I wouldn't be able to hold my sword, let alone conquer. I must be diligently developing and building muscles in the small things so I can DO the large things.

We are rebelutionaries... we do hard things.

We are like the rain; there is not only one drop. With each continued drop, the rain increases until it's a downpour. If it rains enough...

there is a flood.

Join the rain; bring the flood. Be rebelutionary!

GUESS WHAT?!?

(this is me after a CYT play!)

So I realized the other day - during opening night of the play I am in, CYT's The Wizard of Oz - that I hadn't posted about my big news! I am so shocked; it has been in almost every waking thought I've had. I figure I should post, since I am too excited to sleep at night!

I'm engaged!

Ha! Just kidding. That will not happen until God's time; hopefully not for a few years seeing how completely immature and irresponsible I am.

However, I do have big news. I have been following the blog of Sarah Anne Barlow - yes she is related to THE Barlow girls, but she isn't the drummer - for awhile now. She is a professional wedding photographer based in Illinois. I love her work (she's amazing!) but more than that I respect her sooo much for her outspoken faith in every aspect of her life. Reading her blog posts has both encouraged and challenged me numerous times since I found her blog. All things considered, I was writing an email to send to her about the possibility of interning with her this summer. I know a few other young - teen - lady photogs that have benefited from her tutelage. Before I sent it, I decided to read up on her blog. On there was a 2-week-old post introducing The Interns. I was amazed. Then I read a later post also on The Interns which said Sarah had all the applicants filled. My mother said it never hurts to try. Well, long story short,

I got it!

And so I am going to Chicago, Illinois May 11th - 25th and I will be interning with one of my photographic HEROS! I can hardly stand it; God is so good to me. I cannot tell you how excited I am to spend time with Sarah; and it's totally a perk that she lives in a state I've never been to! I hear the food there is to DIE for. All very exciting. I have been following the blog of one of Sarah's previous interns, Kristin Leigh, and more than anything else, Kristen's account of her time there is what gets me most excited. I am so blessed.

In other news; CYT's "The Wizard of Oz" has run it's course. It was an excellent run, too. Opening night was, reportedly (since I was in it) one of the best opening nights ever seen. The next two runs went wonderfully despite the little slip ups. All in all, I believe God was glorified. I know at least for me, He taught me so much about giving grace and being patient. Though it may not seem like it, the last two weeks of any theatrical production are some of the longest weeks you can live. I am so completely exhausted. It's a good exhausted, though, because I know now that the play was not anything in me... I would have collapsed a long time ago! Every ounce of energy and strength came from God. All praise and glory and honor to Him alone!

Now, I am gearing up to finish my junior school year before the 1st of May, immediately after which prom and SAT will follow. I keep hoping and praying my life will slow down, to no avail. I cannot do everything I must complete this year! There is no way. Thus I must assume that God will give me every ounce of strength I need and victory over any dispare that may creep into my mind. I am looking forward to what He will do in me over the next month.

Stay tuned!

Cait

Happy St. Patrick's Day!

Top o' the mornin'!

YEAH for green! It really snuk up on us this year. Usually we are adequately prepared for this lovely occasion, but this year we were lacking; not only enough green hairspray, but also accessories. Shame on us.

(Aims and I did our hair last thats why we have so little color)

A little *mostly unknown* history of our family; dispite all appearances, we are only a tiny bit Irish. However, my family has been involved - or immersed - in Irish-ness since Aims and Savvy started Irish dance. We would faithfully and eagerly join the St. Pattie's Day Parade every year, dressed up and hairsprayed green. Then came a sad day. The girls stopped dancing. We continued to attend the parade until last year when we became too busy. Now it is to the point where we almost forgot about our green! We were saved just in time for everyone to be done-up for CYT. YEAH!

Merriam-Websters Word of the Day:

crwth: \KROOTH (rhymes with “booth”)\ noun
: an ancient Celtic stringed instrument that is plucked or bowed

Example sentence:

“He intricately rhymes, to the music of crwth and pibgorn, all night long.” (Dylan Thomas, Under Milk Wood)

Did you know?

“Crwth” is the Welsh name for an ancient Celtic instrument that is similar to a violin. In Middle English, the instrument’s name was spelled “crouth” before metamorphosing to “crowd,” a word still used in some dialects of England to refer to a violin. The Welsh word can also refer to a swelling or bulging body, and we can speculate that it came to be used for the instrument because of the violin’s bulging shape. Other Celtic words for “violin” also have meanings referring to rounded appearances. In Gaelic, for example, “cruit” can mean “harp” or “violin” as well as “hump” or “hunch.” As a final note, we would like to mention (in case you were wondering) that a pibgorn is an ancient wind instrument similar to the hornpipe; its name comes from the Welsh word “pib,” meaning “pipe,” and “corn,” meaning “horn.” (Merriam-Websters Word of the Day, MArch 17th, 2008)

You learn something new, every day!

Hope everyone has a great day and don't forget to wear green - we're the pinching type.

Cait

Chillin' at Chilie's

I actually got to go out with CYTers the other night. You may not know this, but we are rarely allowed to go out after plays due to CYTers' late nature. However, my father was in a rare mood, and Ash and I went to Chilue's. I had never been, and let me tell ya... it was oretty much sweetness!

Anyhoot, here is the slideshow. Beware: it's like, eight minutes long. I had a Canon 5D and a Canon 24-105mm f/2.8 (LOVE BOTH!) that night and got a tad shutter-happy. There are some really fun images all the way to the end, but you have to perservere. It should be evident that we all had a blast. By it's sheer length, it seems we were there for longer than an hour.



Cait

Katie B's Sweet Sixteen

Here is some of the fun we had at Katie B's Sweet Sixteen party. I know it's late, but at least it's here. Next post will be for Rebekah J's Fifteenth (also late). Had too much fun, Katie B. Luv ya!






If you want to view the images, they are available on here.

Cait

Remember

Hello Friends.

I haven't been able to post for the last few days for a few reasons. Mainly because my maternal grandmother passed from this life to the next early Friday morning, the last of February. I was really looking forward to posting that day, but then we got the news about Grandma, and it didn't seem right. Now I would like to take a moment to remember some of the memories we had with her while she was with us. It was much harder than I thought looking through pictures of our time with her. If you could continue to pray for my mother, her brothers, and my grandmother's sisters, we would really appreciate it.

Here's to Grandma Ramona.

My Seventeenth Birthday

I turned 17 on January 30th. For a long time, I have had to have my parties in February. That was the case this year. On February 8th, I had invited 72 people from my theater group, my youth group, and those I had met a summer camp. My 'aunt' Jill - actually my chiropractor whom we adopted 'cause she's just too fun - made brownies, pizza(s; she brought 5), and home-made carmel for apple dipping.

Seeing as how I only recieved 24ish RSVPs, I was very excited to see who would show. It turned out to be a very small, yet rockin' bunch. Only those who had RSVPed came - bumma - and a few who did chickened out.

My heartfelt thanks to everyone who came; especially to David. I had NO idea you would be the only guy! Sorry! I enjoyed having you all. Here is some of the fun we had.

I was so glad Ellen from camp was able to come. I hadn't seen her since camp. She called me around three on the 8th and asked if she could come. I was like, "Yeah girl! Come on!"

My adorable not-so-baby brother goofing off. Too bad he knows he's cute.
We played spoons, only with... knives. Plastic knives forced to stand up right in the carpet. Too much fun! Great idea, uh... who's idea was it?

This was our first attempt at a group photo with an 85mm prime lens. HA! Our front room was not long enough. And, of course, your truly is still talking, thus ruining the photo. Arg!

Thanks again everyone! I am truly blessed to have you as my friends!

Luv ya'll!

Cait