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Personal || Camping

These people became my family last year. We laughed & cried together. (Ok, maybe that was just me every time we watched a movie…) There were inside jokes ["Ben, your knee looks like a baby!"] and nicknames. We ate food (a lot, too much, but then…can there every be too much?!) and drank coffee. Sometimes at 11pm, which is not a good idea when the next morning happens to be a Monday. Fights might have happened, but love exceeded all of that. Dear Fortress, thank you all for living out love. "Families are made in the heart." Oh, how true this is.

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No Photographers in Heaven

My life has been one crazy, wild ride the past month.

I moved back to Ames, started to figure out what it looks like to be working with college students but not to be a college student. Somehow began adulting. (Health insurance? Automatic payments? Cooking meals and trying to eat healthy?!) Pulled some crazy long 12 hour+days, and had other days that weren't so long, therefore eliciting the desire to sleep all day. And be alone. I love people, I'm an extrovert—but I suddenly was also totally. ok. being. alone.

Oh, campus ministry. You're a mystery to me. 

In the midst of not-even-sure-what-is-going-on, God has been so present. And you know what? I'm learning a lot, when I take the time to pull back from the crazy and be still for a few minutes. He's always here. And I'm still me—fine being busy, working hard, or being lazy. I still have to intentionally set apart time to retreat with Jesus and to listen. If you know me, you know I like to talk. Listening is good, but it can be hard to just shut up


In fact, this Labor Day weekend, we had a retreat. 
"What do you think is one of your strengths? What do you bring, add to, our team?" Adam asked us as we sat around the table during team bonding time. 

Silence. Wow. This is hard. I can look at Liz and easily see her attention to detail as a strength. Morganne's crazy love of laughter & humor & fun, and Michael's kindness & care as things that would diminish our team should they leave. But myself?

I didn't know.

I think I said that I can talk and make small talk. But honestly, right now, I feel like my extroversion is a weakness. Talking comes more naturally than it did five years ago. Small talk is cheap, but easy. Getting to the harder things, that takes intentional questions. And waiting, silence, listening.


Listening is something I need more of. Distractions and obsession with the busyness of life is rampant, whether in college or in the working world.

Knowing this, yesterday I felt restless. Tired. Unsure. So I got in my car, opened up the sunroof. Put on some Josh Garrels and drove. Found myself at Ada Hayden. Surrounded by sunshine, the deep unsaturated blue-and-silver water, Black-Eyed-Susans, and space to breathe. 

no wifi. no music playing. no friend to talk with. just me, a girl with a restless heart, a need for sunshine and the Son. two hours, 4 journal pages, a few tears, prayer, and Galatians 5 later, my heart was full. OVERFLOWING! to rest is to enter in to the presence of God, to sit at His feet and seek His face. to remember truth.

Walking back to the parking lot, full of feels and rejuvenation, I saw them. I mean, really saw them. Yes, they'd been there when I'd passed that way earlier, but now I remembered. Last week, I'd asked Jesus to give me flowers. Flowers are some of my favorite things in all creation, and I'd wanted some surprise gifting of a bouquet to sit in my room. Instead, Jesus had slowly drawn me out of my room and to Ada Hayden…where wild flowers (the best!) are growing and blooming in abundance! Oh, what a sweet gift and reminder from the King of Creation! 

Now, you all know I'm a photographer. So, having only my handy dandy iPhone in my bag, I pulled it out to capture them. And realized that being a photographer is such a temporary, short-lived thing. 

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I'm created for Heaven, for Eternity.

This soul of mine, it longs so deeply for Forever. "He has written eternity on the hearts of man." But I live in a broken, dying world. It cries out for salvation, redemption. It reeks of rust and spoiling food, of decay and dust. We all race against time. I fight it, and in some ways, I fight time with my camera. The desire to remember, so capture and keep beauty.

Friends, dearest hearts, all beauty comes from God! He is beautiful, and in creation He has reflected that—from breathtaking mountains to delicate field flowers. In my race to capture photos of newborn babies or a sunset, I am seeking to capture time. To stay in the forever, in the eternal beauty, to somehow grasp it in between my fingers.

In Heaven, there will be no photographers. At least, I don't think there will be.

I don't have scripture to say that—so I could be mistaken! But in eternity, those who are with God will forever be with Beauty. It will not fade.

"No longer will there be any curse. The throne of God and of the Lamb will be in the city and his servants will serve him. They will see his face, and his name will be on their foreheads. There will be no more night. They will not need the light of a lamp or the light of the sun, for the Lord God will give them light. And they will reign for ever and ever."—Revelation 22:3-5

What joy! No longer will I be trying to soak up the moments before they pass, remember the colors of the sunset before it goes away or the butterflies before winter comes—I shall reign with the Lord forever, and be surrounded by His (and all) beauty...in every moment, for all eternity!

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Sweet Film || Personal

I love film. And the easiest way to shoot it is, of course, disposable cameras. Yes, I'm fully aware you haven't used one since 6th grade camp…but I love the suspense that they bring. And, they give you prints in HARD COPY of the photos when you get a disc of them (at walmart, anyway)! So, so much fun.

This is a sprinkling of my last year—from my last night in Jacksonville at the Secret Lake, to the State Fair, seeing my grandma's house for the last time, college shenanigans, and my last week in college. 

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Simple Summer || Personal

Oh, hello! Thank you so much for waiting. Remember the days when I blogged regularly? I now realize that is not always possible. ;) This summer has been one of the fastest yet (I hear they continue to speed up as the years go by…) and also one of the hardest.

Why one of the hardest? Well, I am currently not doing full time photography, like I may have expected in years past. Instead, the Lord has re-directed my steps into another beautiful and wonderful thing: college ministry! I have been involved with a wonderful organization for the past 5 years, and the Lord has graciously allowed me to take the next one or two years to serve this ministry at my alma mater (Iowa State—Go Cyclones!) This allows me to use my areas of gifting *cough* photography *cough* as well as be stretched in other areas, like discipleship and sharing the Gospel. Right now, I am fundraising my salary so that I can be on the campus full time. If you'd like to hear more about what I'll be doing, join my support team, or get my newsletter updates, shoot me an email! I still have $1400 in monthly support to raise in order to be on campus full time…and under a month to raise it. However, my God is the Ultimate Provider (one of His names even means that: Jehovah Jireh!) so I am praying a lot & asking just about anyone out there. Every bit helps get me closer to Ames and to students that need Hope!

One of my summer goals or ideas was to create a small video (I love playing with video and rarely get to!) about summertime. We live on an acreage, so summer evenings here are picturesque. I want to remember these sweet days with little neighbor babes and perfect sunsets for years to come. The video isn't done yet (neither is summer! hah!) but here are a few still shots to give you an idea of what is to come. :)

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Colorado | Heart of Hearts

My trip to the most beautiful state (good luck convincing me otherwise!) had three phases: staying in Denver with Jan, the Springs with the Sandquists, and Summit. Words can't describe how I feel about these people & this place…so photos.



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Spring Wishes

Hello friends!

I have not been on my blogging game lately, but school is almost finished and graduation is just around the corner! Once summer hits and I am shooting more sessions, you can be sure to find more writings and photos here:) Until then…it might be a little hit and miss!

One thing that I've always found fun is when other photographers and bloggers put out their current "wishlist"—it gives you an insight into their personal lives & what they value. Maybe that interests you. If so, feel free to stick around and see my current wishes!


I love these "Botanical Prints" from Rifle Paper Co. They're so simple and beautiful. Wouldn't they just brighten up any space?

This semester I found Lara Casey's blog, read her story, and fell in love with this woman's passion for Jesus, her family, and people! She also just released a book a few months ago, and I'm really hoping to get my hands on a copy & dig in to what I can learn from this lovely lady and the wisdom she has gained from the Lord in her life. 

I've been putting off buying a pair of chacos for a long time…and I think it's finally time. Adventures are ahead! Proper footwear required;)

How can you not love this apron from Anthropologie?! Also, the pockets. Win/Win.


So, what about you? I'd love to know what items you've been eyeing this spring! Practical or fun, feel free to share below in the comments!

Love always,

Amelia Renee

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