Where Trust Comes From

You know what I haven't done lately? Blogging just for the sake of blogging. Blogging just to give my followers a peek into my mind. So here I go. I'm gonna blog just for the sake of blogging :)
I know that there are no pictures and I know that over half of you won't even read this, but this is more of a post for me. 

Gosh, when I think about the past 3 weeks of my life a flood of memories fills my mind. Mainly memories and events that have taught me something. Usually when I learn something in a situation it means that things didn't go my way and I had to learn to let go, or wait, or just plain give up.
Often times I find myself talking to God like this 'Lord, I know that you know what you are doing here, but if you would just do things this way (my way) I am certain that things will turn out great!' Boy am I wrong. And that's the frustrating part. Wouldn't it be nice if there was a time in life where everything and everyone was predictable? You knew what was coming so you could just prepare yourself and everything would be fine and dandy. Well that's not the way this life thing works.
You see, God designed it so that we walk around blindfolded. Not knowing where we are going or where he will take us next. When I think about that it makes me kind of mad. Why wouldn't he let me see what is up ahead?
But, then you think about it more and you get more into the details. Like if you knew what was coming next there would be no trust, no surprises, no faith to jump out on. It'd be like going on a roller coaster and knowing every twist turn and spin- it would lose it's excitement.
And if we really knew what was coming next we would try to get out of it. Life would be lived in anticipation. If we see something great up ahead we would rush through all the not-so-great parts of life. And most of the time those not-so-great parts of life are really what make life better. They make you, you, they make you cling to the only constant thing in this life, they set your eyes not on your circumstance but on the One carrying you through life. And suddenly, when your focus is back on the One, the not-so-great arts of life seem not-so-bad anymore. Because you know that whatever you go through in this life- weather you see it coming or not- you know that He will always be holding you and he will never let you go. That's where trust comes from. And that is why I will go through this life blindfolded, but clinging to the One who knows where we are going.

Turtle Back Falls!

I get to go somewhere pretty awesome tomorrow. I've only been there once before and I've been itching to go back ever since. It's a place called Turtle Back Falls.
If I tried to explain to you in words what turtle back falls is, you would get a very strange image in your head. Thank the Lord for pictures. So, alog with my strange description of the phenomenal place I get to go to tomorrow I will share a picture (but you have to promise not to laugh, because this was taken last year and I look like a goober).
Turtle Back falls:  Is a place where water runs off of a natural curved rock shaped like the back of a turtle's shell (hence the name). The rock is smooth enough so that you can slide off of it, along with the water into a deep pool of water. Along with the turtle back shaped rock is other rocks of different sizes and shapes that you can jump of if you so desire. Even if you are afraid of heights, it's still a fun place to go.
I'm like SO excited! A group from my church is leaving tomorrow morning around 8:00 am. We are gonna drive up and pack a lunch for when we get there. After all the fun is had we will change, have a nice dinner and head home. We hope to be home around 11:00! Should be a long, but fun day! If I haven't mentioned already, I'm REALLY excited :)

Now, here is the picture so you can get an idea in your head. (remember, no laughing)

you can tell by the look on my goobery face what a great time I am having :)

What adventures are you up to this fine weekend?

Maddy K.

A Baby

I babysat a sweet, sweet baby boy from my church this morning. I took it as an opportunity to snap some pictures, but this morning also reminded me of a very simple principle...

A baby. It depends on it's mother for food, it's trusts it's parents to keep it safe. It feels secure in their loving arms. It never doubts that it's mother will care for and love him or her. The baby trusts it's mother to provide for it's every need. From the day it's born, a baby is soothed by the sound of his mother's voice. As it grows, it learns to obey it's parents because it trust their guidance.
We, as Christians are told to have Childlike faith. When you think of a child, those are some of the things you think of. The Lord tells us to trust Him like a child trusts it's mother. We can depend on him, trust him and find our security in him. Their is no doubting his love for us. He calls us to grab a hold of his hand and follow him. With no worries, no doubts, no cares, just trust.

My hair- 'hair fixin'

I usually don't do any cosmetic posts, but it's always nice to try something new... sooooo...

About my hair: Typically described by me as having a mind of it's own. I'm too impatient to blow-dry it, and if I do I only do it partially, giving up. Most mornings I wake up wondering if it will be wavy, kinky, straight, everywhere, or just perfect so I don't hardly have to run a comb through it (and on those days I am thankful). One quick look in the mirror and the mystery is solved.
Then comes my next mystery. What in the world am I gonna do with it? A lot of times most of the time I just leave it down, settling for the fact that is doesn't look 'that bad', on rare occasion I will straighten it (depending on where I'm going that day), often I give up fighting my poor hair that can't make up it's mind and just put it up in a pony tail.
Something you should know is that I am very unskilled in the area of 'hair fixin'. I can't french braid, part of me is too afraid to try anything new, and when I do try something 'it just doesn't look right'. Does anyone feel the same way? Well, one day I was in the mood to try something new with my hair. And when that opportunity arises, I jump on it. I had nowhere to be, so I wasn't racing the clock. I made myself go to my room and just t.r.y.
After a bit of frustration and tweaking, to get the look I wanted... THIS is what I ended up with. These are SOOC.

from the side

from the front-ish

And one more.

Now, it may not look like much, but for my it was a big deal. I was really excited!! It was nice because it kept my hair out of my face, and it looked pretty cute ( I think).
Now, since this day I have tried new things, and I have tried to recreate this 'hair fixin', but haven't been quite as successful. If any of you guys have any quick and easy 'hair fixins' that doesn't take much skill leval then I would be so grateful to hear about it or read a blog post. Please let me know!!

Thanks for reading, Maddy K.

How we do life

So today I got to hangout with some friends, unexpectedly. I hadn't seen them in a longgggg time and I ran into them at lunch and we hung out for a while. It was nice to catch up with them. I love it when you make one decision- like where you will go for lunch- and your whole day changes for the good.
One of my friends, Mary Helen is an aspiring photographer too, and we always like to take pictures together. Check out her blog! She asked me to take a picture for her that she had in mind so we headed outside before I left... did I mention that I got my driver's license? It is wonderful to be able to drive places!!
Here are a few pictures that we took today :)

I kinda sorta have a thing for feet pictures. Have I mentioned that?

She's so cute :)

 

I love that smile, I love that laugh. Warms my heart. Now, go check out her blog. really. You don't know your missing! http://mhdouglas.blogspot.com/

I had a good day. How was yours?

Maddy K.

Blog Interview with Ali!

I have been following Ali's blog for a while, and I have always been interested in her blog and creativity. I contacted her to be interviewed and I have really enjoyed getting to know her more through email. She is a really encouraging blogger and I definitely suggest that you follow her blog :) She will have you smiling in no time!

Ali's interview:
Thanks so much Maddy for interviewing me on your blog! It means so much! :)

 1.What made you start a blog? I originally started a blog with my best friend and cousin, Haven and the blog is called Naturally More.  At that time we knew absolutely nothing about blogging, but we wanted to do it together. Then I decided I wanted to start my own blog-Livin My Life 4 Jesus-because my cousin, Haven wasn't posting as much as I was on our blog, and mostly all that I was posting was just about me. I decided to create my own blog because I loved doing it so much!

 2.How do you choose what to blog about? The pictures I take determines what I blog about. If I take pictures of a bunch of flowers-I'll post about flowers. ;)

3.What inspired your blog title- 'Livin my Life 4 Jesus'? What inspired me to title my blog the way I did was because the one and only reason I am blogging, and living this life is because JESUS made me, and died for me. I want to live every day for him, I want to live my LIFE for Him. My blog is about every day that I live, living it for Him!

4.After following your blog for a while, I know that you love photography. What first got you interested in it? I first got interested in photography when I turned 13 almost a year ago. I got my point and shoot from my family for my birthday, and ever since then, I've been capturing beautiful moments of life as much as I can! :) What got me interested in it was seeing people on blogs taking pictures of such incredible/pretty things! I wanted to be just like them and be a photographer. So I started experiencing with my camera, and I'm trying to make my point and shoot work. ;)

5. As you take a picture what goes through your mind? When I take a picture lots of things go through my head. But just a few are: 1. I'm an idiot. Is this picture really gonna turn out? 2. I can't wait to edit this, and share it! and 3. Does anybody see me kneeling on the ground taking these? I hope not. ;)

6.Is there a certain photographer that inspires you most? Oh, lots and lots of photographers inspire me. But I would have to say Kiley from Click and Capture does most. I know her in real life and she is one of my best friends. I hang out with her often, and I love to see her click and capture with her SLR. I would go check out her blog, because she rocks at taking pictures. She has the cutest baby sister that she takes pictures of too, and she knows exactly how to take unique shots! :) This one of Kasandra is my favorite of all the pictures she's taken. I love it! :) 

7.What is your favorite season to photograph? I love to photograph spring! Spring is just a pretty season and has the best weather for photographing! I love to capture flowers, and nature outside!

8. What camera do you use? Lens? I use a Fujifilm. A black one to be exact. And it's a point and shoot. So no, there is no lens. I try to be unique with my photos to make them good, but right now I don't need an SLR. Not quite yet. ;)

9.If you could travel anywhere in the world and stay there for a whole week (cost covered) where would you choose to go?
Hmm, If I could go anywhere for a whole week I would go to Paris. Wow. I can't believe I just wrote Paris down. I would usually put Hawaii or something, but just the thought of going out of the US, and seeing the wonderful Paris, would be amazing!

10.What other hobbies do you spend your time enjoying? I also love to bike, play volleyball, hang out with friends, go to youth group, and just hang out with family! I'm not just a girl who loves photography, I also love to be active and stay outside and go biking or something! :)

11. What other hobbies do you spend your time enjoying? My advice for bloggers or photographers? Well, for bloggers: Just be yourself! On your blog make sure you post what you want to post, and say what you want to say, and if people like your style they will follow you! And if not, then you can't do anything about it! Don't change you because of other people! Just let people choose if they want to follow you! And photographers: be unique with your photos! Try to do different things with your camera that you see no one else doing! :)

Thanks again, Maddy! Now everyone go check out my blog! Livin My Life 4 Jesus!