Monday, June 29, 2009

When Worlds Apart Collide.

So, what's the correlation between country music and a picture of a Chinese baby? While worlds apart, they are both my life...

Tomorrow I'm flying down to West Virginia (hense the Montgomery Genry song) to lead a mission's trip until Saturday. I'm excited for the challenge, and honestly, I'm really looking forward to being able to look back and see God's hand help me through the week.

Also, tomorrow, some of my best friends are flying to China. They are holding camps for orphans this summer, something I've done for the last few years.


While I'm thrilled and excited for them, a few times I have scratched my head to wonder why I am not on that plane with my friends. I don't doubt God's hand in it. I know He will work where I am. I just want my heart and mind to be just as invested in W.V. as I would be if I were in Beijing or Xian.

So, I could say that my heart is torn. Or, I could look at it like my heart is doubly blessed...Blessed with a personal opportunity to lead a group in West Virginia, and blessed to love and support friends who are serving God in China.

I don't often understand God's ways, though I know they are perfect. I'll just follow His lead, even if that means staying closer to home this time. It's all about Him...

Saturday, June 27, 2009

Packing my bags for...

West Virginia! (That's a new one! :)

I realize that the photos in my previous post are of New York City. That's because when I wrote that, the plan was for me to lead a mission's trip there next week. But life in ministry continues to be spontaneous and exciting, and now I'm heading South instead of North. Sorry, no pictures of W.V. yet...I've never been there before.

Anyhow, I spent a fabulous day with my family ("My Big Fat Irish Family"). They're awesome, and we had so much fun! Here's me with some of my cousins, and I will continue to edit some others from today and post them as I can.




Thursday, June 25, 2009

Guess where I'm going next week?

Here are three clues...



I'll give you one more hint: It's a trip with my job...

Ah, maybe that doesn't help at all. I'll tell you soon. Until then, any guesses?

P.S. As I side note, I have been thinking about how I miss writing personal updates like I used to on my other blog. I switched over to this photography site a while back, but now that I'm onward into missions again, there's too much exciting stuff not to share. So, I don't know. Just thinking how to intigrate that back again... ;) (But for my small group, know that's all "Just a thought." ;) LAMBACK!

Monday, June 22, 2009

Shimmer and Shine.

"To touch a face, to kiss a smile. new eyes see no race...the essence of a child, the essence of a child..." ~Shawn Mullins


People have told me they notice I photograph children a lot, and I guess there's no denying it. ;)

While I love grown-up conversation over coffee, there's just something about little faces and little laughs and little smiles that captures my heart. And no matter where I am in life, I'm convinced I'll always love staring into young eyes and imagining the world for what could be, right there with them...

Monday, June 15, 2009

More from my trip to California...

...as promised. :)






I took this on a walk...can't imagine if life always felt this quiet and peaceful.
This picture brings back a lot of memories. After spending time by the river, a group of friends and I went out to a Mexican place for dinner. Very small hole-in-the-wall kind of a place...so much that we were mobbed by the locals wondering where we were from (answer: San diego & Philadelphia...nothing special, I guess we just stood out.) We had some great memories and ate tacos over questions like, "if anyone could ask you one question, what would you have someone ask you?" etc.

This random car wash was across the street, and it caught my eye for no explainable reason. The End. ;)

Friday, June 12, 2009

Happy Birthday, Beth. :)


"Never shall I forget the days I spent with you. Continue to be my friend, as you will always find me yours." ~ L.V. Beethoven

Thursday, June 11, 2009

A little Cali for ya.

(more to come.)

You look at this and may see a pretty lake. I look at this and see the spot where my friend and I had a heart-to-heart over lunch...


You look at this and see some big trees. I look at this and see big trees too. lol...


You look at this and see someone with a camera. I look at this and see one of my best buds.


It's all in the eye of the beholder. ;)

Wednesday, June 3, 2009

Only waiting.

I snapped these today while waiting for my flight out of Philadelphia. Kind of ironic that a few hours later I went home with a new ticket for tomorrow because of the rain. Life is funny. ;)