What Do I Know of Holy, Really?

You have a rare and beautiful gift, a gift for seeing that has to come from the Lord. Just last week I jumped over to your photography blog and cried at the beauty of the images you captured there. I believe He must love the way you see, capture and share what He's made -- be it people or nature. There is a fresh spin on your work, something I'd even venture to call holiness. There is a breath-held-in quality, a transparency that light can shine through without difficulty.

- excerpt from a personal email from M.M. Allen to me

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I stared at her words, blown away by the unearned affirmation that seemed to come out of nowhere, words that raised questions in me about what God has been doing in refining my photography dream.

Somehow can I capture His holiness in my lens? I don't know the answer to that; I know I have asked that He make Himself known in me. I can only pray it is true, that He is spilling out into my work, making my dream His dream and letting me do something I love for His glory.

This is my song today, my human "I don't know You enough," my "teach me, Lord, help me let You in..."

"What do I know of Holy?" by Addison Road
(click song title to listen)

I made You promises a thousand times
I tried to hear from Heaven
But I talked the whole time
I think I made You too small
I never feared You at all No
If You touched my face would I know You?
Looked into my eyes could I behold You?

What do I know of You
Who spoke me into motion?
Where have I even stood
But the shore along Your ocean?
Are You fire? Are You fury?
Are You sacred? Are You beautiful?
What do I know? What do I know of Holy?

I guess I thought that I had figured You out
I knew all the stories and I learned to talk about
How You were mighty to save
Those were only empty words on a page
Then I caught a glimpse of who You might be
The slightest hint of You brought me down to my knees

What do I know of You
Who spoke me into motion?
Find More lyrics at www.sweetslyrics.com
Where have I even stood
But the shore along Your ocean?
Are You fire? Are You fury?
Are You sacred? Are You beautiful?
What do I know? What do I know of Holy?

What do I know of Holy?
What do I know of wounds that will heal my shame?
And a God who gave life "its" name?
What do I know of Holy?
Of the One who the angels praise?
All creation knows Your name
On earth and heaven above
What do I know of this love?

What do I know of You
Who spoke me into motion?
Where have I even stood
But the shore along Your ocean?
Are You fire? Are You fury?
Are You sacred? Are You beautiful?
What do I know? What do I know of Holy?

What do I know of Holy?
What do I know of Holy?

(Image © Informal Moments Photography)

Sixty - A Happy First

This is my first big print. I ordered it for Heidi's birthday (don't worry, she knows it's coming!), and since I was ordering a print for someone else, I had it shipped here. There is something absolutely incredible about seeing your own work become this real. Of course, I had to photograph the darn thing.

Tagged in Four

I got tagged today by e.o.w. over at Mindwhisperings, and while I don't usually respond to tagging, she was kind enough to leave a comment about it here, so I thought I'd oblige.

The game is about fours - and a little bit of life. The rules:

1. Go to the 4th folder where you keep your pictures on your computer.
2. Post the 4th picture in the folder.
3. Explain the photo.
4. Tag 4 fellow bloggers to join in the fun!

This is my photo (considering HOW MANY folders I have for pictures on my computer, it was quite the trick picking the most honest one!). The dried rose here is one of my Stonemeadow roses, laid out on my wedding dress on a day when I was down after having Piper. I was playing around and trying to capture the feeling of nostalgia that comes after a wedding, when time has passed and the stressful moments have faded to soft, happy memories, fuzzy around the edges. The dress has a more interesting story - it was the second of four wedding dresses I have owned.

I bought my first dress in January of 2005, before Pete and I were officially engaged. I was under so much stress, and my weight loss told on me - I shrank OUT of the dress. I will always wish I had kept it - I've tried to find it again, but haven't had any luck.

This dress, the one I wore for our wedding, is the one that I will give to Piper someday, to play around in, or to wear herself.

My third wedding dress was for our beach wedding - a fun six-month anniversary photo op in which we played around on the beach with a few close friends and just generally had fun - no stress involved. We forgot the music and the rings and the formality, but we had so much fun! (Photos here from Rob Garland Photographers)

My fourth dress... well, that was just because I'm a girl who can't resist wedding dresses. And it's a favorite. I may do a white dress self-portrait with it one of these days...

So that's my long, rambling story about this photo.

Now, the tagging. I think I will tag Danielle (because I know you have pictures!), Emily (because you've sent so many people over to my blog - this should help with some inspiration!), Laura (because she was so incredibly nice to me today!), and Leeann (because I need to tag her to get photos on her blog anymore!). Have fun, girls!