together.

And when life is just plain crazy, uncontrollable in all it's might.

You don't fight. You know you can't.

So you wipe away the tears, hug each other close

And soon you come to realize

Together is a good place to be.

weekend of September 26th

I remain confident in this: 

I will see the goodness of the Lord

in the land of the living.

Wait for the Lord;

be strong and take heart

and wait for the Lord

Psalm: 27:13-14

wftw: sadness

After experiencing one of the most emotionally tough days I have had in a while, I came across this article that clarified so much of what I have been going through. So I post it here in hopes that it will help or clarify "tears" in the life of someone else who is struggling. We need to know the truth— that it is ok, even beneficial for us to cry when experiencing loss; it's ok to feel our pain. God created us with emotions and I believe part of their purpose is to point us to God himself. Jesus created tears and shed them. He knows our pain.

Here's a favorite excerpt from the article from Relevant Magazine with the link to the entire work below.

Sadness Doesn't Mean We Are Struggling in Our Faith
by Sean Bess

We often act like tears are silly or selfish—and they can be, but they can also be life—affirming. I believe in the soul, in part, because of tears. There are evolutionary reasons for tears-like washing out debris from around the eyes—but humans are the only creatures that cry due to grief. I think it's possible we cry tears of grief as a way of washing out debris from around our souls.

Have you lost someone? Cry. Are you having a really rough day? Cry. The smile will stretch back across your face in time, but sometimes in order for this to genuinely happen, you have to allow the tears pool in your eyelids and draw hot lines down your cheeks.

One of the best things you can do with heartache of any sort is to allow yourself to feel it. However, there seems to be a prevailing movement of positive thinking in the Church—sometimes it looks a lot like happiness worship—and it’s leaving less and less room in its theology for tears.

But even Jesus wept.

read more: HERE

solo weekend do's

The last weekend of summer has come & gone. I've been venturing alone the past 4 days because G is away traveling. So, I took the time to walk up & down the city photo shoot shopping (hurry up & get here Fabz!), farmers market visiting, & sunset picture taking; all favorite things I love to do to keep me busy while G's away. It's so strange not having him around. You don't realize how much you become accustomed to having the person you love most with you everyday, until they're not. And you wake up thinking they are lying next to you, but after a split second you remember. Not there. Ugh. I'm ready to have you back G! In the meantime, I'll be going back & forth between homework, Gungor & outings. This weekend I've had a variety of things hitting me. God has been so good to remind me He is here, but it's been hard. For one, it's hitting me HARD that we are leaving Chicago in um..........three short months! Ah! I'll stop writing about it now because my heart is pounding and I'm getting emotional already. But that's one reason I love taking pictures everywhere I go. I already cherish these memories so much.

And I love this place. But it's true, I love it more with you G.

babysitting balcony views

anthro loveeee

TJ's arugula pizza, a sunset & a chick-flick for the win

I'm sure gonna miss this.

lyrical: we step into freedom

We step into freedom

We step into all You have for us

We step into freedom

We step into all You have for us

by: Bethel Music

This short, sweet song has been on my heart & mind the past couple weeks. Looking back, I find it interesting that I asked G to teach me how to play it on the guitar just days before having a raw conversation with Jess (just love that girl), that tied these lyrics into what was happening in my own life in a way I had never seen. In essence, she spoke of how God has brought freedom and joy into my life because of my obedience to Him some time ago. But, how sly is satan for planting thoughts in me that grew into desiring bondage & grief instead. I did not see my doubts & questions in that way at all, but after she said it that truth became so clear in my mind and has made it's way into my heart through this song. I have no need to be afraid to live into the freedom Christ has given me. I receive it & step into it knowing that God's plans for me are good, even if the entire "good" has not been revealed. Yes, I step in. Eyes looking wide to Jesus to carry me home. And I play. I play this song, so imperfectly it seems as a parallel to my life, in faith; I am being redeemed.