looking ahead ...

so, the first bit of news i have for the world is that this photography business thing is getting off to a very good start! already i have an engagement session (my friend lindsey and her boyfriend sheldon got engaged - yeah!), a bridal portrait session, a family portrait session (shannon- call me!), and another wedding in the works. i did not believe that things could start off this way! i am very excited about what 2007 holds for photography. also, i am learning so much about business and photoshop - there are some real bootylicious things out there to make the art you create even better. be on the lookout for more pics on the blog!

secondly, i want to share some of my thoughts on giving for 2007. we live in a country that is so blessed. we can speak and hear the name of Jesus freely. the spare change we have in our sock drawer is likely more than what other people live on in a day. we can get out of our warm beds, drive across town in our nice cars, and go to any local bookstore to read any available educational material. we have law and order and justice to protect us. the facts are scary. six million children die each year as a result of hunger. two million children are believed to be exploited through the commercial sex trade. 134 million children between the ages of 7 to 18 have never been to school. and these statistics are just about children alone, not to mention the adults and senior citizens that suffer from poverty and lack of care. it is staggering! over the past year, i have been gluttonous. i have purchased clothes i didn't need, eaten out when i could have cooked at home, and refused to give to charities that i knew could help others because i wanted the extra money for myself. shame on me for those things. God and i have talked a lot about this issue, one that oddly enough was brought to my awareness by a movie. john and i went to see the pursuit of happyness the day it came out, and i have not been the same since. i sat in my cushion seat in a climate controlled theater watching a man fight for his and his son's survival, and it made me sick to think of how i could help others like him and i don't. so, this year is going to one of change, one of self-sacrifice as much as the grace of God allows. i know i won't always get it right. i will be selfish again at some point - my humanity will not permit otherwise. but this year i am going to refuse to turn my face to the horror of what is happening in our world. i am going to give more to compassion international and other causes we belive in. i am going to volunteer with my small group at catalyst. and i am going to pray for the state of our nation and our world. i am inviting you to join in with me. how would your life have been any different if no one had given to you? think about it. pray that God will speak to your heart about the ways that you can give of yourself in 2007.