bloom where you are planted.

sweet home oklahoma.

for the past few months, i have been trying my hand at design. placing a quote or scripture on a picture is like therapy to me. haley of haley dawn photography posted pictures of her state designs a couple days ago, and i was inspired to start with a blank canvas and see what came of it. i spent an hour and a half making this last night, and it was the highlight of my week! for my first time, i think this turned out better than i anticipated. i'm excited to see where my creativity take me!

a good friday.

sometimes i get discouraged because i'm not the most eloquent of writers. putting my thoughts and feelings into words often feels like pulling teeth. but then i'm reminded that God gave me another way to tell my story. instead of a pen, He gave me a camera; He gave me the gift of photography. He blessed me with the talent of capturing little moments and details that most people never notice.

 “if the sight of the blue skies fills you with joy, 

if a blade of grass springing up in the fields has power to move you, 

if the simple things in nature have a message you understand, 

rejoice, for your soul is alive.” 

[eleanora duse]

today is good friday. my heart is humbled, my soul is still. but here's the thing: with all that sorrow and quiet comes the hope of what will happen in three days. i know how this story ends. as Jesus declared, "tetelestai", so it was. all my sin, all my pain, all my brokenness and guilt and shame, all of it - paid. He endured the sin of the world, but the grave won't contain Him; death will lose.

 "but He was pierced for our rebellion, crushed for our sins.  

He was beaten so we could be whole.  

He was whipped so we could be healed." 

[isaiah 53:5]

'tis so sweet.

i bought a camera remote a couple weeks ago, and i finally found time to use it yesterday. obviously i was having fun, hence the last picture. i set up my tripod and turned on some tunes. i wasn't sure what to expect, but it had to be better than setting the timer and running in front of the camera, only to find the pictures blurry and out of focus. well, no more! that little clicker is pretty awesome.

behind those green eyes and underneath all that hair is a girl with a heart that longs for wisdom. i want to be a woman after God's own heart. keep my anchored in Your truth, Lord. may i love others like Christ did instead of looking down on them from my self-righteous high-horse. i want to be a servant to those around me, putting aside my wants and helping those in need. on the days when the darkness seems to lurk around every corner, You are the Light that guides me. when the sun is shining bright and nature sings of Your marvelous wonders, i sing right along with it. in the times where i fall, Lord, Your hand catches me and grace washes over me like crashing wave.

’tis so sweet to trust in Jesus,
and to take Him at His Word;
just to rest upon His promise,
just to know, “thus says the Lord!”

spring delights.

winter's grip loosens and

nature revels at the arrival

of spring and all it delights.

petals stretch out

revealing their scented core.

their colors as vibrant as

an oklahoma sunset.

birds sing a hopeful tune

and butterflies flourish

their Hand-painted wings.

daffodils cheer us with 

their welcomed arrival and 

fans cheer for march madness.

but the most delightful of delights,

the most glorious of transformations,

an empty tomb.

the peoples of the earth and 

nature itself rejoice,

for He is risen.

and death shall be no more.

only life

and hope 

and love.

* this is my first attempt at free verse poetry.

currently.

WATCHING //
the bible series. i've cried during every episode. 
friends. i'm almost finished with the series and i'm still like, "when are ross & rachel going to get back together?"
the walking dead. when daryl dixon cries, everyone cries. 

LISTENING //
hymn project, volume one - chelsea moon.
hello, my name is - matthew west.
wannabe - spice girls. [because sometimes you need a little spice in your life] 

PLANNING //
the fun activities that will commence three weeks from today! so far on the list: sleep. 

LOOKING FORWARD TO //
easter & april 15th.

THINKING ABOUT //
how i come to the feet of Jesus. so often, i put on this mask of having it all together, like i want Him to see the best parts of me. He doesn't ask for perfection or one who has it all together. He wants me as i am - raw, honest, and open. no mask, no facade, just me.

READING //
i started the first harry potter book. confession: i've never read the series before. [cue dramatic gasp]

MAKING ME HAPPY //
daylight savings. love the later sunsets.
watching duck dynasty with the fam. 
finding an unused pack of polaroid film.
celebrating the resurrection of my Savior.
spring flowers.
march madness talk with daddy.

blogging thoughts.

when i started this blog, i had so many ideas and hopes. i wanted to share my art with people who appreciate my love of nature. i wanted to expand my thoughts and learn from others. and if i'm being honest, there was a part of me that thought it would be cool if i became 'blog famous'. hello, pride.

that was a year and a half ago.

now i am uninspired. i sit down to write and delete the unpublished post thirty minutes later. when someone visits my blog, i want my words and art to inspire them and challenge them to see the beauty in their own life. but lately, all that comes out is blah. i just wrote that 'five things' post and already want to delete it because i feel it's stupid. why? i don't have an answer to that.

all i ever see anymore are giveaways & what-not-to-do posts from other bloggers and quite frankly, i'm over it. to each their own. i just want to write a blog that matters. i want to glorify my heavenly Father in my words and art and life lessons. i want to document the daily happenings of my life and have the memories when i need a reminder of all God has done for me.

this lack of inspiration could possible stem from the fact that i can see the end of tax season nearing and i just want it to be over. it could also be that jennifer's death anniversary is tomorrow and it's all i've been thinking about lately. but then again, it could be that maybe i just need to find some new inspiration. whatever the case may be, i know that God is in control. i learned a long time ago that doing life my way leads to destruction, but the Lord's plan leads to life.

cinco.

five things about me:

>> i have a tattoo. i got it during my rebellious phase when i was 20, young, and stupid. it's a four-leaf clover. i don't really notice it now, but when i do catch a glimpse of it, i'm reminded of how God's grace and love can transform a life. in that season of my life, i was running from Him, trying to find happiness in fleeting pleasures. but He never gave up on me and neither did my family. while most people might regret that tattoo, it serves as a reminder of how far God has brought me and gives me hope of where He will take me.

>> i am a huge sports nut. i am an avid sooner fan. sports has bonded my daddy and i from day one. we're often told that we are shy and quiet. i can almost hear my mama's eyes roll when someone says that, for she is the one who must listen to our passionate yelling at the tv on gamedays.

>> when i am shopping, whether it be for groceries or clothes or whatever, i never pick the first item. say i was buying shampoo: i'd move the first bottle and reach behind to the ones in the back. same goes for everything i buy.

>> i don't drink pop/soda. i quit a few years ago, and haven't regretted it.

>> i played the clarinet for six years, but then i quit band to join my high school's dance team.

i started blogging HERE now! make sure to follow along!

happy first day of spring!

it's no secret that i love spring. with its arrival comes blossoms and my heart can't contain itself. 

there are 338 pictures on my iphone right now and with the exception of about 15, they are all pictures of flowers. i have a problem, y'all.

happy first day of spring!

happenings from the weekend.

>> friday
i went on a motorcycle ride for the first time! the wind in my hair, the freedom, the open road - i loved it.
it marked one month left of tax season!!!! << yes, that constitutes four exclamation points.
the spring trees' blooms opened up, showing their magnificent beauty.
we left work early, and i went for a walk around the pasture only wearing a t-shirt & jeans. spring is awesome.
i got a (fake) tattoo.

>> saturday 
i tried frozen yogurt for the first time. i'm a fan.
i went shopping with mama and she stopped in a random parking lot so i could get a picture of the pretty trees.
i tried starbucks' new hazelnut macchiato . hello, yum.

>> sunday
mama stopped in a parking lot (again) so i could get a picture of two blooming trees.

 

'twas a great weekend.

came the spring.

"came the spring with all its splendor, 

all its birds and all its blossoms, 

all its flowers and leaves and grasses." 

{henry wadsworth longfellow}

© amber kanady photography

tidbits of life.

>> spring is showing it's presence everywhere i turn. my heart can hardly contain itself.

>> i've been rockin' the katniss braid for two weeks now.

>> daffodils randomly growing in the pasture.

>> this cat. she is such a hoot! it's so hard to believe that she is 14 years old. i say that like she's human, which she thinks she is.

>> i made iced coffee with coffee ice cubes. this will be a staple in my summer drinks.

>> my new wedge sneakers from target. when i first saw these, i was like ew. but then sydney wore them and i went from hater to
one of my favorite scenes in mean girls.

ps: with google reader shutting down, i have blog lovin', facebook, & hellocotton for those who want to start finding an alternative.

mood boards.

for as long as i can remember, i have been a hoarder of the little things: ticket stubs, pictures, cards, logo tags, stickers, cute packaging, bottle caps; you name it, i have it saved somewhere. i saw the idea for an inspiration/mood board on kendra's blog and realized i could display those little trinkets & mementos on mood boards. it's like an actual pinterest board in real life!

washi tape, walk in love sticker, cute envelope from an anthropologie gift, polaroid, 

penguin foam stickers,  twig arrows, cute valentine, root beer float bottle cap, more washi tape.

my favorite: the picture of my grandma gracie taped to a note she wrote: "a hug is a great gift: one size fits all. and it's easy to 'exchange'."

and that's all my iphone had to say about that.

linking up with alicia & kristi.