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3.1.12

weekly digs.


  • taylor swift's new video for the song, "ours". in my opinion, this is one of the best songs she has wrote thus far, with lyrics that ring so true that i think she's been reading my journal. "don't you worry your pretty little mind, people throw rocks at things that shine." "seems like there's always someone who disapproves. they'll judge it like they know about me and you. and the verdict comes from those with nothing else to do." see what i mean? genius. i also received her perfume, wonderstuck, as a gift. it smells so good! 

  • tara leigh cobble's new book, orange jumpsuit: letters to the God of freedom. i cannot put this book down. here's an excerpt: 

  •  my new study bible. it's the NLT version, which is one of my favorites. i started a daily bible plan to help me read through the bible in a year. i am so thankful that God provided us with a love letter to help and guide us through this life on earth. 



what are you digging this week?

1.1.12

life lately. {according to instagram}

instagram: joyfulamber

psalm 73:26.
 gorgeous oklahoma sunset.
 dandelions.
 fading flowers.
 bubba's truck. well, part of it anyway.
 sunset over the pond.
 dandy.
 fading flowers.
 still hints of fall lingering.
 boomer and bubba.
 vanilla iced coffee. essential.

twenty-twelve.

HAPPY NEW YEAR! there's something about a new year that gets me excited. the endless possibilities, the renewal and change, and goals. resolutions are made to be broken within the first thirty days, but goals -- those are made to be achieved. i set realistic goals to challenge myself. in the end, the Lord gets all the glory because it's by His strength alone that i am able to accomplish all i set out to do.

goals for 2012:

- read the bible cover to cover.
- continue working out 4-5 times a week.
- reach 150 followers on this little blog.
- memorize 2 bible verses per month.
- read 25 books.
- learn to shoot in manual mode.


what goals have you set for the new year?

31.12.11

NYE 2011.

2011 will be history soon. i wish you all a happy new year! this is how i'm spending NYE 2011:

 sober fun. :)
 mmm!
 best part: no hangover.
 tradition. card games with the fam.


mama's amazing homemade chocolate chip cookies.
 rice krispie treats.
 my last nature shots of 2011!












27.12.11

you are.

you are not your bra size, nor are you the width of your waist, nor are you the slenderness of your calves. you are not your hair color, your skin color, not are you a shade of lipstick. your shoe size is of no consequence. you are not defined by the amount of attention you get from males, females, or any combination thereof. you are not the number of sit-ups you can do, nor are you the number of calories in a day. you are not the hair on your legs. you are not a little red dress. you are no amalgam of these things.

you are the content of your character. you are the ambitions that drive you. you are the goals that you set. you are the things that you laugh at and the words you that you say. you are the thoughts you think and the things you wonder. you are beautiful and desirable not for the clique you attend, but for the spark of life within you that compels you to make your life a full and meaningful one. 

you are beautiful not for the shape of the vessel, but for the volume of the soul it carries.

life lately. {according to instagram}

{frost on the windshield}
 {pink}
 {new hunter boooooooots!}
 {remnants of fall}
 {sometimes ya just gotta blow bubbles at work}
 {best. snack. evah}
 {hot chocolate with marshmallows}
 {love this sight}

25.12.11

2011: a year in review.

you guys, i cannot believe that the new year is in less than a week. 2011 has been a great year filled with new experiences. lessons in learning to say no, being content in any situation, and letting go and giving it all to God. i feel i've gained confidence and character throughout the year. here is a review of 2011 in pictures.


[january] - snow greeted us at the beginning of the year. it was awesome. here's why: i'm a bookkeeper at my grandma's accounting office. that's right...tax season starts january 1st. the snow prevented us from going to work for a couple days. #ilovesnowdays






[february] - it snowed even more in february, which meant more days off. (woohoo!) how cute is our snowfan? february also brings with it the stupidest day of the year. if ya ask me, valentine's day should be changed to february 30th. #justsayin'.  but by far, this last february was the best ever. i remembered that my half-birthday was in february, so i casually mentioned it to my mama and g-ma. and by casually, i was playfully joking around. no serious intent or expectations. well, i show up to work, and my desk is covered in presents, cake, and flowers. it was so sweet. #ilovemyjob




[march] - after the snow melted, spring started showing its beautiful face! i love spring. if you haven't noticed, nature is my thang. i lovelovelove nature photography. it makes my soul happy.





[april] - april is a great month for many reasons. spring has come, the weather is warming, and flowers are starting to spring up everywhere. i bought a fancy-shmancy macro lens just in time to capture God's little surprises. springtime in oklahoma also means thunderstorms and thunderheads. #iloveoklahoma





[may] - the first weekend of may, i went camping with one of my dear friends, meagan. we went to robbers cave state park in southern oklahoma. we hiked, ate hotdogs, made s'mores, and had great conversation. i also went to the races with my bubba. on memorial day, my parents and i visited the cemeteries where our loved one are buried.





[june] - i spent my days in june trying to stay cool. instead of a nice spring after the long winter, we went from cool to hot in a heartbeat. VBS was a blast, like always. and of course, i found more flowers to capture.





[july] - july was HOT. 100+ degree heat almost everyday. mama's birthday is the 4th, and since we were in a burn ban, we ate cake and okra, and watched the few fireworks the city shot off. sunflowers started peaking their way through the dry ground.






[august] - the best month evah. i'm biased, of course, because it's my birthday month. august was even hotter. this summer, we broke the record for 100+ degree days. there were a few sunflowers that survived the scorching oklahoma heat.




[september] - this month went by fast. more heat, but it was starting to cool down. and yes, more nature shots.




[october] - won't forget this month for a long time. my grandma had her heart attack this month. it was insane and eye-opening. i did go to the races again with my brother earlier in the month. i made some cute diy pumpkins.





[november] - the weather started cooling down. leaves falling off the trees. and we put up the cutest inflatables after thanksgiving.




[december] - the most wonderful time of the year! Christmas, hot chocolate, family, lights. i love it all.