From the glass alabaster she poured out the depth of her soul. O foot of Christ would you wait if her harlotry's known? Falls a tear to darken the dirt of humblest offerings to forgive the hurt. She is strong enough to stand in your love I can hear her say....
I'm weak
I'm poor
I'm broken, Lord
But I'm Your's
Lyrics from Jennifer Knapp Hold Me Now
I took this photo last Sunday on my way home from church. The lyrics above came to mind when I took it and the vision of Mary at Jesus' feet offering all she had -herself was running on replay through my mind.
I was compelled to stop by the river on my way. The way the sunlight was reflecting off of the water made it look as if there were a thousand diamonds floating adrift across the water's surface, flowing to the edge and lapping up against what appeared to be a sandy shoreline. Of course nothing is ever as it appears. The closer I got to the water's edge the more the shoreline revealed her true nature to me. She wasn't sandy but muddy, littered with impurities and imperfections. Garbage and trash had been left behind by those who can't and won't see her for what she's really worth. The rocky, filthy, messy, terrain was difficult to maneuver but where the water's edge met my feet there I saw thousands of tiny shells rich in color with purples and browns. They were deeply filled with earth and texture as if waiting to be unveiled by someone.
I went down to the shoreline because I was drawn by the light. I wanted to capture it's beauty, to store it in my heart. Instead I found something more beautiful- the simple concept of reciprocity. The diamond filled water consistently and continually washes over her banks eroding anything of death and replacing it by bringing forth new life. Yes, she has crevices and cracks but that's part of what shape's her edge. I am filled with compassion for the shoreline for she is faithful and steadfast. She serves those who do not serve her because that is who she is and a mark of Whose she is and in that I see her true beauty. I walked away from the shoreline's edge thinking about the concept of reciprocity. For some who are faint in heart, it is foreign, difficult and much easier to ignore than to be challenged by it, but for other's it is recognized as the natural ebb and flow of life. We are given beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for the spirit of heaviness freely and without expectation, so that in return we can help and serve others. I know I've dropped the ball quite a few times and there are no excuses for it. It's time to rid myself of things past and press on to a good future but I have to be willing to have servant's heart just as the shoreline does.

Revelation and a Sunday

Ok, so I have this album on the FB documenting (if you will) my experience out here in Cbus and it has done it's job but as of late I have this sudden urge to write more about my experience as well as take photos. So I am hoping I'll be writing on here much more... We'll see about that. Anyway over the last few months I have been inspired. Inspired by a man who sees everyday things as an opportunity to capture with his camera. Prior to hangin with Trev, everyday things bored me. I was only interested in capturing beautiful women with my "big professional camera" at sunset with lots of photoshop. Most of my shoots would take days or even weeks to plan and coordinating schedules and clothing was never a picnic. The shoots themselves are rewarding and women are most definitely my favorite subject to shoot but it can be exhausting and time consuming. Needless to say I was rigid in my thought process as to what I thought a photographer should be for myself. When I first started hanging out with Trevor it seemed to be overwhelming always having a camera but I was only thinking in terms of my 5D. It's big and bulky and can be burdensome especially with the stupid long lens I have on it to just bring casually anywhere. After studying Trevor and his habits of photography I have now come to the conclusion that it's not about the equipment that you use that makes you a great photographer but what you do with what you got that makes you a great photographer. I remember Tony D. talking about this in one of his lectures at Hallmark but it's only now that I get it. Since Trevor revealed this truth to me unknowingly by being who he is I have not been able to stop taking pictures. I have my "creative juice" back and I can't help but to take a dang picture at any moment in time. I use my iphone and some apps to create the images I take. Right now in my life the iphone is perfect since I am always on the go and working what seems like 25 gajillion jobs. I still plan shoots with clients and friends but I'm not held to traditional shoots anymore. So a shout out to Trevor- thanks for freeing me from the limits I had set on myself by just being you!

So to get on with it today was a great day... A perfect sunday if you will, filled with God, friends, fellowship, rich conversation, laughter, work (always work), and some quiet reflection. Below is my day in a nutshell. enjoy :)


This was on my way home from church... just had to stop!!



These women are some of the best most intriguing women you'll ever find on the face of the Earth. They are some of my White House Black Market ladies and I LOVE them!! :)





These girls are some of my very best friends for life!! We have such a tight friendship and there seriously isn't anything I wouldn't do for anyone of them!!

I hope you all have a great week. write soon! Jess

Think Of It As A Process

Have you ever been so busy that it seems like you "wake up" a few months later to look around at your life and wonder how you ever got there? Well that's me today, this week, this month. The season of Autumn is a time of reflection for me and I find myself in that place. It happens naturally every year as if God orchestrates circumstances to put me in this position to sit quietly and reflect on Him and the beauty He has bestowed upon me in my life. I moved to Columbus Ohio in January of last year for change, association, a bad break up (let's be honest here), opportunity, new experiences and many reasons more. The journey of the past ten months has been a lot of take one step forward and sometimes 5 million steps backward but nonetheless my journey and a process. I have been at times (more so than not) just plain old frustrated because my life isn't where I think it should be (being a genuine choleric frustration comes natural especially when you don't see results in the physical realm.) But that's just it- it's not about what's physically going on around us at this moment in time, it's about who we are and who we become during the process. I've found today while waking in my white princess bed, listening to Joyce Meyer, and drinking my cream with coffee that it's ok to be in the process.
This journey I have embarked on is one of faith, belief, heartache, loneliness, and beauty. When it's just you and God you get to know yourself and God really well. And what I've found is that He is there at every moment. He knows every thought, every doubt, every fear, every dream and every hope we have. I have also found that I am not the same timid insecure girl who left Vermont broken. I have come to know and I mean really know that I am worth far more than rubies. (proverbs 31) And therefore I live expectantly for great things to happen. By no means have I arrived I'm just thankful that I'm not where I use to be. I know I have much more growing to do and I am excited about that. Growing is difficult, lonely, and uncomfortable but most of all it's beautiful. God is good and sometimes He pulls the props out from under us so that He has our undivided attention. I am learning to not resent the moments of loneliness and heartache because in every adversity there is a seed of equal or greater benefit. The scriptures say it well. "don't despise the days of small beginnings." It's our training ground for the future. Much love to you all this Saturday afternoon! xoxo Jess