#iwannabeaphotographer

Today, I did something really impulsive - I ordered a photography book for beginners, the kind that is supposed to introduce you to the art and hopefully teach you how to take a relatively decent picture. This is impulsive for several reasons:
1) I've always been semi-against taking pictures. I really like the idea of photography, but I've always felt that I don't want to spend too much time behind the lens of a camera and miss living-in-the-moment. In reality, I think this is just an excuse. I'm most likely against pictures because I'm too lazy to ever pull out my camera and because three-year-olds take better pictures than me.
2) I didn't even try to find another item on Amazon to help me qualify for free shipping. I only needed ten more dollars! Only after I finalized the order did I remember a hundred other things that I could have added on. Typical.

For some reason, I'm really excited about the idea of getting this book and fooling around with my old camera. Over the past months, I've had this burning desire to create, whether it be making music or writing or simple crafts from Pinterest. There is an immeasurable joy from creating something from nothing, from being able to attach your name to something that has the potential to inspire and bring joy to others, from being able to let the Holy Spirit flow freely through you to create something that points to Truth and Life. The more I create, the stronger the desire grows. I spend all of my time daydreaming about exploring the city and taking pictures, painting a landscape that's worth hanging up or cooking food that is so rich and wonderful that my friends are always hoping for a dinner invitation. I want so badly to create something that will allow others to see and know Jesus in ways that words often fail to express.

I'm not sure if I'll be good at photography, or if I'll even like it. It excites me, though, that I'm one step closer to hopefully finding something that I'm passionate about and can use to further God's kingdom. I don't think everyone will find a passion in the category of what is classically considered "art" (let's be honest, I probably won't!), but I think it's imperative that everyone creates. Our Father in Heaven is the most beautiful and wonderful Creator ever imaginable, so it only makes sense that we, as image-bearing creatures, would create too! Creation can come in so many forms, from building a spreadsheet to painting a picture to making a grocery list for the week. We are all creators, and I pray that we would use our gifts to create in ways that allow the Lord to do amazing things through us, creation that points to the Ultimate Creator. Amen.

'Tis the Season

As all of you know, the Christmas season is well upon us! We are more than three weeks into advent - the day of our Savior's birth in less than two weeks! How exciting :) With the season, however much we try to avoid the materialistic side of Christmas, comes gift giving - giving and receiving gifts, a part of Christmas I have always loved and cherished. There is nothing like picking out a special gift for your loved ones and watching their surprise and joy as they open it! Ever since I started working during the summers a few years ago, I started spending more on gifts for people - after all, why work if I can't buy things for the ones I love? Lately, though, I've really been questioning this.

I don't think giving gifts in itself is wrong! (just clarifying) I feel that giving gifts is just another way to show love to others. But let's think this one through... when you receive a gift from someone, do you feel less loved when they spend $50 on you instead of $10? Would you rather have a general, expensive gift or something less expensive and more personalized? I love personal gifts, but I've always gone for the extreme end, setting myself a price limit and then trying to go as close as I could to that limit, just because I can! I would always say that my friends and family deserve my money! I believe that they do, but will they actually notice if you spend $15 instead of the $20 limit? Not because you're trying to be cheap, but because the perfect gift for them was $20! Money isn't everything. Maybe this holiday season, we should focus on buying reasonable and thoughtful gifts - gifts that people will remember and appreciate, not for their monetary value but because it made them feel loved and special :)

Lo siento for rambling, but my thoughts on gifts have just really been flowing lately! Another thing that's been on my mind is what a great opportunity gift-giving is. There are so many awesome fair trade products, products that help save the environment, etc! The holidays are a great time to buy someone a beautiful gift that helps make them and others aware of social justice issues around the world, or even gifts that just spread the Gospel :) I was looking through the Not For Sale Store earlier, and found this t-shirt that I absolutely love and would LOVE to get for someone for a Christmas or a birthday:
 Love love love it. Honestly, what a great gift (maybe this is a gift for someone who is more passionate about ending Human Trafficking already, but they have a lot of other products on their website that aren't quite this loud!).

That was fun to post those pictures! Maybe I'll make a post in the near future about top Christmas gifts for a socially aware consumer. Look for that in the near future! :)

So, in short, my conclusion about gifts this year: spending less is more, and buying gifts that bring God's Kingdom to earth is the BEST!

And now, for my daily picture...

My love - just taking a snooze. Lazy day after my today's finals were done :)