Joy to Your World

I've been struggling this fall with a lingering viurs. I found myself whining the other day, and God brought to mind how small my trials are compared with what He has allowed others to endure. Here are three families I love and intensely admire for their strength, endurance, and joy in the midst of it all.

Scott Sessions was our paster for several years. We loved him and his family and when my husband died, Scott was there to help me cope and get some firm ground underneath me. Last year Scott was diagnosed with ALS, often called Lou Gehrig's disease. Unless God provides a miracle (oh please do!) Scott is going to die young. His courage and perspective, and his wife Julie's grace, have been a light for Whatcom County this past year.

Jennifer and Craig have a six-year-old boy with more than 18 serious illnesses. Dominic was born 16 weeks premature. Taking care of this precious boy is more than a full time job for them - it's a life-long, every day, every night commitment. Their steadfast love and willingness to devote themselves to their family in a way most of could never imagine is an inspiration and admonition to me. What is really important in this short life? I think loving those God has given us with the same kind of love He has lavished on us.

Finally, my dear friends Sam and Brie Russell found their lives in a spin cycle this year. Sam, whom I've known and loved since he was 2, was riding his bike at his workplace for Trek Bicycles when he hit a jump too fast and crashed head-first into a tree. Sam is paralyzed from the waist down. They have three daughters under the age of 6. Sam pushes himself so hard he is already hop-walking with braces and has ridden an arm-peddled bike! Brie is so focused on finding joy in their trials that reading her blog makes you think she is superwoman in disguise as a mom and wife. They've been in and out of ER so many times, yet Brie says they are glad for the cable TV time!

May we all find joy this Christmas in our family, our friends, our lives, our loves, in sunshine or rain, in good health and in trials. God's blessings pour upon you this Christmas and New Year. Karen

p.s. the photos picture Scott with his daughter, Jody; Jennifer and Craig with their kids; Sam and Brie with their kids and Sam's folks, and me with Nancy Russell, Sam's mom. If you want to read Brie's blog, contact me and I'll give you the details.

Christmas Card Keepers

This year we are offering Christmas cards for the first time! They are exceedingly cool and worth keeping.
By way of Merry Christmas (a bit early, but I want you all to know about this!) I am posting here our combination Christmas card/ad. Have a fabulous holiday season, hopefully with those you love and cherish.
Karen

My Sabbath

Tonight I left my home full of stress and confusion. I've had a difficult fall season - business is great, but I cannot keep up with my normal speed of delivery. For the future, I will adopt the motto that art takes time, and give myself and my clients plenty of waiting room for their portraits.

So back to tonight... my studio is almost finished, my yard and home are in mayhem, and my family is coping. This evening I noticed someone in the front yard and found my friend Jody with her son and a friend raking my front lawn! A great rage of conflict stormed my mind. How wonderful, how amazing, how embarrassing that I need help, how lovely of God to meet my needs through this friend, how come I can't do this on my own? And as I tried to join in and help she put her arms around me and told me to go back to work – inside, on the computer. Tears escaped my eyelids - a rare sight from me, the "strong one." My little son Leo and his friend helped bag the leaves, while inside, I made doctors beautiful. I left an hour later, frazzled and fatigued, for a Healing Network leadership meeting at church. I don't do much volunteering anymore except for leading a support group for grief recovery. At the meeting I couldn't muster enough strength to share a prayer request. Then the lesson began... the importance of taking a Sabbath. And I listened and saw myself, a recent Sabbath truant, on account of work and the studio. No wonder I am so tired.

So join me in taking a Sabbath - maybe on Sunday, maybe just a lunch time away from the desk, strolling down a quiet path. Give yourself time for rest and refreshment. And listen to God. He sometimes speaks in a whisper.

These photos are from a Healing Network retreat last spring. We took an hour Sabbath, and I used my time for a photo Sabbath - away from work, and into creation. Enjoy.

Ages and Stages

One of the many fun things about my job is getting to know people over a period of time. Three and a half years ago I photographed Cheryl, a senior at Lynden Christian. She was awesome - focused, smart, and a blast to photograph. Last spring I had the privilege of photographing her wedding. She is still as focused as ever, heading for a degree in law. Her new husband knows what a treasure he holds. You can see it in his eyes. Congratulations Cheryl & Andrew!

Blog again, Blog again, jiggety jog

I am finally back – after many months of craziness!
In the meantime we have been converting our garage into a studio. We hope it will be done in a few weeks. We really, really hope! We've been living in severely cramped quarters while studio supplies pile up.
On the brighter side, we've had a great time photographing many lovely people. I'm going to highlight some of them in the coming weeks.
Thanks for your patience!
Karen

Budapest Report, part one

We are home after rendezvousing with my daugter Laine in Uzbekistan. The trip brought together that which I love most: my family and travel. Okay, I also love God, but He is always with me!
I have trimmed down my 500 + photos to a few favorites. I'll add more in another post.