photography

I love photography. I get the greatest thrill from capturing life, saving those memories, and sometimes even getting that just seems to define someone all at once. Even better is when others get pleasure out of the images I take. I have some friends who have a made a business out of a similar passion. You might know them or have visited their blogs from my blog list. I have followed what they do loving every minute of it, a tiny bit of me jealous of their talent, gear and that fact that they went out and did it. I really never thought I'd do anything like that.

However, last week I had two inquires as to my photography. A company asked to use some of my sots from Georgetown on their website, and then inquired as to whether or not I'd shoot future events local to me and regionally for them! I was approaches yesterday by someone from our church who wondered if I'd be interested in shooting her wedding! After I nearly passed out I said I would and was clear that I'd never done a wedding before, I'm just an amateur, but I'd do my best! I'm still amazed that there is interest in my photos! They've been used for some of our churches material but now I'm being approached with major experience gaining and paying opportunities!

I'm pretty amazed, I am so very nervous, very great full and so stinking excited! There are no definite events for the business on the books at this time, but the wedding is at the end of March. I'm going to be majorly honing my skills and probably scheme to get better gear since I have really worked my camera and current lens lineup to it's extent.

I'd kinda like to continue this as a paying hobby, so I guess I need a business name. All forms of my name with photography or photos after it are taken as it my standby business name, Flutterby, so I need something new. ALL ideas and suggestions are welcome.

HTML

I edited the template HTML (I didn't realize I could until just a few moments ago) and now all of my pictures past and future fit fully in a post! No more weird cropping!

The pictures

I've already updated you as to the inner workings of me from this weekend, so here's what the service looked like.

L-R Stephanie, Ronnie, Ken, Brian, Matt, Dereck & Tanner


FOH guys Matt, Dereck & Tanner


Mark Bennet


Bass guy (I never get the bassists names I know, I know)


Mark on electric


Lonnie


Scott and Erin


and my abstract shot of the week:

6 weeks

Yesterday was the 6th Sunday our family has been involved in Georgetown. Each and every week has brought us an ever growing and deepening fulfillment as to our purpose in life. Each week we've grown closer and deeper connected to individuals and groups in Georgetown. We worry about, pray for, celebrate with, and carry the burdens of life with them, as they do us.

As each weekend come to a close on Sunday, Matt and I experience physical, mental and emotional exhaustion beyond what we can explain in words, but every bit of it is worth it. Every bit of it just leaves us hungry for more, leaves us with the desire to share and serve more, and to give more of ourselves.

Matt has a meeting on Wednesday with the person who is charged with deciding on the person our church hires to fill the technical director position. While I know it's not up to him completely, it's all God's plan, I am hoping the meeting turns in the direction of the job. I'm hoping there is word in it and that God softened his heart and opens his ears. I know where we are supposed to be, I know without a doubt that this is us, I heard it with my heart. I pray this man hears it too. If you are reading this would you pray for everyone too?

Last Weekend

I know these get posted later an later, but here it is anyway.

Sunday marked the start of the new series "Intertwined." New series, new set design. One of the dedicated volunteers took it upon himself to build some panels matt had designed. He acted like it was no big deal, but I beg to differ. Matt and I spent a good portion of last Saturday in a flurry painting the panels in between Matts creative team meeting and 5:30 church. The result was well worth all the effort as you'll see in the pictures below.

The service was the absolute best it's every been. It far exceeded the the one everyone said was great a few weekends ago. Everyones hard work, selfless attitudes and hearts really shine through and allow God to really use everyone. Here are the sounds

Come Together (The Beatles version, 'cause thats how we roll in G'town)
Mighty to Save
Come Together (Third Day's song)


Pre-stage


Mike leading worship


the whole band:


from the other side


David on electric


and bass guy ( again didn't get a musicans name)

Internal update

on me that is. I'm not even sure how I feel. I know I'm anxious and desperate to be out of my moms house, for matt to have a job and to have a normal life, as normal as life can be for us. However today I'm feeling rather calm. I know that could be turned on end at any moment, but still that is my B state at the moment.

I'm not sure what is up with the job at church. The person who makes the decision is taking their sweet time to do anything. I feel more and more called to be there each day though. I feel like someone needs to shake things up and really show them what it's like to be there for a broken person no strings attached. I feel like they need to know what a broken person can look like. Not the pretty little package they are used to. Being among broken people is where I'm most comfortable, most at use. It's the state of most people, someone needs to revolutionize the way brokeness is handled and seen there. I've never been one to challenge the system, but if I need to so be it I will. I will not let people be tossed aside or felt unwelcome because they aren't perfect. Matt and I had a conversation regarding this the other day in the car and I was very surprised to hear him say with conviction that he felt similarly convicted.

The little house we would like to rent is still availible. I walk past it everyday and it surprises me everyday. I don't know that it's for us, but it's a symbol of hope for me.

Matt had a job offer yesterday. We had to turn it down because it was for commision based on the profitablity of a job that won't close for some time. So Matt would work for free for some months before he'd see any paycheck. One of the 36 bounderies we agreed to was no more promise of pay jobs. He's worked to many, we have lost to much because of them. We also don't feel it's the place he's supposed to be long term and that was most deffinately a long term position to even get paid. However we still hold out hope they will come back with a indepentant pay by the hour contractor position. The money would be of great help right now.

Still not matter what, the only thing on the horizion is still the position at our church. I feel like a broken record, I feel like we look insane, but I also fee very right to wait. My prayer each day is to give us direction even if it means that position is no longer insight and each time I start to feel lost, some little thing happens that reinforces us waiting for this.

obligatory post about the weekend

Yes, I realize it's Wednesday and I'm just now writing about the weekend. It was however the best one yet, everyone said so, I take what everyone says as the truth.

We had the usual rushing out the door wayyyyyyy before the sun comes up, we got to G'town and unloaded and began setup. I installed the carabiners for the sails that I made, something I had originally suggested to Matt, but he's thought it would be too difficult. However with the stage crew on my side last week, we stage a mutiny and got our way. Or maybe it was more like one of the volunteers suggesting I go ahead with them and I just did it. Either way, they worked FANTASTIC and next week installing them will be a breeze. I even was cool enough to color code each carabiner with a grommet on the sails using a variety of colored electrical tape. It may or may not be in rainbow order.

I caught Eunice after the service and chatted for a brief minute. I tried to be helpful as to her wheelchair and asked her if she'd like me to make sure she had a designated spot in the front each week. She said she preferred the back because the music is so loud she already wears earplugs in the very back. I didn't tell her my husband is in charge of audio, I felt it was better to keep the friendship growing. I did mention it to matt though. Apparently they've discovered people aren't singing (so increasing the volume fills the room and hopefully disarms people). We assume it's because most of the congregation is completely unchurched, which is good as they are the target audience, but it makes somethings (like when the worship leader says stand and sing with us) difficult. As with everything it should improve with time. Hopefully then Eunice can dispose of her earplugs.

Onto the pictures:

GG "practicing announcements"


interactive message aids laid out:


the room filling up


Charlie Baker leading worship and apparently snacking on the mic:


Scot and his beautiful guitar:


Pat on electric:


Charlie Bisel on bass:


Alex on drums (why so blue alex?)


and Charlie and Rhonda singing:


I really love photographing this service if you can't tell. Even with no ability to edit the photos they come out pretty good. At least I like them. I wish blogger didn't cut the horizontally orientated photos off. As usual they and many more are uploaded to my flickr.