{quote}

‎"People create their own questions because they are afraid to look straight. All you have to do is look straight and see the road, and when you see it, don't sit looking at it - walk."

-Ayn Rand

The Twins.

The Paul children (that I see everyday of the week) are going to have a well-documented childhood at the rate I snap pictures. They are just too cute though! I recently blogged a newborn shoot I did of their twins and I was over there again and snapped these. They are growing SO fast! Both of them also love holding hands and grabbing each other - it's so sweet. I love watching these kiddos grow up!

Five years.

July 27th marked the fifth anniversary of my becoming ill (for those of you who don't know, I have been battling an unknown, Lupus-like disease). I didn't even remember it was "the day" until after the fact, which makes me happy. For the last five years, I have determined to keep my illness from defining who I was. It may have crushed my dreams as a musician, knocked me off my knees (quite literally) and prevented me from doing so many things I loved dearly, but it never bested me and I have been able to do plenty of normal things. Doctors said I'd never walk again, let alone run (and now I do half marathons and collegiate races). Doctors never thought I'd be able to travel easily, but I have. They weren't sure what psychological or neurological problems I'd suffer from, but God has been extremely gracious. It has been a long road and I know there will be many tough days ahead that may be filled with more doctors exams, needles and maybe even hospitals and that's okay. Back in the darkest, most miserable hours when I initially became ill, God gave me Isaiah 40:31,

...but they who wait for the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles; they shall run and not be weary; they shall walk and not faint.

He has faithfully kept that promise. And that's why I can say this illness has been the best thing that ever happened to me. I am extremely stubborn and independent, but this illness stripped me of everything and nearly brought me to my deathbed where I was literally begging God for mercy. And by asking for help, God has given me so much.

I know I will continue to suffer from the same things in the future, but I feel I've turned a corner and can confidently say,

This illness does not lead to death. It is for the glory of God, so that the Son of God may be glorified through it.

{sarajevo: the food}

Bosnians have amazing food. There's nothing exotic; no bugs, no chicken feet, no snakes. Sorry. But there is bread (hljeb), chicken sandwiches (pileci sandvic), fruit, cevapi (beef and lamb mixed together), bread, nutella, chicken salad (pileci salata), bread, fruit...you get the idea. Bosnians add their own touch to things like pileci salata and sandvic's...things like corn, local-made cheeses, interesting dressings and other things I don't know about (but ate anyways). Bosnian chef's also LOVE mayonnaise, and I do mean l.o.v.e. it. I usually had to wipe half of it just to eat the sandvic. So that's Bosnian food in a nutshell. There's more to it and there are definitely other dishes, I just don't remember names. I also feel that I MUST mention Bosnian coffee. It's very strong and I love it. American coffee just doesn't compare. They drink it all day, everyday and cafe's line the streets an alleys in Sarajevo. You can't escape the coffee, it will always find you.

Also worth noting: Sarajevo just welcomed its first McDonalds. I actually saw the location before they even constructed and I must say, it's so neat to see how it has changed (the last picture above is where the McD's is located now). Furthermore, it's exciting to see Bosnia progress; they are one of the last countries in Europe to get a McD's. Say what you want about capitalism, globalization and American imperialism, but this is huge for Bosnia, especially in the post-war era. A recent news report noted,

"We are becoming a part of western Europe, of a world from which we were cut off," local politician Aner Begic, 32, said as he munched on his meal.

"McDonald's is a symbol of the Western world and I'm thrilled that Bosnia is joining it," he said. Years of isolation brought on by Bosnia's inter-ethnic wars of the early 1990s are slowly easing. International brands are moving in and Bosnians can head out to most EU states since December without a visa, even if this still seems a far-off dream in an impoverished state with 43 percent unemployment."

You can keep reading here!

matt&rachel {wedding teaser}

Well, I completed my very first wedding. I didn't have a second shooter and I was working with limited equipment, but I was very pleased with the results. Congrats, Matt and Rachel! Thanks for everything and God bless you as you begin your lives together :)

{sarajevo: the people.}

the cities, the parks, the mountains, the rivers....all of that makes bosnia beautiful. but what i enjoyed most were the people. i enjoyed riding the tram (despite the sweltering heat and sheer number of people on it) because it felt like i got a snapshot of bosnia (and sarajevo, to be exact). and people's faces tell stories no matter where you are. some are serious, others happy, silly... still others looked mournful, sad and melancholy. i felt that even though sarajevo is rebuilding and appears to be "fine" (it IS a beautiful city, so rich in history), it's people told a slightly different story. you can patch mortar holes, paint over graffiti and rebuild things, but you can't remove the hurt and pain that has scarred people from centuries of war and conflict.

New, exciting things.

Lots of cool things are happening lately. I gonna try and update on everything and answer some questions about my trip.

• I'm shooting my first wedding (as in, I'm the head photographer) tomorrow. Up until this evening, I was freaking out (and I mean f.r.e.a.k.i.n.g). I'm not sure who was more stressed, the bride or myself. What if my images look horrid? What if I miss something? Will I look like a dork snapping away?! Thankfully I can make lists so I don't forget things. I know I can take good pictures. And I already look like a dork most of the time, so tomorrow won't be anything new. I also realized that I can't do this on my own...in order to survive the wedding tomorrow, I'm gonna need to rely on God. I'm going to try my hardest and leave the rest of Him. Also, it helps that the bride has an awesome wedding planner!
• I am going to start blogging my trip to Bosnia. The posts are going to be different then what I've ever done before. I'm looking to be more photojournalistic, so some photos will have pictures and words while others are simply pictures. I will intermittently be blogging them between other posts, so keep checking back.
• Since I'm already on the topic of Bosnia, a lot of people have been asking how I'm doing, what it feels like to be home, etc. And I just have to say, I freaking love America now that I'm back. But I'm also more aware. In Bosnia, I was very conscious of my Americaness (every time I walked past the US Embassy in Sarajevo, I almost always started humming the Star Spangled Banner and I'd talk freaky loud in English) and most people there seemed intrigued about this place I call home. America is awesome, but when I arrived back it was sometimes easy to become agitated and annoyed. Sure we're a rich, powerful nation that exudes much influence around the world and it's easy to become egotistical. As a Christian, I became convicted that my allegiance is to God first and foremost. So, I've become more aware.
• Lots of people have also asked about jet lag. Well, not everyone, but some and so why not talk about it. Everyone has a horror story about this kind of stuff, so I'm going to end on a slap-happy note. When I first arrived in Bosnia, I was extremely jet-lagged and oh-so upset. The six hour time change was kicking my rear and all I wanted to do was SLEEP (been up for almost thirty-four hours), but it was only the mid-afternoon and our team leaders had planned a forty-five minute hike to the top of a mountain to keep us awake. At that point, I thought traveling halfway across the world was the worst idea in the history books. We were falling asleep in chairs, the nearest beds...everywhere. In hindsight, the hike was a great idea because the lookout is where I first fell in love with traveling halfway across the world (and it also gave us this awesome photo where our jet lag was documented for all eternity). The moral of the story? Jet lag is horrible, but worth it. So get out there and see the world!

{zagreb cathedral; zagreb, croatia.}

love ya, bro.

today, i had to make a phone call that i've been dreading for a while now.

i never thought i'd experience this, but when my brothers joined the military i knew the day was coming.

but, it came faster than I thought.

i gripped the phone with my sweaty palms.

a knot formed in my throat.

"hey bro," i began.

we talk.

and then it's time.

i don't want to let go and hang up.

but i have to.

the bus is waiting.

an airplane is nearby, ready to take him across the ocean, to that sandy place.

it's dangerous.

suddenly, war becomes more serious. i thought i had accepted that fact.

but the talk becomes the walk now.

he's leaving.

[see you when you get back, bro!]

kathryn mitchell {2011 senior}

Paul Twins! {newborn shoot}

I've had many opportunities to shoot the Paul family (I photograph their kids so much, I have devoted an entire category to their family!) and I was excited when their newest additions arrived. Little Leah Irene and Nathan John were born on March 17th this year and they are absolutely adorable!