reasons to smile.

i am in Winchester for the day, and i thought i would make my weekly visit to Panera.

a guy that looked exactly like Jamie from To Write Love On Her Arms ( www.twloha.com ) just walked in to pick up a smoothie - i literally sat here staring with my mouth wide open. haha. that was crazy..

there is a man to my left with a broken left arm. someone asked if he was "the photographer", but he said no -  he was "the conductor" :). he explained to the table that his left arm is his conducting arm and that the orchestra has just recently finished a show. i'm still not quite sure how it got broken. a man from across the room came to introduce himself and prayed for a moment with the conductor. that made me smile - i felt like i was at home for a minute.

the conductor's wife looks terribly familiar, but i have no idea how i would know her..

there is also a lady with a hat on to cover her head with no hair. the hat is pink, as is most of her outfit. she makes me smile, too.

there are times that i wish i were home so badly. i do not feel alone here, but i feel that there are a lot of opportunities i am missing out on at home. not that God hasn't thrown about a million opportunities to me while i'm here.. i realize that you can't depend too much on people here, but you CAN try to make a difference.

i feel like i have a lot on my plate right now. i have an entire wedding to edit, work 5 days a week, an album that is long overdue, and a possibly broken air conditioner :(

i think it will waste my time to dwell on the bad stuff, so i will just have to work (and pray) really hard to get these thing done/fixed.

before i forget, i take a back road all the way to Winchester, which is conveniently named Back Creek Road. there is a monastery on the road, and i often see monks when i'm driving. they wear large orange robes and some have walking sticks. if i didn't know where they were coming from, i'm sure i would have freaked the first time i saw them. it's not quite what i would have pictured to find in the mountains and hidden roads of West Virginia. they always smile and wave. i saw a lady and a little bit farther down the road i saw a very dark tan man. i cannot place where exactly (in the world) he is from, but i am dying for a picture of him. he walks with a huge stick and places his arm out when i pass as a wave. i wonder if that is weird to ask for a picture..? hmm, we'll see.

in recent new:

- the Kenners are coming to Capon on Sunday!! finally - familiar faces. and it means that my family will be here the week after the Kenner family gets here. oh happy day. i will have a couple days off to chill with the family and spend time with friends again. i'm excited :)

- also, The Dark Knight was one of the best movies i have seen in about 5 years. good lighting, good actors, good EVERYTHING. i think Batman might be my new favorite superhero..

well, i think i will head to Petsmart at some point today. last time i was in there, a lot of people brought in their German Shepherds for some little class or meeting. i love seeing the little dog stuff. i am hopefully getting a Westie when i head back to Savannah. a Siberian Husky is my dream, but i can't imagine inflicting southern heat on that poor snow dog.

trips.

i got a navigation system today :)

gosh, i know that makes me incredibly nerdy...but have you ever ridden with me? yikes.

Luke let me borrow his for one day and i was sold..

it felt good to be back in Georgia for a couple days and sit down for a good sermon at my brother's church. my favorite part was their worship...i haven't had that in a month or so (unless you count me singing Shane & Shane very loud on my weekly trips to Winchester).

i have also missed family hugs, so i was very anxious to receive them!

Liz and Andrew's wedding was gorgeous. everyone seemed very laid back and so happy to be there. i was very thankful to have been asked to shoot the wedding, and even more happy that my brother and sis-in-law were helping, too! my lovely friend, Erin, helped me shoot the wedding and it was wonderful to have her.

tiffany & co

with this ring..

they couldn't see each other before the cermony

Mr. and Mrs. Poth :)

i had the opportunity to visit my grandmother (and her new husband) on the way back up from GA. it was so good to see her...i missed her southern drawl and the way she lights up at simple things. she's pretty wonderful.

my family will be here 3 weeks from today! my other family will get here a little earlier, and i can't wait for familiar faces...the entire week of August 3-9 will probably be my best out of the summer.

i am still feeling a little awkward here at times. God has helped me figure out a lot of things about myself and i am feeling a lot more confident. confident about the future, and just with who i am. i have a lot of growing to do, but i have noticed that stepping out of your comfort zone will do that to you..