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Good to be back!! Sorry about the long delay in posting 🙂 Been super busy with a trip to Montana, editing, school, and the like. 🙂

So anyway, while I was in Montana I got to do Dave and Julie (Beiler)’s wedding pictures. Another amazing couple, I have been so blessed with both of their testimonies. I shot there wedding in Colorado and then from there my family went to Montana. And yes, it is official, we are moving. Probably the end of July. As of now I am contemplating staying behind for another 8 weeks after that, to help my sister with her newborn and to shoot a wedding in October.  But I am very excited to move to Montana :).

Another exciting thing in my life is I’m GRADUATING! No more books! No more stress!! I am so excited! I am so ready to be done with school, but I’m so glad i went through 12th grade.  I’m just also very happy to be finished for the rest of my life. :). Just sayin.

Also very excited about my sister having her baby in June!! They are having a boy and I am sooo thrilled! Which makes it all the harder to leave them behind. But we are just trusting God for all the details and grace for the move.

I feel total peace with moving out and am so ready to go! I love it out there and not to mention I have friends and family out there. Coming back east i just feel sticky and overwhelmed by people. Ah. Call me a hick.

If you think about it just pray for us that we would listen for God’s voice in all situations and that He would have His way in everything that happens. Also pray that He would work out all the details and that the moving would go smoothly.

I have been thinking lately about a true relationship with Jesus Christ. Wow. This life is not supposed to be “life” or “the christian life”. It shouldn’t even be termed as a ‘way of life’. It IS life!! I have been discovering more and more how little this life is without God. How useless. How unimportant. And how fleshly I am. How often I’ve failed to miss the mark simply because I trust in myself and grow lukewarm. Oh but then I am brought back by His marvelous love and mercy. I am just so humbled by his patience. I was listening to a message by Paul Washer with my mom and dad and sister on the way back from Montana. Wow. It was on the love of God and exactly what i needed at that time.

Instead of being so concerned about what I can do for God or how often I fail or how often I don’t fail, am I more concerned about being in God’s presence? Am I more concerned about seeking his face, getting to know him, than I am with “keeping up” spiritually with the rest of my fellow believers? Not as much I should. But God has been so faithful in speaking to my heart. No matter what, I KNOW that I can trust Him with my heart. AAAHHH! God’s love is BEYOND faithful. He is BEYOND good. Oh to have more of a revelation of His love, and my own selfishness.

All I want is to know Him more. Not necessarily to be considered ‘spiritual’ or ‘up there’. But just to know him. Just to be in His presence and hear his voice. To commune with Him. I’ve been hearing so many good messages lately. A song that was brought out it “To come into the presence of the Living God, is to be changed. You cannot come into His high and holy place, and stay the same”. This is my prayer.

I am so glad I don’t have to come to a place where God can help me. It is because I am where I am that God can help me. God didn’t come for those who are perfect but for those who need a savior. I am just continually blessed with even just thinking about Him!! Even though I am not where I want to be spiritually, even though I don’t ‘feel’ holy all the time, I can still come back to the fact that “if my heart condemns me, God is greater than my heart, and knoweth all things.” 1 John 3:20. He is greater than I am. My sins are not greater than His blood.

So anyway. Here are my ramblings. If you can make sense of them, fine. If not..well I understand :). Sometimes I can’t make sense of them myself. Have a blessed week!!

Priscilla

May 25, 2011 | Categories: Life | 1 Comment

Life and stuff like that…

Hello world…
Right now I’m sitting at the orthodontist office after my invisalign checkup..so I thought I wld take the opportunity to post a few lines..
So lately I’ve been very occupied with CS3..and when I say occupied..well I mean stressed:)..but thanks to some dear photographers/designers a lot of my questions have been answered 🙂 I have been watching Julian Kost tutorials,which have helped me a great deal! This week I have been learning a great deal about smart objects, masking, creating actions..:) so ya, its been getting much much better..
As far as photography goes, I’m looking forward to my friends wedding in April!! She is a photographer herself and so it will be so fun exchanging ideas!! Another great idea she had is doing bridal party and bride and groom shots the day before the wedding!! This is a very good plan, because that way on the day of the actual wedding, the bride can focus more on the day and not worrying about pictures in the morning..not to mention how convenient it is for me as her photographer!!
  So lately as far as real life :)..I have been keeping busy with Church, friends, finishing school, piano, culinary arts (don’t ask)…and basically just the norm..
   Ive been learning a lot about prayer and pursuing a relationship with Jesus Christ. It’s so encouraging to know that Jesus cares about me. You know? It says in God’s word that Jesus doesn’t call us servants but He calls us friends..and also that He is a friend that is closer than a brother..isn’t that so amazing? He knows all my innermost thoughts and passions. He knows (and understands) all the struggles I face.
   Spiritual warfare is very real in this present day whether we want to realize it or not. Sure, in present day America we might not see demons being cast out and things like that, but it doesn’t mean there not there. Satan will work in any way that he can, and he knows exactly how to weasel his way into our lives. So in America, he knows that being a deceiver, coming in so many different forms, will be very effective. But the verse has had been keeping me is Romans 8:38-39. Nothing, even the strongest powers in hell, cannot separate me from the love of God. Even though Satan is very powerful, God is all the more powerful! Praise God.
   In the past, and even now, its been hard for me to accept forgiveness through the blood of Christ. Even without realizing it. I might think its humble to make myself do penance for something that happened yesterday even though I asked Jesus’ forgiveness. When in reality its just the opposite. It’s like spitting on Jesus and telling Him His love, His blood is not good enough to wash me. I am believing the lies of Satan that are telling me that somehow I’m not good enough to be forgiven. No I’m not, but the longer I spend in the false belief that I’m not forgiven, the more ground Satan is gaining. Jesus came for the sinners. Not for the people that would just sin every few weeks. But the people that are fallen. The people who come short of the Glory of God. People like me.
  But, let us not sin that grace may abound. This is not an excuse to go sin and fall into temptation because God will forgive us every time. No. I must take responsibility for my actions, by the grace of God. And I must humble myself and realize that Jesus wants to forgive me if I come to Him with a repentant heart. I might not be making sense, but this is kind of what I’ve been feeling lately.
   Another aspect that God is really impressing on my heart is the power of prayer. Standing in the gap for someone. Being sensitive to the burdens that the Holy Spirit wants to put on me. Being honest in prayer. Having FAITH. I was just so encouraged by the youth service we had on Sunday by Dale Shmucker on prayer. It really encouraged me to believe for salvation for some people I’ve been praying for that are very dear to my heart. God is looking for people who will BELIEVE! For people who want to know His heart for His people. Oh my prayer is that God would use me in spite of me! That He would give me a vision for this generation and give me the grace and power to pray through!
  I’m reminded again and again of how utterly human I am. Everything about me needs to be changed..sometimes looking at myself and how many flaws I have is almost so overwhelming. But its then I’m reminded to keep my eyes on the beauty of Jesus Christ and trust Him to work in my life :). And once again I’m encouraged.
   God is so good. His perfect love is so much better than anything I could ever imagine. Even at our best (in ourselves) we are wickedness compared to Him. It’s like that verse in the Bible about that even in His weakness (if He had any) compared to us He is so so much more holy. Praise God that His love runs so much deeper than my own.
  Anyway I’m still here at the dentist waiting on my sister and her husband.:) but I’m glad I got a chance to blog. It’s been good to reflect and kind of look back on what has actually been running through my head. These next weeks I am just looking forward to getting to know my Savior better!
God bless!
Priscilla

February 2, 2011 | Categories: Life | Leave a comment

Influences, inspirations, and mentors..

I was just thinking today that I need to get into this bloggin thing more!! 🙂 I really enjoy it as a part of my photography..and I also am thinking about maybe adding a few tutorials on PSE7…but that’s maybe, and right now, it’s pretty much only by request. I feel like maybe I should be a lil more established and branch out my business more before I feel like i’ve earned the right to post tutorials :p. Anyway, today I just wanted to post a little bit about who my inspirations are and why.

My first and foremost inspiration would definitely be my parents. They have supported me in every way possible, and got me my first point and shoot camera :). Which is where everything began..I think that was back when I was 11 or 12…They have always encouraged me and believed in me when I haven’t believed in myself. I love them very much!

As far as photographers go, my first and most influential inspiration was definitely Alyssa Ann, and you can find her personal blog here, and her business blog, here. She is the mother of 7 beautiful children and has always encouraged me to be myself in everthing I do. She has always challenged me to not go with the flow of other photographers and other styles, but to develop my own style and way of capturing memories. She has also inspired me to capture the true heart of an image, and to record the little moments.

Another influence is Jasmine Star with Jasmine Star photography. You can find her here. I love her work and the cleanness of her photographs. Her blog is hilarious and a reflection of who she is and what she believes in. Her blog and photography have inspired me to express myself through my work and blog, and to be creative with my photographs. She has challenged me to be who I am and overcome some of my fears that go along with photography :).

Another inspiration is Char with Authentic You Photography. I love the story her images tell and how dedicated she is to her work. She was kind enough to answer a few questions I had about lenses 🙂 A true sweetheart. I love her creativity and it has challenged me to think out side the box and come up with new poses and ideas.

Marty (Beiler) Miller has been such a huge encouragement to me with photography!! She is an amazing photographer herself and she is always inspiring me to head towards my goals. Whenever I’m stressed about an upcoming wedding she’s always been there to reassure me 🙂 I love her so much and she’s been one of my best friends for the past few years!

Regina Peachy is one of my friends who has encouraged me with photography, and has helped me get started. I called her a lot in the beginning with questions 🙂 She was always willing to help, and still is. She also is kind enough to refer me to some of her clients when she is busy. She also let me borrow equipment for a wedding i was shooting in MT, and was so nice about it!! She is truly a sweet woman 🙂

Rita Troyer with Rita Troyer Photography has been one of my dear friends, as we kind of got started with photography at the same time. We often called eachother in the beginning and were totally spazzing out over our newest PSE challenge and computer issues :p. She has been there to encourage me and she is an awesome shooting buddy! Her work is amazing and she has done a wonderful job establishing her business 🙂

So anyway..that about sums it up. 🙂 Have a great week and God bless!

Priscilla

January 17, 2011 | Categories: Life | 1 Comment