2010 at a glance.

Let's recap this year...

In December, I had my very first white Christmas.

In November, I made friends with some lionesses.

In October, I hiked up a mountain with some of the coolest people in the world.

In September, I had a frosting fight with Amy.

In August, I discovered the importance of sunshine in one's life.

In July, I was challenged like never before.

In June, I received my driver's license...and drove to the museum.

In May, I watched my dear friends graduate.

In April, I purchased Asher (My beloved camera)

In March, I had tea in the freezing woods with Jamie.

In February, I turned 17.

And in January, I received the best present in the world-a harp.


Happy new years. May this year bring too many blessings to count.
Mary Em

Friends like this are hard to come by

I mean for real...friends like Bethany...

Take pictures of the photographer for them.


Wear plaid on a regular basis.

Pose in front of worn down buildings.


Look like an accomplished pianist.


Swing on swings that are too small.


Goof off on a playground in full view of the public.



I basically love this girl.
Mary Em

More stop motionness.

A video from a shoot from early December.
Lump Sum- Bon Iver

Mary Em

The tale of a lovely cardinal

Kate was a blast to shoot. What a good sport! It was definitely around 30 degrees out today.
Styling etc-Me
Modeling- Katherine Gaither

Mary Em

Stop Motion Yo

This is my first one ever, so be understanding.




From the Autumn.
Cara and I had fun.

Mary Em

Song: Fidelity by Regina Spektor

A little Christmas Thought.

This whole Christmas season has been a strange one.
I was always rushed, always busy, and always more excited then productive.
Some of that was growing up and most of that was poor time management.
Last night, Christmas began for me. The candles flickered in my church as the people (who I love and knew) all around me sang of the Silent and Holy night that Christ was born. "Merry Christmas!" was proclaimed more than once on the way out of my pretty church. Then my sister, dad, mom, and I piled into the car and drove around to look at lights. "White Christmas" finished off the night. As Bing, Danny, Rosemary, and Vera sang the last verse, tears literally came to my eyes.
I love Christmas. I didn't appreciate it before. But I really love it.
Before I slept, I silently prayed for snow, half hoping, half believing.
This morning, my dreams were fulfilled...I had my first white Christmas.
Family came, presents were unwrapped, food was consumed, jokes were made, and smiles were prevalent. I received all of Sufjan's Christmas music as a gift this year (so exciting!) and I am about to go listen to all the albums while playing games with my sister.

What's my point? I have none really. Just enjoy what Sufjan calls the "Creepy Christmas Feeling". It's nice. I received all the best gifts for Christmas-Family all around me, Snow, and Christ coming to this earth to save not by force, but with Love.

I hope your Christmas was beautiful.
Mary Em

And then there was a party.

Christmas is in three days.

Glorious.

Watch Sufjan Stevens' "Too Much" Video :: Music :: News :: Paste

I was going to blog about Christmas. But this just blew my mind.
It completely brings me back to all the great memories from the concert.
I want to be in his band SO bad.
Mary Em.

Christmasmoosic.

List #1

There's this journal Jen and I found that is just a bunch of lists.
I mean on every page there's a topic and then spaces for you to list things that fit into that topic.

So I want to do that ever so often.

List #1-
part one: things I love about Nutcracker
1) Rehearsals-we're all tired because of finals which means we're all loopy. and I love it.
2) GLITTER-I'm usually kinda a glitteraphobe...but during nutcracker, I love to layer it on.
3) Rhonda. He's a stage hand that Cara and I adore.
4)the snow. when it snows on stage, something leaps inside of me. I love it just as much now as I did when I first was in the nutcracker.
5) Mother Ginger. I love dancing that dance during the Act 2 rehearsal. It's a time for us serious ballerinas to goof off.
6) the music. genius really.
7) making faces at people on stage when no one's looking.
8) pretending.

part two: things I don't love:
1)hurting feet.
2) that it's over in 3 short days.

Mary Em
7)

Rain.

The day is cold, and dark, and dreary
It rains, and the wind is never weary;
The vine still clings to the mouldering wall,
But at every gust the dead leaves fall,
And the day is dark and dreary.

My life is cold, and dark, and dreary;
It rains, and the wind is never weary;
My thoughts still cling to the mouldering Past,
But the hopes of youth fall thick in the blast,
And the days are dark and dreary.

Be still, sad heart! and cease repining;
Behind the clouds is the sun still shining;
Thy fate is the common fate of all,
Into each life some rain must fall,
Some days must be dark and dreary.

Longfellow.

Little Lion Man

Photos from this morning's shoot.
It was loosely based on Mumford and Son's song, Little Lion Man.

"Weep for yourself, my man,
You'll never be what is in your heart.
Weep Little Lion Man,
You're not as brave as you were at the start...



Rate yourself and rake yourself,
Take all the courage you have left
Wasted on fixing all the problems
That you made in your own head...



But it was not your fault but mine
And it was your heart on the line
I really (messed) it up this time
Didn't I, my dear?



Tremble for yourself, my man,
You know that you have seen this all before
Tremble Little Lion Man,
You'll never settle any of your scores...



Your grace is wasted in your face,
Your boldness stands alone among the wreck
Now learn from your mother or else spend your days
Biting your own neck...




But it was not your fault but mine
And it was your heart on the line
I really (messed) it up this time
Didn't I, my dear?


Didn't I, my dear?"




They were such good sports. It was probably 40 degrees out. I am so grateful for friend who would wake up at 6:30 in the morning and go trekking in the woods before the golden sunlight is too strong.

Have a good Sunday.
Mary Em

polkadots

I haven't posted an outfit photo in forever. In fact, I haven't posted in forever.

I love this skirt. Today the birds were migrating or something. They flew all over and made all kinds of racket.

Life, as I know it right now.

Life is good.
Love is good.
Friends are good.
God is good.
Motivation is good.
Sleeping is good.
Music is good.
Sufjan is good.
Cold is good.
Chapstick is good.
Photos are good.


All of these are understatements.

Honestly, my life the last couple weeks has been hard. Emotionally, physically, mentally. I've been bogged down with thinking of the future more than I do the present. I've been bogged down by routines. and most of all I've been bogged down by the weight of my own sin.
Then came hope.
As I was reading Catcher in the Rye I read a passage where Holden (the main character) says about a museum- "Nobody'd be different. The only thing that would be different would be you." He goes on to say that no matter what, you'd be a different person every time you'd come to the museum.
Then I realized something about days. They're interesting things you see, because every single one of them is new. No matter what, at the beginning of each day, I'm a different person than I was before. I may not change personalities. But I may have talked to someone new the day before or dreamed something or not dreamed at all. Because every day is a fresh page, I needn't worry about. You shouldn't either.
So seize tomorrow with a zeal unlike any other. You're a new you. the Day's a new Day.

Mary Em.

I don't like titling things I cannot name.

For you who is afflicted with the bittersweet sadness that things will change.
For you who prays and hopes that things will stay the same.
For you who watches little girls and boys play, and it makes your heart sing and cry all at once.
For you who loves deeply, and suffers greatly for it.
For you who is brave.
For you who is timid.
For you who cannot love yourself.
For you who is taken for granted.
For you who cannot remember your childhood.
For you who chooses not to.
For you who dreams and believes.
For you who doubts.


Know that change is like fire to a metal-it will burn, but eventually blossom into beauty.
Know that those who truly love you will always love you.
Know that the little child in you will never stop reaching for the sky to touch the sun.
Know that there's a Physician that will always heal your wounds.
Know that you are needed for those who are not.
Know that there is a Father that will always be at your defense.
Know that the you are infinitely loved.
Know that you affect more people than you will ever know.
Know that the past is but a ghost and the future a haunt, so open your eyes to the world around you at this moment.
Know that your best time is now.
Know that you should never, ever stop.
Know that there is One you can trust.

autumn

I love it. So much.

I realize that lately, I've been taking people for granted. Do you ever just catch yourself watching life go by? I see and talk to lots of different people. I love every one of them for different reasons and I don't even realize it!
I am so blessed.

Anyway, I encourage you to grasp how much you are loved, and how many people you love. You touch and are touched by more people than you will ever know.

Mary Em

I want to be well, I want to be well,

I want to be well, I want to be well, I want to be well, I want to be well.


I WANT to be WELL

Just a photo.

Mary Em

Trapped

Trapped in darkness. Waiting for the time to break the walls. The time to let the light and wind crash into your very soul. Lose your fear of flight. Revel in soaring up into the sky-up to the Sun itself. Dazzle others with your love of life and color. Oh glorious time, when life is begun.

What are you waiting for? The time is now.

This is real life

Truth.

Courtney Marie Andrew's new album is so nice.

Mary Em

Monday Monster

Yesterday was terrible. I'm not going to post about that. I just wanted to upload this photo because I think it's so darn cute.
Also I read the best Sufjan interview (his album, Age of Adz, came out today!)

Have a lovely Wednesday
Mary Em

Some photos and an actual post.

Oh hi guys, haven't legit posted in a while.
There's a reason.
I'm SUPER busy this semester. For real. I leave in the morning and I don't get home until around 9 every night. But I'm not complaining.
I'm not. Let me explain.
Today is a good example of why I don't complain: I woke up very early (5:30 AM) to meet a good friend at Starbucks to talk about life and God before school. Then I went to Chattanooga State. As I was walking to concert choir, a group of people were playing and singing "How He Loves Us" in the hallway. Worship was happening. I ended up having a couple hours in the afternoon and instead of writing a summary for Comp (which I'm procrastinating as I write this) I went and saw "Scott Pilgrim vs the World" at the cheap theatre with Jenny and Chad. Then I went to church which, as always, was glorious. I am busy. But I have time for fun. And, more than ever, God is a continual part of my life. His presence is evident wherever I go.
There, a real live post. I have to go write that summary now. Have a beautiful week.
Mary Em

Inspiration

...It came from two different wonderful things today.

The first, an adorable human being named Pradip Malde . I went and saw his works today. They literally stole my breath. The depths of the grays in his photos are overwhelmingly comforting and striking at the same time. Not to mention he's a wonderful person as well. When he talked to us about his works, he wasn't just saying how he photographed or the process, he spoke about life. I really cannot put it into words, but know this, it was beautiful.

The second, a person who is HIV positive being joyful and sharing that joy through purely joyous clothing. I don't know what hit me, but that's the first time I've cried over something on television...in probably forever.

Have a lovely, Inspiring, Friday!
Mary Em

See this Earth

Mary Em

Are they laughing at or with me?

I love Amy.
I love making cookies.
I love the sign in Amy's kitchen that says "prayer changes things"
and I loved this weekend.
Now to tackle the week.
Mary Em