Icicles

I've been fairly busy, and haven't been doing much shooting lately. Although I'm hoping to change that coming *really* soon, I'm going to share a couple of shots of the beautiful icicles outside my bedroom window.

God Bless ya'lls Monday! And the rest of the week!

~Kelley

Saturday Sharing: Your Story

So I know this is supposed to be Saturday Sharing.. but I've been a little absent from this blog.. and I decided to share some of my heart today [so it's technically "Saturday Sharing" right?]

Anyway, it's been an interesting month. In both good ways and bad. I wanted to share something that I wrote in my journal last night that God told me. I decided to go out skating late last night after working and we had a good talk.

Every good story has conflict. We learned this in Photoj, they teach it in writing classes, it's what makes the story. No conflict, no plot, no excitement. 

I wanted an adventure, but in reality I didn't want the conflict. I wanted excitement, but I really didn't want the hard stuff. 

Sometimes... I feel like I'm swimming against the current. Like one step forward, two steps back. My Zenfolio account balance tells the story... up $20, down to -6... up again... down again. It's what I feel like the rest of my business is doing.. and sometimes the rest of my life.

When I pictured an adventure, I see in my mind overcoming the world, climbing mountains, warring against LIFE. But when the world looks me in th eye, and when real life comes tearing around the corner I don't get it. I thought it was supposed to be easy climbing the mountain!?!? [ok, maybe it's a lot of tough work.. but not too hard]

Do you really think that in the movies, when the hero is staring down the barrel of a gun, the think... "Oh, it'll be ok.. I'm the hero, everything has to turn out right." ? [ok, yeah, it's just a movie.. but bear with me... these things do happen in real life.] When we watch a movie, or read a story we're fine in the action parts, because hey! they're the hero! 

My point is, as Christians, we are the hero of our story. We have even more security than being the lead role in a movie when the conflict comes, because we know that all things work together for the good of those who love God. [Romans 8:28] And with Jesus we are more than conquerors. [verse 37]

See, we might have a mountain to climb, a river to swim or a gun in our face, but we're not going to die because we're the hero in God's story. 

I wanted a story, and that's what I'm getting. 

My Sole

*This is pretty much my first attempt at creative writing. I've been feeling the urge to push myself in my writing lately, and so I'm going to try to write "just to write" more often. I'm not sure what I feel about this story... but it was fun! You'll probably be seeing some more creative writing coming up...*

                Ahh, what could be better than sitting on a shelf; pristine, new, solid and colorful? Unless it’s sprinting down the sidewalk watching the sunrise.

               

I started on a shelf at MJ’s sports store in the mall. Well, really I started at a factory, but that’s the uninteresting part of my life when I was just as all the others. Not long after arriving there I started my life’s adventure when I was bought by an orthodontist named Dana, just after New Years.

                

Dana was one of those, shall we call them “resolution runners”. You know, the kind that runs right after new years? And, needless to say, I didn’t last long. She’d bought one of the best of my kind, and yet I sat in the closet. A few words are all that are needed to describe the “place of no use”…. Aka the very darkest parts of the closet. Somewhere around June, however I once again saw the light, so to speak, and was transferred to a box.

               

I then found myself on another shelf. This time in the Goodwill. Ahh, now this. This. Is where my real story begins.

                

Katie found me later that day. Quickly exclaiming that I was her favorite brand and that I was in excellent condition (which sadly, was more than true) I was on the way to her car in no time.

                

I can’t even begin to explain the joy of being on a real runner’s feet. Countless times we pounded the pavement in search of joy, energy, and… and… oh I’m not sure what else, sometimes we ran just because. We went everywhere; we ran in the early morning as the sun was rising, we ran when the sun had set, we ran in the heat of the day, when I was nice and sticky with sweat.

                

Katie and I were inseparable. For the time. I was packed in a bag, and went with her to run on the beaches of the Bahamas. I went to France to visit her family. We ran down sidewalks, down long dirt roads, in the city, in the fields.

                

Slowly though, I wasn’t able to offer her the support she needed. My arches started to fall, and my soul was run thin. I was outgrown, and wore out.

                

I find myself on another shelf now, this one in the basement. It might be as dark as the closet was, but this time I’m satisfied. Maybe someday I’ll be pulled out again, and wore for some special reason, but if not I know…

That I served my purpose. I lived my life to the best of my make-up. I gave everything, including my soul to the racer I believed in. And now, I can rest happy, that if that day never comes, I still gave it all.

By Bro Mark: Just because portraits

My brothers complain that there are plenty of pictures of my sisters... and none of them... so I'm going to change that! :-) I've been meaning to play around with my flash off camera more, so the other day when it was really cold out and we had no place to go.... we camped out in the basement for a shoot. It was cold down there, but I think it was worth it....

First, you've got to see what it looked like. [We have fun together]

And... the results of all that crazyness! :)

 {I really like this picture, not sure why, but I do...}

 {A fav}

 {Another one}

{Total "Mark look"}

 {I think this is my favorite}

 {My bro is fabulous} 

 {He's just really easy in front of the camera.. and he's fun!}

{Cute? Yes.}

And now.... you get to see the blast we Kozy kids have on a photoshoot.... Ready? haha

 { REFLECTOR BOY [known in another life and Thomas] and the "need-a-larger-reflector-grab a mattress} 

 {Of course the rockstar needed a picture with the Reflector Boy}

 {Thomas' turn!}

 {playing with the speed light.. not sure *what* we were trying to accomplish}

{Hahah, he's so cute... but his poor ears! :) }

 {Not much comment for this one...}

 {Cool picture, very cool picture}

{Why isn't it taking the picture..... FLASH! hahah} 

I hope you guys enjoyed our craziness just a fraction of how much we did! 

Why I love Winter: My Red Jacket

My red "snow" jacket.

And my blue wool coat.

My black fleecy.

All of 'em keep me warm and comfy :-)

[To be perfectly honest... I really didn't want to write this post today. Because... I *don't* love winter right now. Today it was a high of -7, and it's supposed to stay that way until next Tuesday, where we *might* get into the 20s. {Sigh} Butttt that's what this post is all about, recognizing the beauty of winter here! I do know I'd miss it like crazy if I didn't have.. so I'd better enjoy it while it lasts. I hope you guys are too! Stay warm!]

Fishers of Men

"And Jesus, walking by the sea of Galilee, saw two brothers, Simon called Peter, and Andrew his brother, casting a net into the sea; for they were fishermen. Then He said to them, "Follow Me, and I will make you Fishers of Men. They immediately left their nets and followed Him." 

[Matthew 4: 18-20]

Jesus called the 12 to be Fishers of Men. He directly told them, "follow Me and I will make you fishers of men." But it wasn't until three years later that Jesus told them....

"He said to them, Go into all the world and preach the gospel to all creation." [Mark 16:15]

They didn't actually become Fishers of Men until then. Three years later. And these three years weren't like any other years... these were years where they talked, walked, fellowshipped and lived with the Savior. These were some intimate times with their Lord, the ultimate Fisherman. 

I've got some dreams floating in my head. I've got some talents at my fingertips. I see some needs. And I've felt Gods voice saying that He's got something for me.

But lately I've tried to rush Him.... "Well Lord, you called me to be this... AND????" And.. you haven't finished your "three years". You're not prepared for this calling yet. You may not have learned enough patience, you may not know how to love like I do, you may not be strong enough for this, you may not be knowledgeable in this. In short.... you've got some preparation left to do, some time with ME. 

When I think about it this way, and compare myself to the disciples, I feel like I've got a lot more than three years left! Although sometimes it's hard to wait when you know where you are going [in their case.. to preach the gospel to all men], it's also really awesome to know that the Lord of all wants to spend more time with you right now. ["And she had a sister called Mary, who also sat at Jesus feet and heard His word.... And Jesus answered her and said, "Martha, Martha, you are worried and troubled about many things. But one thing is needed and Mary has chosen that good part, which will not be taken from her." ~ Luke 10: 39-41]

Jesus did use the disciples during this time, it's not like they sat around. For goodness sake, they healed people and feed people and did other things for Christ, but their real calling didn't come until later.

So for right now, I'm taking the steps He's showed me. Learning to trust Him in the little things. And spending time with Him, preparing :-)  [Oh and also getting excited for everything else!]

Dual against BH/V

I went to the first home wrestling meet this week... [and please don't shoot me for this basketball fans] it was really good to shoot something other than basketball for a change. ;)

Anyway, like I've been doing in early sports posts.. I'm posting the images that I think are more emotional.. but that I wouldn't necessarily send to the paper [It's more fun that way]

 {Pogreba - 103lb]

 [Josh Becker - 119]

 [Brady Killian - 125]

yeahhhhh [Killian ]

[Jordan Heldman - 130]

 [Austin Redemske - 140]

 [ Redemske ]

 [And another one of Redemske, 'cause I like it...]

 The bench [My brothers says that it takes as much energy to be a coach as it does to be a wrestler. lol]

 [Gavin Kadlec - 152]

 [ Kadlec - I like this picture... except for the crowd. haha]

[Chandler Trout - 189] 

Saturday Sharing: Two Photographers, An Idea and an Event

Last year.... Actually I think it was early spring... A friend of mine [Laurel over at Chai Addict] from my first IPS class and I came up with this idea:  "shooting together", the same things, or ideas, and posting them online. We called it a Long Distance Photoshoot.

It was really a lot of fun. Then I got *super* busy and life got crazy... and so I didn't make the events. I still enjoyed looking at peoples images, and helping Laurel with new ideas. We'd love to see it keep growing.. you should join us!

This last shoot, "New and Old" [head over here to see the rest of the images] I finally got around to doing it... even if I was a couple days late ;)  And it was fun!!

[Something New]

[Something old... taken at the Restore Store with my phone ;) ]

So this is me saying.... if you are a photographer.. or just enjoy taking pictures... head on over and join our group page for updates on when the next event is! You'll get a chance to shoot more, to get encouragement and feedback from other photogs, and lots of inspiration!

Group page: Long Distance Photo Shoots 
Next Event: Self Portrait [So excited about this one... join us!]

Hope to see your RSVP there! :D

Why I love Winter: Ice on the trees

Something that makes me love winter [even if it's supposed to be -25 tonight] is ice on the branches... and gorgeous sunlight coming through them. I had taken some pictures early this year that were going to be part of this series... but when I saw the sunlight late this afternoon I took out my camera to have some fun. Enjoy the gorgeousness God gave us!

"From the chamber of the south comes the whirlwind, and cold from the scattering winds of the north. By the breath of God ice is given, and the broad waters are frozen."

~Job 37:9-10