Life, Jossie, and the Pursuit of Holiness

In seventeen days our daughter will be TWO.  In thirty days we'll be boarding a plane to Australia to attend, be in, and photograph my sister's wedding to the good ol' bloke from down under who brings out the best in her.  In fifty-three days we'll be in transition to finally make our way out of my parent's home and into our own.  So life, as you can tell, has a few adventures in store.

I've been working late hours and all the weekends to take on as many photo sessions I can and happily booking 2012 weddings.  I've been flirting with the idea of pulling away from portrait photography and focusing more on weddings.  But I make crazy decisions all the time, so we'll see what happens.

And all this flirting is because with each day, my daughter is asking so much more from me, and its all the things I want to give to her.  She's asking for my time.  My devotion.  My silly singing.  My dancing around the living room.  My rock rock's to sleep.  My cuddles when she has a boo boo.  And my correction for when she's doing a no no.  And all of these things pull me further and further away from the computer screen.  Which will have to mean less and less photo sessions for less and less processing.  But it is a job I'm willing to let go of because the reward is so great!

Her love for her babies is a trait I deeply foster.  Each one gets a turn on the high chair to be fed and she gladly rock rocks the ones that are sad and tucks each one into bed.  It's either a sign of her future as a mother or her desperate cry for siblings...

We've recently been asked to consider a position at a church to work with the youth ministry.  And in the first interview with the Pastor, he asked what our vision in life is and then encouraged us to take steps toward that vision, whether it takes a year to finish or the rest of our lives.  It reminded the both of us to think again at what is deeply in our hearts.

We would really love to open a home to rescue abandoned, neglected, trafficked and abused children and babies, while encouraging families and parents to get help and treatment in order for the ultimate goal; restoration.  Because we truly believe that a group home is never really the best option.  My heart wants to scoop up the unloved and wrap them in my arms, adopted them into my heart, and forever encourage them in love!  Its the desire that has uniquely formed my inner most being and one I believe is my story in the reflection of God's Glory.  And sometimes it can be quite frustrating to have the desire with no outlet to make it happen.  In that very frustration, I've allowed myself to become complacent and comfortable, yet screaming out for the Holy Spirit to move in me.

But someone wise once said that if the Holy Spirit is the ultimate comforter, I can't feel him if I'm already comforted.  So move to a place of uncomfortably and he'll meet me there.  So as we pursue the Holy One, we are choosing to step out of this comfortable place we've called home and go where the least of these reside.