I like big blogs and I can not lie.

India

2011-12-23T22:24:00.006-06:00

An absolutely indescribable trip. I learned more in these 10 days about myself, about God, and about others than I have my whole life. It was truly an amazing adventure. I will forever have a special place for these children and these people.

We were able to open 6 orphanages, 1 church, 3 wells, host 3 conferences, and spread the Good News to THOUSANDS. These are only a few of the many photos. I can not wait to go back!

Pure and genuine religion in the sight of God the Father means caring for orphans and widows in their distress and refusing to let the world corrupt you.
James 1:27

She had on so many of her gifts!

Meet Kumar. All the kids stood up and said what they wanted to be. Kumar said, "I want to be a hero."

Singing at the first house we dedicated.

These boys were silly! They kept fighting for attention and to get their picture taken.

Beautiful baby on the way to dedicate the church.

Girl that ran to our bus to say goodbye after the church dedication.

The amazing organization that makes all this happen!

Pretty much what I ate for 10 days. We got the chance to eat with the kiddos at some houses.

A man looking on as we were approaching one of the houses.

She was given gloves. A gift I'm not sure she will use often. She had actually never seen gloves or socks. I had to explain how to wear them. She originally had her socks on her hands and the gloves on the wrong hands.

The whole team! We gave our bags of gifts then every child also got a sweet backpack full of tons of school supplies.

A few of the beautiful girls.

Meet Magna. She holds a special place in my heart. She was orphaned at the age of 3 due to a motorcycle accident. She is now 6. She is full of so much life and is so gracious. She has joy in her heart. As she opened her gifts she gave me a kiss, a hug, and a big Thank You! She has no idea how much she affected my life. I pray I meet Magna again this side of Heaven.

Join me in prayer for the nations!
What pulls are your heart? Do you even know yet? I didn't know until I started praying.
If you don't know where to start, maybe start here:
1. India
2. 10/40 Window
3. T.H.U.M.B.

Start asking where you are NEEDED! Your life is so important and you are needed somewhere. Your gifts, passions, personality, thoughts, desires, and abilities are not an accident. They are a gift from our Maker. They are needed to reach someone for His glory. He wants to use everything about you for a bigger purpose. The Lord will use you as His vessel. Ask Him to reveal to you where and what that means. Be ready for your world to be rocked. It's a pretty sweet ride.

Now that I have seen, I am responsible. Faith without deeds is dead.
"Albertine" - Brooke Fraser

MY FIRST MARATHON!

2011-11-25T19:28:00.000-06:00

The journey started Fall 2009. I started running. Why did I start running? I remember bending down at work and getting back up hurt immensely. I was 23 and my body seriously felt like it was 50. I was completely out of shape. When I started running, I was terrible. For years, I always had a goal to run a half marathon. So, for 2010, I made my goal to run not only my first one but two that year. I completed both of those.
1st - OKC - April 2010
2nd - Fayetteville - December 2010.

I then just ran for fun. I wanted to just like running instead of running to train. I did for most of the year. Then I got the itch for another long distance race... in comes the itch for the marathon!

I trained, signed up, and FINISHED!

My goal: 26.2 in 4:20
My finish (according to my watch): 26.2 in 4:20!!!!
My chip time: 26.59 in 4:23

I'm glad I have a watch... I guess I should go by the posted time but I am proud that I know I did do a full marathon in my goal time :)

Yes, I will do more. I will do more half marathons than marathons probably but I will do more marathons. The race day excitement is so addicting. I literally love it.

I also want to say a few things to anyone reading this. A marathon might sound intimidating but I want to be the first to tell you:

YOU CAN DO IT. You can do WHATEVER you put your mind to.

I was actually inspired to do a full because of my favorite show - The Biggest Loser. These people go from being completely inactive and overweight to completely turning their lives around. All because they have a drive, a desire, and they have support. They are running a marathon by the end of the show. If someone can go from not being able to walk a mile, to finishing a marathon, surely I can do this. I started on my journey determined to do this.

I have fallen in love with running. I'll be honest, it took a while. However, I have to say that one of my favorite things to do, is to wake up long before sunrise and head out on a long run. It's quiet, it's peaceful. I can hear God. We talk. I have a clear mind. The world is right. I love it so much. I finish and I have such peace. I understand that some people just don't feel the same way about running. That's fine, but I want to encourage you to find that activity that allows you to let go of everything. To simply have a conversation with your Maker. To clear your mind of everything that seems to be a big deal. To push your body to limits that you didn't believe were possible. It's an amazing feeling when you take care of yourself and when you conquer goals that have endings impossible to imagine.

I have to say also that the only way that I can complete the things I do is through Christ. Christ gives me strength. When my body is sore and tired, my Savior heals me and makes me strong again. He is my ultimate running buddy.

I also have a wonderful earthly support system. Without the people in my life that support me, that ran with me to get me hooked on running, that follow me throughout my races, that take photos, that send encouraging words and prayers... Without these people I wouldn't be as strong. I have major blessings in my life.

The Lord has blessed me with such support that I must share that with others. If you are reading this, I would love to run with you. You are not too slow, too out of shape, or too anything to get started. It just takes the first step!

Sea Grove, FL

2011-07-31T01:02:00.001-05:00

One of my friends from high school was getting married recently in Florida so the whole family took a trip to see her get hitched and to have some fun of our own!

We took pictures on the beach one night. My older brother and I worked our amateur photography skills. I'd say we did all right! (We even have a smiling baby in all the photos!)

The photos are a little out of order but this is a little of the trip!

I saved my favorite for last :) She can turn any bad day right around!

Baseball vs. Mississippi State

2011-05-01T20:49:00.000-05:00

Sooooo... I do like to photograph baseball games but at this game there was a cute little girl that kept stealing the show. Lots of up-close photos for this post. I couldn't decide so I just put several. She's just such a beauty!

This is proof we were actually at a baseball game! That fella was out! Yahoo!

King's River Falls

2011-05-01T15:37:00.001-05:00

It was roaring! The falls were so pretty! There were multiple falls but this one was the largest. There was also a gorgeous field before we arrived at the waterfalls. It was so green and pretty!

My favorite!!

2011-05-01T15:28:00.000-05:00

I got to stay with the sweet girl last week. We had fun playing 'way up high' and going upside down and of course tons of fun in "The circle of FUN"! She finally smiled when I took a picture. I was proud... can you tell?

I wish soooo badly this photo wasn't blurry below!!! But I do love her pretty eyes in this one even if it did turn out blurry. AH what a beginner!

At the end EG spoke up and said "I want a picture with my favorite person in the whole world!"

Why am I her favorite?

1. I took this photo.

2. It's my blog.

Day of Hiking

2011-04-30T11:13:00.005-05:00

This is the absolute most BEAUTIFUL view! I went hiking this past Friday. This is a preview. I have LOTS of neat waterfalls photos too. I'll start with this lovely shot first! (Click on the photo to see it larger) I took several photos and merged them to make a panoramic shot. This is an overlook stop close to Jasper, AR.

The photo below tells you what you're looking at... Easier to put that than write it!

Chicago!

2011-03-26T17:31:00.004-05:00

The youth group went to Chicago for Spring Break and I decided to tag along. GREAT week. We were able to redecorate an after-school program facility, hang out with some neat kiddos, bag A LOT of food at the Greater Chicago Food Depository, help some homeless folks with some necessities, and throw in a lot of fun in between!

This photo almost didn't happen. We were able to do a drive by and I hung out the van door and shot a quick photo!

Alyssa took this photo. It was on the posts just below the train tracks in the middle of the city. Hopefully it is an encouragement to someone passing by.

The bean! We had tons of fun taking pictures in front of the big reflective bean. Oh how we can be entertained.

More to come! These are just a few quick picks! Fun fun! :)

My Birthday!

2011-03-16T21:33:00.000-05:00

I'm seriously bad at updating my blog. However, I felt the need to put up pictures of my birthday since I didn't already! It was a fun surprise at Eddie Haskel's. I got a sweet cake that was DELICIOUS.

Someone asked what all the ones were for. My birthday is 1-11-11. I had a cake with all the ones on it! Seemed quite appropriate!

Me with the delicious cake and my party hat! I was very surprised!

And some loving from the sweet girl.

I'm going on a fun trip to Chicago soon so I will surely post some pictures from that!

(and not 3 months after the fact)

Fun with Photoshop!

2011-01-17T21:47:00.000-06:00

I got Photoshop Elements for my birthday and I love it! It might be the most simple but that's all I need! I still have a lot to learn but this is what I've learned so far!

Colin (my cousin) on July 4th. This is called the Lomo Camera Effect.

Mark and Colin battling to see who's mouth is bigger. This was taken at my aunt's rehearsal dinner this summer. This is a pop art effect. So fun!

Colin and Riley before my aunt's wedding. This is a pencil effect with some color showing through still.

This is a cross on a beach in Cozumel from my cruise this past September. This is the Lomo camera effect again just strengthened some.

Both of these are called out of bounds pictures. Morgan and me on the cruise boat! Mark flipping off a wake surf board on Beaver Lake this summer.

There are a few more but these are some of the most exciting ones! More to come!

Sunset on the cruise

2010-09-17T23:01:00.002-05:00

Cozumel!

2010-09-17T22:59:00.000-05:00

I just got back from my Cruise to Cozumel, Mexico. IT WAS AWESOME. I could sit on a chair by the beach everyday and enjoy the beauty. Sign me up.

July 4, 2010

2010-07-14T15:05:00.000-05:00

Such a fun weekend! Getting to see my brother get married and getting to see my whole family!

I've had a star pinata for a while and what a better day to break it open!

The fireworks were great. We went to the bridge in Thornbury subdivision and watched. Great job I must say!

We decided to take some of those photos that you put the shutter on your camera really slow and draw with a sparkler. This is a razorback one of my cousins drew. Pretty impressive since you can't see what you're doing the whole time until you look at the picture.

Mark and Hannah tie the knot!

2010-07-14T14:55:00.000-05:00

They are finally hitched! It was a wonderful day! Started with rain but ended with a bang! (literally - there were fireworks) Here I am with the happy couple after they ate some cake. Hannah looked absolutely GORGEOUS! I'm just glad Mark didn't get anything on his shirt before pictures were taken!

Local Mission Project

2010-07-14T14:43:00.001-05:00

This year at LMP I was on team 7. My team was AMAZING. They were the hardest workers I've had on a team. We built a 54' ramp for a wonderful man named Michael and his family. I was in the 90's all week and this amazing family set up a tent for us with a fan on the inside, along with some chairs. They were kind enough to provide us with some water bottles so our water could stay clean (instead of drinking from cups all day). God truly worked on our site this year in all our hearts. I could tell the kids' hearts were changing and my heart too. It was a moment that through serving I was able to feel God bless me so much. Along with building the ramp and work hard we got to play hard too! The nights were filled with roller skating, a water park, a treasure hunt, and seeing Toy Story 3. I love love loved everything this week offered.

Here is Michael taking a test run down the unfinished ramp.

Hannah's Shower

2010-07-13T22:20:00.000-05:00

Just one of Hannah's showers! (I guess it's really Mark and Hannah's) Such a fun shower, lots of food and great hostesses.

One of Hannah's flower "princesses". Emily is such a cutie!

My sisters!

The moms, grandmas, and sisters!

Hogeye

2010-07-13T22:07:00.001-05:00

Long overdue! This is the Hogeye from April 11, 2010. It helped prepare for the big half marathon 2 weeks later! This day was SO FUN! For anyone that has never done a race (of any distance) - YOU MUST! They are a blast. Everyone is so encouraging and happy. There is cheering and excitement. It's such a great atmosphere. Dad, Doug, Kimberly (Doug's sister-in-law), and I did the Hogeye marathon (26.2 miles) relay. My leg was 7 miles.

So, I'm running my leg of the race. I am nearing the end. At the exchange point there is a HUGE crowd cheering and going wild for their friends, family, and whoever they are there to see. I am about to meet my dad for his leg of the race. I get pumped from the excitement and decide to finish the last little bit of the 7 miles really fast. Well my legs didn't get the memo. I ran right over a pile of dirt and biffed it hard on the ground, in the dirt, and got that nice bloody knee. Yes, in front of the cheering crowd.

Dad just finishing his 6 mile leg in a stellar 8 minute something pace. Doug is starting his hellish leg. Poor guy got 6.5 miles of uphill!

WOO! 7 miles! I actually had to stage this picture b/c in my leg of the race there wasn't really anyone around. I got the scenic route.

All finished! OKC in 2 weeks!! :) :)

If you haven't done a race, DO ONE! You CAN do it!

Arkansas vs Alabama

2010-03-29T00:10:00.000-05:00

A few that I thought were kind of neat.

College World Series!! I was there!!!!! I can't wait to go back this year!!!

Arkansas vs. Alabama

2010-03-29T00:04:00.000-05:00

Catching the ball seconds before being hit!

Arkansas' sweeping of Alabama

2010-03-28T23:56:00.001-05:00

Arkansas played Alabama this weekend. We won all three games in an exciting fashion each time. These are pictures from game two. These are quick shots of Eibner's pitching. This time I focused on a very quick shutter. It's so cool to see it caught in action with no blur!

Devil's Den

2010-03-27T12:58:00.001-05:00

I went to Devil's Den to practice some more with my camera. I took a camera class at Bedford's in hopes to use my manual settings more. This is the result! My goal was waterfalls so that's all there is but I would have to say that Tim Ernst should watch out!

More Waterfalls!

2010-03-27T11:21:00.003-05:00

More Waterfalls!

2010-03-27T11:19:00.001-05:00

More Lake

2010-01-11T15:22:00.002-06:00

More of the Lake

2010-01-11T15:19:00.002-06:00

Lake Fayettevile frozen!

2010-01-11T15:08:00.002-06:00

2010-01-11T15:07:00.002-06:00

Lake Fayetteville frozen! Poor duck!

My Birthday!

2010-01-11T15:03:00.001-06:00

I got a new camera with Christmas money -Canon Rebel XSi. I bought a 28-105 f/3.5-3.5 II lens. That's what this picture is taken with. It is a nice lens I must say. This was taken at Har-ber Meadows in Founders Park. The water is frozen.

Happy New Year!

2010-01-01T02:08:00.002-06:00

Before the year ended, I ran 3 miles as fast as I could. I cleaned my room. I signed up for my very first 1/2 marathon. I ate some chili. I tried some new coffee flavors with my Keurig brewer. Finally I rung in the new year with a PJ party! We played "Last Word" and "Things". Both are very fun games!