Happy Holidays!

Just checking in and wishing everyone a safe and very Merry Christmas and happy New Year!

I'm spending Christmas with my family in Nacogdoches visiting my grandmother, aunts, and uncles- along with many cousins. Well, have a wonderful holiday; stay safe and warm!

Blessings to you and yours,

Liz

The Examined Life

You might have noticed I changed the name of this blog to something unpronouncable for some!

It is la vita esaminata; which means 'the examined life' in Italian. Italy is my favorite country to learn about. I've soaked up so much information about Italian culture, history, and language over the years; it is also the one country I want to live in at some point. There I want to become more than a tourist; I want to have a home and routine there. Someday...


"The unexamined life is not worth living." - Socrates

Socrates was onto something, but he never quite got there. He never had what I have.


I remember my first year attending Worldview Leadership Academy. The camp's slogan, if you will, was 'Taking every thought captive for Christ," taken from a verse in Second Corinthians. I was a freshman in high school, going to a new camp, thrown into a cabin with fourteen other girls I'd never met before. That week I was challenged in so many ways: firstly, getting out of my comfort zone, witnessing at the University of Texas campus in Austin. So many worthwhile questions in one week: why do I believe what I do? How is that any different from anyone else's faith? Does the difference really matter? And if it does, how do I live accordingly?

That quote came to mind and conversation several times that week. You have to see what you are already doing before you can improve it. You have to constantly examine your own thoughts and motives for every action. If our job is to truly be Christ's hands and feet, we must first have His mind. Which means our own minds must be perpetually renewed by His Word.

By the end of camp, I had learned so much about myself, my faith, my friends, and the people around me. However, I also went away with questions and the desire to find the answers for myself. Worldview had flipped some sort of figurative switch inside my heart and mind. Suddenly, I had know why this Jesus man Whom I loved so much was hated so fiercely and widely. What had He done, really? I found that the answer is His Word cut them to the heart, and that cut me to the heart. I realized that I owed it to everyone I had met, known, and will ever know, an explanation and reasonable defense for my stand of faith. I left with an impression of the importance of examining yourself and a revived passion for my Savior.


In a nutshell, the new name reflects several loves in my life; the greater being living for Christ and the lessers being philosophy and Italy.

With Thanks

Once again, Thanksgiving Week is upon us. This year, as in years past, I have so many things and people in my life to be thankful for. God has given me a second family in Awaken and in the Rosser's especially. School is rushing by pleasantly and 2008 is nearly in the history books. My photography is being used in ways I never imagined. After all, I only bought my camera in April! It's is so amazing how time flies if you just sit back and look at everything that has happened in the last year alone. I'm so grateful and blessed to have so many people in my life to keep me grounded.

Our family has a tradition on Thanksgiving of holding hands and going around the circle, sharing what we are thankful for. Simple, but it always means so much to hear what my younger siblings are thankful for. Sometimes I feel like a proud parent with those two.

Here is a quick glance at my life the past few months.

I had the privilege of taking the Rosser's family portraits this month...

I took portraits of my friend Shana's three gorgeous daughters...

Finally, I am proud to announce that Nameless Faceless has successfully completed their first live recording! Last month, our brothers and sisters at Living Stone Worship Center in Del Rio invited us for a weekend of music, fellowship, and laughs. All weekend, we were treated like kings by these kindred spirits. Everytime we perform there, a sense of homecoming comes to mind. It's just amazing how God has been blessing Awaken and spreading our name around.

Life has been a whirlwind lately and holiday festivities are right around the corner.

Peace to you and yours,
Liz

Sister, Sister

Right now, I'm in the process of trying to grow some interest and clientel for my photography. I've been doing mainly portraits and children. God has given me so many opportunities lately; I am so grateful! These are some of my favorites of my beautiful sister. This summer's adventures are on the way!

With love,

E

Catching Ups

Autumn has finally arrived in West Texas. The fall semester is half over. There is finally a cool crisp in the air. Leaves are beginning to change colors, ready to take their final bows. As I type this, I am listening to my favorite "fall-esque" album, If I Left the Zoo from Jars of Clay. For some reason, the bohemian, folk vibe just makes me think of fall and the cool breeze of festivities blowing in.

Summer has come and gone in the time I've been away from my blog. Several amazing trips have taken place; The Call DC, Awaken in Coleman and Del Rio, and most recently, my volleyball girls went to the state tournament in Arlington this past weekend.
I've decided that rather than try squeezing my entire summer in one post, I will devote one post to each of the major events in addition to my (hopefully) regular postings.
Must get to bed, I have an early school day tomorrow. Best.

Summer Days

The lazy days of summer have arrived. For the past few weeks, my days have been filled with pool parties, sipping lemonade, movie watching, balmy nights, and baseball. The best part of summer is lounging lazy nights away with good friends and not having to worry about rushing anywhere in the morning. June has shown itself to be the calm before the storm. July promises to be a busy month; lots of fundraising, spending time with Driven- my church's youth group, and performances with Awaken. Therefore, I've decided to be a little more disciplined, with updating this blog, working on pictures, and implementing that little nugget of wisdom from good ole' Charles Dickens,"Early to bed, early to rise...." Hopefully, by the time camp gets here I will be used to rising at 7 am!
Since I'm not working right now, I have several little goals I want to accomplish this summer. First priority is raising money for The Call in August. Yikes! that's alot of money. But, I am so excited, I hope it will come in quickly. Secondly, I am planning to repaint and decorate my room. This project has been in the works for years, but hopefully it will be finished before August. I've come across so many blogs and articles with cute ideas, it just puts me in the state of mind to spiffy up my current dwellings. And lastly, I went to a book sale last weekend and bought 14! books. So, a reading list is being compiled and chopped away at. So many titles have presented themselves to me, all of them interesting and different; from classics to Christianity to economics.

Peace and blessings to you.

Sun, Salt, and Stages

This weekend was Fiesta del Concho, an annual celebration on the River filled with tasty food, laughing children, and farm animals galore. This year, Awaken and Nameless Faceless were asked back to perform, while John gave his first "Cowboy Church" sermon that morning. John spoke about having a 'Life Worth Living' and writing meaningful chapters with the time you are given; living a full life, one that makes sense in eternity. Such deep contemplations on such a beautiful morning!



The air was electric with joy and excitement during the performances. Watching so many people worship, stop and gander, or simply sitting back and relaxing to the lovely sounds of praise reminded me of how God speaks in so many different ways. The chords being strummed and plucked on stage helped to stir the hearts and minds of all those around us. The energy during the dramas and dances was simply amazing. In my time in Awaken and even before I got onboard, I have never felt so much excitement from a crowd! The cheers, claps, and whistles were in ample supply on this sizzling West Texas summer day, spurring us on through every drumbeat and note being sung.

What a privilege to be used by God in such powerful ways, all while getting to do what we love. God is so good.

Peace to you and yours.

Pomp and Circumstance

The San Angelo Christian Homeschool Association Graduation ceremony was a couple Saturdays ago and this was the first year that I have known all the graduates pretty well. If you haven't noticed, my camera is pretty much attached to my hand these days, so here are some pictures!

Arielle and Logan did the worship music at the beginning of the ceremony.

Some of us at the reception.

And finally, Cricket, one of the happy graduates!!

Yay! Congratulations Class of 2008!
-E

First Post!

The basic purpose of this blog is to post my pictures, thoughts, favorite quotes, whatever. Basically, I can keep everyone updated with what's going on in my life in one easy way and place. So, read on fellow bloggers!

So the other night was TLC's annual Sports Banquet. Rebekah and Matthew both play sports there and I help coach volleyball, so I had to be there. Here are some pictures.

Mom and her Volunteer of the Year award.

Coach Jones presenting Rebekah her Eagle Award(MVP).

Some of Rebekah's awards.

Matthew and his medals.

Rebekah and her friend Briley.

So, overall it was a fun night. Great food, good times.