Photo shoot!

So... earlier today I decided that I wanted to take a few momnets and go out wth my camera. I found a few things that intereste me that I wanted to share- but I also had the most incredible experience also! I stopped at this old house with broken windows... abandoned... it was really cool!!!! Ok, so I was taking the pictures, got bored and staerted getting back in to my car. I heard an eagle cry. I didn't see it- so I was looking around, and it cried again. There was a brautiful eag;e sitting in the tree in front of me. WOW! I took some pictures... and then went on to take a few more that I want to share!

I also got to watch a beaver swim along a canal... if you look closely at the picture where the water is bending, there is a little dark spot in the middle of the water -that's the beaver. =) I had a wonderful day!

Feelings 101

Last night, my family went and saw the play "Cash on Delivery" at the Hale Center Theater. I have to say, I have not laughed that hard a play in a long time! My tummy hurt from laughing so hard. I highly recommend seeing it- but kids wouldn't understand the humor.

I love the feeling you get when you laugh!

I learned about a book yesterday called "Molecules of Emotion". I am really interested in owning it. There are neuropeptides in the brain- these are chemicals that carry messages throughout the body. Some of those peptides are emotionally triggered. As the emotion is triggered, we react because of the chemical release. For example... if you were bitten by a black dog when you were a child, it's highly possible that as you go through the rest of your life, you may feel instant fear of all black dogs... no matter how illogical it may seem. Your mind remembers the fear from years before - and triggers that feeling. I am intrigued by this book! I want to read and study more!!!

What I am learning in my school is to help, through a guided meditation, people find emotional triggers. During meditation, I help the person I am guiding find and replace negative emotions about a situation, and replace them with positive. Using the example above, a person might quite feasably- no longer be afraid of dogs!!

What a gift- to be learning how to be able to help people change their lives!

Wow, what a life!

I can hardly believe I haven't taken the time to write for over a week now! OK, so I decided to go back to school, and have had a lot going on with my missionary work, and photography... I just didn't know where to start!

Two weeks ago I started back to school... The Institute of Healng Arts. I AM SOOOOOOOOOOO excited! This is an education where I am truly learning to help others heal their lives and make permanent changes. If you want to know more, ask...

I have the awesome opportunity that my photography may soon be seen on bilboards here in the Salt Lake area. I am blown away! There is a long story there, but I will REALLY shorten it: I met a really nice man looking for a photographer one day in my chiropractor's office. Some of my photography already hangs in his office, we talked, and I will have the opportunity to move on from there. YAY!

Awesomely, I have found many friends from school on facebook, and this weekend, even found a friend I hadn't talked to since elementary school. That's pretty cool!

My home made soap business is really beginning to pick up right now. That is also very good news. My partner and I are excited to get things moving along a little faster... and that is happeneing! What I love about our soap is there are no chemicals in it, and recently we started using essential oils for fragrance. Lily's Lathers is the name of my company... check it out a lilys.lathers.googlepages.com !

I am helping write a riad show for the wonderful youth in my Spanish branch. I am the young women's president there, and we have way too much fun! I love the girls, and it is such a privelege to get to spend time with them. They are teaching me soooooooo much!

It is late. I have school tomorrow... so I will have to write more when I get a chance. Hopefully it will be less than 10 days away...

Genuine...

Do you have anyone you admire?



There is a man who has really inspired me throughout the last 10 years or so, and tonight I got the opportunity to talk with him. His name is Thomas Mangelsen, and he is an absolutely awe-inspiring photographer. His work truly envokes a feeling. He has more than one gallery, but there is one here in the Park City area about 45 minutes away from my home. (You can go to http://www.mangelsen.com/ to see his work.)



Last summer, some friends and I went to Antelope Island, out on the Great Salt Lake. We didn't know it at the time, but Mr. Mangelsen was on the beach taking pictures of the sunset - right near where we were. He was a very gracious man. We startled him, as he was standing there, lost in the music from his MP3 player.



Anyway... today, I went to an open house that was being held in his gallery. He was introducing pew photographs. WOW! I was absolutely blown away at the beauty of his work. It was really incredible to see his photography. I wish I was in a place in my life right now where I could afford to purchase one of his works. I found the photo I want... and know where I would put it.



I got the opportunity to talk to him for just a moment tonight. I was so impressed at how genuine he is. I told him I was a photographer and would some day like to be able to share my photography with others the way he does. I asked him if he ever looks at others' works, and he told me yes. I gave him a place on the internet he could see mine. I wonder what he will think.



I have a lot of favorite pictures that I have taken... and I want to put one on my blog tonight. It's one that really means a lot to me.

I had always liked this picture - I love Zion National Park. A friend of mine pointed something out to me that I hadn't thought of before. This picture represents God's perspective vs. man's. The reflection in the globe represents the fact that we as humans sometimes see things in a different maner than God presents them to us. I hope, some day, this photo will touch lives. I have shared it with family and friends - and have the desire to share it with so many others! This picture is on display in 2 different offices right now, and hopefully soon will be on display in another location. I am keeping my fingers crossed, and will let you know when and where.

"The best thing about the futures is that is comes one day at a time." -Abraham Lincoln.

Stillness

"Stillness is the language that God speaks, and everything else is a bad translation." -unknown

"To be aware of little, quite things, however, you need to be quiet inside. A high degree of alertness is required. Be Still. Look. Listen. Be Present." -Eckhart Tolle.

Photography

I have always tried my best in life to bring peace wherever I go. I do things because it is what makes me feel good, or it is something I enjoy. If you see me somewhere without my camera... you know for sure it was an accident! I especially love to capture moments others haven't - becuase I share those photos with everone. I know one particular person who has scapbooks full of my pictures! It makes me feel good to know I can give that gift to others. I freely give it. (Maybe I should charge them for the copywright! Just kidding...)

I know a lot of people enjoy reading my blog and looking at the pictures I post there also. I feel comforted to know that I have friends who are interested in my life and the ups and downs of the trail I am traveling along. It is always peaceful to me to know I have friends along the path of life who care about me. Sometimes, the path can seem dark and lonely, and I want my friends to know that they help create a light that makes the percieved darkness seem a little less overwhelming.

I am excited for the next couple of days. It is my goal to take a (local) road trip and take some more pictures. There are a couple canyons near by- with water falls and cool trees. Waterfall in the winter! That sounds really cool. Photography helps bring peace to my heart and mind. There is just something awesome about being able to capture something beautiful to share with others... I don't create it, but I do have the unique ability to see things in a way others don't. I look forward to discovering what I get to see today! I know Heavenly Father will help me see what it is He would have me see. I am getting my shoes on, packing my camera...