Literally in the middle of class at the moment…we’re doing a project on editing and preparing an image for the web. For my photo I’ve chosen this picture I took of Hal Gould yesterday at the “Camera Obscura” gallery in downtown Denver. He has been working at the gallery for about 43 years, he is 91 years old. As we were roaming the halls of the small, cluttered gallery we started to realize that this guy is a big deal. I quickly looked him up online and he is known to be the “sage of Colorado photography”. What an icon. What a great experience for me and the students.

The other students are posting their own photos of yesterday. You can find them here…

Jamie
Michael
Laken

I’m hanging out with a very cool bunch of young people this week. Today was our first day of class and I’m sure I talked their ears off. Tomorrow I’ll do the same.

Who could resist it? Talking about two of my passions intertwined all week? Photography and Jesus? I’ll take it…any day of the week.

Missing my family more than my little heart can handle, but husband is doing a superb job with them, building forts, feeding them pancakes for dinner, sending me photos and short videos, continuing to potty train our Lily. What a guy. My guy.

I’m having fun.

I’m in Denver, Colorado. Well…Aravda to be exact. I’ve never been to Colorado before, I’ve never had a desire actually. This is one of those States that if I was ever able to visit, great…if not…no problem. I figured how special could it be? How different really? But I’m quickly learning from one United State to another…things are so different.

I got off the plane in Denver and walked into a vast sea of people. I’ve witnessed that before, I’ve traveled in LA’s airports, I’ve gotten off a train in the middle of China, I’ve walked into a great market square in Mexico…but when I trudged my way through the hot hall from the plane, with my laptop bag over one shoulder, my camera bag on my back, I stepped into another world and my eyes were pounded with senses that I hadn’t experienced in a long time. I know the reason why….I am traveling alone.

My normal routine when flying on an airplane is to follow. I do not lead, I hold a hand (usually of a tiny person) and I follow the man who has been placed as the leader of our family. He knows his ways around airports, he knows where he is going, he knows west from east and I barely know how to read a map.

Suddenly an overwhelming feeling of being alone hit me, (not to be confused with loneliness, because that is a whole other topic). This feeling of being by myself was also meshed with the horrible sickness in my stomach from a turbulent plane ride. Not a good mix.

I slung my bag over my shoulder again and headed for the big sign that said “Women”. I needed a second. My stomach was turning.

I approached the restroom and on a big yellow sign for everyone to see it said, “Tornado Shelter”. My jaw dropped. I am definitely not in Sacramento anymore.

In times of panic and fear…we often wish there was a big yellow sign saying where to go, “Come Here! Shelter from the Storm this way!” Oh thank you…now I know where I’m going, now I know how to be safe.

through family issues

through strongholds in our lives and addictions

through fear and insecurities

We want a shelter…

I am so thankful we have one. He is a huge blinking yellow sign showing us the way. I don’t believe we will be unscathed…but I do believe we won’t be alone.

pics from my iphone