it feels like spring today.

honestly, the month of February was one of the worst and the best months in my life. it had it's ups (golden birthday, YEAH!) and it's downs (dealing with change), but by the end of the month I just felt drained emotionally. but last week, something changed. 

maybe it was the crazy splashes of warm weather we have been having, but I feel like spring is coming. winter has passed and the signs of spring are bursting forth in my heart.  

 I AM ALIVE.  I am alive, in Christ. I am daily reminded that I am a new creation. 

AND I AM ALIVE. living and breathing. alive. 

I am actually looking forward to spring and summer which is rather surprising. 

(I've said it before and I'll say it again, summer is my least favorite season! oh the horror, I know.;)) 

I was doing some spring cleaning in my photos, and I found these shots from last summer. I must say, though summer is my least favorite season, summer light is the best.

 I've also been trying my hand at editing a bit more. All of the photography you have been seeing on here is all SOOC for one particular reason. I want to know how to create a photograph first, I want to learn the in's and out's of a camera before I start editing my photos. I don't want to become one of those "oh-i'll-just-fix-that-in-photoshop-later" types of photographers. Photography is an art, and I want to learn it. But I am also learning that a little touch up in editing goes a long way, this post showed me the power of just a tad of editing. I tried some things out, and I kinda just love the results. So, you will probably seeing some photos that are slightly edited around here more. :)

xxx, 

marcia

p.s. I was interviewed by Maddie a few days weeks ago and I forgot. This girl is amazing, I'm pretty sure she is my long lost twin or something. We are so similar it's rather freaky. So, go show her some love and you can read the interview >here<. 

p.p.s. if you are one of the people who are just dying for summer, I have a special inspiration post coming up. :)

the snowflakes start flying...

today we got the biggest snow yet. so we spent the day inside drinking coffee and tea, getting some much needed organizing and cleaning done, snapping photos, and listening to Christmas music and Owl City.

xxx, with lots of snowflakes

marcia

ten reasons || guest post by abbie

it's no secret that i love fall. summer is good, but autumn is better. here's a list of ten reasons why i (really, really) like fall.

one - you get to drink hot tea.

two - the start of a new school year and a new schedule.

three - the gorgeous colors of the leaves.

four - the cool weather, which allows you to wear sweaters and scarves.

five - warm blankets in the mornings.

six - you get to go school shopping. let's face it - that's always an awesome time.

seven - apple pie. (a big reason in itself.)

eight - getting ready for the holiday season (like thanksgiving and christmas).

nine - baking pumpkin bread and banana muffins and other fall treats.

ten - i'll admit it - every single day that passes make The Hobbit a little closer.

this fall is going to be really exciting for my family, because we're welcoming baby  #7 next month. also, i'm going to be traveling to visit family in october, and i seriously can't wait.

what can i say? this fall is going to be wonderful.

abbie /// xoxox

i'm abbie. i'm an artist - photography, music, film, painting,

and just plain creating. i love switchfoot, pixar, and lord of the rings.

most of all, i love jesus.

i write at awakened.

first cookout + photo challenge winner

summer is here. we had our first watermelon last week and I went to the first cookout of the year!!

// hamburgers // marshmallows // watermelon //

// chips // flowers // campfires // picnic ants // smoothies // sunshine

AND: I am so excited to announce the winner of the photo challenge :

Kyla!! 

congrats, girl! your photo was amazing!!

when summer has arrived...

that period between spring and summer is defiantly here! so it's been lots of sunshiney days, and everything is a vibrant color of green.
I've been super busy, which explains why I haven't been blogging a lot. I'm trying to finish up the last of 9th grade before we go on a huge trip back East in June, so that has defiantly kept me hopping. And I've been dealing with allergies, and a lot of other random stuff that has kept me quite busy. And I have a very special giveaway winner to announce:

the winner of this giveaway is Nessima Tavariel!!
Congrats girl! I shall contact you asap! 

p.s. pictures from our trip to the Royal Gorge are coming!