Everyone loves surface things. It's easy to show what is on the top, the growing, beautiful things. We love to see what is blooming. We put it out there into the world, not necessarily in a bad way, but it's out there. We see it. Stuff. Achievements. Happy moments. Beautiful adventures. Snapshots and stories of what we can see and quantify. All the things that are beautiful. Our world is obsessed with what grows above the surface. Stay on social media long and you'll see things like "how to grow your platform" or ads saying "you need this" or carefully curated ways to get more likes and acceptance in this world. And it's all based on what you can see. Happiness is found in enrichment, enjoyable things, abundance, leisure, travel, a cute house, a cute family, a cute wardrobe, cool friends and just the right balance between killing it and exploring the world. (Among other things of course.) These things are the measure of success. Do what makes you happy and show everyone your wonderful life, with just a touch of real thrown in so we know it's legit.

It's hard to believe the immensity of the things I have yet to post here from Spring and Summer. Today I had to share a few of our adventures from Colorado this Spring. We flew out for my 1:1 workshop and spent a few extra days driving all over what felt like half of the state, which may or may not be true! We drove over to Crested Butte (where we had an anniversary session with Laura Nelson -she's amazing!) then to Telluride, Silverton, Colorado Springs and down to the Great Sand Dunes National Park. We saw as much as we possibly could in four days. I don't get to do as many adventures with my husband, so these memories are so sweet for me. We had a lot of time together in the car, talking about life and dreams. And bonus, we'll plan on using the memories that we created as album art for our upcoming album, which many of you probably don't know. Some of these places were inspiration for writing and have had a big impact on our lives. Travel is incredible that way. It's so refreshing to get away from the "normal" and experience something fresh, let it seep into who I am and harness what truths become vivid for everyday living. I wish I had more poetic words for these images, but that will probably have to wait for the music that goes along with them soon. 

I have had the pleasure of knowing Ashley for over six years now. One of the wonderful aspects of social media (back then, blogging) is the opportunity to meet kindred spirits. She is one of the rare, beautiful souls I have had the pleasure of getting to know in real life as well. When she contacted me about doing a session in their home, I was thrilled. They have such a sweet, tender love and knowing their hearts makes it even more special for me. Unbeknownst to me, Ashley & Louis had just found out they were expecting a baby that very morning! When she told me a week later, I almost cried. I love the challenge of infusing meaning and depth in everything I create, but this session goes beyond what I could have devised - it feels like providence to me. I'm so thankful for these two, and for Ashley's sweet friendship over the years.

"The Spirit of the Lord God is upon me...
He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted,
to proclaim liberty to the captives...
to comfort all who mourn;
to grant to those who grieve in Zion -
to give them a crown of beauty instead of ashes,
the oil of joy instead of mourning,
 a garment of praise instead of a spirit of despair.
They will be called oaks of righteousness, 
 a planting of the Lord for the display of His splendor.
  They will rebuild the ancient ruins
    and restore the places long devastated;
They will renew the ruined cities
    that have been devastated for generations." 
(Isaiah 61)

What is the point of "making it" or "having a name" if it doesn't have deep-seeded meaning or lasting impact? I can't get this image out of my mind - of vast sandcastle kingdoms that won't last, that cannot be transferred to beyond the grave. I knew the views of the Great Sand Dunes in Colorado would be incredible, but it moved my heart in such a powerful way. I cannot escape the imagery and it's parallel to life. The sand seemed unending. Peak after peak continued as far as I could see. In a moment, the wind would come gusting through the enormous sand mountains and valleys, changing the landscape and reconstructing the best way to climb to the top. Does that not sound like our world? One moment success is xyz, the next week the world is different, changing the path to the top by something as small as an Instagram algorithm. What if it is all gone tomorrow? All the "names" and "fame" that has been constructed around a grand facade, all gone in a moment. What then when then great sandcastle kingdom has blown away, every piece small granule scattered in the wind? 

Matt & Alex have had quite the journey to get to their wedding day. After meeting in Chicago they had secret crushes on each other and friends for over a year. Not long after they made things official, Alex was transferred to New York but moved to Denver to be together. Since Alex's family lives in Dallas and Matt's in Denver, they decided to go for an intimate destination wedding with their closest friends and family. The 30a area has a special meaning to them since Alex's family lived there for a time as she grew up.