So This Is What It Feels Like To Live Life

The last couple weeks of my life have carefully guided by Jesus. I have witnessed Him moving in my life in so many different ways that it just leaves me in awe. That isn't to say that there aren't down moments....they just seem to be easier to get through with Jesus on my side.

Discipleship through the church has definitely made me stronger and I have witnessed how God can use somebody small like me to do big things.

Echo life group is going strong and God has allowed me to connect with some of the students there. I am finding that I have a lot in common with a new friend and I am so thankful that she has come into my life. God has big plans for her and I think he is allowing me to invest in her. It's really cool how by investing in others you also invest in yourself. (I was also given the opportunity to take senior pictures for one the students of my life group and they turned out great!)

Art Walk this past weekend went great. It was such a blessing from God to get the opportunity to show some of my photography and I was even asked to show again next month. So cool! Throughout the night I heard positive comments and everyone seemed to really enjoy the photos. I love that God is allowing me to show the beauty of the world through my eyes.

A new website is up and running @ www.allecait.com. Some of my work can be found there and as more kinks are worked out more photos will go up.

I am also really excited to have the privilege to be a bridesmaid in my aunts wedding in a couple of weeks. Of course the camera is going with me and I can't wait to see what shots I can get. :)

So many other little moments in my life that are definitely Jesus moments. Even the little things seem to matter so much more as I know they are little gifts from God.

One of those moments being at our life group cook out when one of my leaders sat down next to me and we sat together sharing a quilt. She is an amazing woman of God and I am thankful for her influence on my life.I was especially touched by this small act that might go unnoticed by most but since things like that don't normally happen it is something I will remember.

Everyone needs those extra little moments that shows them they are love and it just goes to show that sometimes it is the little things that touch the hearts of those around you the most. :)

A Heart Touched by God

Lately my heart has been touched by the little blessings around me. God is definitely moving in my heart and as I surrender it to Him I see him show up more and more. I look around and I see God's hand moving in everything I do. :) It is such a cool thing to witness and even though I find it hard to put into words it always seems to make my heart smile.

This week has been a week of boldness, courage, and sweet moments that I will hold onto forever.

I know that God is big especially after I saw how He used me this week and changed lives of those who were broken.

I was also very touched by some of the friends God has placed in my life and their sweet actions. :)

The photo above was themed around the thought of sitting down and taking the time to talk to God. When my sister said that she was talking to coach I felt my heart catch. She lost a a mentor, a coach and most of all a friend this year and my heart was touched by the innocence of her thoughts.

My sister and I shared a moment of remembrance today for a friend, knowing that she has gone to be with Jesus and that was all part of his plan.

God is a big God with a heart for the details.

God may lead you where you have never been but He will be holding your hand the entire way.

My heart has been made incredibly happy tonight by the provisions of God and how He can change lives.

I may not be the most outgoing or talkative person but I learn a lot by watching the world around me and God is teaching me with the little details. I am so thankful for the strong people He has placed in my life. They have not only touched my heart but their actions have taught me a lot about living a life for Jesus.

It's so crazy in my mind to think that God will use me to reach others in the same way. It's a scary and exhilarating thought all in one- somedays I have no idea how I can be used by God and then in the moments when it happens I question why I ever doubted God. He is after all God and our lives are perfectly planned out by him- I don't think it can get much better than that. :)

A Dandelion's Song

For all the times when words weren't enough. This says it perfectly.

Walking along the path, I spot
puffy white orb-
A Dandelion
a weed
Infinitely more beautiful than its
grassy fellows
endless, identical
To Me
I feel akin to this fluffy oddball
I am drawn
childlike
I grasp the delicate stem,
Bringing it near to my lips
Make a wish
a prayer.
I wish for peace,
in the world
in my heart
I wish for love,
true love
I wish for direction,
hope
I blow with all my breathe
wish with all my being-
Disperse
miniature white parachutes.
In my mind
I Too
Detach
in a million different directions,
I Am
the hopes
the dreams
the prayers
the wishes of the world
a generation;
my peers
my family
Myself-
I Am blown.
Carried by a passing breeze
soft, gentle then-
Grabbed by a far more violent gust
I fall
tumble
rise
twist
Change directions.
I have traveled far-
have far to travel
not sure now far
I Am Not Lost-
just searching
for a purpose
a reason
an answer
a place to land
to stay-
To Take Root

-Author Unknown-

Beautiful Day

I was so excited for this lovely picture that I captured today. Loving dreamy quality. :)

Today has been a wonderful day- all because I chose to have a positive attitude.

I went to school at 7:30 this morning to take the ACT and after hearing everyone gripe about how awful it was going to be I made the decision to be happy about taking the test. Attitude really does make a difference because I went in this morning excited and surprisingly not nervous. Though I did struggle with some of the questions I knew I was doing my best and I was happy to be there.

After coming home my sister and I went to take some pictures. :) I had been waiting to use this gorgeous antique chest I had found several weeks ago and today seemed like the perfect day.

This picture just seems to make my heart smile. Love it.

New camera lens!!

I had been having camera trouble for the past couple weeks. The shutter on my camera kept locking up every time I tried to shoot long distance. I had no idea what was wrong and I was really hoping it wasn't something with the actual camera its self.

Upon taking my camera into Lawrence Photo they informed me that it was merely the setting I was shooting on, but when they took the camera outside for a test shoot they quickly encountered the same problems I was having. Its not very reassuring to have a worker at Lawrence Photo tell you they have never had that problem before and they don't know what wrong. Ahhhhh!

Since I only had one lens I was shooting with I asked if they would test another lens on my camera body to see if it was the lens causing problems.

Thankfully they didn't have any problems once they switched lenses.

I took my broken lens home but things just seemed to get worse. I had been able to shoot close up without any problem but then my lens started having focusing problems close up too :(.

After receiving a slightly unexpected financial blessing I was able to go back to Lawrence today and buy a new lens. I even got to upgrade from what I was shooting with before :).

After talking with the people there today we realized I had probably been shooting with a lens that had problems since I first got it. I bought it used so I guess that is to be expected. It was slightly funny to see how a lens should normally work and how mine wasn't doing those things.

So excited to use my new lens and see how a properly working lens is suppose to shoot. :)

Opportunities

I was recently asked to gather some of my photographs to possibly be displayed at art walk next month. Its amazing the opportunities that God provides as we go on this journey with Him.

In the midst of looking through some of the stuff I had taken I was quickly reminded of Haiti and the dream that has been placed on my heart to go there. I feel called to go and do ministry as well as bring back a photo journalism type project with the theme of "touch".

As of right now I have no idea how everything will work out- but do we ever really know? If I am meant to be there God will open doors and provide the opportunities I need to get there.

Praying for the November trip and that something will change in my parent's hearts as God speaks to them.

Believing for something so much bigger than anything I could ever accomplish on my own.