peace, if possible

Peace if possible,

TRUTH at all costs.

—Martin Luther

Just a few simple words. But tonight they are words that I hold fast to. Truth is imperative to the stability of my soul. Peace is a precious bi-product of truth, but truth is what I fight to maintain.

going to sleep speaking truth tonight.

For all designers who are chemists at heart

For all of you designers or typefreaks who are chemists at heart, I give you the Periodic Table of Typefaces.


From Reddoor Design Blog.

Today I feel...

Today I feel like...

I have my hands full.

Quanns+Marks | Sisters pics

Once upon a time there were two sets of sisters who loved each other very much. Here is a sampling of their crazy, insane love for God and each other.

Ladies and gentlemen, I give you:
Lindsey Quann, Jenna Quann, Kristen Marks, & Michele Marks.


Crazy girls.


Jenna & Linz know how to turn on the drama.




Linz has trouble getting a real smile. So we practiced.


Until she got it.


Hellllllllooooooo, Jenna.


Apparently Jenna thinks that drama is funny.




One of my favorite shots.


Michele, you're incredible.


I repeat, incredible.


Kristen reminds me of a pixie.






Change of outfits: now they're gypsies & hippies.















Linz and Kristen had a difficult time with the serious faces this time.






Prayers— an important part of the Quann+Marks friendship.


Thank you, birds, for posing so perfectly.


Jail Alley. Yes.

Wordplay

I just walked upstairs to refill my coffee cup, and was reminded that words don't always mean what we think they mean.

I spent Monday in DC with my new friend, Caitlin Muir from Portland, Oregon. Caitlin is a writer, a dreamer, and a fellow coffee lover, and she brought me some Stumptown Coffee, roasted just twelve days ago. Holy cow— to say this is good coffee would be drastically non-sufficient. So today I'm breaking my "mostly half-caff" rule, and indulging in a big mug of fully-charged goodness. Good coffee deserves good treatment, of course.

Now, fresh-brewed Stumptown Coffee is reason enough to refill the coffee mug today. But the real reason that I had to pour myself another cup is because... I spilled my first one. [hangs head in embarrassment] Yep. Dumped the whole thing over on itself. Last week I finally got around to joining the Starbucks Gold cool club, and when the card came in the mail today, I got so excited that I completely knocked over my coffee mug. Classic.

ANYWAY...

I was in the kitchen, somewhere near the coffee pot, when I heard Sean mutter under his breath, "boxer rebellion." I stopped. I know for a fact that he's immersed in American History right now. I listen to his school video while I work on my laptop in the mornings. I also know for a fact that he hasn't started World History yet, so I naturally wondered what on earth he was talking about. So I asked him.

"Sean, do you know what the Boxer Rebellion is?" He responded with a very confident affirmative. Carter walked into the kitchen. "Well, I don't know what it is," he said. I asked Sean to enlighten us all, and his face grew a little less confident. "Well, I'm pretty sure that I know what it is." "Okay," I said, "tell me what you think it is." His face went from semi-confident to extremely unsure in about 3.7 seconds. "Actually, I don't know what it is. I know what I mean when I say it, but..." His voice trailed off. "Okay, so what do you mean?" I asked. He looked a little sheepish, and then said, "It's when your boxers come up above your pants, and you have to pull your pants up."

And at this moment I almost spilled my coffee again, this time from laughter. I explained what the term "Boxer Rebellion" usually refers to, and Sean looked even more sheepish. He explained that Charlie uses that term a lot (in Sean's context), and we all laughed a bit.

Oh, my family. They never cease to amaze and entertain me.

The whole scenario made me think about the words I say, and how understanding is influenced by context, and history, and culture, and worldview, and so many other things at work beneath the surface and in the air surrounding our words. Given the vast differences between each individual on the face of this planet, I marvel that we can understand one another, at all. Proverbs 2:6 says that God is the one who gives wisdom, and "from His mouth come knowledge and understanding."

I know communication is not impossible, as long as I have Christ as my worldview.

[a boxer rebellion, according to Sean]


And in case you were wondering... yes, Jason Mraz's voice is dancing through my head right now, 'cause "it's all about the wordplay."

Introverted thoughts

The past four days have been full of a greater range of emotions than I have words to express. So much took place— so much newness, so much fellowship, so much change, so much of the unexpected. Perhaps I'll have words for it tomorrow. Perhaps it will sink in without words, quietly taking it's place in the halls of memory and in the concourses of change. I don't know.

I just know it was a good weekend, and that I'm tired in every good way. And right now, I'm okay with the inward process.

Be happy in Him, O my heart, and in nothing but God, for whatever a man trusts in, from that he expects happiness. He who is the ground of they faith should be the substance of thy joy. —Valley of Vision

Self-portrait, taken in Capitol Hill Presbyterian Church during a DC adventure with Caitlin Muir today.

NOTE: If you were once my facebook friend, we probably aren't friends anymore. My facebook account corrupted over the last week, so I had to delete it and open an new account. You can friend me here. I look forward to being friends with you again.

Danny+Alex

Danny rocked back and forth on his feet, staring straight ahead. "Is she coming yet? Is she getting close?" he asked, trying hard not to turn around and peek. "Are you nervous?" I asked him. "No, no! This is awesome! I just want to see her."

Behind him, Alex slowly made her way toward him, her happy smile outshining the afternoon sunlight. "I just want to see Danny. Everything will be fine once I see Danny," she had said that morning, taking a deep breath to ease stress.

As she drew close, he turned around and welcomed her into his arms. Her eyes filled with tears as she rested her head on his shoulder. And everything was just okay.

From the sweetness of their first moments together, to the bubbles floating up toward the stars as they drove away, Danny+Alex's wedding day was full of memories.

Danny+Alex, thank you for letting me share in your day. I hope that the rest of your married life is as sweet and wonderful as your wedding day.









Keep the bridesmaids caffeinated, and maintain sanity.


Last minute decorating.


Grandmother's garter






Fabulous foot shot by my second-shooter, Hannah Copeland.






Danny, waiting to see Alex for the first time.


Alex, making her way to her man.




Another great shot from Hannah's camera.


My viewpoint (and my favorite shot of the day).




My view.


Hannah's view.










Hannah's master-skill.


Danny+Alex had a fabulous wedding party full of amazing people. Holy cow— so much fun!!




Yes, yes. We did Abbey Road remix.


















The clock strikes six, and the wedding begins.




Wating "in the wings"








Happy to be married!




Yeah, we totally did jowling photos.