Boone, NC :: Ship Rock

I especially like this photo because I'm pretty sure I squint when I look at it. I give you permission to stare at the sun. Just this one. Try if you dare. This particular evening we hiked up in a furious gust of wind, but the payoff was priceless. Mountain sides of luminous color challenged our previous perception of reality. Seriously, it was gorgeous. Today, most of the color is gone. We are heading into winter and all I've got to remind me of those colors is this post... well, and a few other photos. Maybe if you ask I'll put up another.
*update*
Due to requests I've selected two more photos to post. There is always some sort of journey on your way to adventure and the first photo shows my friend Chad working through the underside of the beauty you see in photo two. Photo two was taken after the sun had dipped below the mountain to the left and the remaining light caused the trees to glow in a strange way.

Samaritan's Purse :: Paul Sherar, Photographer

This is Paul Sherar. Friend and fellow photographer at Samaritan's Purse. I want to direct you to his blog because he has just recently posted a few photos from the Phillippines, where Samaritan's Purse is working their hardest to deliver emergency supplies to those furthest from help.
Also make sure to check in to the blog of Samaritan's Purse photographer, Matt Powell. Paul and Matt are two storytellers and creative artist that I admire and learn from every day. I have no doubt you will be impacted by their work.

Boone, NC :: Fall, Fetch, Explosives

Kristen and I went for a walk with our dog, Chai, on a beautiful, foggy day. Seriously, we love the fog. Even the rain is fun for us. Our house is surrounded by woods and the mountains and hills serve as a pretty decent backdrop. Okay, it's amazing and we love every bit of it. Going for hikes through the woods is becoming a favored activity for us, and Chai continues to tell us she's pretty sure she is part Australian Shepherd. Seriously, Chai. She chases deer on a daily bases and has yet to be challenged. Her ego is huge. Today she posed on a ton of explosives kept in a vault in the woods. I think this whole outside dog routine is really getting to her.

Boone, NC :: Step Outside And Look Up

Sometimes I just have to step outside and look up into the heavens, take a deep breath, talk to God and jump back in to whatever I am doing. Late last night I wandered around outside our home, camera in hand. I have a thousand things I want to do, updating this blog being one of them, but through all the spinning items in my head I could not seem to focus on even one. Looking up into the vastness of the universe has a way of loosening the tightening strap around my list of things to do, my worries, my fears. Sometimes even my desire for the greatest endeavors get pushed into a box, and the once beautiful wrappings begin to take on a more ominous color, and the bows and ribbons turn into ugly vines. So many things requiring so much time I cannot seem to provide. "Stepping outside" seems to put everything back in to perspective. God is my King, I am his servant, whatever it is that I am able to do I want to perform for the service of Him. The heavens have a way of restoring my will and encouraging my spirit. Praise be to God for being such a wonderful escape.
Psalm 16:11 says,
"You will show me the path of life;
In Your presence is fullness of joy;
At Your right hand are pleasures forevermore."