March 8: snow-day!

So, the the urban project that I'm directing is not starting today as planned and I enjoyed staying in my pajamas all day and not having to do anything! I love when that happens. You know what else I love? I love those rare moments when I see neighbor helping neighbor. Yes, you may think that that comment is laden with cheese, but I am absolutley serious. We as a culture just really don't know our neighbors at all these days. Today Katie and I learned some new things about Sean who helped us dig out our cars so that the plow could come through and we could park under the garage. It was nice.

March 7: popcorn

Tonight I ate popcorn and enjoyed being snowed in.

March 6: BONUS

So, tonight was my first night back at Oasis after a semester of support raising! In the blur of it all, I managed to leave two very important things on my chair when I left...my Bible and my camera. Whoops! But, thankfully, as the students were cleaning up they grabbed them for me and left me with this little morsel of delight - a great bonus picture of the day. I'm not exactly sure what prompted this, but it doesn't even matter...I can just imagine the conversation that preceded what you see here and that is good enough for me.

March 5: berry on ice

March 4: fish tails

It's been a while since I took a picture of these guys. I tried to take a picture today of my expiring driver's liscense because it is one of the best pictures I have of myself (I don't know what it is about me and photo id's but suddenly I become photogenic in front of the blue screen.....aye...why?!) and I have to turn it in....but alas, I was not ver successful on that front. So, here you have Desafortunadamente and Sacapunta floating around.

March 3: InterVarsity in East Central Ohio

This is my InterVarsity staff team of colleagues (plus a well loved staff-in-law and a very supportive roommate too!) We've been through a lot together over the last three years, helping each other on our campuses, praying for and encouraging one another, and singing with gusto around pianos across Ohio (one of my favorite parts of our meetings together). Today was no exception. We had lunch together at the Barn in Wooster. We realized that there are many sharp things and farming impliments dangling precariously from the ceiling. But it's all worth the risk for the honey butter.

March 2: index

Contemporary church music from 1987 has a certain feel about it...Katie found this little gem of an index and we were reminiscing about our childhoods' full of these "contemporary hits". We were both pretty happy that for the most part we've moved beyond that stage.

March 1: flower

FEBRUARY PICTURE OF THE MONTH

It's that time again, to vote on your favorite pictures of the month!

Click on 'Comments' to leave yours.

Also, guess what? I just got the internet installed at my apartment (thank you Al Gore)....so now I can update these pictures for your procrastinating pleasure, daily!

Many of you have been asking me what MY favorite pictures of the month have been. So here you are...the top three (I am very indecisive) of each moth.

1. September 5: Face-off
2. September 9: One Disgruntled Clown
3. September 19: Smile

1. October 24: Flowers in Oct.
2. October 29: Ohio
3. October 21:Why is there a tree in your kitchen?

1. November 3: A Duck
2. November 8: Lowry Paper Pile-up
3. November 9: Match

1. December 25: Talking with Great Grandma
2. December 1: Last of the Pumpkins
3. December 14: Stars on Ice

1. January 27: Hannah's Hat
2. January 16: Steamer
3. January 17: Not What I ordered

I realized that my favorite from each month was usually one I took spontaneously and somehow captured a moment just as I saw it. That is very gratifying!

There are two other common themes of what I liked best. One is that there are images that just struck me as funny (like the two people with orange hair in the same frame) or the newspaper stand even though neither of those are very good pictures in any other sense. The other theme is when someone, like my dentist or the random people I met in Chicago posed for a picture for me. I find those pictures most charming because I associate them with the conversations leading up to the picture and the fact that those people were willing to respond to my request so perfectly! It's impossible to separate myself from the sentimentality of meeting new people and taking their pictures. I'm sure there are probably rules about in photography class...but since I have never taken one I guess I don't really have to abide by those rules!

So, yes, those are my official opinions up to this point. It makes me happy to know that you pay attention to my pictures every day and that you have opinions about them too. It's added some sort of little spice to my life (I'm not exactly sure what spice it would be, but you know....)

February 29: the challenge

The swiss-army knife corkscrew didn't cut it...it actually broke and got stuck inside. This is one of my oldest, dearest friends, Abby giving it her best effort. We then remembered we had neighbors (funny how you forget, geesh) and they helped us solve the problem. It was very gratifying.

February 28: nightly picture battle

I wanted to give you a taste of the nightly picture battle that usually takes place with my roommate. It can get pretty exciting and hilarious as she tries to evade my snapping away.

February 27: market street

I love this little part of Cleveland across from the Westside market. This is the little veranda on the top floor of one of the apartment buildings.

February 26: snowy day

Today was just beautiful.

February 25: long lost friend

As deliberately unwilling to cooperate with a smile for this picture, this was Jared's idea for picture-of-the-day. We've known each other ever since we were babies, have both lived in this thriving metropolis of a town on and off for the last four years, and have been playing phone tag for about as long. Game over, as you see here!

February 24: blank canvases

I need a little help. I have had these canvases ever since I moved into my apartment this summer, but I haven't gotten any inspiration as to what to do with them! There are three and I was hoping to hang them in a little cluster over my couch. Any ideas?

February 23: annoyed

His name is Wooster and he is generally very skittish. Here he is giving me the look...the little pink string was not amusing him very much.

February 22: paper clips

I've been working on my organizational abilities as of late...here are some of my helpful tools.

February 21: bossy

I was waiting a ridiculously long time behind this car today. I thought it's liscense plate was sort of funny. Even though it's not a very good picture, I liked the yellow truck with the orange car. They look sort of like toy cars.

February 20: monkey off my back

Every other month I send out a newsletter about the ministry. Though I very much enjoy writing the letters and updating all of the people who are reading them, it is a pr-o-cess. My friend Julie describes the culmination of this project as getting rid of a monkey off your back. Here is what that feeling looks like in picture form, as impossible to convey as that is. After all the printing, folding, stamping, labeling, enclosing, signing....here is the neatly organized box of letters.

February 19: late-night snack

February 18: one clean pot

I thought I had ruined it...scorched it. But, thanks to Hannah's suggestion of boiling baking soda and water in it for a few minutes, look at it now!

September 17: spinning plates

Okay, so they weren't spinning, but "plates" wouldn't have been a very appealing title and they kind of look like they could be spinning. I got them for 50 cents a piece at the grocery store and they sort of match the few that I had. Now I can have more than 4 people over for dinner and have matching plates. I realize that if matching dishware is the most I have to worry about I'm really doing pretty good.

February 16: awww

The Wooster students came up with my picture of the day today. I didn't even have to ask them to pose like this! They were very inspired by the dated picture outside the hotel's gift shop.

February 15: paper dove

Lots of paper doves hanging from the ceiling at Cross Culture conference.

February 14: my spot

Today marks my fifth birthday in following Jesus! My mom made a nice dinner for us and I went stopped by my favorite spot overloooking the skyline of Cleveland, Ohio. The lake was frozen into pretty colors that matched the sky.

February 13: picture from my bed

this is one of those moments where you just want to hit the snooze button...my car topped with ice...topped with snow in Wooster, Ohio.

February 12: it's that time of year again...

...for candy heart sentences! Fax me sunshine in a fog my tiger. Right-o

February 11: parking security

These lil' monsters await me on the mornings that I babysit. They must just stand there and watch my car the entire time because this is how I leave them and this is how I find them when I come back. charm-ing. Doesn't the calf look scowly? I know.

February 10: frosty windows

and hot chocolate and Pride and Prejudice with the Gibson's. It was a nice winter evening.

February 9: it's that time again

Oh man. This whole tax form thing is not my strong suit. But, I tell you that I tried really hard today to figure all this out and I think I did okay. We'll see. I will say that I think that in all the spare time that I have I really could get a job re-writing that stupid book of instructions for the tax forms. It needs some serious revamping in order to help those of us who need remedial tax help.

February 8: parched watercolors

It's been a little while since I've painted. I think my watercolors could use a little water, and my soul could probably use a little art time.

February 7: wink

Even though I reloaded my camera with batteries this morning, they didn't hold their charge. I really wanted to take a picture with our chic looking guest speaker Lisa S. Harper who was visiting us from NYC, but the red blinking light of battery death did not allow me to do so. Thus, today you get the result of my tired self giving up on picture taking for the day. My roommate Katie graciously took care of it for me. Here is the result.

February 6: February Rainbow

We've had some amazing weather here in Wooster, Ohio. This afternoon I got to see a rainbow. It's faint, but if you look closely you can see it!

February 5: Focaccia or Hot Potato?

It was a delicious loaf of bread to be sure. It's just after I uploaded the pictures of it, it suddenly looked like a potoato to me, and not quite as appealing.

February 4: he liked me

Today was an amazing weather day. I was driving home from a meeting in Shreve on Rt.226 as a thick white fog lifted over the swamp. It was unbelievable. I had things to do but I couldn't help myself so I pulled over and took a bunch of pictures, none of which captured the scene to my satisfaction. Maybe it's better that way. But I did manage to make friends with this little sheep as I snapped away. He was far enough away from the swamp that the fog was not affecting him :)

February 3: Superbowl Twins

How cute are they? Pretty cute. Chris and Christy threw an amazing superbowl party, and these guys definitely added to the atmosphere.

February 2: Charlize

This is my bed - Charlize. It came with the name. I didn't know mattress companies were into naming their merchandise, but they are. Charlize has provided a cushiony, peaceful place for me to sleep for the last year -- something that I often need a little help doing. Charlize is also a donor to my ministry. I don't know who is in charge of her accounting or where her income is coming from but yes, my mattress apparently has a generous little heart.

February 1: flipped

It was a little windy today.

JANUARY PICTURE OF THE DAY!

Do you have a favorite picture of the day from January?

Vote here!

January 31: google master

This deserves a story. More later.

January 30: the farm next door

I've recently started babysitting for a family a few mornings a week. They live near a farm that has horses and cows, and a brand new baby calf. It's a really beautiful view out their window as you can see here. The boys are fun too. The two old has a fascination with kitchen utensils which I can already tell is going to be a challenge. Although, he can say "Spatula" with confidence and accuracy which I think is pretty impressive.

January 29

This afternoon our staff team worked hard to understand confusing forms. The coffee was pretty though.

January 28: salvaged

I found a bunch of stamps on letters with wrong addresses...so they have been freed from their unsendable envelopes and relocated to a little box in the kitchen drawer to be salvaged.

(P.S. loyal on-lookers. I am so sorry about the delay in posting pictures. I don't have internet where I live and the places I've gone to check my email haven't let me access this site! I don't know what they think the content is on here!)

January 27: Hannah's Hat

Hannah made her hat. It's beautiful.

January 26: The Tree

Here is the update on The Tree with the psychotic lights that I did away with. Katie and I have been trying to figure out to do with it, where to put it/hide it. We decided to decorate it for all seasons as our solution and make it a prominent part of our living room. Here is the hideous result of our valentine tree! It's even more vibrant in real life if you can believe it :) And, to my surprise, I kind of like it!

January 25: art night

Hannah and I finally had an art night after a whole semester of talking about it. This was the outcome for her bedroom wall.

January 24: today in hallmark

It struck me as funny that the "troubled relationship" card holder was the only one out. I don't know why but sometimes I just enjoy myself so much at hallmark, reading all the sappy cards that I don't have a reason to buy. These are particularly over the top...enlarge and see for yourself!

January 23: sun streak

The sun was AMAZING today. I got out of my car at one point to make sure that the streak of sun through the sky wasn't just a refraction in my window. It was like a column of light for a good half hour as the sun set.

January 22: wood pile

Home in the frigid lake-effect NE Ohio today, where thankfully my dad still heats the house with a wood burning furnace. (Sorry about the delay again...I've been internet accessless!)

January 21: uh oh

Soooooo, after dinner tonight, my little pine tree caught my eye. It was going nuts. It kept getting brighter and brighter as the bulbs spastically burnt out. Those lights are no longer on the tree.

January 20: taking care of business

Aubrey changes the freaky baby doll's diaper

January 19: cake in a row

Tonight, my church had a dessert for me and the students to share about our ministry on campus. I liked the way Pastor Regis arranged the cake.