i lift my eyes up.

1 I will lift up my eyes to the mountains—
where does my help come from?
2 My help comes from the LORD,
the Maker of heaven and earth.
3 He will not let your foot slip—
he who watches over you will not slumber;
4 indeed, he who watches over Israel
will neither slumber nor sleep.
5 The LORD watches over you—
the LORD is your shade at your right hand;
6 the sun will not harm you by day,
nor the moon by night.
7 The LORD will keep you from all harm—
he will watch over your life;
8 the LORD will watch over your coming and going
both now and forevermore.

what an incredible passage of scripture. one that never ceases to encourage and strengthen. my dear friend michele reminded me of this beloved passage in an e-mail the other day. she does that...knows when and how to encourage me. thank you michele!

SO, this passage is particularly relevant to my life because i have decided to make a huge shift...i have decided to go up to the mountains for a time of refreshment, nourishment, and rejuvenation. in other words i am going home. i know! i am so excited. i have decided that i want to commit myself more fully to pursuing photography and developing my business. and in order to do this, i thought it an ideal time to get some family and crowley time in. how many more times in my life would i get to do such a thing? so, homeward bound i am headed. i resigned from my post at Eye of the Day Garden Design Center and am now finishing out my last two weeks along with wrapping up my life here in Santa Barbara.

it is a strange thing to be leaving my primary home of four years. a place i love. full of such wonderful memories and friends. in someways it feels like when i moved to Westmont. weird. i sometimes am tempted to feel that i am moving backwards by moving home, only to realize the opportunities i have at hand there. opportunities to rest, to seek direction, to be with my family, to read, to photograph, create, build, and plan. a chance to chart a new course. i feel like i have been out to sea for far too long and it is time that i come into port to re-fuel and stretch-out a bit. to be on solid ground and gather my future bearings and headings.

august 15th marks my last day in santa barbara. and a beginning of a new chapter. i am interested to see what comes of it. but here is what will for sure be involved: family. friends. travel. photography. reading. prayer. hiking. design. i am headed up to the mountains faithful that the Lord will meet me there and will direct my course...