BANFF & JASPER NATIONAL PARKS
The surreal turquoise lakes and majesty of these mountains truly does make Banff and Jasper National Parks the crowned jewels of the Canadian Rockies. I felt deeply fortunate to be able to spend time communing with some of the most beautiful landscapes in the world. While there are so many stunning places on earth, what stood out to me about the Canadian Rockies is how nature really seems to be protected and prioritized. See more…
PALM SPRINGS & JOSHUA TREE
The dry bake of the heat, soft purple hues of dusk, cold nights, howling wind across the wide open land, a giant clear sky of stars, slow and quiet, Gambel’s Quail calls, coyote tracks, tequila, the chirpy greeting of a hummingbird, dusty shoes, the prick of a cactus spine, lizards sunbathing in bliss, bumpy dirt roads, straw sun hats, loose clothing, Native American history, handmade pottery and art. The desert is one of my muses. Although my heart was formed way out here in the lush green humidity of North Carolina, the desert light still managed to pierce through. It’s an extreme place, but it captures and inspires me in a unique way. Suddenly I’m an artist again. My creativity is awake. A healthy rawness exposed from underneath the too-fat corporate sludge. See more…
CARMEL-BY-THE-SEA / BIG SUR / SEQUOIA & KINGS CANYON NATIONAL PARKS
This adventure with mom was inspired by her mom, my Yiayia. Wow, did we all love Yiayia! She was the sweetest, warmest, and gentlest soul who shaped so many of my earliest memories. When I think of her, I instantly smile and feel warm and calm. Yiayia always had that special place in my heart and always got my best love, which often meant piling blankets on her and surrounding her with my favorite stuffed animals. Stepping into her home meant smelling something warm and delicious in the oven, Pete Sampras or Lawrence Welk on TV, hugging her small body which stopped below my chin, and sometimes hearing her yell at Pappou in Greek through her teeth, haha. She had a funny sassy side – most notably during card games, when our focused silence would be broken the moment she knew she was about to beat us all. In our weary defeat, she’d laugh uncontrollably til red in the face while slamming each winning card down, and we loved it because she was just our cute little Yiayia in her fuzzy orange nightgown, slippers and big glasses. See more…
New Mexico might be the most underrated state I’ve ever been to. Part of me wants to tell everyone about it because it seems to go mostly unrecognized — more people were surprised to hear that we were visiting there than people who have been, or for that matter, even know anyone who’s been. “Oh really? What’s in New Mexico? Are you visiting family or something?” Yeah yeah I know my husband looks some kind of native but no, he’s from Peru. But another part wants to help keep it secret so it doesn’t get overrun with influencers or corporations. Thankfully my reach is minimal at best, so I guess the secret is out for the one or two people that might read this blog (hi mom). See more…
I’m astonished at how much beauty one state can hold. Oregon is an emerald gem of our beautiful country, one that’s sweetly unpretentious and welcoming. We took a road trip down the entire coast and back up through central Oregon, making a full loop. The rocky coast is softened by a blanket of moss, evergreens and quaint towns that are in no hurry. The coast is home to some of the biggest trees in the world and to silly barking sea lions that play in caves and pools along the shorelines. We enjoyed oysters by the water, witnessed whales roaming free in their natural waters, and explored the nostalgia of where Mikey and the other Goonies started their adventures. We were humbled to be able to stand small at the base of the giant old-growth redwoods, marveling at their magnificence, in an isolated area far away from crowds, hearing nothing except the pure sounds of forest life. See more…
Yellowstone is a national treasure and a must-visit. It’s the first national park in the United States and has some of the most fascinating geological features and wildlife in the country all within the park. You’re pretty much guaranteed to see bison everywhere, but the other wildlife is a bit more rare to see, but we saw lots! In total we saw a black bear, a grizzly mama bear with three cubs, a moose, elks with one baby, a fox, pronghorns, prairie dogs, and loads of bison (including very up close views as they walked in front of our car). The land is incredibly diverse with geysers, colorful hot springs, waterfalls, rivers, canyons, and gorgeous valleys that are home to all the thriving wildlife, all sitting on top of a massive supervolcano. We couldn’t believe the vast difference of landscape within an hour drive from one spot to the next. I’ve never seen anything like it. See more…
Grand Teton National Park is absolutely breathtaking. The Tetons are definitely now one of my favorite mountain ranges. The land around is completely flat, and then BAM, jagged snow-capped mountain peaks tower out of the earth, claiming authority over all the land. Mom and I only had really one full day here, but we made the absolute most of it. There’s tons of hiking here. We got very lucky as we just picked a trail kind of randomly, and it was fantastic. It started at the String Lake Trailhead all the way to Hidden Falls and Inspiration point, which runs alongside Jenny Lake. It was about 6 miles out and back, and it was an easy hike til you get to the mountain and go up to Inspiration Point. See more…
As a kid growing up in the 90s in North Carolina, I spent much of my time outside in the yard and walking through the woods along a winding creek. When I was inside, I was writing stories about magical paths through the forest and all the fantastical things one would encounter along the way, illustrating my backyard woods as the setting. Until I left in my late 20s to seek what I felt I was missing (city life, dating, wooo), I never knew how much I took for granted the things that surround my childhood memories; giant oak trees, the sound of birds in the morning, cicadas in the hot afternoon, the surprising comfort of steamy humidity and rainbows after a summer storm, and fresh snow that would remain unbothered. See more…
There are few things like the soft hues of the desert sunrise and sunset. We ended our road trip at a super swanky inn in Tuscon, Arizona and it was undoubtedly one of most incredible places I’ve ever stayed. I can’t speak enough to the attention to detail in all the spaces, the way they brought the outdoors in and reflected the desert lifestyle in every corner. The property itself was in the middle of the desert, so without really leaving, we could walk around a few little nature trails. Neither of us are early morning people, but for some reason while we were in the desert, we were both awake and ready to go at sunrise almost daily. This rhythm feels impossible at home but it honestly felt SO good. So right. There’s something pure about being outside while all the animals wake up as the sun rises and all is calm. See more…
Zion National Park left me speechless at every turn. Angel’s Landing and The Narrows were two of the most unique and breathtaking hikes I’ve ever done. The Narrows hike went through the very cold Virgin River, so the whole hike is in the water, on rocks and sometimes a sandy bank. The further you go upstream, the thinner the crowds get. You can for many hours but we turned back about two hours in and barely saw anyone by that point. We went in the morning so the sun poured through the canyons and reflected a rich orange color off the rock. See more…
The land of Arizona is truly special. There’s a striking, unconventional beauty about it, especially when shades of desert green dance across the red surface, and jewel-toned water runs through it, reminding the enormous walls what carved their existence. Much more elegant than the obnoxious red clay in North Carolina that stains everything (if ya know ya know). Horseshoe Bend and Sedona were two pretty quick stops on our road trip, but they were incredibly memorable. See more…
An American staple of the wild west, the Grand Canyon! We were in awe as we approached its rim, overcome with the vastness of what was just a fraction of its colossal size. It’s hard to even comprehend how far the other side is, but it’s just about as far away as you can see. What’s even harder to wrap my head around is the magnitude of time and force that it took to form this. Mind-blowing to say the least. See more…
Fresh Colorado mountain air really is all you need sometimes. This time was pure magic and I left feeling totally renewed and grounded. A few months before I got hitched, one of my best friends and I did a little road trip around this piece of Heaven on Earth. We started in an old saloon-style western town, Fairplay, before heading up to the San Juan mountains to camp for a couple nights, and galavanting through Ouray, the most perfect mountain town you’ve ever seen. A couple days later, in my ripe old age of 33, I pulled my back within 5 minutes of an overly-aggressive rowing move while white water rafting down Browns Canyon on the Arkansas River. Lucky for me, T held down the raft in all her might, and the trip concluded by soaking in the healing powers of the hot springs in Buena Vista of the Sawatch Range. Most of this not pictured, because of fun being had in the moment. See more…
Before going to Marrakech, one of the most common words I’ve heard used to describe it was, “crazy”. Crazy in the sense of busy, the constant shriek of moped beeps, crowds, getting hustled, and donkeys causing traffic jams in the streets. Honestly sounds kind of like New York, only in New York you encounter a different kind of ass in the street. While we were in Iceland a year ago, Linnea and I thought Marrakech would be an exciting contrast to the dreamy land of rainbows and ponies we were currently in. It’s like I forgot that I had to spend a full year in New York crazy mode before we would get to Marrakech, so when the time rolled around, I was kind of ancy that it’d be a continuation of my anxiety. Lucky for us, we found the most dazzling and perfect oases the city had to offer. I was so relaxed! See more…
Iceland – the land of fire and ice. A geological wonderland that is truly one of nature’s masterpieces. It’s a literal hotspot just south of the arctic circle made up of volcanoes, lava fields covered in spongy moss, hot springs and glaciers, which certainly makes it one of the most unique and stunning places I’ve ever been. What other country can be defined by waterfalls, rainbows, tiny ponies and sheep? I mean, how precious is that? Just the kind of pure therapy I needed from the city. See more…
For my thirtieth, my gentleman and I took a trip to Guatemala. We started in Antigua, and spent the rest of our time on Lake Atitlán in this jaw-dropping bungalow/resort/dreamy escape. Waking up the first morning really sealed the deal when we were having breakfast on our front porch overlooking the water, and the most gorgeous girl golden retriever happily jumped on our porch with a ball. If anyone knows me, they know that I am obsessed with animals, especially cute puppies (and elephants). We fell in love, cuddled on the porch, played ball, and immediately established our sense of home and love. See more…
Dearest City — You know I got love for ya, but sometimes I think we need a break from each other. I didn’t think I’d say this, but, I’m interested in someone else too. Someone a little more grounded and who understands me on a deeper level. Someone I probably see myself with more long term. Yeah, you’re fun and sexy, you make my heart race, you offer so much. You’re wild and adventurous. But I just can’t keep up all the time. So… I’m going to see nature this weekend. See more…
Ever heard about the horrors of finding a place to live in New York? Here’s my story, which apparently is really normal and average. Kind of hard to believe, but people’s apologetic reaction to you telling them you’re apartment hunting supports that notion. I’ve learned that sometimes you really have to just laugh it all off to survive and keep going. So I’ve been laughing a lot lately. See more…
Last year, I had the opportunity to work alongside a phenomenal crew on a film that documented men on either side of the poaching crisis in Africa. While the crew ventured into the ominous territory of poachers and ivory traders, I spent my time learning about the men that offer their loyalty and protection to the magnificent animals on the blade of extinction. I created a portrait series, Watchmen 20, which paints a glimpse of these rare animals and their protectors. Although there is no tangible object that can capture raw conflict and emotion, I hope that the photos help to transport viewers’ minds across the globe where this crisis is a daily reality. I designed and self-published a book of this series, which has found a home on many coffee tables of those who share our passion. See more…
I went to my first ever fashion show during Fashion Week in New York for designer, LaQuan Smith. LaQuan is an incredible designer and person, and was even named on the 2015 Forbes 30 Under 30 List for his exceptional work and success at such a young age. One of my steady clients, Lust for Life Footwear, partnered with LaQuan for this fashion show by pairing their shoes with his clothing. The results were bold and cutting edge, and the presentation was art in itself. I admit I couldn’t help but squeeze and kiss the dobermans every time I passed them. I feel very fortunate to have been a part of it! See more…
Of all the cities we explored in Europe, London felt the most like a friend. A well-mannered city wrapped in tweed — it contains more than its sophisticated skin. Artists, immigrants, brick dipped in graffiti, and creepy trinkets at flea markets from who knows when. We said hello, but spent most of our time venturing past the known and adored sites and into the heart of what really weaves London together. Some days we didn’t do much, and just enjoyed the scattered rain and cool air while we worked in coffee shops. The tube — London’s underground train — carried us around town and often entertained us with drunken tales of those leaving the bar after watching the Rugby World Cup. The camera slept most of this time, giving me a chance to be more present. See more…
Paris was arguably my favorite city that Natasha and I went to. I was surprised to find it much like New York in its artistic and rugged culture. Bicyclists and cigarette butts may outnumber even the pigeons. Paris holds a key to the wonders of some of the most iconic artists in history — from genius works at the Louvre to the stories kept alive for centuries on the cobblestone streets on which some artists were bred. I had never been so awestruck by a work of art that I was brought to tears until I saw the Winged Victory at Samothrace at the Louvre. It was the most stunning sculpture I’d ever seen — I felt so overpowered, and even submissive, simply by the majestic strength that the figure exuded. See more…
Nestled at the cozy base of Paris’s highest natural point, Montmartre is an artsy neighborhood that lives gladly away from the touristic rush of Paris’s most famous areas. Women crossing the street with fresh baguettes in hand, quaint flower shops and the best-dressed men you’ve ever seen riding bikes on the cobble stone streets are just a few of the things you’ll be sure to see when you’re in this hood. I could feel humility and passion in each shop we went into, from chocolatiers to boutiques to bars. Everyone knows everyone. People seem to know how to slow down and enjoy a slower pace of life away from the rush, enjoying cigarettes and red wine knee-to-knee on the sidewalks outside of cafes. It’s a place where the waiter on the street corner becomes your person you wave to every afternoon, where you order the same brunch spread every weekend at your favorite spot, and where you can get fresh produce on the street side every day to fill your kitchen. See more…
The warm sea breeze welcomed us right off the plane — a stark contrast to the cold rainy days we left behind in London. My brain delighted in the comfort of remembering conversational Spanish, enough to carry on friendly chats in taxis, navigate through the city, and order tapas y vino a las restaurantes, la parte mas importante. Barcelona has a warm, laid-back mediterranean vibe by the water with casual bikers in every sightline. The relaxed lifestyle in El Born (a hood rich in history and old gothic architecture — where we stayed) is one that we easily got acclimated to and often envisioned ourselves in long term. All the old alleyways were lined with tapas bars and specialty shops that sat just below old apartments with potted gardens flowing over the balconies. It’s a place that I didn’t have enough time to get to know, so it’s on my heart to go back. See more…
My beautiful best friend moved to London this year. She’s there for just a year, so before life got out of hand, I promised I’d come visit her. After a long day of hauling around my bags through cold airports and bustling trains, I felt comforted to arrive at this cozy home in the Clapham area of London. Natasha being there in all of her hospitable glory is what really made it feel like home. After a few hours of unplanned sleep, I awoke to freshly appreciate this historic little flat’s charm on a rainy day. It’s happily tucked in a long quiet row of identical white houses that each have a different color front door. Natural light breathes freely throughout each spacious room, and the lush green garden warmly hugs the house, inviting what’s inside to come out. In the calm of the mornings, we drank hot tea in the natural light that softly fell through the french doors, just before we headed out to explore London or work in coffee shops. At night, we had some of the most fun times over dinners with her multi-cultured European roommates — dinners that usually involved floods of red wine and champagne, dance offs, and theatrical accent imitations. See more…
We woke up in dry, red Utah and hours later drove to this thirst-quenching turquoise gem, Hanging Lake, near the top of a mountain. T was worried we wouldn’t make it in time to have a place to park, and she was right. We ended up having to backtrack on the highway to park at the exit before, and we walked through the Glenwood Canyon for three miles just to get to the trailhead to start the hike. It was actually more exciting that way; canyons are one of my favorite landscapes so it was so refreshing to walk alongside one for three miles before hiking up. The lake itself is so magnificent and extremely colorful. You’re not allowed to swim in it in order to maintain the integrity of its rare properties which give it the vibrant color. It was so tempting though, I was salivating looking at it. On the way back in the canyon, we got caught in a crazy thunderstorm and sprinted through the rain and thunder to make it to cover, which wasn’t all that close. It’s ok, running through a storm happens to be one of my favorite things to do. After driving and seeing a full double rainbow, we drove to Loveland pass. It was so high that the air was a fresh, cold blast, chilling us into believing it was already fall. See more…
It was crazy to see how abruptly the landscape changed once we headed west outside of the Rocky Mountains. We started near Vail and before I knew it we were in the desert. The deeper we got into Utah, the more intense the red rock landscape got. We were amidst miles of completely fat, dry land, with some red plateau looking mountains in the distance. It made me want to go to an old-west saloon, drink whisky and eat salsa. Our main objective was to go to Arches National Park, the site of all the famous red rock arches. T and I sprinted our way through the park, not because of time, but because we felt really free and energized by such a wild and unique atmosphere, and it just feels good to be alive and healthy. We camped by a river in Moab just outside the park, which was really fun. A mouse had fun walking on me all night through the other side of the tent, but weirdly I didn’t care. I just shined a light on him and saw a silhouette of his little mouse feet pressing down on the sheer fabric. That’s how it is with T; we are both low maintenance and just go with it, however non-glamorous and exhausting it may be. No complaining, just go with the flow. I love that. See more…
My best friend in the world moved to Colorado a couple of years ago, and I finally made it out to visit her in this wild and beautiful state. We have been best friends for 13 years, and have gone through so many huge phases and changes together, both difficult and incredible. We met on a club volleyball team in 2002, where we quickly earned a reputation of being a boisterous and crazy duo, laughing constantly at everyone and everything around us. With that, our parents gave us the appropriate name “TNT” (Tierney and Tami) because we were like dynamite together. It’s impossible to have a dull moment or conversation, unless we are focused on watching Harry Potter, then there will be no talking. We still talk basically every day, blowing up each other’s phones with text rants about our aimless inner dialogues, and often super deep and meaningful, soul-connecting, life-changing thoughts. See more…
WHEN LAMBS BECOME LIONS — a film documentary on the human/wildlife conflict in Africa, unbiasedly documenting real stories of men on the front lines of the poaching crisis. I instantly knew this would be a once in a lifetime opportunity to be a part of a project this special and powerful. To do it with a fresh team of young talent made it that much more gold. After this beautiful project in Kenya, I felt inspired to be open and vulnerable with myself about where I want my work to go. Vulnerability and honesty in themselves inspire me, because they are usually precursors to some kind of change that your soul desires. They reveal the insecurities that are dead weights woven in our own fiber, originally conceived as standards for protection, that ultimately only succeed in preventing new fruit from blooming. See more…
Being on a film production was a new experience for me, and I loved it. The collaborative dynamic felt like something that I was designed for. The project was an incredible opportunity, and I hope to do a lot more of this kind of thing in the future. This particular story and setting, as well as all the moving parts involved, were so energizing to me and right up my alley of passions. I also love how our team was so young but so dedicated and mature in their roles. It was so special to meet a lot of the wildlife rangers from Big Life Foundation and Ol Pejeta, and of course Sudan, the last male northern white rhino in the world. I’m a huge animal lover, to the point where I can’t vocally keep it in; I just melt. With the time I spent with the rangers, I got a taste of some of their backgrounds and stories and got to know their personalities. I wanted to pour as much warm attention and passion into our time together, whether it was a few hours or a few days. We had a lot of fun. See more…
Bucket list…check. Machu Picchu was magnificent. I couldn’t believe I was standing there. It was so much bigger than I was expecting. Honestly, I was so exhausted by the time I got there, as was everyone else. We had been hiking for four days, which was not an easy hike. Sleep was also hard to come by at night being in a tent, and that morning we woke up at 2:30 to hike in the rain downhill for 5+ hours before arriving here. When we got there, it was cloudy blocking the famous views, but cleared up a little later right before it rained. Unfortunately, sleep and putting my feet up were the main things on my mind, so I was a little checked out of the history lessons. Being there was enough! The fact that people built this incredible civilization hundreds of years ago on the top of a mountain so steep is mind boggling. The views from Machu Picchu out are stunning, making you feel incredibly small. Next time, I’ll take the train in and soak it in more. So thankful for this exposure and experience in beautiful Peru. I want to see more of South America! See more…
I am so happy that I decided to experience Machu Picchu by hiking the Inca Trail. It was a spectacular hike with some of the most gorgeous scenery I’d ever seen in all my travels. I was able to use my Spanish again after ten years, and was so surprised and excited to be able to communicate with the locals as much as I did. This was actually my first legit hike with camping in a tent and everything, and it was an amazing one to start with. However, everything from here on out will probably be a little disappointing haha. I was super lucky to have such an amazing group of people to do it with too. Everyone was really young and came from all parts of the world, and have travelled all over the globe prior to this trip. See more…
On our way to Ollantaytambo, we made another stop at at the ancient ruins of Pisac in the Sacred Valley. I didn’t realize that there were so many other ancient Incan sites in Peru that had the same structure and character of Machu Picchu. After spending about an hour here, we went to this amazing little restaurant, called Parwa, in the middle of nowhere by a river in the Andes mountains. The restaurant was like a greenhouse; all the walls were glass and it had a huge opening so it felt like it was outside. The food was prepared at an outdoor wood-burning fire, and delivered by traditionally dressed women, and served family style. There were a few alpaca calmly roaming and grazing around the property, as well as a spotted pig who got loose and ran out of the gate, haha. When we were eating, a thunderstorm passed over and the rains pounded down, soaking the poor alpacas outside. The food was unbelievably delicious — I could not stop eating. See more…
As we made our way through the Sacred Valley from Cusco to Ollantaytambo, we stopped for a couple hours at a Planeterra-supported women’s weaving co-op. It was a beautiful and humble village, nestled in the country side in the lush mountains. The colors of the buildings and clothing of the people painted the scenery with bright contrast. We met women who make a living by making traditional weaving textiles, and learned about their different dyeing techniques and the meanings behind the motifs. The alpacas that the women used (for their fur) for the weavings were all hanging out nearby, waiting for the next visitor to hand feed them some grasses that the women were passing out. See more…
Cusco is a vibrant, cultural city in Peru situated at the base of a group of modest mountains a few hours from the beginning of the Inca Trail to Machu Picchu. I only spent about one day here, which is not nearly enough time to experience it even from a passing-though tourists’ perspective. However, in that short time my group and I experienced some unbelievable Peruvian food, chill traditional live music, and came across some goofy/adorable alpacas. Many of the people here dress very traditionally, wearing a lot of bright hand-made clothing. Women and children sit at street corners selling spices, fresh produce, or hand-made products such as wallets, musical instruments and purses. It’s surprisingly large and it’s full of rich history. I would have loved to spend at least 3-4 uninterrupted days here to take my time walking through different parts of the city, talking with local people and grabbing more in depth photos. See more…
Wadi Rum is a desert in Jordan that’s a really popular spot for people to go camping and hiking. In 2013, I was talking to a friend from Bethlehem, and I had mentioned that I wanted to visit Jordan one day, and the first place that he recommended was Wadi Rum. It just so happened that FCA invited me back in 2014 and we were going to take a trip to Wadi Rum after the sports camp projects we did the weeks before. I was so excited! This is definitely a place that you can spend several days hiking, four wheeling riding camels, etc. We just spent one night, but it was still incredible and will forever stand out in my memory. See more…
After our three or so weeks in Bethlehem, we took a road trip across the border through Jordan to close out the trip. Our first stop was at the Crown Plaza Hotel on the Dead Sea, somewhere in Jordan, I never even knew what city it was exactly. My group was in the pool that night, but I went out at sunset alone down to the “beach”, and just floated in the water for about 30 minutes with my hands behind my head looking up at the empty sky that was slowly turning a soft orange. I brought a little bottle with me to take some water back home, and during the bottling process, somehow I splashed water in my eyes. Holy crap that hurt haha. I felt pretty much hopeless — I had nothing to wipe down my eyes with because I was submerged in this crazy poisonous, salty, acid water. See more…
If being around Rakesh, Sonali and their family was not enough of a blessing, I was given a really special gift from Abel, Sonali’s brother. He works in the precious stone business, which India is a world-leader in. He took me to their old factory in Jaipur where they have been making jewelry by hand for over 100 years to show me how they do it. When you look at the finished products, it’s really hard to believe that they are made by hand. The precision of the cuts are just like they came from a machine. See more…
I had the amazing privilege to go to Jaipur for a week in May/June and spend time with some of the local people of Jaipur. The people were so beautiful and kind, despite the very difficult living situations many of them have. See more…
I spent a few days in Varanasi, India with my friend and brother, Mahesh. Mahesh is a missionary with Rakesh and Sonali’s ministry, and he does a ton of things including being in charge at a boys’ hostel in Jaipur. Mahesh came to protect me, because it would be a terrible idea for a white, blonde, foreign girl with a hat and camera to go to Varanasi alone, haha. I had an interest in going to Varanasi because one of my favorite photographers, Joey L, did an incredible series on the religious men there. I definitely had no expectation or plan to capture the kind of photographs he took, since he’s quite the master and I know he did a lot of crazy planning for those photos. I really just wanted to go to see it, and capture what I could in a more documentary way, and observe how they lived in an extreme religious pursuit. In order to get the opportunity to work very closely with people, it’s best to dive into their culture head first, and I knew that wasn’t something I was going to do in this particular place. See more…
With the downtime we had in Jaipur, Rakesh and Sonali were so incredibly sweet to take me around Jaipur to show me all the cool places. Jaipur is known as the “pink city” because it has a ton of ancient palaces, and an old part of the city that are all made from a pinkish material. Many kings of the past have lived here, and have fought battles from way up in the mountains from huge fortresses. The world’s biggest cannon is actually in Jaipur. There were some really beautiful, extravagantly designed palaces that we visited. See more…
I took a few personal days to NYC to get a much needed city fix to see my cousins and friends. I almost forgot how the rush of a big city makes me feel. My heart begins to race the moment I’m standing on a street corner and hear sirens, cabs honking, cars breaking and see thousands of people rush to their next destination. A friend told me that NYC people are not trying to be famous, they’re just trying to be awesome at what they do. I can totally see that. Things I dream of doing all of a sudden really seem possible, as predictable and naive as that may sound, haha. The people of New York. Each one of them has a story, and that part intrigues me. At a glance, they all seem like a shallow part of a massive population, but really they are just like you – humans – with families, dreams, crushes, insecurities, and likely come from a small(er) town. They all love someone and are loved by someone, doesn’t that make them seem a little less distant? Even though they all seem really hard, they all just want acceptance. That’s usually what I’m thinking when I people watch. Some element of intimidation is removed. See more…
It was so surreal to be in Israel. To stand on the very ground that Jesus walked on, to be in the same rooms He performed miracles in, and to swim in the water that He walked on. I didn’t have the capacity to take it all in for what it’s worth. We started off without sleep from the 10 hour plane ride, and immediately got off the bus to start visiting some of the most significant sites in the world. You will see that we did…A LOT. Day 1 – After arriving in Tel Aviv, the first place we went to was Megiddo in the Jezreel Valley, the place where scripture says that the final battle (Armageddon) between God and Satan during the end times will take place. It’s one thing to appreciate a place for what has happened there in the past, but it’s another thing to get your mind around what WILL happen there. It makes your head feel like it’s going to blow up, especially when you’re talking about God overthrowing the antichrist and Satan once and for all. See more…
In March of 2013, I had the extraordinary privilege to go alongside Dr. JL Williams and his wife, Patt, with a small team of Americans to document a unique trip in remote parts of Kenya, including the villages of Kurungu and South Horr. JL Williams is a missionary who has been traveling to Kenya for many years, along with countless other countries across the world. His key focus on relationships has enabled him to have great influence and impact in each place he visits. This particular trip to Kenya was unique because for the first time, in collaboration with local Kenyans, they were holding a conference specifically for the women of the Samburu tribe. I was the lucky girl with the dream job of documenting each moment. See more…
