photography, painting and plants...oh my!

THE SPANN FAMILY

Leslie, my Young Life leader, with her beautiful family Lainey and Brayden, and husband Blake. I loved taking their pictures at the beach. They are too easy to capture their beautiful faces.

Brayden, or BB or Bray Bray...those beautiful blue eyes are easy to love!

Lainey Belle, she is such a sweet little girl.
Girl night...painting tercotta pots to plant our beautiful flowers in. I have absolutely loved planting around my house. Petunias, geraniums, basil, oregano, lemon balm. Pray that they survive my newly venture in the art of botany. I have enjoyed my hammock, grill, and practicing my green thumb.
Olivia and I drove with Andy to Water Color, Florida for our Tennessee Region Staff Retreat. 8 hours in the car...no radio (on purpose)...laughing at our recent purchase of Bubblicious Bubblegum (haven't had that since I was in elementary school)...a game of humdingers (Olivia was really awesome at guessing my selection of songs...just some great laughs.
I kayaked every morning we were at the beach. It was an awesome time to be out in the ocean (further than I would swim or even surf) deep waters=lack of control. sharks? probably. I loved being still with each wave as it came. To watch the sun look like diamonds sparkling on the water. Totally engulfed with the beauty of His creation. A few moments of joy in His presence.
Kathie Odom is offering a time once a month for women to gather at a local cafe, Black Bird Coffeehouse, in Knoxville to express their artistic abilities, fellowship together and drink some amazing coffee. After 3 hours of drinking Chai Tea and a Chocolate Chip Bacon Cookie- this very amateur piece came out of feeling the progression of growth. We naturally are being make into little Christ's each day as we feel the heat of the sun, the refreshing moisture of the earth, and one day will fade away into eternity. This particular piece shows only a portion of me in the progression in my life.
Freedom. Loving Spring. Enjoying the colors around me. I hope that you all are finding it freeing to live in light of His beautiful creation and His significant love for you.

WHAT MIGHT BE?

What went wrong? Or What might be?

I have pondered this question as I enter in a season of letting go of the brokenness, entering into deeper conversations with those around me, and as I look into grasping at what makes me alive. I feel more alive than I have in a long time, yet I am in a season where the Lord is breaking me. The great paradox of feeling a deep sense of protecting myself, in that I am running away from closeness, yet yearning for intimacy. Daily, I am fighting this great battle for my heart, for the hearts of others- and each day my natural inclination is to fall on the “what went wrong?” side of the spectrum. This negative questioning strips me of life, squandering all sense of hope, refrains from acknowledging that God may be making sense of the wrong… and instead, I fight to change my perspective to “what might be?” It is more life giving, it gives back to God, his sovereignty, his merciful gift to us- that when I am at my weakest, He is strong. That His promise is real- My power is made perfect in your weakness. He is taking that ugly, brown piece of clay and forming it, molding it into something so beautiful- when glazed over, it comes out bright, colorful, refined, and perfect. I am weak. I am broken. I have failed him. But yet, He looks at me and says, “What might be?”

What might be? (closeness)

In the midst of watching the time fly by, my sister continues to plan her wedding (June 12) and will be moving to Minnesota for grad-school. For the first time since college, we lived in the same area and now she will be moving. We have dinner every week. We talk, laugh, vent, cry and share life TOGETHER. I will be losing my best friend. What am I going to do? Don’t even know if I will make it through the ceremony without a river of tears and the thought of my Monday or Tuesday dinner nights makes me really feel sick and lonely.

What might be? (hopefulness)

As we met with our teams for my assignment this summer at Windy Gap, I get to be with my Young Life leader and her family, my old and new area director, some old friends and new! I am going to be doing Real Life and my parents are going to be Adult Guest’s for the first time in my 12 years of doing YL! Will they be ready to hear “my story” with all of its ugliness, brokenness, hurt and pain? Will they be able to let go of some of their pride and face me airing my dirty laundry so that I can be real in front of 350 high school kids each week? Will they be moved to tears, affected in a real way by Christ? Will their hearts be changed like mine was June 12, 1999?

What might be? (peace)

Praying over a daughter of one of our leaders, as she lay unconscious in the ICU with tubes and a breathing machine- knowing that 2 high school girls did CPR, probably saved her life. Young Life at Sweetwater won’t be the same until Savannah comes back with all of the life and aroma of Christ that she brings. Watching her dad, Steve, trust in Jesus and watch Jesus be peace in the midst of this storm.

What might be? (delight)

Josh Turbeyville isn’t moving to Africa. He brings energy, vision and intentionality to our Loudon team. He calls me “boss,” which always makes me laugh and roll my eyes. He decided to stay and release his application for the Peace Corp. Josh was chasing after our seniors, wonder who will come across his path next year. I know that I am relieved and excited that I get to partner with this guy!

What might be? (anticipation)

Saying good-bye to Katie and Rachel, whom I have come to love dearly in our training times in Knox. Selfishly, I can’t understand going off Young Life staff (and leaving me); but asking for them, “what might be?” I can’t wait to hear about what God is doing, and makes me laugh/smile to know that He already knows!

There is life within the “might be”…there is closeness, hopefulness, peace, delight, anticipation and oh so much more, much sweeter things to come. I desire the new set of eyes to anticipate, as He reveals slowly day-by-day His perfect will. I wonder what might be?

Wedding bells...

I took these of my sister, Patricia and Geoffrey. I am not an expert photographer, but these are the best ones. :)

Our "bedraggled fellowship"...Salt of the Earth

"Minute to Win It" inspired games. Empty a tissue box...one at a time... in a minute!

Here is Brent flying through the box. Boone is on the floor mesmerized by the action.
In a minute, with your teeth pick up a variety of sizes of paper bags off the ground and run it across the room. Only your feet can touch the ground. Lynsi, is stretching to get those bags!
We were sticking out our tongue at Boone, my area director's little boy, and he was doing it back...it was sooooo funny! I love his little personality!
In one minute you have to move the oreo from your forehead to your mouth, using only your face muscles. No hands. Suzanne is strategically moving that orea on her 2nd try. It is really hard.
Drake and I lead worship and prayer. Andy, my area director had the names of our 3 clubs (Greenback, Lenoir City, Loudon) taped around their house for us to walk through during a time of prayer for our leaders, kids, clubs, community, their family and home. It was such a sweet time to pray over our mission and those involved in it!

"If there should emerge in our day such a fellowship, wholly without being artificial and free from the dead hand of the past, it would be an exciting event of momentous importance. A society of genuine loving friends, set free from self-seeking struggle for personal prestige and from all unreality, would be something unutterably priceless and powerful. A wise person would travel any distance to join it." Elton Trueblood

Intensive fellowship of affection, worship and work

"There is no person in history who has impacted all of mankind more than Jesus of Nazareth. Jesus was deeply concerned for the continuation of his redemptive work of a small band of committed friends. He didn't form and army, establish a headquarters, or even write a book. What he did was collect a few very common men and women, inspire them with the sense of the spirit and vision, and build their lives into an intensive fellowship of affection, worship and work..." -Elton Trueblood

Acts 2:42-47

"They were continually devoting themselves to the apostles' teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. Everyone kept feeling a sense of awe; and many wonders and signs were taking place through the apostles. And all those who had believed were together and had all things in common....And the Lord was adding to their number day by day those who were being saved."

"Going to the chapel...we are going to get married."

Geoffrey's family +Patricia's family. It was a beautiful shower at First Presbyterian Church in Jackson, TN.



Nana and Grandad, my grandparents who live in Maryville, TN. It was so good to drive down with them for the shower. Great conversations. They have been marvelously married for 63 years!!! And they still shower each other with love.
Patricia's Pampered Chef Shower...look at that yummy dessert!
My sister is getting married! June 12, 2010! It has been really fun to live to close to each other. Weekly dinners. Making invitations. Dress shopping. Bridesmaid dresses. Showers. Loving love. Great conversations. Sweet times to prepare the way for her new life with Geoffrey.

"Bow ties, beach conversations and sun burns"

Only here in Charleston would you see bow ties, seer sucker (its a type of fabric!), pastels on a man!
Some of my favorite pictures of the night!
Melissa's birthday...it was such a celebration. Happy Birthday, my friend. May this year be your year- full of joyful moments, sweet times with the Lord and embracing the moments.
Kari came to Melissa's birthday party, after we hung out at the pool all afternoon. It was so good to hang out and hear about her life. Kari and I taught together at C.E. Williams. So good to catch up with old friends.
Emily, Melissa and I went to my favorite restaurant, Basil, after an evening of pulling weeds, fighting with the dead lawnmower, finally mowing the backyard. I loved eating Pad Thai and my favorite Spring Rolls. Such a treat!
Alex, Briana, Becca and Emily. This is after we forced Emily to buy a bathing suit so that she could hang out with us. Briana totally knew Emily's debt card number! It was really funny- these girls share a very unique friendship, as it continues to last for many years. I love being a part of this group!
Briana and I at the beach. We hung out at her house at the pool later in the week.
Kelsy, Katie and Melissa...spending good times with my girls at the beach. There were intentionally hard conversations, laughter, jumping in the cold water, sunburns!!!, and me realizing how they are maturing into women. I have been with these girls since they were in 8th grade. We were hanging out and a group of girls I didn't know came up. My girls introduced me as there "8th grade teacher"...I laughed in awkwardness, as that seems really creepy. This was the first of many days that I spent with my girls. I loved that they had spring break the same time that I did.

I took a bike ride in the old village and walked the bridge. It was crazy windy, but so beautiful to be quiet and enjoy His voice.
Melissa and I hit up our favorite shopping. VEGETABLES. They sell fruit and vegetables cheaper than the grocery stores. We stocked up on tomatoes, cucumbers, oranges, bananas, strawberries, plums, sweet potatoes, kiwi. For like 17 dollars. Really I miss this!

Have I mentioned that I love SpRING!!! The flowers blooming. LIFE. Colors. Everything coming to life. I will take this with the pollen to see the beauty of life. Some really colorful buildings downtown. I love these pictures.
This is the oldest church in Charleston. The French Hugonot Church. They actually have services in French there still. The pews in side are benches with doors, you used to pay to have your seat up front.
When I first got into town, Melissa and I to the art walk downtown. We saw some amazing unique pieces and the typical "Charleston" art that every artist seems to copy.

Be still...

A time to sit and be still...

Spring break was spent just being...away...with...sunny mornings quiet before the Lord on the back porch of my roommates home in Charleston...spending quality time with my Junior high school girls at the beach...good converstations...authenticity...laughter...renewal...release...letting go...smiles and giggles...birthday celebration...digging in the dirt...biking to a windy old bridge...reading good books...getting stuck in scripture...celebrating Easter as evidence of His ressurection brought me to my knees...walking the bridge...tears...joy...pure joy.

My prayer was that everyone I know get the opportunity to get away, let go or just experience the pure joy that comes from being still enough to hear from the True voice.