Unravel your mind...

Grace for Ever...

2011-12-20T13:40:00.002-05:00

There are moments that cannot be described only with words. Though memories carved as beautiful images in our minds remind us of what these moments were, they don't really help us when it comes to sharing them with others. I believe that it's why photography exists.

Two weeks ago I was able to share such a moment with two precious people who made the decision to unite their destiny. In a small, yet beautiful ceremony, they joined their lives to each other and here are some digitally carved images that fortunately can be shared with others.

In a beautiful yet very simple way, they made it a day to remember...

Mom couldn't make it, but followed the whole thing from her home country via Skype.

Mom was still on board and in no way forgotten!

And then it was time for fun...

The unfortunate part was that Daddy got stuck at the border....but he made it!

Then it was time to take the romance outside, under the unusually warm November sun!

I enjoyed my time with the bride and groom so much! I hope we have more great occasions to photograph as time goes by. Anniversaries, maternity, birthdays. Love you both and all the best wishes to you! I pray that God grants you many blessings for the years to come!

On another adventure....

2011-12-01T00:24:00.000-05:00

It was a bit last minute... a decision that was a tiny bit difficult to make for different reasons, but I decided that a roadtrip to Boston would do me good. First, we stopped in Albany for a friend's wedding (the original goal of our crossing the border) and then headed out for Boston.

We were too tired to do anything when we arrived Saturday night, but Sunday night we took to downtown and had a blast. Boston is such a beautiful city! At first we were thinking of visiting the Prudential Tower, but ended up doing some nighttime sight-seeing instead.

Looked at some cute gingerbread houses made by kids for a local contest...

(moi below)

And finally grabbed a bite at the Cheesecake Factory (an all time favorite)...

Before heading back to the hotel to rest. I was tired, but I felt full of Christmas magic and full of awe at brand new discoveries. I love road-trips, I love being out with friends and I love the bokeh of Xmas lights in the night.

On our last day there (Monday) we drove to Cambridge to have a closer look of Harvard. We had almost perfect weather. It was 18 Celsius degrees out, until clouds covered up the sun. Massachusetts Ave, or Mass-Av as the locals call it, was a haven for the little hipster hidden deep inside my soul. All the vintage clothes, record and book store had me going bezerk! I love, love, love the feel of the place, the old buildings, the molding, the flowers pots hanging at the windows... It made me a happy woman.

We also went to a superb Irish burger place, that I will share another time. I feel like posting all about this trip will take me all night... I'll make a second post, dedicated to it. My mind is ready for a next roadtrip, but first I have to allow my pockets to recuperate!

i have been practicing...

2011-07-24T21:19:00.003-04:00

So glad I took that photoshop course! View the NEW skills. They can use practice, but nothing says I can't be proud of my work.

UPDATEEESSS!

2011-07-20T14:41:00.000-04:00

One day left before the end of my CS5 intensive course. Learned so much in only 4 weeks, I don't even know where to begin! It's been an eye opening experience of the possibilities that are out there... I am slightly overwhelmed!

The new blog header is actually the design I have chosen for my business card, which will be printed very soon!

I heart faces, May Flowers!

2011-05-16T01:18:00.001-04:00

Flowers?! For real? YES! I think that besides children, flowers are my favorite things to photograph, maybe because the both encompass innocence, softness and beauty. What makes me glad with this week's challenge is that I get to enter more than one picture. I was already debating with myself about which one to choose. Haha, now I don't have to!

My heart has a new song

2011-05-15T02:48:00.000-04:00

I feel extremely blessed. I had such good company today. We laughed, we talked and we ate. I appreciate the friends God has placed in my life; my sisters. I'm so thankful to God for their love and prayers. I only hope that I can lift them up as much before the Father and keep them covered in prayers.

Life can throw rocks at you. Big ones, and they're hard to move. But prayer is a bulldozer and it runs of F.A.I.T.H.

These past days, I've been nothing but thankful. Though needy, I'm still thankful, because what I need is actually what He wants me to have.

I am simply happy and I think this song tells it best:

The sands have been washed in the footprints
Of the Stranger on Galilee’s shore;
And the voice that subdued the rough billows
Will be heard in Judea no more,
But the path of that lone Galilean,
With joy I will follow today,

Refrain

And the toils of the road will seem nothing
When I get to the end of the way,
The toils of the road will seem nothing
When I get to the end of the way.

There are so many hills to climb upward,
I often am longing for rest;
But He Who appoints me my pathway,
Knows just what is needful and best.
I know in His Word He hath promised
That my strength it shall be as my day;

Refrain

He loves me too well to forsake me,
Or give me a trial too much;
His people have been dearly purchased,
And Satan can never claim such.
By and by I shall see Him and praise Him,
In the city of unending day;

Refrain

When the last feeble steps have been taken,
And the gates of that city appear,
And the beautiful songs of the angels
Float out on my listening ear;
When all that now seems so mysterious,
Will be bright and as clear as the day,

And the toils of the road will seem nothing
When I get to the end of the way,
Then the toils of the road will seem nothing
When I get to the end of the way.

Yesterday I cried...

2011-05-13T14:06:00.000-04:00

because life makes you shed tears sometimes. All at once, it seems as if nothing is going as you'd like it to. Whatever you try, you get jammed in a one-way and you feel like giving up.

Well, today I smile because these moments should be just that; moments. Right after the last tear rolled down my cheek, I told myself I wasn't going to bask in my misery and contemplate issues I have no power to fix myself. Anyways, I don't run this show! He does! After all of that, I dabbed my face, fixed my hair, grabbed my purse (with camera well tucked inside, between my hoodie and my wallet --I need a good camera bag--) and headed out the house. I went to my favorite place in the city and sucked in all of this:

Behold the fowls of the air: for they sow not, neither do they reap, nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feedeth them. Are ye not much better than they?

I'm thankful to God for all that beauty! So simple, yet so marvelous... It's good to cry sometimes and let the pressure out. At one point in life I thought that crying was a sign of weakness. It is still for many people, but Jesus wept. Why shouldn't I, if need be? After crying though, Jesus made a miracle... so after crying I am also waiting for my miracle. God never fails, He always comes through.

A month and some days...

2011-05-09T10:23:00.001-04:00

And I've done this...

for the very first time. I love it and I am so ready to do it for the years to come! I had such a blast with that family. Fun parents, clever adorable kids... what more do you need?

I did more though, Mothers Day came along and we took her to see Thor on Saturday, which she says is (I quote) "intense" and on Sunday, we to the botanical garden and saw these:

and she loved it. What more can I ask for?

quiet

2011-04-28T22:46:00.001-04:00

quiet, a photo by everybody in the forest is jolly (c4) on Flickr.

is what i want. a place away from this place...at least for one day.

from my heart, to myself...

2011-04-27T17:38:00.001-04:00

Day is a bliss...barely any sun outside, but my heart feels glad. I even got myself some flowers to celebrate.

A lot on my mind these days, but it's all positive. I love the fact that I do not feel worrisome at all. Maybe it's the fact that I haven't been working for almost a month now. Who knows? Anyways, that might change very soon... I'm glad!

Home sweet home...

2011-04-21T12:47:00.000-04:00

I guess that in a way, a mentally forced this reprieve on myself. No work for 3 weeks now and I am still in between "oh yes!!" and "ugh no...". I have accomplished a few things though. Came up with some fun project ideas, played with my $20 macro lens, innovated in the way I take pictures and so on and so on.

I used my macro lens for this one. I have also been thinking a lot. Not as much as I could because thinking takes it's toll on me, but enough to want to make some changes and bring newness to my life. I pray (I should do more of it, honestly) and I trust in God for all things and I know that newness is on the verge, just about to flow down on me like showers of blessings. It started with me losing my job. It was a job, not a career (not on that path yet), but I think that soon, I will be able to call what I do my career.

Some times I just wish I knew the future! =)

I guess that for now, I can only kick back, nurse my bobos and get ready to enter the fight again...

Everyone isn't meant for success...

2011-04-11T12:11:00.000-04:00

And success isn't meant for everyone. I think that contrary to the belief pressed down on our society today, we're not all built to handle success. So many blogs/vlogs, newspaper articles, commercials incite us to be the next Oprah, Rachel Ray, Bill Gates or Mark Zuckerberg.

For that, I believe you have to know the art of selling yourself, which I will say in gross term, I suck at. Hey, not everybody has the drive to constantly be on the go about themselves. First, you have to have a tredemdous idea...we do not all get those. If you do get one though, maybe you do not have the clarity of mind or focus to develop it. OR! simply the self-confidence to believe in your own craft. That is usually what holds people back the most.

I know that it is one of my major issues. I love to write and even after hearing for years that I should put something out there, I find a millions reasons to justify the fact that I haven't done it yet. For God's sake, I can write in English just as well as I do in French! I should slap myself...really. It's alright though, because I doubt there'd be enough money to go around if everyone was on the same success scale. Unfortunately, the brainlessness of some and the lack of confidence of others keeps the world balanced.

Again, that isn't a bad thing at all. If we were all money hungry, striving to be THE ONE with the next big hit, it would leave no place for the little pleasure of life such as taking a walk in a park, feeding pigeons, spending a day in bed with food and a good book...(sigh, I've been doing too much of that lately). We'd all be running, frenzied, eager to be the next torch carrier of international success. I honestly do not mind being in the shadows. Okay, I know, success isn't necessarily attached to fame (most of the time it is, but there could be exceptions). I'm talking about the kind of success that the media won't catch on because money isn't involved. Going on the cruise of your dreams, nailing a difficult recipe you've been trying for months, learning how to use a computer... these awesome accomplishments and even successes for some people.

Some things have value only in your heart. I think that's where it should count the most, whether there is money involved, or not.

Blessings in abundance...

2011-04-05T15:09:00.003-04:00

new life

Changes, changes... The year has just started and already, so many of them have occurred. I guess it's for the better. After the amazing trip I just returned from (PENNSYLVANIA, WOOT WOOT!) I suppose I'm expected to feel utterly content. I had such a great time. I've fallen in love with the quaintness of the place. Gotta love all the colorful old Victorian houses, the tiny streets and the wide fields of green that spread against the bluest of skies.

But in all honesty, as much as I was awed by my surroundings, what I enjoyed the most was feeding time. And not only this kind of feeding time, but a spiritual feast! We had three meetings during the weekend, during which my soul was oh so blessed... Meeting new people has always been one of my favorite things to do and I had one of the most interesting encounters while over there. While shopping at the salvation army, I met a Mennonite girl who could speak creole. I knew (from YouTube) that they'd done missionary work over there, but I never thought I would ever bump into one. She had to learn creole in 13 months in order to translate for her father while they were over there. I think it's simply awesome... we have exchange emails. Let's see how that goes.

We also visited an 1805 Amish house in Lancaster, which was awesome, but that's about all we had time to do. Next time I go though, I will be all over the place!

There are steps in getting there though. 2011 is just starting and already my life has changed just much, mostly in amazing ways. God, don't let the blessing stop! Maybe it's because I'm ready for this new life I silently crave. Ain't that something? Our deepest desires... I didn't even have to say it out-loud. He knows the secrets of our hearts!

Blessed, blessed in abundance!

69.365 [take flight]

2011-03-30T14:59:00.001-04:00

69.365 [take flight], a photo by everybody in the forest is jolly (c4) on Flickr.

Finally got around to doing it. A crane for Japan. There will be more to come.

As far as taking flight. I am flapping my wings against all odds. Above the clouds, everything is brighter.

the littlest things...

2011-02-16T16:17:00.002-05:00

I have been craving more and more sun during the past couple days, which is completely understandable. At one point, who doesn’t? Winter drains you out of all the stored sunshine. Good thing for me, Saturday was beautiful, Sunday was fun, Monday was interesting and Tuesday was BRIGHT.

27 . 365

I was downtown for meetings and we went over a very interesting project that is growing daily.

Some people don’t like it when celebrities, fashion icons or politicians launch themselves into humanitarian campaigns. I think it’s great. I wish more of them would and I don’t see it as them trying to buy a little bit of good Karma.

Jesus said, “as much as you’ve done to the least…” so let them give to, work for, do for the least, whatever it is they can do. Mr. Armani has given himself such an objective and working alongside UNICEF in the US and Green Cross in Canada, they want to provide water for those who unlike us don’t have it to drink, even less to waste.

Take a look. It’s so simple.

I feel like saying more. Pouring out my soul about how I’ve always wanted to do something to change the world. Maybe adopt a little girl in India, then Haiti… who knows, maybe it will still happen, but I’ll start with this; creating awareness about a project so beautiful and so important.

with love,
X

Missing Marlon...

2011-02-07T23:55:00.000-05:00

Marlon is my laptop. I like giving names to my things. Right now, Marlon is getting upgraded, revamped and spoiled by a friend from the IT department at my job. It's been a week. I haven't been able to upload and edit any of the pictures I took recently. I was supposed to have him back today but there's a delay. When he's back, I will update you all on all the beautiful things that have happened to me in the past days!

with love,
XX

taking in the changes...

2011-01-25T23:03:00.000-05:00

It obvious despite all the snow... winter will soon end. Yup! Just two more months of cold and SPRING will be at the door. I keep enjoying what I get as I much as I can. Picking up ideas and projects to keep me in the race. Doing the 365... I will share my favorites at point, but for now I'm only 6 pictures into it.

Anyhow, I went for a walk today. It was about minus 20 or so celsius degrres outside but it was still worth it. I need the exercise anyways.

I should be able to photograph a certain pregnant lady this weekend... I really hope it happens. I've never done a pregnancy shoot before!

:-)

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

2011-01-22T00:31:00.000-05:00

Yes... I am sort of late, but better now than never. I wish you all a thousand good things, but only God knows what the future holds. So many projects on mind for 2011. Besides travelling and deepening my love of photography in different areas of the world, I want to make it all the better while here!

Windy winter days, rain, frost... I have discovered the joys on winter. It usually brings me down, but with a camera in hand, snowy landscapes become quite the attraction! Half on January is already gone though and I doubt that February will be long. We might get hit by spring sooner than we think... YAY! :)

I'm just saying... winter might be pretty as it wants, I still love my warm days. I'm definitely excited about the days to come. I see wonderful things in the future. Wonderful and great! There's a 365 project in the making. Started it two days ago actually, upon receiving news of a friend of mine who is in the process of starting chimo treatments for a form of blood cancer. I'm believe in miracles though, and so does she.

So anyways, this idea struck me and as it develops, maybe I'll detail it on the blog. In the meantime, happy wintering!

I have tried to keep myself busy...

2010-09-17T16:32:00.001-04:00

I did two photoshoots for friends and bought a book this week. It's "Understand Exposure" by Bryan Peterson. Haven't started reading it yet, but very soon I shall indulge myself. And, and! I suddenly got hit by the ligthtning of inspiration. I have a lot of story ideas I want to write out, but time and focus is lacking. If feel like I should be away from the city, far away in a country house, surrounded by fields, trees and birds only for me to be able to make something of all those ideas. The problem is... I might end up just taking pictures!

with love,
X

what's new? :)

2010-08-03T22:54:00.001-04:00

Why hello! It has been a while since I stepped on here. I didn't know what to say I guess... Now that I've started a few projects on Flickr I guess I can say I that feel good again. I have been to wonderful places while away from my blog, such as a spiritual retreat. We had a youth service a week later, which was wonderful. Basically I've been in a blessed place! I also find that picture wise, I've made tons of progress. Not being boastful, but I've been paying attention to my photostream and it seems to have evolved. I'm doing a 365 project and I'm in a few groups which I totally adore.

I won't stay there though. I've got some next steps I need to take. Photography is going to be serious. Not one of those things I start and drop. All I need are some gigs! A few free ones to get started and give myself a name and then well... let's jump off from there.

project 365, day three

with love,
X

towards heaven

2010-06-22T19:49:00.001-04:00

towards heaven
Originally uploaded by cforadom

I am seeking for a city, where roses never fade.

Unspeakable Joy

2010-06-21T15:07:00.001-04:00

play
Originally uploaded by cforadom

I am so grateful for all the things I have been given in the past years.
I'm kinda impressed with myself and how far I've come and the things that have so drastically changed around me.

For starters I don't have the same friends. There is no beef involved nor do I carry anything in my heart against them, but it just happens to be so. I have taken up new hobbies... I used to draw a lot and do a bit of painting and above all I wrote a lot. I like feeling the keys under my fingers and the sound they make when I press them down.

For some weird, inexplicable inspiration now fails me when I come to type. I've gone back to the good old pencil and paper tactic... except for flickr and my blog of course.

I always loved taking pictures. I remember my mom old Kodak (gotta see if it's still somewhere in the house (she LIKES to throw things away)) and I begged her many times to let me use it and go take pictures of my friends and neighbors... and the ant farm outside.

I guess the flickr finger or clicker finger was there all along :).

Now that I have my own, worthy to be called a camera, toy, I just feel like time isn't enough and I am not enough to capture all the beautiful things the world as to offer!

Anyways, to go back to what I was saying, I am utterly grateful. I thank God all the time for the changes in me, in the things I love and what my soul thirst for. Counting those blessings gives me joy. Great joy.
This isn't my personal diary, therefore I shall spare you my little secrets ;-), but I remember the past, mood-wise and the way I use to take on the coat of “miserability” and carry it around like a soaked fur..

I am free! I have joy. I have something that the world can't give and the world can't take it away. I have the joy God gives, pure, innocent *looks at picture*, childlike joy; unspeakable joy! Okay so maybe I shouldn't be impressed with myself seeing as I'm not the one who did it. I just accepted it. I will humbly & joyfully accept it!

:)

1 Peter 1:8 (King James Version)

Whom having not seen, ye love; in whom, though now ye see him not, yet believing, ye rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory:

wonder

2010-06-15T14:49:00.001-04:00

wonder
Originally uploaded by cforadom

Last saturday was a festive day. Someone I care for very much was celebrating their 60th birthday (he doesn't look it one bit!). People who care for him as much as I do came from different places in the world to celebrate with him and his family. I got to see some friends I hadn't seen in a while and it made me very happy.

On top of it all, it was a beautiful day, perfect for pictures. This little guy, is a bundle of joy who came into my friend's life a year and a couple months ago. In this shot he was looking up at his mother and the expression on his face makes it seem as if he was seeing her for the first time. <3

So I celebrated to the fullest extent last week-end and I'm holding on to that pure joy I felt. I rarely feel so estatic anymore. Often times I let my blessings be taken away from me. I plan to use photography as a mean to save and store all those moments of life that fill me with wonder...

i ♥ faces "all about babies"

2010-06-14T23:07:00.001-04:00

at the corner

2010-06-10T23:28:00.001-04:00

at the corner
Originally uploaded by cforadom

I was away for three days, on account of work and as my coworker and I drove back to Montreal, I took a couple of shots of that beautiful little town called Sainte-Hyacinthe.

sunday afternoon

2010-06-06T21:57:00.001-04:00

sunday afternoon
Originally uploaded by cforadom

Able to kick back...and edit photos in my comfy socks. :-)

What is it with my life?

2010-05-18T12:29:00.000-04:00

“I discovered that people are not really afraid of dying; they’re afraid of not ever having lived, not ever having deeply considered their life’s higher purpose, and not ever having stepped into that purpose and at least tried to make a difference.” -Joseph Jaworski

I love that quote. I thought it over and when I put my life in perspective I come to the conclusion that this is exactly where my issues lay. I'm not afraid of dying, I'm simply afraid that the time God allows me to spend on this earth is not used as it should be. I do a lot of things (not half as much as I'd truly like), but I often wonder if they are the things I should preoccupy myself with. For instance my job... I like it some days, others I even wish I was on sick leave. Is it where I should be at this point in my life? Is God shaking in His head in disapproval? I guess this is a common question. We all go through that phase of uncertainty...

For those who have emerged from it, send me your prayers. Please and thank you! I'm throwing myself in photography right now and even though I LOVE IT, I still find myself wondering. I feel like my life as slowed down so much when it should actually be at its busiest. Maybe that's why I'm so bent on going back to school and travelling. Maybe that's why I love road trips so much! :)

See, there goes a sparkle of hope. I haven't grown totally dull! I know one thing for sure though... without God, nothing we do will ever feel complete. I could be running from a photo shoot to another, work full time and go to school part time, but I wouldn't feel fulfilled without God backing me up. That's why consecration is so important. (note to self: do not watch Criminal Minds for a long while)

I am developing a slight addiction problem :). I love cop shows. I love the rush of the investigation and tracking down bad guys. If I truly did believe in reincarnation, I would say that in another life I was probably a BAU profiler, hehehe! What I do believe though is that in a previous life, or a different life, I was in the presence of the Almighty. That is better than any career on earth! I felt pretty 'blah' when I got out of bed this morning. The nice weather didn't cut it and I was undecided on what exactly I should complain about. Well, I won't complain at all. I will trust the Lord. I will trust Him with my now, with my tomorrow and with any other ambition I have while still in this body of flesh. Who knows what he has in store? He's known me before I even came down here to live... He knows what's best.

"I don't know what--what the future holds, but I know Who holds the future, that's the main thing. I--I know that He holds all the future, and whatever mine shall be; it's in His hands. So each day I want to live, not for myself. If I live for myself, I live a selfish life. I want to live for others, and give what strength I have, not to myself, and to my own pleasure, but for the benefit of others, that'll build the Kingdom of God." - William Marrion Branham

& I love this quote even more!

Food time!

2010-05-17T11:48:00.000-04:00

While surfing through the wonderland of net life, I came across this blog:

http://smittenkitchen.com/

*mouth waters*

I know you'll find some recipes for you and your family to enjoy!

Rediscovering my taste for music...

2010-05-16T21:58:00.000-04:00

Unfortunately I didn't know these artists before. I totally enjoy the music I live with now. It elevates me and speaks to me about more than my emotions. It speaks to my soul.

"For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also." Matthew 6: 21

And my heart has left behind a lot of baggage and has adopted a new Spirit. My heart enjoys this new sound!

The Broken Ones Lyrics:

Maggie came home one day with a raggedy, Raggedy Ann.
She said " Mama, look what I found in the neighbors garbage can."
It had a missing left arm, and a right button eye hanging by a thread
She carried it gently up to her room and laid it one her bed with her other dolls.

Chorus:

She loves the broken ones, the ones that need a little patchin' up
She see's the diamond in the rough and makes it shine like new
It really doesn't take that much, a willing heart and a tender touch
If everybody loved like she does, there'd be allot less broken ones.

Twenty years later at a shelter on Eighteenth Avenue
A seventeen year old girl shows up all black and blue
with needle tracks in her left arm, almost too week to stand,
She says,"I'm lost an I need help", and Maggie takes her hand
And says, "Come on in!"

Chorus

Bridge:

If you call her and angel, she'd be quick to say to you
She's just doing what the one who died for her would do

Love the broken ones, the ones that need a little patchin' up
See the diamond in the rough and make it shine like new
it really doesn't take that much, a willing heart and a tender touch
If everybody loved like He does, there'd be allot less broken ones
If everybody loved like He does, there's be allot less broke ones

His Life for Mine (Worship Video w/ Lyrics)

2010-05-14T01:51:00.000-04:00

The wonders of Flickr

2010-05-03T12:45:00.000-04:00

Hello!

I had to come up with a portfolio for my application at Dawson College for today. I'm hoping to get into Commercial Photography, therefore I spent the week-end clicking away!

Check it out!

Flickr Photostream

Have a great day!

Me? A wannabe!

2010-05-02T00:53:00.000-04:00

I went out today. My friend and I were doing this walk on Mont Royal and kept gawking at the scenery; it was so gorgeous! So, we decided to head back home, grab our cameras and throw ourselves out there for a little experimenting. We went by the water and snapped, and snapped, and snapped....

I bent myself in weird positions, trying to catch shadows on a rock that refused to move, I tried to capture the feeling of a brick wall full of spider webs... it didn't happen. I won't pretend I got zero good shots, but at one point, I started feeling like a wannabe. I have the habit of second guessing myself and this is what I am majorly doing right now. I do it with my writing -hence the lack of an already published novel in my life-, I do it with my drawing and I now do it with my photographiing!

I wish I'd stop... I really wish everything I strive for would simply fall unto my lap and latch onto me like a hungry babe. Ah, but no! I have to make efforts! I have to push past the self-consciousness I suffer from and expose myself to the public eye, hoping I won't be ripped apart. Okay, so I should keep this attitude up! I like it... in the words of Archibald Witwicky: "No sacrifice, no victory!"