Everything

This journey has taken me far away from everything I hold dear--everything I love and have loved. What I didn't know was the treasure that could be found in losing everything. Everything but that link in my heart to the only One Who could hold my heart firmly enough to keep it through these times. This story is meant to show the beauty that was found in having everything. Then being faced with the hard choice of giving up the weights that kept the heart constricted and set it free to fly. I put this together during my last months in the UK when praying about the future.

(Disclaimer: This concept or the attempt at portraying the concept may not make sense.)

I determined never to stop until I had come to the end and achieved my purpose-David Livingstone

Moreno Valley

Apologies for being late with the updates. I am in Moreno Valley! These pictures were taken this evening somewhere East of Riverside sometime between sunset and a happy place. It was the cooling hour, just when the rounded Red sun sinks down behind the azure hill, Which then seems as if the whole earth is bounded, Circling all nature, hush'd, and dim, and still, With the far mountain-crescent half surrounded On one side, and the deep sea calm and chill Upon the other, and the rosy sky With one star sparkling through it like an eye.--Lord Byron

Too often the strong, silent man is silent only because he does not know what to say, and is reputed strong only because he has remained silent. Winston Churchill

Chino Hills

Camping in Chino Hills from the 12th till the 22nd of July! The very place where the epicenter of the earthquake was that happened on of the 29th of June...a week after we left. Living with tarantulas and rattlesnakes outside the tent we were cut off from internet, phones or any electricity. This was what it was like to wake up in the middle of nowhere.
And ending the day just before sunset...

Tell me not in mournful numbers,
Life is but an empty dream!
For the soul is dead that slumbers,
And things are not what they seem.

--Henry Wadsworth Longfellow

Santa Barbara Fires

These pictures were taken the night we arrived from Canada to Santa Barbara. I took them from my dad's porch a few hours after it started. This fire spread from 300 acres to 2500 acres overnight but by a miracle and thanks to many prayers it didn't touch the house. A thousand shall fall at thy side, and ten thousand at thy right hand; [but] it shall not come nigh thee.--Psalm 91:7

Canada to California

On the road again with my brother and co. from Vancouver to Santa Barbara. Some of the sights along the way. The fire along the way, big pine cones and volcanos, vineyards and my favorite...Mount Shasta. Driving along a bunch of dusty roads it was like seeing a snow oasis.

Road signs were very helpful, I liked this one best.We make a living by what we get, we make a life by what we give. --Sir Winston Churchill

Goodbye Canada

After two weeks it's time to say goodbye to Canada and begin the long journey of 2000km back to California by road! We leave tonight and will arrive on Tuesday back in Santa Barbara before heading further South for yet more adventures on the road to freedom.

The worst prison would be a closed heart.--Pope John Paul II

Canadian British Columbia

Afternoon at Burnaby Lake with Vancouver in the backgroud. The last one is my nephew during dinner at a barbecue house later on...eating the checkered paper that the meat was served on.

"The man who is swimming against the stream knows the strength of it." --Woodrow Wilson

The joy of fishing

YAY! First trout. Along with the in-laws and nephews we went for an outing in a fish farm in a place called Abbotsford and together caught five of these 15 inch wiggly things. The joys of life. 

One’s philosophy is not best expressed in words; it is expressed in the choices one makes. In the long run, we shape our lives and we shape ourselves. The process never ends until we die. And, the choices we make are ultimately our own responsibility.—Eleanor Roosevelt

Vancouver

It's 10 days into the journey. So far I have met my dad, two brothers, sister-in-law, two nephews, and my sister-in-law's family. I rode shotgun in a Saturn for two days straight driving over 2000km from Santa Barbara through deserts and mountains to Vancouver in British Columbia. The scenery is beautiful and we're surrounded by mountains and forests. It's also whale territory.

So far I don't have pictures of my own, but here's some to give you an idea in the meantime. Of course Vancouver does not always look quite this way--but I thought I'd post the potential it has.

“Traveling is a brutality. It forces you to trust strangers and to lose sight of all that familiar comfort of home and friends. You are constantly off balance. Nothing is yours except the essential things--air, sleep, dreams, the sea, the sky.” -- Cesare Pavese

For the Italian(s)

Found something red!

Each time I seemed to be climbing into a roller coaster and finding myself coming through the downhill run with that sort of dazed feeling that we all know.--Enzo Ferrari

Santa Barbara

Tomorrow morning my brother and co. will be driving to Vancouver where we will spend two weeks before returning. For now here's some pictures of my first and second day in Santa Barbara.

Getting the car ready for the long drive to Vancouver...and back

Those who build beneath the stars build too low.--Edward Young

Landing

Arrived safely in Los Angeles at 21:00 and after a 2 hour drive arrived at my Dad's place in Santa Barbara. I'll be spending a few days here before heading off with my brother and his family on the next leg of the journey. Look for the red star. Do not go where the path may lead, go instead where there is no path and leave a trail.--Ralph Waldo Emerson

Flying to Los Angeles

One year later, almost exactly from the time I went last year. Except this time I'll be staying there en route to Manila. Updates will be posted as they arise. Right now it's the end of a chapter of my life here in England and the beginning of the rest of my life. The incredible journey begins.

Be not the slave of your own past. Plunge into the sublime seas, dive deep and swim far, so you shall come back with self-respect, with new power, with an advanced experience that shall explain and overlook the old.--R.W. Emerson

Fire

The perfect day in London with friends at the opening of a new hotel...it was "The magnificent former country residence of Sir William Gilbert set in over 40 acres of beautiful gardens and woodlands. A shrine for Gilbert & Sullivan enthusiasts"--I liked the fire truck parked outside.Can that be called a sacrifice which is simply paid back as a small part of great debt owing to our God, which we can never repay? Is that a sacrifice which brings its own blest reward in healthful activity, the consciousness of doing good, peace of mind, and a bright hope of a glorious destiny hereafter? Away with the word in such a view, and with such a thought! It is emphatically no sacrifice. Say rather a privilege. Anxiety, sickness, suffering, or danger, now and then, when foregoing of the common conveniences and charities of this life, may make us pause, and cause the spirit to waiver, the soul to sink; but let this only be for a moment. All these are nothing when compared with the glory which shall be revealed in and for us. I have never made a sacrifice!--David Livingstone

A prayer

A prayer by George Matheson

The harder the conflict, the more glorious the triumph. What we obtain too cheap, we esteem too lightly. I love the man that can smile in trouble, that can gather strength from distress and grow brave by reflection. ‘Tis the business of little minds to shrink; but he whose heart is firm, and whose conscience approves his conduct, will pursue his principles unto death.—Thomas Paine

Easter Sunday

Easter Sunday once again...the other photographer's lens: 80-200 F2.8

I will very gladly spend and be spent for you; though the more abundantly I love you, the
less I be loved.—Paul the Apostle (2 Corinthians 12:15)

Easter

Easter Sunday cold. I counted it a contribution to the new lens of the photographer: 24-70 F2.8

One ship sails east and another west
While the selfsame breezes blow.
'Tis the set of the sail and not the gale
That bids them where they go.

As the winds of the air are the ways of fate
As we voyage along through life.
'Tis the set of the soul that decides our goal
And not the storm and the strife.

Contrast

A picture of a new place!

When you come to the edge of all the light you know, and are about to step off into the darkness of the unknown, faith is knowing one of two things will happen: There will be something solid to stand on, or you will be taught how to fly.--Barbara J. Winter

Girls and Valentine

Alright! This Valentines got to me--all the offlines, messages...even a card. I had to post!--So thought to post some of the many people that have touched my life and that I love and cherish! And yes, all girls! Actually, the only reason there aren't any pictures of me and men is because guys don't seem to take pictures with me as often. And on second note, all the wishes I received for Valentines this year were from girls. With that, I bequeath my Valentines wishes to you all!

To know even one life has breathed easier because you have lived; This is to have succeeded.
--Ralph Waldo Emerson

Another Italian

Caring for babies once again (in case you were wondering, he's not mine)
Whatever we become here in mortality is meaningless unless it is done for the benefit of others. Our gifts and talents are given to us to help us serve. And in serving others we grow spiritually. We are here to help each other, to care for each other, to understand, forgive, and serve one another. We are here to have love for every person born on earth. Anything we do to show love is worthwhile; a smile, a word of encouragement, a small act of sacrifice. We grow by these actions. --Betty J. Eadie (Embraced by the Light)

Moved houses

Final picture before moving taken by a 6-year-old (I fixed it up).A Voice said ‘Climb’ And he said “How shall I climb? The mountains are so steep that I cannot climb.” The Voice said ‘Climb or die’ He said “But how? I see no way up those steep ascents. This that is asked of me is too hard for me” The Voice said ‘Climb or perish soul and body of thee, mind and spirit of thee. There is no second choice for any son of man. Climb or die!’ He remembered a word in the Book of Mountaineers that heartened him. It heartened him, for it told him that he was created to walk in precarious places, not on the easy levels of life.--Amy Carmichael

Shakrine

There is a story behind this drawing. My brother when he visited bought a book with art reference material in it. When flipping the pages I noticed a particular picture. The room I was in had a bare wall and for a few months I had been trying to find something to fill the empty space. What resulted was a three month project of drawing in my spare moments to create this...

This drawing is taller than me in proportion.--Here is the original drawing and concept...The drawing has never really been completed, but now since it's time to move to another house, I've had to accept that it is what it is and can be nothing more--and destroy it. It will have to be painted over. It'll be hard to do--but since I started her, I'll take up the job of taking it down. A couple other artists helped with various parts of the drawing--making it what it is. Normally I wouldn't name a picture until it's completed--this is the only exception. Shakrine!

Creativity requires the courage to let go of certainties." --Erich Fromm

Yet another horse

A Scottish breed standing 18 hands tall that lives next door. Went to pay him a visit today.

I would rather be ashes than dust. I would rather that my spark would burn out in a brilliant blaze than be stifled by dry rot. I would rather be a superb meteor, every atom of me in magnificent glow, than a sleepy and permanent planet.—Jack London, U.S. author

Ice

Went skating--what more is there to say! Was awesome!

In spite of the wise and the world's derision--Dare follow the star blazed road, dare follow the vision

--Edwin Markham

Turning 21

For the new year--A prayer for my pilgrimage (author unknown)

To those who have dwelt so long in darkness--Let me humbly bear a candle of Your light
To those who have drowned so long in a sea of sad faces--Let me row the lifeboat of a smile
To those who have trudged wearily through the valley of suffering
Let me gently show the path that leads to the mountain of Your joy
To those who have felt the razor’s edge of man’s injustice--Let me carry the balm of Your healing comfort
To those who have languished long in the tombs of silence--Let me bring the gladness of a song
To those who have been imprisoned in the dungeons of despair--Let me offer the key of Your salvation

For it is in the laying down of my own will that I will become Your instrument
It is in the looking outside of my own desires that I will help another to find Your joy
It is in the unconditional giving of myself that Your refreshing waters may flow through
It is in trusting in Your strength to carry me that I will receive grace to continue
And it is in the breaking of my own heart that other lives may be made whole

Returned

Some of the things you find in Holland!--Church (because we're very good people). Fries and mayo (because that combination is totally normal here). Bikes (because it's the only way to get around). And horses--because they make everything look beautiful.

Love is something eternal; the aspect may change, but not the essence” -- Vincent Van Gogh

Cheezy group shots

These kinds of pictures are always during that last day when everyone is tired and not really wanting to be on camera. We kept the habitual tradition to leave these things to the last minute!

Me--me younger brothers and the sister!Eldest sis of the clan--mom of the clan--and meNephews from eldest sis of the clan!

Life is an exciting business, and most exciting when it is lived for others.—Helen Keller

Crazy

Taking a midnight stroll with my sister at 1:00am trying to see fireworks through the fog!

I came to this army with nothing. If I leave with nothing, I will still come out even.

Brothers and sister

Met my sibs--self-taught artist, self-taught musician and self-taught gamer!

Men do less than they ought, unless they do all that they can.—Thomas Carlyle

Christmas

Time for a Christmas post! First Christmas with my family in five years.

I have always thought of Christmas time, when it has come round, as a good time; a kind, forgiving, charitable time; the only time I know of, in the long calendar of the year, when men and women seem by one consent to open their shut-up hearts freely, and to think of people below them as if they really were fellow passengers to the grave, and not another race of creatures bound on other journeys. ~Charles Dickens

Holland

Left to Amsterdam on an all night bus. Not the comfiest of trips, but it was worth it--this was the last stretch of the trip on the train to the town where my mom and siblings live!

The ultimate measure of a man is not where he stands in moments of comfort and convenience, but where he stands at times of challenge and controversy.-Martin Luther King, Jr.

Songs in the valley

There are songs which can only be learned in the valley. No art can teach them; no rules of voice can make them perfectly sung. Their music is in the heart They are songs of memory, of personal experience. They bring out their burden from the shadow of the past, they mount on the wings of yesterday.—George Matheson

Leaving Italy

The last day and customary signatures before leaving the place and people that will always have a very firm hold in my heart. Those three weeks will always be extremely special.

I came into this army with nothing. If I end with nothing, I will still come out even. I will not turn around!

Wrestling match

These things just seem to happen...

Studying

How I spent most of the time, reading/studying/learning

What keeps me going is goals.--Muhammad Ali