Born To Resist

Yes, I am distracted by Star Wars. Don’t judge me.

I just found this fantastic website from Thomas Hurst.

He is a Pulitzer Prize winning photographer who is on staff at Mars Hill Church. Here’s a little excerpt about him from the Mars Hill Blog:

Thomas Hurst is a Pulitzer Prize-finalist photojournalist who currently serves on staff atMars Hill Church and was part of a team that traveled to Haiti on behalf of Churches Helping Churches. Look for more posts in coming weeks from Thomas as he shares his thoughts on particular images he took and moments he and the team experienced in their 32 hours on the ground in earthquake-ravaged Port-Au-Prince.

His pictures are phenomenal. If you have a little time, take a look. I especially enjoyed the series called Journey of Hope that helps tell the story of 3 year Muhammed Hussein, a little Iraqi boy who was shot in the face by militants. He is currently being fostered by an American family while he goes through surgeries and recovery.

Just a warning: a few of the images are really graphic (especially of Haiti), but I think sometimes we all need a little shock to realize how much the world hurts and how much we need to be the hands and feet of Jesus.

Josiah & Mae

Look at this! I bet you are wondering if I had a professional photographer come in the hospital room after I had Mae to capture a few moments. Well, if I were rich I maybe would have done that. Actually the pictures are from none other than my sister! Talent, right? I forgot she had some of these on her flickr account and I had to post them here because they are beautiful! I think she should quit her job at the yogurt shop she works at and do photography freelance to make money. I know she could do it. Here’s a few more of my favorite pictures that she’s taken:

Josiah and my Dad, October 2007

My Grandma Berry (who lives in Montana now) always encouraged us to read. I remember sitting at her house and reading EVERYTHING that was around. She helped me to learn how to read from Reading Primers. These were OLD and wonderful. I was very much into all  things Victorian/Anne of Green Gables and these books mixed with sitting on my Grandma’s swing in her yard set me on the shores of Avonlea with Anne, Diana & Gilbert.

When I was a little older and I had my choice of what to read, I was often drawn to The Saturday Evening Post. I know, that’s a magazine for old people, right? No! I loved looking through and of course, carefully soaking up the Norman Rockwell illustrations.  Today Google gave a nod to Mr. Rockwell (for his birthday) with their logo turned sweetly into his painting “Little Spooners”. It’s a perfect fit.  When I saw it, I instantly thought of my Grandma Berry. I think that those days spent looking at Rockwell paintings were somewhat of my springboard into appreciating art.

Here’s one of my favorite Rockwell paintings:

The Gossip By Norman Rockwell

My Uncle Artie and Aunt America (Yep, that is her real name! ) had a copy of it at their house and I always enjoyed it. It made me laugh and it still does.

There are so many “funny” Rockwell paintings, but here is a powerful painting (“The Problem We All Live With”) that was fantastic and still is. Look at the detail and words scribbled on the wall. Rockwell was not only a “comfort and All-American” painter, but a painter that made us look at ourselves and the America we should be.

The Problem We All Live With.

Does anyone else my age appreciate Norman Rockwell? Let me know if you have a favorite.

As an appreciator of art, I enjoy this. As the mother of a huge TMNT fan, I find this incredible.

**Collegehumor.com**