Virginia Trip

I take after my mother in the fact that I love to share the adventures I've had on my blog.  Traveling presents more than fun for me.  Through going to new place, I find a time of learning and exploration.  The newness gets me out of routine, forcing me to become more aware of my surroundings.  In doing such, I learn more.  This leads to greater appreciation for little things, time-tested ideas and different cultures.  I hope that you enjoy the differing scenes in this blog.  Maybe it even helps you reflect on traveling you've done or pushes you to get out of your bubble and experience other parts of our country and world!

"Jumping off"

This picture presents to you the huge gorge in West Virginia.  Miles of river meandering through mountainous landscape.  The wooden post in the focus of this photo represents to me the normal, predictable routine of home.  Or maybe it's not predictable for you, but it's the mundane everyday.  However, there always exists an invitation to jump out of that bubble into adventure.  Sometimes this chance takes place in road trips or other traveling.  However, I also present to you today the invitation to jump off into an adventure right where you're at!  A journey of becoming aware of everything making up your life- little joys you overlook and sensations inside your body you never stop to notice.  

"Rail or Plank"

I know not what it is

A rail keeping my feet on 

Solid ground, stopping whiz

Of body following down.

Or is this board before me

A plank for me to walk

That I should bend upon my knee

And beg for mercy til throat to chalk 

Turns?

I know not what it is

Life plays this game with me

Giving me clues which I miss

Yet hiding things so I fail to see

Reasons for each paradox 

That soundly confuses my head

Though with care I try to walk

I know not what road I tread

Now.

I know not what it is

A rail or plank here exits.

Do I dance in innocent bliss

Or feel tears submit

The pain inside of me?

"Rocky Neighborhood"

I have many a picture of plants growing in seeming terrible places (you'll see more in this very post!).  No matter how many photos of this theme I collect, however, I still desire to capture more.  I believe it's because these plants present to me the essence of survival.  The fact that no matter how little the soil, how hard or cold the surface, how little room to grow... the delicate life lives!

"Moss From Snow"

Snow piled upon the top

Differing flake in every drop

Sparkling purely in white

Yet bitter cold frostbite

Deals such delicate hands

Freezing living glands.

But beneath this paradoxal

Existence come green tropical

Bore by a brave heart

A rugged soul departs

From standard expectations 

Into noble explorations!

"Puzzle Pieces"

It amazes me how all these rocks pile on top of each other, yet fit so wonderfully together.  They aren't one, big boulder that's obviously supposed to exist simultaneously!  This cliff contains many pieces of rocks put together to form something huge, amazing, and life supporting.  Often in this past season of my life, I've explained the pain inside of me as feeling like I'm "broken".  What a great hope I find to latch onto in this photo!  Even if I'm in pieces, those parts fit together to create where I am now.  In the words of a great friend of mine: "You are OK exactly where you're at"!

"Icy Summer Days"

How strange to see icicles hanging from the rocks in April!  Nevertheless, these cold lines held onto that rock in order to speak out a message.  A message that cold does exist in summer days.  Hardship does exist under people's smiles.  Frustration and anger do occur in the best of folks.  Don't ignore your feelings!  Embrace them so that they melt into even warmer summer days!

"Mega Jenga"

I'm not the biggest fan of loud noises, so every time those Jenga boards collapse, it startles me no matter how prepared I attempt to be!  :)  As much as I laugh at this, the "Jenga tiles" of this rock mound remind of the well of emotions I often bottle up inside.  As a people-pleaser, perfectionist, eldest, missionary and pastor's kid... I find myself feeling a great deal of pressure to "be the example" for everyone else.  As a result, I often push my own frustrations, doubts and struggles under the rug in order to care for others by avoiding burdening them with my junk.  Unfortunately, all those Jenga tiles eventually fall down- and cause a loud crash in their wake.  Processing through emotions as they come up is hard work, often seems inconvenient, and may feel unnatural.  However, it's a skill worth learning.

"Secret Garden"

Oh, the irony of peace!

Far from every living soul

One truly finds the stillness,

Genuinely looks around.

His languishing eye experiences

Every sight of nature he missed

Countless times through many years

While trying to achieve

Among the noise of men

Peace in greatness.

Yet here, in stillness

With only weeds to watch

Finds a man quietness of soul.

The famous Arch Bridge of New River Gorge.

"Traveling Beneath"

Past poles

Through holes

Hearing noise

But no choice

Continue on

Tarry not long

Keep going

Never knowing

Where you're going

But beneath

This endless crease.

"Blossoms and Bridges"

This picture gives a new hope to the dreary poem for the previous photo.  While life's travel proves long and often confusing, there is a light at the end of the tunnel.  Sometimes, we can't see that light from where we're standing.  Here, the importance of surrounding yourself with those who do see those rays beyond becomes crucial.  They'll see the buds in you even before you blossom.

"Rocky Roof"

Some many of the rocks in West Virginia astounded me for the mere reason that they didn't fall down!  Even when, with rocks like the one above, nothing seemed to support in from beneath.  So to you, reader, I give permission to defy the laws of gravity.  Hang on, hang on!  Even when there seems to be nothing holding you up, hang on!

"Momentary Imprint"

My sister recently found this quote: Your mind is the garden, your thoughts are the seeds; will you plant flowers or weeds?  I believe every experience we have, word we hear, and person with interact with leaves an imprint on us.  I also believe it's easy to fall into the pose of a helpless victim, forced to live with every footmark left on one's brain.  Nevertheless, science proves otherwise.  Our brains have amazing plasticity- the ability to change.  By repeating something over and over, we develop new neural pathways.  Thus, the choice becomes ours.  Which imprints do we desire to repeat until they become rooted within us?  Which do we desire to let "dry up"?

"One color"

Among browns, greys, blacks- the purple shirt stands out.  The eye becomes drawn to that bright color amidst the dark.  So with life.  Though often drab, mundane, frustrating or even hopeless, humans have an amazing ability to latch themselves onto a hope which carries one through bleak times.

"Cracks in the wall"

Normally, cracks in a wall are a bad thing!  People begin panicking and look for some means to fix the cracks in order that all might be stable again.  People often find security in stability.  However, stability- though a good thing!- sometimes hinders curiosity and growth.  The vulnerability, unknown spaces and risk involved in growing and discovering are not often found in a stable "wall".  Next time you feel the wall of your life in cracking, look for areas to grow in the change instead of hurrying to build everything right back up to its original state.

"Metal Rainbow"

Face to face interaction brings so much to life.  I'm often saddened by the way teens today stick to their phone screens consistently, often allowing the device to hinder development of social skills.  To this, I say, choose your rainbow: the metallic one where everyone poses their life just right for their posts or the brilliant one of many colors- where people are seen for who they are.

"Rails"

Off into the distance they go

Do they take me home?

I do not know

Under a bridge they lead

What comes at the end?

It's a mystery.

"Climbing"

Climbing, stretching 

Up the wall

Ignore lack of steps

Stand tall

Take what you can

Just today

Know that til tomorrow

The rest will stay

Go on, go on

My growing dear

You have it in you

And I am here.

"Sun in the colony"

Whether you feel you're boring, the same as everyone else, or you worry about standing out in the crowd, the sun shines down on you the same it does everyone else- just for you, too.

"Three in One"

It is possible to agree to disagree.  It is possible to take others as they are, to love them where they're at, without needing them to change.  From all our waterfalls we flow into one river.

"Deserted"

Window shut, shuttering quietly, shushing the street

Door locked up tight so out it keeps

Every life, breath, humanity which used to rule

But now the town settles still as a pool

With not a ripple in sight to disturb the daily routine

Of the same stillness, lack of sound, absent dreams.

"Here I Stand"

I greatly admire and appreciate those who don't force their ideas upon people.  Instead, they allow others to speak of different beliefs, then calmly state their own, to stay where they stand on things, but to love others nevertheless.

"Ineligible"

The declaration of the side of this building is now, sadly, ineligible.  The story it tells now becomes a mystery.  Relating to this, we recently had a friend of ours die.  As my family talked about her that night, we realized she had lived through WWII, the Great Depression, the Cold War and two pandemics.  What stories she must have had!  It saddens me that I never asked her about her life.  Thus, I strong encourage asking people around you about their lives.  You can never know the adventures human books hold by just looking at their covers.

"Window, Door, Window"

How curious a thing that the door in this picture is above the window!  Although we laugh at this, saying what a silly architect must have failed to think this through, the idea gives way to two life lessons.  On one hand, we often go along with societies ideas, never questioning the logic behind them.  We ourselves end up (hilariously) putting doors above windows- which probably will cause us eventual inconvenience.  Conversely, maybe the builder of this edifice had a reason for arranging things the way he did.  Remember, you never know other's reasons for doing as they do unless you ask!  

"Yellow"

The yellow stands out.  Beautifully.  Often those of us with unique characteristics which set us apart from the general public struggle with this difference.  However, I want to speak to those of you who resonate with this, telling you something I've heard from trusted people in my life: your uniqueness is wonderful, a breath of fresh air.

"Mounted on a Wall"

Mounted on a wall

Defying laws of gravity

Never does she fall

Let's say this in brevity

Courage keeps her there

She knows, in sincerity

The deep depths of fear

Yet in perseverance still

She clings for life dear.

"Closed Off"

Hurtful comments or challenging experiences often create a process of cementing internal doors that formerly let people inside one's life.  I personally- being both a receiver and distributor of this circumstance- believe there needs to be a middle ground.  Continuing to open one's self up to situations that might cause more internal harm- whether or not it's meant to- proves only self destructive.  However, completely closing oneself off to any situation or person only causes enlarging to one's wounds.  A middle ground looks like pulling away from situations which might cause internal harm, but also being careful to open yourself up to trusted people in order that they can help you walk through dark paths.

"Colorfully Scarred"

One thing I appreciate very deeply is people trusting me with their life stories: where they've come from, what they're currently going through, and what dreams they hold for the future.  Oftentimes, people express fear in sharing their story.  They're scared of others looking down on them because of scars which color the narrative.  I debate, though, that humans find connection in life's ups and downs.  Sharing these experiences helps us to relate, grow relationships, find encouragement, become inspired and avoid loneliness in our own trials.  Granted, not everyone will appreciate your story.  But to those who ask, take their interest as an opportunity to share.  Also, pursue discovering others' life novel!

"Death Beneath Life"

Jumping off the last picture, I come to this one.  As humans, one of our top talents is hiding our sadness behind a mask of living our perfect life.  Everyone wants to have their hair done nice, put on the best clothes, travel to the most popular vacation places, buy the best vehicle, have their finances stable.  If you're like me, you've heard the above many a time.  But let me add some things to the list which might hit closer to home.  People try to make their family act perfect, hiding disagreements at home so that no one knows what a mess they are.  People strive to be the liked and noticed by others, wanted in all the social events.  Students feel they must keep their grades high to be acceptable, parents panic whenever they don't have a job.  Again, I come back to the same conclusion.  Why not release those weeds- lost dreams, struggles and imperfections- to trusted people in your life?  Chances are they'll relate much faster than judge you.

"Gears"

On this huge wall, the small pulleys do so much work.  They might go unrecognized against the vastness of the building.  That fails to make them any less important.  If you're anything like me, you often feel your talents are "less than".  They're either unnoticed, undesired or unextraordinary.  I want to reach out to you today and encourage you to keep being a pulley.  Your work plays a very important place!  

"Baggage"

Bandaged bloody feet blistered with many a mile

Trudge, trudge onwards, not time to yet stop

Over this hill, now over the next still

Across the mountain's jagged peaks to the top

Now down, descend the path with all your will

Carry those bags, so bulky and large

Grasp with fingers at the straps 

Let it go for nothing, no hardship or exhaustion

No strength to hold you head up

But hold high that heart, the greater barge

Until to a resting place these feet come

And put each bag down.

What a cutie :)  He did so good on the long trip!

"Standing Out"

Yellow Halo 

In the crowd

Amidst the loud

Very quiet

Pollen dust

Left behind

A trail to find

For someone

Who cares

Who sees

Who remembers me

For more than

The yellow halo

"Formations"

Forms are a hard thing to deal with, and many people do on a daily basis.  How do I look compared to that girl?  Is my hair curled like her's?  Why can't I do my make-up like so-and-so?  My car looks like a piece of junk compared to his.  I freak out walking towards a crowd, but everyone else seems fearless, why?  While I don't have answer to these questions- and struggle with similar ones myself- my attention of late has been brought the variety of forms and lives in this world.  So many factors play into making a person who they are as well as determining their responses and feelings.  When you stop and think about it, comparison is actually illogical, because we do not know the whole story.  So much more occurs than what meets the eye.

"Light at the End of the Tunnel"

Shining in

Now very dim

Maybe one day

A brighter ray 

Will touch my skin

"Backdrop Shadow"

The amazing intricacies of this stalagmite amaze me.  Yet from the shadow, one could never experience all the small grooves that create such an amazing specimen.  I think this picture reinforces "Formations" by showing just how little we experience of others based on their shadows. 

"Framed"

Growing, growing slowly, slowly

Becoming something vibrantly green

Coming, coming in its own time

Towards the red rack 'round its place

Shining, shining shimming its own way

Not by rays of light reflecting, instead 

Green, green penetrates the perfect day

"Round Window"

Circular eye, staring with a steady gaze

Never blinking once its paned lids

Waiting, watching passerby's bellow

Looking for one who might stop

And behold the circular eye

A circumference made with care

Yet not one foots halts it hurried walk

Not one face turns towards

This lonely eye who yearns

Only to enrich the day.

"Tunnel"

Walk, walk my dear through the garden tunnel

Run, run my love beneath the woven funnel

Dance, dance my friend underneath wooden frame

Stay, stay my dear to contemplate the day.

So many spring flowers blooming during our trip!  I took many pictures of the different blooms.  Such practices take me back to the core reason I take pictures: to appreciate all the secondary stories happening around me that I otherwise fly by while consumed with everything wrong in my own story.

"Picket Fence"

White fence

Pink flowers

Stand out

Against each other

Green grass

Blue sky

Only background

But without try

All weaves together.

Amazing gardens of the governor's palace in Williamsburg, Virginia

The gardens included a river with two scenic bridges.  My siblings and I enjoyed exploring the gardens, walking beside the river and even doing a maze cut through the hedges (Shown in the next photo).

"From above"

While inside this maze, we found it quite easy to become lost.  Many wrong turns lead to dead ends.  So, we had to backtrack and start again by going in a new direction.  Of course, none of our confusion would've happened had we seen the course from this bird's eye view.  Nevertheless, taking out the mystery would also rid the course of its fun.  Similarly, why not see life, with all its challenges, as an adventure, rather than a burden?  We might turn the wrong way plenty of times.  However, backtracking to the basis of what works for us provides a new launching point to take a better route.  Taking those steps backwards does not mean you're a failure in the least.  Rather, it shows bravery and determination to get to your goal.

Me and three of my siblings (Grace, Luka and Emalai)

"Lonely house"

People are not peeking out these windows today

They left the doors early in the morn

While the wind still nipped cheeks along its way

The inhabitants in cloaks adorned

Still plodded forward from their stay.

While they are gone a friend watches

Over the empty windows and silent halls

Once green leaves, now pink blossoms

In winter she'll be bare, grieving fall

Yet in every season still she watches

Faithfully for the inhabitant's returning footfalls.

"Red door"

It's striking to me how everything in this photo seems to lead up to the door.  The windows surround it.  They bushes stare at it.  The sidewalk points to it.  This might parallel many things, but for me it illustrates my resolution for the year: to just keep trying.  No matter how all the little details play out, I can keep trying.  My attempts might not accomplish all I desire them to, but they are my best in that moment.  And that is enough, because it is what I have to give.

"Rising"

Foundation holds them down

Bricks carry them up

Door bellow, on the compound

Window above tucked

Leafy hands raise

With the structure high

Singing softly their praise

Faces smiling at the sky.

"A Little Gift"

Something so simple, only two colors, becomes extremely striking.  Our little deeds matter more than we often realize.  Can I challenge you this week to smile at a stranger, ask a person in the store how they're doing, or compliment your family member?  Then leave a little gift for yourself by taking a hot bath, watching a good movie, going on a walk... something you enjoy.

"Teal Shutters"

Striking colors contrasting each other, making a beautiful picture.  In truth, it's a magnificent thing to behold when differences allows themselves to collide and make something breathtaking.  In a simple phrase: it's OK to not see things eye to eye.  To have people different than us near, to respect opinions even if we don't like them, to allow others a safe place to be where they're at.  In this humility, we create something striking that others appreciate.

"Peek-a-Boo"

"Stacked Kegs"

They're all so individual yet come together to make the pile.  Often times it's hard to let others know where we're at because so many different things come into play to complete the puzzle.  To be fair, not everyone should know each barrel in your pile.  But to those who truly care, be patient with yourself and them as you try to share one keg at a time.  Eventually, the entire pile will add up.

"Perched"

The wind through its feathers, the sun on its back

Waiting for something, but, alas!

I know not what this foul looks intently for

I follow his eyes over rolling sea and sandy shore

Searching, searching til a thing might strike my eye

Yet all comes in vain when nothing I spy

Instead I see a world simplified, in a way

A many good things always there each new day.

"Horizon"