Ancient

A necropolis in Turkey. The light was amazing when we visited, and the contrast between the old stones and the new vegetation was beautiful.

Unexpected

Thrifting at Salvation Army today, I found a rather unexpected tag... I had no idea that there were clothing manufactories in Bahrain.

Windy

(White Rock Lake, Dallas)

Trumpet

Trumpet flowers next to the driveway are very cheerful, and the bees are very excited about them!

Walk in the light

Isaiah 2:5

Come, O house of Jacob,
let us walk in the light of the Lord.

Purple

(Floxglove in Germany)

Summer is a jolly time

...full of light and staying up late and enjoying the sunshine!

Following the path...

The last few months have certainly been ones of uncertainty and change. Moving from Oregon to Texas to look for teaching jobs meant packing up and moving. We've been staying with family and doing temporary work while we looked for fall opportunities. Even now that I've had a job offer (teaching language arts, which I'm very excited about!) and now that we've put down a deposit on an apartment, there are still many things to plan for and adapt to. While I'm looking forward to the greater stability of the fall, I'm trying to focus on living each day mindfully, instead of living in the future.

Faraway

As the temperatures are getting hotter here, I'd definitely enjoy being back in Oregon for a bit, although I've heard that the rain has been pretty intense lately.

Solstice

Summer is officially here!

Blustery

The wind at White Rock Lake was wonderful, given the hundred-plus degree temperatures we've been having.

Displeased

When we were in Harran, Turkey, this little guy was really cute, and I asked if I could take his picture. The man with him (I think his father or grandfather) thought it was a great idea, but he himself was clearly not so impressed.

Flame-red

Poppies against the ruins in Turkey. Poppies are everywhere in Turkey, and my, are they pretty!

Glow

(A small shop in Turkey)

I think these lamps are prettiest when they are hanging all massed together. An individual lamp is never as attractive as a group of them.

Hollow

(Cappadocia, Turkey)

I'm having so much fun going back through old pictures from Turkey that I thought I'd share a few more in the next few days.

Play

Another of my favorite pictures from Turkey. This kiddo had been playing with a paper kite in the street, but was very skeptical of having his picture taken.

Fade

Isaiah 40:8

The grass withers and the flowers fall,
but the word of our God stands forever.

The other side

(The Hagia Sophia in Istanbul, Turkey)

Although the Hagia Sophia is very impressive from the front, I have always liked seeing the many layers of the building crammed together when it's viewed from the back.

Maximus

This is one of my very favorite pictures from Turkey. Secretly, Ben is Maximus from Gladiator.

Cappadocia

Cappadocia is one of my very favorite places in Turkey. The landscape is naturally beautiful, and the history is fascinating. The Hittites lived there thousands of years ago, and the early Christians used the hills as homes and dug out catacombs below in which to hide.

Ataturk

(Ataturk Mausoleum in Ankara, Turkey)

The weather here in Dallas has felt a lot like it did when were in Turkey, so I think it's a great time to review the pictures from our trip.

Street scene

It's been six years since we went on the Honor's Program trip to Turkey. It is a truly beautiful country, and I would love to go back and spend another month there. Perhaps in a few years.

Blue and white

We went to see the Mikado at the Fort Worth opera on Saturday. Of course, I couldn't take pictures during the performance, but that didn't stop me from enjoying (and photographing) the architecture during the pre-performance talk.

Glory

(Grand Tetons, Wyoming)

Psalm 24

Of David. A psalm.

¹ The earth is the LORD’s, and everything in it,
the world, and all who live in it;
² for he founded it on the seas
and established it on the waters.

³ Who may ascend the mountain of the LORD?
Who may stand in his holy place?
⁴ The one who has clean hands and a pure heart,
who does not trust in an idol
or swear by a false god.

⁵ They will receive blessing from the LORD
and vindication from God their Savior.
⁶ Such is the generation of those who seek him,
who seek your face, God of Jacob.

⁷ Lift up your heads, you gates;
be lifted up, you ancient doors,
that the King of glory may come in.
⁸ Who is this King of glory?
The LORD strong and mighty,
the LORD mighty in battle.
⁹ Lift up your heads, you gates;
lift them up, you ancient doors,
that the King of glory may come in.
¹⁰ Who is he, this King of glory?
The LORD Almighty—
he is the King of glory.

Direction

Modern art

A new building is going up downtown in the Arts District. I think it looks like a modern art installation all on its own, although I'm pretty sure that's not the intention.

Summer

The sun is shining, the birds are singing, and tonight we are going to an outdoor concert downtown. If feels like summer to me!

Texture