simply life » peace

Peace.

Jessie — Wed, 23 Dec 2009 03:30:23 +0000

Tomorrow morning we are headed off to see my family for a nice long much needed rest. We are headed to the deep south where fried chicken, warm temperatures and old friends abound. I am very much looking forward to talking a long walk in the woods, having coffee with my grandma and having my brother beat me at Boggle. I am planning on getting my nose stuck in a book and reflecting on ALL that this year has been. It has been a crazy important year inthe life of Simply Jessie Photogrpahy, in me as an individual and in “us” and our love. So so so many things have happened, changed, grown, become important and faded to the background.

Before we go I thought I would share with you our small but perfect Christmas tree here in Chicago. We love remembering all kinds of different memories as we hang each ornament. And as you can see we love the big tacky Charlie Brown lights. I think its perfect! We did not go crazy with the decorations this year. Just this small simple tree and our beloved carved wood statue of Mary and Joseph. I found this card a few years ago and it goes on display every year.

Merry Christmas to all!!

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Summer Fades to Fall.

Jessie — Wed, 14 Oct 2009 21:19:04 +0000

As the summer light seems to be fading, and I watch the remaining flowers finish with their cheery presence I always find myself contemplative. I think about seasons of life. I think about the quiet hush Fall seems to bring to my soul with the brisk morning air and crunchy leaves under my boots. Yes, I do wish for more warm summer nights of carefree drinks and tank tops, but I am also excited for pumpkin bread, cozy blankets and the time with the ones I love. I am ready for the long rest that winter forces upon us all.

Summers here in Chicago are glorious… breathtaking really…. full of walking , biking, festivals galore, but I am thankful for this new quiet, for the chill in the air. I appreciate the change, what new seasons bring for us, both in weather and of the heart. We need seasons. We need seasons of joy, of busyness, of quiet , and of peace.

So take it from this Southern raised girl, embrace the new season and for what lies beyond. Take life as it comes and don’t wish for what is not right in front of your face. Drink in the change, the new colors, and the newness of what each season brings.

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Monday Morning….

Jessie — Wed, 23 Sep 2009 18:57:09 +0000

On Monday morning, my soul found some quiet or at least less panic. It was very cloudy, and the air was so humid you felt like you were walking in the rain. Now I know for many, this is NOT an ideal morning, but for me it was just right. Warm sticky mornings remind me of home and despite my bad hair day ….calms me. I found myself drinking it in, my wandering was not frantic but pensive and my mind was still. I was stuck by the water lilies, with their vibrant green on the dark water. Because of the cloud cover , the edges of the lily pads were crisp and distinct and dark water was glassy.

With my camera all packed up walking towards my car, I ran into beautiful Dahlias in the parking lot. I didn’t even know flowers came in these colors!

Also in the parking lots I found fruit still covered in the wetness of the night’s rain. Last week I would have walked right past.

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Quieting my soul….

Jessie — Fri, 18 Sep 2009 20:15:38 +0000

My newest venture is teaching a Photography Portfolio Workshop at Chicago Botanic Gardens for eight weeks. Last Monday was the first class where I met a variety of talented aspiring nature photographers. I designed this class to help these individuals develop their own nature portfolio to show off. Each student has a theme or focus . They vary from, water, lines and textures, leaves ,fall flowers etc. They turned in their first assignment last night and I have already been blown away by the glory of nature and the talent of these students. They are each on their unique journey to express what they see to a camera lens. I feel humbled and privileged to help them in their next steps of this journey. My class is broken into two parts. First part, is technical instruction and critique, and the second hour is shooting time in the garden to develop their portfolio and complete their next assignment.

WhatI learned in the hour, was not mind blowing fine art, but was about myself……that my soul has not been quiet for quite some time and apparently does not know how. That morning started off with over preparation and plenty of time,but turned into traffic to the MAX, wrong turns,hurrying to my classroom, organizing my things and having 5 min before meeting the class. When the second hour of our time came to go out with our cameras and be inspired …. I found this hour WAY harder than the rest of my morning even compared to the stopped traffic on I-94. My iphone kept ringing, and buzzing with new emails. I just found my self listless, wandering and uncomfortable. I was uncomfortable to be silent, to be still, to let down and to just be.

My life for the last few months has been NUTS. Moving into this new space, painting, designing, advertising, efficiency, new sights, new everything!! Don’t get me wrong, I am NOT complaining. It has been more than I could have dreamed up for myself, yet…. in that only one brief hour at the garden, I panicked in the presence of quiet.

I am looking forward to the next seven weeks of this class, to stretch me, inspire me and to quiet me. I am looking forward to Monday where I am once again uncomfortable in the quiet where I know is home for me, to get reacquainted with nature and with myself. Funny how for me they are so intertwined….

A few from my wandering….

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