Archive for May, 2010

Charica’s Getting Ready

May 26, 2010

I was absolutely thrilled to photograph Charica’s getting ready on her wedding day to John at Victory Christian Center here in Tulsa. As many of my regular readers may know…the getting ready part of the day completely steals my heart away. The redolence of a dozen different perfumes that lingers in the air….the low hum of chatter and gossip beneath hair curlers….and the look of anxious joy on the bride’s features. I love every minute of it. And to be able to focus completely on one part of what was an amazing day for such a sweet couple was nothing short of lovely.

Charica, you are such a sweet and beautiful person, inside and out you radiate the love of Christ in all that you do and say.  You have such a beautiful life ahead of you with John and I know that there are amazing plans for your future together. Thank you ever so for choosing me to be a part of your day.

Joy, Peace, and Love.

Rebekah Elena

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Psalm of Storms

May 21, 2010

My hand trembled within the darkness, my hand gripping the flashlight as though its steady beam were my thread of life. The man on the TV was a distant murmur, a voice that resembled a lost insect buzzing in my ear. My golden dog sat in front of my feet, panting with even breaths, but remaining patient and loyal. He refused to leave me. Even in the fog of emotions that hovered about me I could tell he was nervous, sensing the fear on my breath as I choked back sobs in the shadows.

I’ve always hated tornadoes. Ever since I was a little girl living in Missouri the thought of a seemingly unstoppable force sweeping through your life and destroying everything in seconds has disturbed me. As I stopped in my tracks to stare at the TV I felt as though my heart had been torn open, exposed to the memories of hiding in the closet clinging to my blanket while trying to hold my hands over my ears.

Over a decade later, I sat there on the floor in the room beneath the stairs prying open the leather bound words of God himself. On shaking breaths barely above a whisper, I repeated the 16 verses I’ve uttered countless times when facing life’s figurative and literal storms. This time, though, every word sunk into my soul, saturating me to the very core.

HE WHO dwells in the secret place of the Most High shall remain stable and fixed under the shadow of the Almighty [Whose power no foe can withstand].
2I will say of the Lord, He is my Refuge and my Fortress, my God; on Him I lean and rely, and in Him I [confidently] trust!
3For [then] He will deliver you from the snare of the fowler and from the deadly pestilence.
4[Then] He will cover you with His pinions, and under His wings shall you trust and find refuge; His truth and His faithfulness are a shield and a buckler.
5You shall not be afraid of the terror of the night, nor of the arrow (the evil plots and slanders of the wicked) that flies by day,
6Nor of the pestilence that stalks in darkness, nor of the destruction and sudden death that surprise and lay waste at noonday.
7A thousand may fall at your side, and ten thousand at your right hand, but it shall not come near you.
8Only a spectator shall you be [yourself inaccessible in the secret place of the Most High] as you witness the reward of the wicked.
9Because you have made the Lord your refuge, and the Most High your dwelling place,
10There shall no evil befall you, nor any plague or calamity come near your tent.
11For He will give His angels [especial] charge over you to accompany and defend and preserve you in all your ways [of obedience and service].
12They shall bear you up on their hands, lest you dash your foot against a stone.
13You shall tread upon the lion and adder; the young lion and the serpent shall you trample underfoot.
14Because he has set his love upon Me, therefore will I deliver him; I will set him on high, because he knows and understands My name [has a personal knowledge of My mercy, love, and kindness--trusts and relies on Me, knowing I will never forsake him, no, never].
15He shall call upon Me, and I will answer him; I will be with him in trouble, I will deliver him and honor him.
16With long life will I satisfy him and show him My salvation.

The 91st Psalm [Amplified Bible]


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Hidden Gem

May 16, 2010

Every now and again, typically on a late night such as this, I open up my old folders and search through the images from my past shoots to find gems. Gems, by my definition, are photographs that I wasn’t drawn to when I first captured them…but months later I find them ever so charming and wonder what on earth was wrong with my thought process that long while ago. This image is one such gem. The image is of a bride, Lindsey, and her mother. I promise that it is only a coincidence that the image is from the “getting ready” part of the day…my favorite and most beloved few hours out of the entire experience of photographing a wedding.

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The Rain

May 13, 2010
The rain just does something to my soul.

The thunder that rolls across these Great Plains with it’s never ceasing roar. The silver trees of lightning whose branches stretch across the skies of shadowed amethyst and the velvet blanket of darkened stars. It’s in the way the heaven’s tears roll down my window and gather at its sill. In the morning there will be no trace of the elemental orchestra and most of the world will sleep through its lullaby. But I am awake with eyes open and a pillow pressed to my cheek. I lay for hours untold and let my ears fill to the brim with the melody of the spring storm. My heart beats with the rhythm of the falling rain until my body succumbs to the inevitable slumber it so needs. But come morning I remember the night. And I lay in bed just the smallest bit longer, wishing it to return. But like a wicked lover, it is never seen again. And I am only left with scattered recollections of an evening spent in some strange and subtle euphoria.

The rain just does something to my soul.

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My Beautiful Nerd

May 1, 2010

I spent the last day and a half with my best friend, Kaitlyn…upon my return home I found this letter waiting for me in my inbox.

Dear Rebekah,

If my calculations are correct you will receive this letter immediately after you saw the DeLorean struck by lightning. First, let me assure you that I am alive and well. I’ve been living happily these past 8 months in the year 1885. The lightning bolt that hit the DeLorean caused a gigawatt overload which scrambled the time circuits, activated the flux capacitor, and sent me back to 1885. The overload shorted out the time circuits and destroyed the flying circuits. Unfortunately, the car will never fly again.

I set myself up as a technical support agent as a front while I attempted to repair the damage to the time circuits. Unfortunately, this proved impossible because suitable replacement parts will not be invented until 1947. However, I’ve gotten quite adept at answering telegrams about broken horse shoes and how to reinstall wagon wheels but can not help with horse upkeep because that is considered tutorial on software.

I have buried the DeLorean in the abandoned Alorica Building, adjacent to the Pizza Hut, as shown on the enclosed map. Hopefully, it should remain undisturbed and preserved until you uncover it in 1955. Inside you will find repair instructions. My 1955 counterpart should have no problem repairing it so that you can drive it back to the future. Once you have returned to 2010, destroy the time machine.

Do not, I repeat, do not attempt to come back here to get me. I am perfectly happy living in the fresh air and the wide-open spaces, and I fear that unnecessary time travel only risks further disruption of the space-time continuum. And please take care of Murphy for me. Also I get queasy going through massive jumps in history. Really wears down on you like that. I mean, it’s like “hey wow, how long have I been gone, eh? When was the last time I stopped for a bathroom break? 1655? Seriously?”

I know that you will give Murphy a good home. Remember to walk him twice a day, and that he only likes canned dog food. These are my wishes; please respect them and follow them. And so Beki, I now say farewell and wish you Godspeed. You’ve been a good, kind, and loyal friend to me. You’ve made a real difference in my life. I will always treasure our relationship and think on you with fond memories, warm feelings, and a special place in my heart. Your friend in time, Bug, Scott Stinson. September 1st, 1885.

If I succeeded in making you smile, even for a minute, then my mission is complete for today. :]

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