here are some photos from around the school lately.
i just love snow. it's simply so magical.
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| Miss Kayla Photography | copyright 2012 |
![[ h y g g e l i g t o l d s o u l ]](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhI5tHPwGgjax4hsdf8hJ_PFwiM21nF3nzsE7itDE3sONFu3iZ3KxiS0YhxqokAVUOg5W7fkkK2teO8jwauw-aLFwXkdLiAkySTfJFo1kuAfg0I_4q3yJegCfP4ZKPG10IWwmOrOmj5ZyI/s1100/header.jpg)
10.12.12
4.12.12
[ this thing we call advent ]
what is advent, really?
it's common here in denmark to have four candles and light them according to the sundays of the month. [the first candle on the first sunday, then two on the second, and so forth.] i believe this is also fairly common in the states.
advent. the time of preparation, of expectation, of waiting.
it's also often a time of extreme stress, pressure for buying gifts, and a total lapse in mental and financial reasoning for many. ultimately, there end up being a lot of crazies running around the malls and in public areas around this time.
it's common here in denmark to have four candles and light them according to the sundays of the month. [the first candle on the first sunday, then two on the second, and so forth.] i believe this is also fairly common in the states.
advent. the time of preparation, of expectation, of waiting.
it's also often a time of extreme stress, pressure for buying gifts, and a total lapse in mental and financial reasoning for many. ultimately, there end up being a lot of crazies running around the malls and in public areas around this time.
25.11.12
[ this and that ]
to my dear readers.
first off : do yourself a favor and click on this video, listen, and enjoy. [unless it will distract you, then wait until afterwards.]
just as a forewarning, this is a completely random, without-point post. if i may end up with some kind of moral, this is totally out of coincidence. i want to write this as a letter, because it simply makes the most sense right now.
my mind is too jumbled right now to even form some kind of life-lesson post of such, so this will literally be a little of this and that. just bits of random information and some of tonight's reflections. unrefined, straight from the source.
as you may have noticed [or not], i have started doing my posts without capitalization. merely a stylization -- i just decided i like the look of it better. and quite honestly.. it's just so much easier to type without punching the shift key allthetime.
first off : do yourself a favor and click on this video, listen, and enjoy. [unless it will distract you, then wait until afterwards.]
just as a forewarning, this is a completely random, without-point post. if i may end up with some kind of moral, this is totally out of coincidence. i want to write this as a letter, because it simply makes the most sense right now.
my mind is too jumbled right now to even form some kind of life-lesson post of such, so this will literally be a little of this and that. just bits of random information and some of tonight's reflections. unrefined, straight from the source.
as you may have noticed [or not], i have started doing my posts without capitalization. merely a stylization -- i just decided i like the look of it better. and quite honestly.. it's just so much easier to type without punching the shift key allthetime.
2.11.12
[ purity ]
a few shots i took myself and edited for Fire in the Night here at the school.
take your time, enjoy, and let them speak to you.
[click on the images to make them larger and view them on a black background.]
[click on the images to make them larger and view them on a black background.]
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| copyright Miss Kayla Photography | 2012 |
29.10.12
[ all or nothing ]
surrender.
jesus came down to earth himself. giving up everything. becoming a mere human like me. to live and breathe the air we breathe. to one day die the most painful death. nailed to a cross, as a living sacrifice for all of humanity for every single mistake and sin and wrong ever committed -- past, present, and future.
surrender.
it has an awkward taste on the tongue. surrendering in war means you give up and hope the enemy doesn't just kill you anyway. surrendering means giving up in our minds, doesn't it.
and yet, in this seemingly opposite notion, surrendering to God simply means that you actually gain everything.
jesus came down to earth himself. giving up everything. becoming a mere human like me. to live and breathe the air we breathe. to one day die the most painful death. nailed to a cross, as a living sacrifice for all of humanity for every single mistake and sin and wrong ever committed -- past, present, and future.
surrender.
it has an awkward taste on the tongue. surrendering in war means you give up and hope the enemy doesn't just kill you anyway. surrendering means giving up in our minds, doesn't it.
and yet, in this seemingly opposite notion, surrendering to God simply means that you actually gain everything.
1.10.12
[ the chase of change ]
She ran quickly, glancing behind her as if there were some way she could stay behind and remain as she was. But no. Her pursuer gazed after her with a bitter stare, the cold winds underlining the sentiment.
Colors grew rebellious and violent as she ran, blazing to furious reds, burnt yellows -- all as if portraying her anger at being driven out. The trees could do little to fend off the change. Eventually though, they began dropping their garments, leaves slowly making their way to the ground. They gathered in little huddles, only disturbed by the occasional crackling death of a companion who happened to be in the way of a passerby.
Colors grew rebellious and violent as she ran, blazing to furious reds, burnt yellows -- all as if portraying her anger at being driven out. The trees could do little to fend off the change. Eventually though, they began dropping their garments, leaves slowly making their way to the ground. They gathered in little huddles, only disturbed by the occasional crackling death of a companion who happened to be in the way of a passerby.
25.9.12
[ saving the kosmos ]
This post is going to disturb you. Maybe even disgust you.
I'm just sayin'.. you have fair warning.
A long, long, long time ago, God created the world.
Right. Pause.
I'm sure all of us have heard the verse John 3.16, right?
La dee da. Right. Pause again.
I'm just sayin'.. you have fair warning.
A long, long, long time ago, God created the world.
Right. Pause.
I'm sure all of us have heard the verse John 3.16, right?
"For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life."
La dee da. Right. Pause again.
23.9.12
[ home ]
"Home is where the heart is."
A commonly said phrase, but I don't think people really understand the other side of this.
It's crippling sometimes.
Missing someone or a place so much. And it's made even worse by the fact that you know you can't do anything about it for the time being.
It's crazy how much you can take something for granted or not realize how much you love it until it's miles and miles away.
A commonly said phrase, but I don't think people really understand the other side of this.
It's crippling sometimes.
Missing someone or a place so much. And it's made even worse by the fact that you know you can't do anything about it for the time being.
It's crazy how much you can take something for granted or not realize how much you love it until it's miles and miles away.
11.9.12
[ the death of self ]
It was like there were two different people living within her body.
The one who wanted to stay selfishly in the comfortable, familiar life. The one who wanted to run home to her parent's house and stay in her basement and curl up on her bed, eat Goldfish and watch movies. The one who wanted to defy the obvious path that was set before her.
Then there was the one who wanted to leave everything behind, dare to step into the new, be this radical person. The one who wanted to go out into the world, meet new people, learn about and experience new cultures, do whatever came her way. The one who definitely wanted to follow the calling placed on her life and put her focus where it should be.
So many thoughts. Too many thoughts.
The one who wanted to stay selfishly in the comfortable, familiar life. The one who wanted to run home to her parent's house and stay in her basement and curl up on her bed, eat Goldfish and watch movies. The one who wanted to defy the obvious path that was set before her.
Then there was the one who wanted to leave everything behind, dare to step into the new, be this radical person. The one who wanted to go out into the world, meet new people, learn about and experience new cultures, do whatever came her way. The one who definitely wanted to follow the calling placed on her life and put her focus where it should be.
So many thoughts. Too many thoughts.
5.8.12
[ startin' with the man beyond the mirror. ]
Bike rides are incredible times for good one-on-one conversations with God. Truly. [Especially along the Danish countryside around sundown in the summertime with a cool breeze.]
With too much on my mind, I decided I needed to get out and think and get some things broken back down to the basics. The basics simply being God is what matters most and He's on my side.
Riding through the countryside, firey sunset on the right, rows upon rows of wheat fields on either side -- things in my mind quickly lost their importance when brought in light of His creation.
I mean, He really outdid Himself.
So I'm riding along the winding road, talking to myself and to Him, and yes, looking like a complete fool, but I couldn't have cared less. At one point when I was talking about wanting to be in Heaven already so I dance pain-free and fly around in outer space and sit down and talk with Him, face to face, and ask questions and hear His heart and hear His story of me and His thoughts of me and what I did -- it hit me.
With too much on my mind, I decided I needed to get out and think and get some things broken back down to the basics. The basics simply being God is what matters most and He's on my side.
Riding through the countryside, firey sunset on the right, rows upon rows of wheat fields on either side -- things in my mind quickly lost their importance when brought in light of His creation.
I mean, He really outdid Himself.
So I'm riding along the winding road, talking to myself and to Him, and yes, looking like a complete fool, but I couldn't have cared less. At one point when I was talking about wanting to be in Heaven already so I dance pain-free and fly around in outer space and sit down and talk with Him, face to face, and ask questions and hear His heart and hear His story of me and His thoughts of me and what I did -- it hit me.
20.7.12
[ no regrets. ]
I'll keep this short, sweet, and to the point.
I'm sure we've all done things in the past that we're not proud of, right? Unhealthy or broken relationships, lies, traps, alchohol abuse.. the list goes on.
And as much as we try to move on, sometimes these things manage to find their way back into our minds regardless of how much we put it out again or try to think of other things. It taints your mind. It creeps in and reminds you of how great you're not. Of what a failure that situation was. Of what a failure you are.
Or perhaps it's not that serious, and it's more a matter of feeling foolish or stupid. Perhaps it's more of a "I regret doing that" kind of thing.
I'm sure we've all done things in the past that we're not proud of, right? Unhealthy or broken relationships, lies, traps, alchohol abuse.. the list goes on.
And as much as we try to move on, sometimes these things manage to find their way back into our minds regardless of how much we put it out again or try to think of other things. It taints your mind. It creeps in and reminds you of how great you're not. Of what a failure that situation was. Of what a failure you are.
Or perhaps it's not that serious, and it's more a matter of feeling foolish or stupid. Perhaps it's more of a "I regret doing that" kind of thing.
15.7.12
[ impressions of athens : pt. II ]
Athens wasn't all doom and gloom, to be sure. It may have seemed like that in my last post about my outreach there, which you can read here.
On the contrary, Athens was quite the bright and exciting hub of culture. From the old to the new, times had left their mark. Most impressive of all was seeing the ancient remnants such as the Acropolis.
Ohmygoodness it was so exciting to see the Acropolis. Even just standing on Mars Hill, where Paul preached, overlooking one side of the vast expanse of Athens -- just, wow. It was quite the perspective.
On the contrary, Athens was quite the bright and exciting hub of culture. From the old to the new, times had left their mark. Most impressive of all was seeing the ancient remnants such as the Acropolis.
Ohmygoodness it was so exciting to see the Acropolis. Even just standing on Mars Hill, where Paul preached, overlooking one side of the vast expanse of Athens -- just, wow. It was quite the perspective.
6.7.12
[ for all the {single} ladies out there. ]
Hey ladies.
I'm sure when talking about future husbands [f.h.], we've all heard the phrase "the one". Like you've gotta wait for "the one", or "the one" is out there somewhere.
I'm just gonna call a tampon a tampon and say this is crap. And it's not even biblical.
There are no references in the Bible that say there is only one guy out there.
Given the fact that we all have the right of free choice, meaning we can make any choice we want, go down any road we want, who's to say that guy is going to choose the same thing and be down there waiting for you somewhere?
I'm sure when talking about future husbands [f.h.], we've all heard the phrase "the one". Like you've gotta wait for "the one", or "the one" is out there somewhere.
I'm just gonna call a tampon a tampon and say this is crap. And it's not even biblical.
There are no references in the Bible that say there is only one guy out there.
Given the fact that we all have the right of free choice, meaning we can make any choice we want, go down any road we want, who's to say that guy is going to choose the same thing and be down there waiting for you somewhere?
23.6.12
[ you. are. worthy. ]
In the midst of dancing, a thought interrupted my mind.
You know, so often I hear prayers and people talk about how unworthy they are. About how they're not worthy for Him and they don't know why He uses them, and on and on.
Well, I mean, I've definitely been thinking that more than once. Sometimes I have no idea why He puts up with me, honestly.
But for a while now, this hasn't felt right to say. It hit me when a guest speaker came to the school a couple days ago and she was saying how unworthy she was to be a part of something.
And I sat there and instantly disagreed.
You know, so often I hear prayers and people talk about how unworthy they are. About how they're not worthy for Him and they don't know why He uses them, and on and on.
Well, I mean, I've definitely been thinking that more than once. Sometimes I have no idea why He puts up with me, honestly.
But for a while now, this hasn't felt right to say. It hit me when a guest speaker came to the school a couple days ago and she was saying how unworthy she was to be a part of something.
And I sat there and instantly disagreed.
19.6.12
[ what you think is going to happen.. ]
I've come to the conclusion that I'm pretty stubborn.
And those of you who know me pretty well can just roll your eyes riiiiiight now. I'm sure this isn't a shocker for you.
Unfortunately, there are things in our lives that we don't know we don't know, and then we know we don't know, and then we know what we didn't know. And so I've finally arrived at the point where I know, and feel a little sheepish.
Let me tell you a little story that happens to be non-fiction and comes directly from my life these last couple of months.
And those of you who know me pretty well can just roll your eyes riiiiiight now. I'm sure this isn't a shocker for you.
Unfortunately, there are things in our lives that we don't know we don't know, and then we know we don't know, and then we know what we didn't know. And so I've finally arrived at the point where I know, and feel a little sheepish.
Let me tell you a little story that happens to be non-fiction and comes directly from my life these last couple of months.
15.6.12
[ impressions of athens : pt. I ]
Imagine.
Walking down the closed street into an area with people milling around.
Some lying down, completely passed out. Except for the slight raising of the chest to show they were still breathing, they might as well have been dead at first glance.
Others passing from group to group, looking for more.
Small huddled figures grouped around fires, spoons poised and ready.
Eyes that look at you and hold nothing.
No emotion. No words. Emptiness.
Walking down the closed street into an area with people milling around.
Some lying down, completely passed out. Except for the slight raising of the chest to show they were still breathing, they might as well have been dead at first glance.
Others passing from group to group, looking for more.
Small huddled figures grouped around fires, spoons poised and ready.
Eyes that look at you and hold nothing.
No emotion. No words. Emptiness.
19.5.12
[ perspective ]
You know those moments when you say just a word or a few words, and the minute they come out, you already see the reaction and consequences coming?
I found myself in one of those incidences today.
I managed to sit at a table with a Danish-speaking homeless man between myself and my other two friends, attempting to strike up a conversation. Between the drukenly slurred speech and trying my very best to pick up on as much Danish as possible, I quickly lost track of the way the conversation was going. It went from small talk to him asking how it's going in Danish. I replied "Jeg har det godt" [or I'm good], and asked him the same. Apparently he didn't hear this, but only heard me asking him how he was doing. And then he randomly started getting upset about this.
I found myself in one of those incidences today.
I managed to sit at a table with a Danish-speaking homeless man between myself and my other two friends, attempting to strike up a conversation. Between the drukenly slurred speech and trying my very best to pick up on as much Danish as possible, I quickly lost track of the way the conversation was going. It went from small talk to him asking how it's going in Danish. I replied "Jeg har det godt" [or I'm good], and asked him the same. Apparently he didn't hear this, but only heard me asking him how he was doing. And then he randomly started getting upset about this.
1.5.12
[ time's not a-wastin' ]
God doesn't waste time.
Something that never fails to awe me is His timing. There have been so many times when I've been waiting around, getting impatient because maybe things aren't moving at my speed or happening the way I want them to. And then He comes along and things end up far better than I could have ever planned.
Right? I'm sure in one way or another, we can all relate to this. Everytime.
When will I learn..
Why do we waste so much time wondering why we're in this certain place of our lives? Why do we stress about "not being far enough" or "not growing enough"?
Most of all, why I am wasting my time, and, ultimately, His time?
It's so, so easy for me to get caught up in this endless circle of fearing I'm not growing enough, moving forward fast enough. I was stressing about this one afternoon, and after asking Him what He thought, He interrupted me and said "Stop. Just stop worrying. I have you right where I want you."
That stopped my train of thoughts crazily running around my head and I began to think about that.
Something that never fails to awe me is His timing. There have been so many times when I've been waiting around, getting impatient because maybe things aren't moving at my speed or happening the way I want them to. And then He comes along and things end up far better than I could have ever planned.
Right? I'm sure in one way or another, we can all relate to this. Everytime.
When will I learn..
Why do we waste so much time wondering why we're in this certain place of our lives? Why do we stress about "not being far enough" or "not growing enough"?
Most of all, why I am wasting my time, and, ultimately, His time?
It's so, so easy for me to get caught up in this endless circle of fearing I'm not growing enough, moving forward fast enough. I was stressing about this one afternoon, and after asking Him what He thought, He interrupted me and said "Stop. Just stop worrying. I have you right where I want you."
That stopped my train of thoughts crazily running around my head and I began to think about that.
8.3.12
[ value in the process ]
How many "almost" roads have I nearly walked down?
.. too many.
How close have I really come to making some pretty stupid mistakes?
.. too close.
How many "revivals" have I had in my life?
.. eh, who knows.
.. too many.
How close have I really come to making some pretty stupid mistakes?
.. too close.
How many "revivals" have I had in my life?
.. eh, who knows.
13.2.12
[ a love letter ]
I went home to spend some time with my mormor [grandma] this weekend, which was lovely as always. With our mixed language of Daneglish, we get along pretty well. We don't talk a lot, and that's okay. Neither of us feel the need to fill the silence when most are uncomfortable with it.
We laugh, we joke, we smile. We're getting to know each other little by little. Only getting to see her once a year for a month my entire life hasn't really given us the opportunity to really get to know one another.
Her house is the place I feel most at home. I have so many great memories from that place, reaching all the way back to being 3 years old.
Especially summertime. Those have always been glorious times.
Something about Denmark has always captured my heart, has always been a second home. As a child, I always wanted to marry a Dane and end up living here with my dream ranch with an endless amount of horses.
We went for a walk, mormor and I, in the woods by her house. I realized while we were walking that this was one of my favorite places on earth.
We laugh, we joke, we smile. We're getting to know each other little by little. Only getting to see her once a year for a month my entire life hasn't really given us the opportunity to really get to know one another.
Her house is the place I feel most at home. I have so many great memories from that place, reaching all the way back to being 3 years old.
Especially summertime. Those have always been glorious times.
Something about Denmark has always captured my heart, has always been a second home. As a child, I always wanted to marry a Dane and end up living here with my dream ranch with an endless amount of horses.
We went for a walk, mormor and I, in the woods by her house. I realized while we were walking that this was one of my favorite places on earth.
18.1.12
[ submitting to leadership ]
"Ugh, no don't make me do this."
Pleading with God doesn't usually end up in your favor. In the end, I always have to give in because I know, deep down somewhere, that He's always right.
.. plus there's no way to avoid it when the realization that "Hey! You were wrong all along" smacks you in the face.
Let's go back some weeks to Kona.
Everything was "happy clappy", and our team was getting along fairly well. There were some leadership adjustments and shifts, which created some rocky points -- but overall, everything seemed well.
Great. Swell.
Pleading with God doesn't usually end up in your favor. In the end, I always have to give in because I know, deep down somewhere, that He's always right.
.. plus there's no way to avoid it when the realization that "Hey! You were wrong all along" smacks you in the face.
Let's go back some weeks to Kona.
Everything was "happy clappy", and our team was getting along fairly well. There were some leadership adjustments and shifts, which created some rocky points -- but overall, everything seemed well.
Great. Swell.
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