Wise Owl



photo credit: Avery Lewis

 
I told myself I needed to write this before I went on my mission trip as a testimony to how me going has been planned long before I ever knew I would go. 
 
I've mentioned this before...  I've always felt like I get "snapshots" of my future life events.  Sometimes I don't even remember having them until they come true.  This post is about one of those snapshots.
 
In 2011, I chose to get serious about photography and pursue my passion.  I don't remember exactly when it happened but I remember envisioning an Easter photo mini session at my parents neighborhood park.  Why Easter?  I had no idea.
 
2014- My mother and I toured Southeast Asia so I could clear my head after I ended a relationship.  While we were there, I could see myself coming back to help in some way.
 
2016- During my first semester at Christ For The Nations Institute, the school announced their available summer mission trips.  Never have I heard God speak so loudly, saying, "Southeast Asia".  Sure enough, my school was offering a trip to Southeast Asia and it included the same countries I had gone to 2 years prior.  I signed on, feeling perfect peace.
 
New Years Eve
December 31, 2016
 
I walked out of my parents house and got into my jeep so I could pick up friends for a NYE celebration.  Once inside my car, I looked up and saw two bright eyes looking back at me.  Oh my gosh, it was an owl perched at the peak of my parents' roof.  I have never seen an owl in our city before.  He then flew to my neighbor's tree and I was able to ring their bell so they could see the owl too.  I took this as a good sign.  I felt like for the upcoming year of 2017, I would gain WISDOM.
 
on top of parents house
 
in the neighbor's tree
 
2017- To fundraise for my mission trip, I remembered the vision about the Easter photo shoot and it became clear.  God wanted me to do that to raise money!  Because I was in school, the best week to do it was Spring Break and I had already planned on going snowboarding with friends.  Wanting to be obedient to God, I cancelled the trip and got to planning the photo session.  I first reached out to my dear friends Crystal, Joyce, and Laura to see if they could help.  Once they said yes, it gave me encouragement to keep going.  I decided to take photos of children and pets.  Laura and her sister helped me create the ad by letting me take a photo of Laura's dog Stanley and niece Cate.  However, I hesitated in posting about the event.  Would anyone sign up??  Guys, the enemy is real and he wants us to doubt ourselves and be fearful.  Strengthening myself in God's truth, I finally got the courage to post and within seconds, my friend Kari shared my event.  I was so happy!  Other friends shared as well.  I felt so encouraged.
 
 
Friends started to sign up and all the slots were filled!  Oh how silly of me to doubt and not be assured that this is God's idea and it will be GOOD!  I decided to create a second event and that quickly filled up as well.  Praise God! 
 
February 2017, two days after I posted about the photo sessions, I was out jogging in the afternoon at my parents' neighborhood park and started to think about the details of the Easter mini.  Where in the park would I have it?  Will the weather be good?  What will I do if it rains?  Suddenly, I saw something fly by and when I turned my head to look, I saw an owl sitting in a tree!  It was probably the same one I saw two months ago.  I took it as a reassurance from God that all would be well.
 
Wednesday Photo Sessions
 
I was stressing for days leading up to the session because the weather was predicted to be cold.  I asked my friends if they would want to do it indoors or outdoors and I ultimately decided to shoot indoors.  My friend Don graciously let me borrow his indoor lighting as well as offer his assistance that day.  My friend Laura was the "bunny wrangler" for the session.  Yes, we borrowed a bunny named Abraham.  He was my friend's sister's bunny who was also up for adoption.  Laura also did such a great job getting the attention of the children and trying to get them to smile.  And... Laura is super talented and created the banner for the photos as well as loaned me props and décor.  Thank you, Laura! 
My mom also took the day off so she could help me.  Crystal and Joyce were also there to help.  I couldn't have done it without all these amazing people.  And... I also realized I had a vision in the past of doing a photoshoot in my room at my parents house.  It came true!  God is FAITHFUL! 
 
Laura aka Bunny Wrangler
Thank you! Thank you!
 
Thank you to the following people for signing up to get photos taken on Wednesday.  It was so wonderful to see you all and I thank you so much for driving to my parents house and spending time to support my mission trip.
 
Amanda S.
Michelle R.
Stacey T.
Lori M.
Robin T.
Joyce U.
Crystal R.
Mai H.
Tina C.
Angelica
Melissa M.
Janee C.
 
sweet Julia with mom Michelle smiling at her
Julia

Tristan with mom Crystal taking a photo on her phone
Tristan and Abraham the bun

Mai and her pups Mona and Bosco. We decided not to have the bunny in the picture.  :-)
Bosco was not amused.
 
Saturday Photo Session
 
What an incredible day this was.  We woke up very early.  My mom asked friends Nicole and Ha Kin to come help.  My dad made pho for breakfast.
 
 
After breakfast, my friend Joyce met me at the park to set up.  She is so busy being a new mommy, wife, and supervisor at her hospital that I was so thankful she set aside time to help me.  She is an incredible friend. 
The weather was so beautiful on this Saturday and I wanted to burst with joy as I saw friend after friend come.  We are all so busy that it's hard to find time to meet up.  But on this day, I got to see so many kind souls. 
 
A million thanks
 
I would like to say thank you very much to the talented Ha Kin.  She is a professional photographer and taught me invaluable tips.  She spent the entire day with my family.  She captures children beautifully and I am so grateful for her time and talent.  My parents were also there all day.  My dad would run back and forth from the park to the house for anything we needed.  My mom and Nicole were excellent assistants with the photos and helped keep the day run smoothly.  I can not thank all of these people enough.
 
My amazing friends and their family who I took photos of on Saturday:
 
Coral G.
Rosemarie & Rob A.
Yen M.
Jannetta & Cary M.
Nicole H.
Cassie & Daniel H.
Susan B.
Michelle & Robert P. 
Brooke M.
Erica P.
Meghan S.
Michelle & Matt M.
Kim B.
Kasie C.
 
baby Jack with Grayson being my bubble guy and my mother holding reflector
sweet Jack
Yorkie Bella and her paparazzi
Bella
Thank you Coral for bringing your family and grandchildren
Coral's grandchildren
 
Light as a Feather
 
The mini sessions were such an incredible experience and I will definitely do it again.  Thank you to everyone involved- I raised enough money for my mission trip!  God fulfilled His promise.  He is faithful and our obedience is required. 
After the photo shoots, things didn't get easy.  I allowed anxiety to take over as I was trying to balance photo editing, school work during the week, and working my shifts as a nurse on weekends.  This is the enemy attacking.  The closer we walk with God, the harder the enemy tries to distract us.  We can not let busy-ness keep us from intimacy with the Lord.  Our comfort is in His word.
 
I'd like to end with this...  the semester just ended for me and summer break is here.  I feel great.  But days before my final exams, I found myself overwhelmed once again.  I was sick, had to practice for a guitar recital, and was moving back home.  On Friday, May 5th, I had just arrived to my parents house and was unloading my jeep.  I started to think about how could I get everything done in time.  I also anxiously thought about my upcoming mission trip.  As I lowered my head, I saw something in the grass and knew it was meant for me.  A sign that all would go according to His plan.  Laying on the grass was one single owl feather.  A sweet reminder from God that I am on the right path and He is with me to guide and comfort me.  I leave for Southeast Asia tomorrow.  I don't know what all will happen on this trip but God does.  I know I need to continue to trust Him, be available to hear His sweet voice, and open to receive His Fatherly love.  
 
Your kingdom come,
Your will be done,
on earth as it is in heaven.
Matthew 6:10 (NIV) 
 

 
 
 
 
 


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