Oh yeah- and they're HUGE Bama fans, so they're even that much cooler!! 
Saturday, May 31, 2008
The Ross Family
This morning, I had the pleasure of photographing the Ross family. Angie and Bryan do such an amazing job with their family. They've raised three unbelievably sweet kids that love to kiss and hug. I've adored this family ever since I met them years ago. I hope these photographs capture how close they really are.
Friday, May 30, 2008
Tami and Dan have promised to post more pictures soon on their blog. So far, this is the only one we've seen. Isn't she beautiful?!?
Thursday, May 29, 2008
Another Drum Roll Please....
I have a NIECE!!! Little Kaiyah was born late this afternoon in Central Asia. We're still waiting for a picture and the official size. The second I get a photo, I will post it on here. Here's what we do know: She is sweet, healthy, and has a dark head of hair!
Wednesday, May 28, 2008
Can I get a drum roll...?!?!
http://zachwiggs.blogspot.com/
Tell your husbands, boyfriends and friends... my husband has a blog! If you get a chance, stop by and show him some love.
Tell your husbands, boyfriends and friends... my husband has a blog! If you get a chance, stop by and show him some love.
Tuesday, May 27, 2008
A lot of thoughts...
Ok, so I logged onto my computer to blog about my recent find... a book that just arrived in the mail today from Amazon. But when I logged on, I checked my google reader and came across this article on the Smart City Memphis blog... and I HAD to change my direction.
I've attached the link to the article here, but I also attached the entire article in hopes it will persuade you to spare a few extra minutes and read it. If you are a Christian and live anywhere in the South, you need to read this article. This is a topic that touches Zach and my household very closely. We are consistently talking about this subject and how we can use our home to impact the city. I would LOVE your feedback on this article and perhaps some suggestions on how the Christian community can come together to impact this great city.
I promise I'll post about my book later. :)
http://smartcitymemphis.blogspot.com/2008/05/changing-reality-starts-with-race.html
"It takes time to reverse the momentum that has dragged Memphis in the wrong direction for years. That negative momentum has been fueled and driven by oppression of one culture by another. Although it's not nearly as measurable or tangible as in years past, its aftershocks will be felt for years.There are two cultures here that don't mix very well. One culture needs to seek forgiveness and provide tangible evidence of providing a way out for the culture it oppressed. This same culture says to the other, “Move beyond your past and seize the opportunities.” Sure, just tell the lion at the zoo to not let that barrier keep him from realizing his true capacity to roam. There are a lot of socio-economic barriers that have been raised as a result of the residual cultural infrastructure that exists here. You don’t see it if you visit Memphis, but you do if you move here.It's this rift between two cultures that is absolutely revolting to the outsiders coming to Memphis. And nowhere is it more obvious then when an outsider family goes to a public school and is suddenly transported back to the segregated pre-Civil Rights era. You can talk about all the great ways that people claim race relations have improved, but the public school system is the reality check. It tells the whole story to a family coming to move to Memphis. There is the change that people desire and preach and then there is their action to back it up. Let’s face it- it’s completely socially acceptable within the churched culture here to segregate your kids. How’s that for a selling point for our city?THIS IS NOT NORMAL!Memphis is plagued by hypocrisy - a putrid stench to the prospective working professional and to the Memphian that has smelled it their whole life and is aching to get out of it. This hypocrisy is the running joke with one of my Australian colleagues.A culture that preaches forgiveness and tolerance and yet continues to promote segregation by placing its children into private schools. How do our children learn racial tolerance and harmony if they don't grow up together? Most of the parents that I have met who do place their kids in Memphis City Schools are non-religious folks. What does that say about what people believe? Does God only live in private schools? Why is it that the “non-Christians” are more Christian in their convictions (or at least actions) than the “true Christians.”Yes we need more high tech jobs, low tech jobs and such. But for people to sink their roots down and commit to a community we need racial harmony and congruity. The church here needs to live out the principles and actions and align their beliefs with their actions.On the brighter side, times are changing. As more outsiders move in, the melting pot is starting to stir again especially in the Midtown areas but it's slow and even slower within the native culture. But it’s happening and I have met Memphians that are equally disturbed with this incongruity. But wait! MCS are terrible and not safe. Right? Not true. That's a smokescreen or code word for the MCS being mostly populated by blacks. There are some great MCS schools out there!!As you see racial reconciliation continue to unfold, this city will become a beautiful vibrant place - inside and out. It already is a beautiful little city but it's the culture, the tension and the manifestations of this rift that start to wear on those of us who are new to Memphis.Let’s start with a Forgiveness Garden perhaps on the grounds of Auction and Main.This is the area visible from the trolley route where slaves were traded and the property has been for sale for along time. H-m-m. Why not get churches to donate money to jointly buy, run and maintain the site? Why not host inter-racial worship services on Mud Island on Sunday nights?People will stay and not leave as the day-to-day gritty realities around us begin to fade. And they will fade as harmony is restored between the cultures belief system and it’s actions."
I've attached the link to the article here, but I also attached the entire article in hopes it will persuade you to spare a few extra minutes and read it. If you are a Christian and live anywhere in the South, you need to read this article. This is a topic that touches Zach and my household very closely. We are consistently talking about this subject and how we can use our home to impact the city. I would LOVE your feedback on this article and perhaps some suggestions on how the Christian community can come together to impact this great city.
I promise I'll post about my book later. :)
http://smartcitymemphis.blogspot.com/2008/05/changing-reality-starts-with-race.html
"It takes time to reverse the momentum that has dragged Memphis in the wrong direction for years. That negative momentum has been fueled and driven by oppression of one culture by another. Although it's not nearly as measurable or tangible as in years past, its aftershocks will be felt for years.There are two cultures here that don't mix very well. One culture needs to seek forgiveness and provide tangible evidence of providing a way out for the culture it oppressed. This same culture says to the other, “Move beyond your past and seize the opportunities.” Sure, just tell the lion at the zoo to not let that barrier keep him from realizing his true capacity to roam. There are a lot of socio-economic barriers that have been raised as a result of the residual cultural infrastructure that exists here. You don’t see it if you visit Memphis, but you do if you move here.It's this rift between two cultures that is absolutely revolting to the outsiders coming to Memphis. And nowhere is it more obvious then when an outsider family goes to a public school and is suddenly transported back to the segregated pre-Civil Rights era. You can talk about all the great ways that people claim race relations have improved, but the public school system is the reality check. It tells the whole story to a family coming to move to Memphis. There is the change that people desire and preach and then there is their action to back it up. Let’s face it- it’s completely socially acceptable within the churched culture here to segregate your kids. How’s that for a selling point for our city?THIS IS NOT NORMAL!Memphis is plagued by hypocrisy - a putrid stench to the prospective working professional and to the Memphian that has smelled it their whole life and is aching to get out of it. This hypocrisy is the running joke with one of my Australian colleagues.A culture that preaches forgiveness and tolerance and yet continues to promote segregation by placing its children into private schools. How do our children learn racial tolerance and harmony if they don't grow up together? Most of the parents that I have met who do place their kids in Memphis City Schools are non-religious folks. What does that say about what people believe? Does God only live in private schools? Why is it that the “non-Christians” are more Christian in their convictions (or at least actions) than the “true Christians.”Yes we need more high tech jobs, low tech jobs and such. But for people to sink their roots down and commit to a community we need racial harmony and congruity. The church here needs to live out the principles and actions and align their beliefs with their actions.On the brighter side, times are changing. As more outsiders move in, the melting pot is starting to stir again especially in the Midtown areas but it's slow and even slower within the native culture. But it’s happening and I have met Memphians that are equally disturbed with this incongruity. But wait! MCS are terrible and not safe. Right? Not true. That's a smokescreen or code word for the MCS being mostly populated by blacks. There are some great MCS schools out there!!As you see racial reconciliation continue to unfold, this city will become a beautiful vibrant place - inside and out. It already is a beautiful little city but it's the culture, the tension and the manifestations of this rift that start to wear on those of us who are new to Memphis.Let’s start with a Forgiveness Garden perhaps on the grounds of Auction and Main.This is the area visible from the trolley route where slaves were traded and the property has been for sale for along time. H-m-m. Why not get churches to donate money to jointly buy, run and maintain the site? Why not host inter-racial worship services on Mud Island on Sunday nights?People will stay and not leave as the day-to-day gritty realities around us begin to fade. And they will fade as harmony is restored between the cultures belief system and it’s actions."
Monday, May 26, 2008
Memorial Day
"All we have of freedom, all we use or know -This our fathers bought for us long and long ago."
~Rudyard Kipling, The Old Issue, 1899
As we pause today to remember those who, so bravely, have served our country, we also enjoy a day of with those we love most. I hope everyone was able to pause and reflect on the blessings God has provided this Memorial Day.
~Rudyard Kipling, The Old Issue, 1899
As we pause today to remember those who, so bravely, have served our country, we also enjoy a day of with those we love most. I hope everyone was able to pause and reflect on the blessings God has provided this Memorial Day.
Friday, May 23, 2008
Joanna
My best friend, Joanna, just got back from a vacation to Florida with her husband and kids. While she was there, she took a ton of BEAUTIFUL pictures on the beach. Today, I got to edit some of them for her. I used them to experiment with color, lighting technique, and texture. Here are the results.
Thursday, May 22, 2008
As Promised...
Here are pictures from our rousing game of Scattergories last night with our small group. Believe it or not... even a game of Scattergories can get intense when you have a large amount of highly competitive people participating. We had a great time, guys!
Wednesday, May 21, 2008
A lot of randomness...
I know you're not supposed to have favorites, and I don't think I do, but somehow this big guy has stolen my heart. He LOVES to cuddle with his mom. Zach snapped these pictures last night while Bryant and I were laying in bed.
When I got home last night, I saw that my lilies I planted last year had blossomed. This is by far my favorite flower in the garden. 
Tonight, we're meeting with our small group... a group of AMAZING people who are consistently teaching us how to live in community and know God better. This group has become our family over the past few months and I cannot imagine my walk with God without them. Each person has taught me so much, and I am eager to learn more. Zach and I have a better marriage because of this group. My walk with God is better because of this group. Honestly, I don't know how I managed to get through life before joining a small group. I haven't posted too many pictures of them simply because I don't want to freak them out with my obnoxious picture-taking, but tonight we're getting together for a "game night." I think it may be a good time to introduce them to my dark side. Hopefully, I'll have pictures tomorrow.
If any of you are reading this, get ready.
Tuesday, May 20, 2008
Sunday, May 18, 2008
Friday, May 16, 2008
T.G.I.F.
What is it about Fridays? Last Friday, I really got to thinking about Laurie and how much I miss our long conversations and goofy moments together. Today, I discovered that Laurie has started a blog!! She's only written one post so far, but I can guarantee you, when she does write, it will be powerful.
I've known Laurie since we were little kids and she has always had a unique passion about her. Laurie is one of those people you only have to meet once to know she is meant for great things. She has such a unique soul and a love for all things made by God- she is guaranteed to challenge you. Anyway, read her blog, be inspired. I assure you, she will touch you. 
picture by Laurie and Baine
picture by Laurie and BaineThursday, May 15, 2008
The Power of Snapfish
I was talking to my sister-in-law, Jennifer, this weekend who reminded me that I need to be saving my pictures to a place like Snapfish or some other online site. I logged into snapfish for the first time in a couple of years and discovered I'd already saved hundreds of old pictures!! They were all pictures from about three years ago that I thought I'd lost when my computer crashed a few months back. It's like Christmas morning all over again!!
Most of those pictures were taken at a time when my only roommate was my cat, Precious. Precious and I went through a LOT together during those transitional years after college. While I was looking through the pictures, I remembered all the times I would come home and she'd be staring out the window waiting for me to pull up. As soon as I would walk into the house she would jump on the couch because she knew it was time to cuddle with me. She made it impossible for me to feel lonely. She single-handedly changed the way I viewed animals and their roles in the lives of humans. I love this cat. I'm so happy these pictures aren't lost!
Most of those pictures were taken at a time when my only roommate was my cat, Precious. Precious and I went through a LOT together during those transitional years after college. While I was looking through the pictures, I remembered all the times I would come home and she'd be staring out the window waiting for me to pull up. As soon as I would walk into the house she would jump on the couch because she knew it was time to cuddle with me. She made it impossible for me to feel lonely. She single-handedly changed the way I viewed animals and their roles in the lives of humans. I love this cat. I'm so happy these pictures aren't lost!
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