Friendships are the best ships in the land of 10,000 Lakes!
Hello,
Wow July. Is. BUSY! What a week it has been!
Coming back to Missouri I have had the blessing of having some amazing friends and even better photoshoots! I spent a lot of time with this crew in the picture below. We grew so close in such a random week of fun which included free MyPillows, overeating and way too much laughter!
Last week I got to go up to the state where my photography all started. I did everything any normal Minnesotan would do when I was up there. Ate some Black Sheep Pizza (If you get a chance, watch Justin and I's review of it), explored every coffee shop in the Uptown area, (Shout out to Corner Coffee Uptown, If you have never been there you owe it to yourself to check it out!), went to a lake, watched fireworks, went to a Twins game and ate a gratuitous amounts of Sushi with my friends. (Pictured from the left to right: Alyssa, Justin "Junebug", Ryan, Me, and Braden; at The Bulldog in Northeast Minneapolis...we ate crescent burgers with syrup, egg, meat, cheese, bacon, and peanut butter it was something else.)
I had multiple photoshoots this weekend but I will focus on the main one that really stuck out to me. This shoot was a quick one and unexpected, with my friends Alyssa and Ryan. This photoshoot was extra special to me because I spent the entire week with these two. We were exploring around Minneapolis early in the week and I happened to have my camera in my truck (surprise, surprise). We were looking around and I asked if I could take pics of them. In which they replied NO! but I went ahead and did it anyway ;)
As far as friendship goes I grew so much with these two this week. We had some really amazing deep conversations, some that I never expected from each of them. The thing that I think is amazing about people is the fact that you never really know what anyone is going through unless you talk to them on a deeper level. It was so cool to share each others experiences and share about where we "truly" are in life. One of the hardest things that I find is to take off the "everything is okay" mask and let others in on what is happening in my life. In fact we always joke that our mothers know best but for real my mom one time called me out on the fact that I always want people to think that everything is okay. Shout out to my mom because she was the one that really forced me to be real with myself and to share with others about how I am feeling! The biggest take away that I have found is that most people are going through the same thing that you are. We all want to be; noticed, valued, fulfilled, poured into, seen as someone special, succeed all of the above.
Something that the devil will try and do is make you feel alone in that, your desires make you nervous. Life gets really hard when we allow our fears to stay bottled up inside of us. This past week I really let out some anxiety with my friends that I have kept bottled in. Even writing this it is liberating to tell you that I sometimes may look like I have it all together but friend, let me tell you, I certainly do not! Here is the coolest part that I really learned from this experience...no one does and thats okay!!!
I also spent a lot of time with my buddy Justin who unfortunately didn't make the photoshoot that day! Now, don't get me wrong we shared A TON of laughs, I think I gained a six pack over the weekend from laughter! I mean mostly at Alyssa's expense but you know ;) But I think the coolest thing is we are called to be in community with people. I think that time spent with friends is almost refueling and helps you gain wisdom and encouragement.
Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you.
There were times with these three that we laughed until we cried, namely the walk home from the Twins game when I found my hidden talent for screaming football coach sayings in a high voice. Then there were times when we were sitting around and discussing some of our deepest life experiences and our fears. It was so encouraging. I never thought that I could grow so close to people that I had been friends for years with in just one single week.
Qualities of great friendships; laughter, tears and inside jokes!
Without further wait here are pics from the quick "shoot" we did in a back ally of Minnesota. Looking back at these pics makes me miss it already! I even got in front of the camera!
Peace out fam John 3:16!
Wow July. Is. BUSY! What a week it has been!
Coming back to Missouri I have had the blessing of having some amazing friends and even better photoshoots! I spent a lot of time with this crew in the picture below. We grew so close in such a random week of fun which included free MyPillows, overeating and way too much laughter!
Last week I got to go up to the state where my photography all started. I did everything any normal Minnesotan would do when I was up there. Ate some Black Sheep Pizza (If you get a chance, watch Justin and I's review of it), explored every coffee shop in the Uptown area, (Shout out to Corner Coffee Uptown, If you have never been there you owe it to yourself to check it out!), went to a lake, watched fireworks, went to a Twins game and ate a gratuitous amounts of Sushi with my friends. (Pictured from the left to right: Alyssa, Justin "Junebug", Ryan, Me, and Braden; at The Bulldog in Northeast Minneapolis...we ate crescent burgers with syrup, egg, meat, cheese, bacon, and peanut butter it was something else.) I had multiple photoshoots this weekend but I will focus on the main one that really stuck out to me. This shoot was a quick one and unexpected, with my friends Alyssa and Ryan. This photoshoot was extra special to me because I spent the entire week with these two. We were exploring around Minneapolis early in the week and I happened to have my camera in my truck (surprise, surprise). We were looking around and I asked if I could take pics of them. In which they replied NO! but I went ahead and did it anyway ;)
As far as friendship goes I grew so much with these two this week. We had some really amazing deep conversations, some that I never expected from each of them. The thing that I think is amazing about people is the fact that you never really know what anyone is going through unless you talk to them on a deeper level. It was so cool to share each others experiences and share about where we "truly" are in life. One of the hardest things that I find is to take off the "everything is okay" mask and let others in on what is happening in my life. In fact we always joke that our mothers know best but for real my mom one time called me out on the fact that I always want people to think that everything is okay. Shout out to my mom because she was the one that really forced me to be real with myself and to share with others about how I am feeling! The biggest take away that I have found is that most people are going through the same thing that you are. We all want to be; noticed, valued, fulfilled, poured into, seen as someone special, succeed all of the above.
Something that the devil will try and do is make you feel alone in that, your desires make you nervous. Life gets really hard when we allow our fears to stay bottled up inside of us. This past week I really let out some anxiety with my friends that I have kept bottled in. Even writing this it is liberating to tell you that I sometimes may look like I have it all together but friend, let me tell you, I certainly do not! Here is the coolest part that I really learned from this experience...no one does and thats okay!!!
I also spent a lot of time with my buddy Justin who unfortunately didn't make the photoshoot that day! Now, don't get me wrong we shared A TON of laughs, I think I gained a six pack over the weekend from laughter! I mean mostly at Alyssa's expense but you know ;) But I think the coolest thing is we are called to be in community with people. I think that time spent with friends is almost refueling and helps you gain wisdom and encouragement.
Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience.
Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you.
And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity. Colossians 3:12-14
There were times with these three that we laughed until we cried, namely the walk home from the Twins game when I found my hidden talent for screaming football coach sayings in a high voice. Then there were times when we were sitting around and discussing some of our deepest life experiences and our fears. It was so encouraging. I never thought that I could grow so close to people that I had been friends for years with in just one single week.
I encourage you to grab two of your closest friends and drive to Minnesota, you will find the same experience ha! Just kidding. But grabbing a few friends in which you can really bear each others burdens on and care about really makes for such a solid community. I never knew a kid from Chicago could gain such tight friends from a guy from Florida, Kansas and a girl from Iowa. It was really cool.
Qualities of great friendships; laughter, tears and inside jokes!
Peace out fam John 3:16!
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