All is calm. All is bright.

With Christmas right around the corner, I am officially in holiday song mode. I know, the radio has been playing Frosty the Snowman since Thanksgiving, but I try to tune it out as much as possible until these last few days.

See, I really like Christmas music. So much of it is so absolutely beautiful, or lively, or fun, and I really enjoy singing along to all the old classics. But too much of any good thing eventually wears on you. So I wait. And now, with Christmas less than a week away, I'm excited to be dancing around the kitchen with my son in my arms, singing along to The Most Wonderful Time of the Year while the yummy smell of baking chocolate chip cookies fills the air.

For Nathaniel and I, the excitement of Christmas now has so much to do with watching our son experience everything. And I enjoy all of the family, the time spent together, the gifts, truly - I do. But I am most looking forward to Christmas morning at our church, where the beauty of this day shines through the commercialism and cuts to the simple, sweet message underneath it all.

Your Nativity, O Christ our God,
Has shone to the world the Light of wisdom!
For by it, those who worshipped the stars,
Were taught by a Star to adore You,
The Sun of Righteousness,
And to know You, the Orient from on High.
O Lord, glory to You!

The March for Life

On Monday, January 24th, thousands of  people were gathered in Washington D.C. to protest Roe v. Wade in the March for Life.  I was fortunate enough to attend with several people from my church, St. Stephen Orthodox Cathedral, and brought my camera along.



I've included the video I made from the event, but mainly what I wanted to share with you are the links to this same video on three different Orthodox websites.  I am honored to have found my work used beyond the realm of my own church circle, which is all I had in mind when I created it.  But let this serve as a reminder to me and any budding photographer out there to always credit your work and keep track of it because you never know where it will end up!!!  Fortunately, Vimeo shows you where your videos have been shared so you can check up on them.

Whether you are Pro-Life or Pro-Choice, I hope that you will take the time to watch the video and to read the articles included in these links.  Because, in the famous words of Dr. Seuss, "A person's a person, no matter how small."

http://byztex.blogspot.com/2011/02/march-for-life-video-compilation.html
http://orthocath.wordpress.com/2011/02/07/orthodox-christians-at-2011-march-for-life/
http://sainteliaschurch.blogspot.com/2011/02/orthodox-christians-at-us-march-for.html