'22 in Review

Ah, what a whirlwind the end of 2022 was for me. A pity the deadlines trickled into 2023, but ...ok.(lol idk wut to say cuz meh)

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This post was scheduled for December, but it wasn't quite finished until now. Honestly, I just wasn't ready to share.

2022 felt like a desert to me. The world opened its doors, and I was going to get my whole life back; instead, it overwhelmed me. Opportunities that I thought were ripe for picking dried up in my anticipation of something better. Career, personal goals, hobbies - mirages in a desolate wasteland, like I was aimlessly walking with no sense of direction. Barren from a season of waiting, I was dry and thirsty from carrying all my burdens.

The amazing thing about deserts is the oasis you find in desperate moments. In the quiet, I learned to seek the soft voice in all my head noise. The peace in the reminder that the God that placed my feet on mountains is the same one that walks with me through the lowest of my valleys.

In the desert, I was reminded that the burdens of my heart are welcomed to be laid at His feet.

A few battles this year & the Word I choose to place my foundation on:

• I prayed for a change in circumstance, and the answer received was to change our character and outlook on life. We had to check who we looked to for strength and security. This one hit hard when we decided for Tino to quit, rest and refocus.

• James 1:2-3 - 2 Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds 3 because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance.

• Jeremiah 49:11 - For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.

• Discontentment & wrestling with the fact that a Christian life deviates from worldly expectations, comforts, and recognition. How often is this verse misquoted to frame God within our own will and plans? This verse isn’t a promise that things will go our way. The truth of Paul's words from a prison cell was that God was still with him though his circumstances were bleak. It's a reminder to keep my eyes on Jesus.

• Philippians 4:11-13 - 11 Not that I speak in respect of want: for I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, there with to be content. 12 I know both how to be abased, and I know how to abound: everywhere and in all things am instructed both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need. 13 I can do all things through Christ which strengthens me.

• People's opinions of me weighed heavily on my mind & heart, especially those who willfully tried to misunderstand my character without even trying to get to know me. But why trouble my heart with those thoughts when I am already known? Not only am I fully known by God, I am deeply loved by Him as well. Humbly reminded that He is the God that pursues and changes hearts, even mine.

• Psalm 139:1 - You have searched me, Lord, and you know me.

We are looking toward the Promise Land this year. New year, same God.

Sunsets at Joshua Tree

During this Joshua Tree trip, I wanted to focus on two things - catching the sunset on film and not repeating my film mistake from my previous trip (aka yanking my film out and then opening my camera in broad daylight). Daylight was fading fast, and I had a few shots left for the Kodak Gold 200 roll I loaded earlier in the afternoon. Tino and I were still driving around trying to find the perfect scene. I didn't have much time, so when I found an area I liked, I jumped out of the car. before it fully stopped and ran down the road.

I'll let you in on a little secret. These shots did not come out the way I expected. I was hoping to capture more of the foreground to capture the layers on those purple mountain majesties. I think they still came out great, I really love the silhouette of the Joshua trees against the gradient of the sunset.

These shots below were taken as the sun dipped below the horizon, only a few minutes after the shots above.

I can't quite decide which gradient is my favorite, but luckily I really don't have to ☼

San Diego 2021 Pt. 1

My sister asked me to accompany her on a day trip to SD a few months back. The thing about day trips is that you end up spending more time in the car than the actual city. The thing about road trips with my sister is that she only has two modes - singing for hours at the top of her lungs, or dead asleep. Because of our early morning drive, she was dead asleep for this one. The traffic sucked, and I'm not a fan of the city - mostly due to a lack of interconnected public transport. The only times I visit San Diego is for my work Christmas party, the zoo & the annual Taco Festival ☺ This city does have great coffee shops, and is home to my favorite taco restaurant. It was pretty easy to decide to explore Balboa Park for a few hours while my sister met up with her friends.

I loaded Kodak Gold the night before and didn't care to check the weather assuming it would be sunny. Noting that I should probably make it a habit to check the weather. Unfortunately, sunny SD turned out to be overcast and gloomy. I decided to shoot it at box speed anyways and challenged myself to not use a light meter and test out the sunny 16 rule.

I could not get enough of the details and architecture of the buildings. So much Spanish influence, and my favorite feature were the courtyards. They reminded me of the courtyards I used to read at in Berkeley. The Botanical Building was the one place that I was looking forward to visiting - and it was closed lol. I'm coming back for a redo, San Diego!