Bittersweet Farewell

Last night, my coworkers threw me a going-away party! I am completely flattered that so many of my friends and business contacts showed up to make it such a memorable, fun, but bittersweet evening. I have been at my job for six years and we are all like family.

You are known by God

This passage is so precious to me! Whether you are living life day by day, in dire or complicated circumstances, or just feeling like you don't matter - The Lord who created the universe also created YOU - you are special to Him and He watches over you. He will never leave you!

¹ You have searched me, LORD,
   and you know me.
² You know when I sit and when I rise;
   you perceive my thoughts from afar.
³ You discern my going out and my lying down;
   you are familiar with all my ways.
⁴ Before a word is on my tongue
   you, LORD, know it completely.
⁵ You hem me in behind and before,
   and you lay your hand upon me.
⁶ Such knowledge is too wonderful for me,
   too lofty for me to attain.
 ⁷ Where can I go from your Spirit?
   Where can I flee from your presence?
⁸ If I go up to the heavens, you are there;
   if I make my bed in the depths, you are there.
⁹ If I rise on the wings of the dawn,
   if I settle on the far side of the sea,
¹⁰ even there your hand will guide me,
   your right hand will hold me fast.
 ¹³ For you created my inmost being;
   you knit me together in my mother’s womb.
¹⁴ I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made;
   your works are wonderful,
   I know that full well.
¹⁵ My frame was not hidden from you
   when I was made in the secret place,
   when I was woven together in the depths of the earth.
¹⁶ Your eyes saw my unformed body;
   all the days ordained for me were written in your book
   before one of them came to be.

Psalm 139: 1-16 (NIV)

#17: Do A Photo Shoot

This week, I had the privilege of working with my friend Mike, a local photographer, on a photo shoot! He had wanted to work with me on a shoot before, but it never seemed to come together. It had been a dream of mine for awhile to be professionally photographed, but I was always too shy or nervous. Mike completely put me at ease - he is the consumate professional and very easy to work with. Plus, it was just fun :) If you are in the Franklin, PA area, I highly recommend him. Here are just a few of the photos from that shoot. He's very talented, don't you think?

(All photos copyrighted Recorded Light by Michael Henderson)

Prefab Perfection

It may just be a summer vacation home, but I could live here all the time:

(These images and other architectural and interior design goodness via Freshome)

{Deliciousness from around the Web} Recipes I'm Dying to Try!

Nutella Ganache Covered Cheesecake (via Kitchen Confidante)

Soft & Chewy Chocolate Chip Cookies (via Saveur)

Tomato Soup Cake (via girlichef)

Flourless Chocolate Cake (via Gimme Some Oven)

Homemade Lemon Curd (via Bakers Royale)

* And as you can see, yes, I have a huge sweet tooth ;) *

Purple

I'm completely obsessed with this purple Valentino dress worn by Salma Hayek in In Style Magazine last year. It's such a gorgeous shade and highlights her curves perfectly. Wonder where I can find a similar design?

Dream Vacation

These are a few of mine. Where would you choose?

Plitvice Lakes, Croatia

Prague, Czech Republic

Manarola, on the Italian Riviera