Saturday, October 13, 2012

we are the free and His is the glory.


It's fall now. It really is, and it's stunning, and I love it. I've actually let go of summer with considerably less kicking and screaming this year. But I couldn't put it away until I'd revisited it all.


Summer. I kind of knew it was going to be a big, splashy, life-changing affair. Just had that feeling. But it was way bigger, way splashier, way more life-changing than I'd planned on. 


I feel like last summer wasn't that long ago, but every. single. thing has changed. Things fell apart, things came together, and mostly, Jesus, who has always been a part of my life, sweepingly, incredibly, indescribably became all that really matters.


Everything that a tough and beautiful spring led to just exploded this summer. Life has a way of getting crazy and amazing when Jesus is all over the place. I know I can't actually describe it--the best way to show you what I mean would be to jump up and down and probably cry.


This started it all, with all the promisingly glorious Jesus-ness. There are awesome pieces of life that are good and enjoyable, the end, but then there's seasons where everything changes so hugely, so beautifully, so mind-blowingly, that it can't ever, ever be the same. This was that summer.


This summer there were lots of fires with deep conversations and smoked-out clothes. There was conviction and more learning and thinking than I've ever done. There were moleskines, bought and given and gotten and written in.


This summer there was painfully scrumptious evening light and and perfect, violently hot days.


This summer there was a swirly rainbow lollipop and red velvet cake. And cold cereal and pudding and tacos, continuously.





This summer there was going-out-to-coffee with Jesus-lovers repeatedly and vigorously. There is nothing better, I kid you not.


This summer there was for-reals, hard-core, Jesus-soaked community. I've said before that community is the best-thing-ever, but I had no idea how much more amazing it could get.





This summer I gave in to an affinity for Mumford & Sons and even Bob Dylan, after a long fight against it. 


This summer I ate pie with my hands.


This summer I turned nineteen. Crazy how everything changed in just one year.


This summer I got to photograph lives joining, new lives growing, and brand-spanking-new, crying, worked-for life.





This summer I got to watch my rascally second brother become a daddy. First time I've taken pictures while steadily crying.


This summer I got to see my sister give birth to her third beautiful baby girl.


This summer the nieces & nephews were rampant--giggling and growing scarily fast.




This summer I met a fabulous little boy named Peter Hill. ♥

This summer our basically-family moved away from next-door, ending the raucous saga of working together and driving home together and hanging out whenever we wanted to walk up the hill to their house.


This summer there were basically-brothers who took charge and saved China and got to be straight-up men.


This summer we climbed a mountain under a full moon and watched the sun rise.


This summer I lost some of my bestest people to Bend, but Bend is beautiful and they're there being awesome and changing the world.


This summer I faced one of my worst fears--getting my wisdom teeth out. Took a whole bottle of ibuprofen and watched movies and read some of the best books of all time.


This summer I faced another one of my worst fears--riding a greyhound bus (scarred by creepers as a six-year-old, okay?) Whispered about deep stuff with my sister, reveled in C.S. Lewis' genius, and watched an old guy in a train engineer hat roll cigarettes.


This summer me and my mom talked about Jesus in the car over and over. I love her.


This summer I almost died repeatedly with beholding the rascally brother's firstborn son as he got chubbier and even more ridiculously cute.




This summer I rode in convertible for the first time ever. I'll never forget you, tiny beautiful car-that-Sam-now-sold-cuz-he's-going-to-change-the-world-and-needs-a-bigger-car-to-do-it.


This summer I got to know inspiring people better and met new amazing people. I love my people so, so much. It's out of hand.


This summer some glorious books changed my world. I read them ferociously and discussed the heck out of them with amazing people. 


This summer I had the best conversations I've ever had with the guys who I've had a zillion awesome conversations with. My brothers are awesome, you guys. Increasingly so.


This summer was beautiful and scary and full of changes. The end of a decade and the start of an age. Full of learning to let go, to trust God, to love like Jesus loved.


This summer no one was satisfied with coasting, everyone rose up and owned it. Fears were faced, dragons were fought, Jesus' love exploded everywhere. Everyone in my life--you're amazing.


This summer was wildly, epically, the best summer ever.
Jesus is the best thing that ever happened, the end.

we are forgiven, singing redemptions's song,
there's a fire that burns inside,
a fire that burns inside/nothing can stop us,
we'll be running through the night,
with a fire that burns inside/a fire that burns inside.

we are the free, the freedom generation,
singing of mercy,
You are the one who set us all in motion,
Yours is the glory.
there's a fire in our hearts and it burns for you.
it's never gonna fade away,
we are the free and Yours is the glory. 

we are the risen, living alive in you,
and our passion will not die,
no our passion will not die.
nothing can stop us,
we'll be running through the night,
and our passion will not die,
our passion will not die.

up from the grave You rose again,
up from the grave he rose and we will
rise up, rise up,
into the world that you so love,
into the world we go and we will
rise up,
rise up.

we are the free and 
Yours is the glory.


49 comments:

  1. girl, this whole post was beautiful. i must say, one of my favorites. you capture such emotion in your pictures, plus your funny self lightens the whole world. {more or less. ;)} and praise the Lord, we are free. amen! xx

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  2. That has to be one of the most beautiful and inspiring blog posts I've ever run into.
    You are an amazing 19 year old, and it looks like the rest of your family is equally amazing.
    Extreme Kudos, however, goes to your mother. Only a strong woman in Christ can accomplish this.
    Please tell her I said so, from one mother to another.

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  3. I just love you and your beautiful words so much <3

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  4. you - you, just write so - so just, well, lets just say that your writing is the BESTEST. your pictures are amazing. so, basically I love you and your blog.

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  5. oh sounds like you have had a blissful summer:)ah and your writing is so beautiful, not to mention the pictures!!!
    Em;)

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  6. Gah, Susannah, I just loves ya. You basically summed up my summer.

    "I feel like last summer wasn't that long ago, but every. single. thing has changed. Things fell apart, things came together, and mostly, Jesus, who has always been a part of my life, sweepingly, incredibly, indescribably became all that really matters... Life has a way of getting crazy and amazing when Jesus is all over the place."

    Yes, yes, and yes. I feel so blessed to know you.

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  7. I somewhat feel like I can relate. I feel as if every. single. thing. changed this summer, and I got to know Jesus a lot more, more than ever before.
    Susannah, can I tell you something? You have the most amazing pictures ever. Seriously, their awesome. The sillhouette one of the little boy was so precious, as was the one of the little girl with the bubbles. Your pictures are so full of special emotion, that you do an amazing job of capturing.
    They go just perfect with your writing ♥

    ~Molly~
    mollyslittlecorner.blogspot.com

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  8. Wow, that's a lot of incredible right there! Thanks for sharing! :)

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  9. Okay, so I know we've never met and I feel like a total stalker because I've been following your blog for some time now but I just want you to know that I think you are FABULOUS and I ADORE your blog. Your zest for life and your out loud love for Jesus makes me soo happy and you inspire me. I am super glad that we are sisters in Christ even though we've never met and if nothing else, I will meet you in heaven and we can get to know each other there because I have the distinct feeling we are kindred spirits. :D God bless!!

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  10. Wow. Wow. Wow. Wow. Wow.

    This is one of the most touching, beautiful posts I've ever read in my life. Jesus is amazing!!

    Love,
    Manda
    http://meandjesus-amanda.blogspot.com

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  11. God bless you so much sister Suzy. Thank you for sharing your joy through beautiful words and beautiful pictures.

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  12. This was beautiful. Thank you for sharing this. It sounds weird but I get the feeling, just by reading your blog, that if we met we would be very good friends. :)
    Also... Your photos are beautiful. I wish I could learn 'real' photography like that!
    And now I can hear my worship leader's voice singing that song. I love that song.
    Just wondering- do you have an instagram for your photography?

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    Replies
    1. I do have instagram--my username is susannah_hope. :)

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    2. Thanks! Very cool- your photography is beautiful. ;)

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  13. That's what I want. That's what I really, really want. To know that Jesus really is all who matters.
    What an indescribable summer. It's like something out of a novel I'd read over and over again, like Christy Miller books and her summers in Newport Beach.

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  14. We have amazing lives and an Amazing Jesus....and I'm so thankful I get to share both with you. :) Love you forever. <3

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  15. i loved that post!! it made me think of my summer and how awesome it really was.

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  16. This is one of your most epic posts!

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  17. everything about this looks glorious and it's so so exciting to see you so in love with Jesus. love it. :)

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  18. When I read your blog and watched these pictures, I feel something warm spreading in my heart. This is life, which you and me and all of us need learn to enjoy.

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  19. Beautifully documented summer.
    I miss summer. Summer is the best.

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  20. Holy moley. You are a brilliant photographer. I love this whole post, so beautiful! I am so happy you have great people in your life! Jesus is the best, we both know him.:)

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  21. Simply put, you are a Joy. Thank you for your words and photos. The one with your sister and her new baby girl made me cry.(I don't cry all that much). You captured IT. All the Mom's know what IT is... keep doing what you're doing.

    God bless you.

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  22. Simply beautiful post! <3 And your photography is spectacular!! :-) Thank you for sharing your Summer with us!

    Blessings,
    Shannon

    { Blog: http://gabby-marie.blogspot.com }

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  23. oh my gosh. The lighting in the picture of your dad is incredible! So orange and dreamy. Perfect.

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  24. Just came across your blog. I LOVE all of these pictures. So sweet, and they all tell a story. Love it.
    Always,
    Lauren VanCott
    lalavcott.blogspot.com

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  25. I love all these pictures. And the one with all the sillouets on the beach. You have the most creative blog name of all times!

    Emma
    http://emmavogelsang.blogspot.com

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  26. This was a pretty good summer huh? I d say the best on record:)
    Love your photos. Love your quotes. Love your writing.
    Love your love for our savior!
    -- Sara Fukuda

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  27. the way you describe your life blows my mind. you have a beautiful story.

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  28. Hello, I've awarded you with the Sunshine Award. It would make my day if you accept!
    http://fashionandfigureskating.blogspot.com/2012/10/award-and-50th-post-and-hodgepodge.html

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  29. Your pictures.
    Your words.
    They just made a very hopeful day.
    Thanks.
    Sam

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    Replies
    1. Sam,
      I can't comment on your blog, because I don't have the right ID, but I want you to know that I love it. Even though I've only read one post! Love the gryffindor scarf, I'm making one for my sister! Just want you to know!!
      Emily

      Delete
  30. Wow. Your blog is amazing- the way you write is so inspiring! Love the pictures :)

    Having a fashion challenge at my blog: irishragamuffinslilsister.blogspot.com

    ~Sadie

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  31. Sounds like a pretty summer. It's always sad when it ends.

    /Avy

    http://mymotherfuckedmickjagger.blogspot.com

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  32. Love your pictures, your world, feel very warm and lovely!
    2013 prom dresses

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  33. This is beautiful! I love all of these pictures!

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  34. You have one of those blogs where you go to it for the first time, look at the first three pictures, and say "yes! I'm following right now!" Love it :)
    -mallory :)

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  35. Beautifully documented summer. I love summer.

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  36. We miss you!

    I've always love your blog!

    A Writer's Nakama
    http://writing-1234.blogspot.com/

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  37. Amazing summer, what a wonderful summer you have, I also wanna have such a wonderful time with my family and friends.

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  38. Sounds like a splendid summer! It makes me miss mine so much.

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  39. Loved this post. Happy New Year to you! :)

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