blow away the clouds.

the sun is always there.

sometimes it gets trapped behind the clouds

and you lose sight of it for a while.

the gloom sets in.

it makes you want to give up.

but then the wind comes.

it blows the clouds away.

you feel the warmth of the sun on your face again

and know that everything will be alright.

ps. apparently i have an Instagram web profile now. you should check it out...i mean, only if you wanna keep up with my daily life and see all the things i like to take random photos of. :)

i got an email from Kris (she's also going to Uganda in July), and she met a friend of a friend who runs/works at/is somehow involved with another orphanage outside of Kampala, Uganda. this lady has been wanting to take a professional photographer to her orphanage, but hasn't had the chance. she asked if i would be willing to spend a day at her place while i'm in Uganda and photograph the children and staff (and of course, i said yes!). :)

God is orchestrating everything, and i couldn't be more excited for this trip and the opportunities it is bringing! 


a financial update:
my Christmas money, babysitting jobs, cleaning jobs, a photoshoot, my paycheck from working on the farm, and a week of housesitting comes to $716

178 days until Uganda, $2,284 left to raise.
(i need to raise about $1,000 more by March to buy my $1,700 plane ticket!)

if every one of my facebook friends donated approximately $4.64 (that's FOUR DOLLARS and SIXTY-FOUR CENTS...which is what? the equivalent of a tall cup of specialty coffee from Starbucks? c'mon, do you really NEED the coffee? bless a missionary instead! i would be eternally grateful), i would reach the goal in no time! :)

*donations can be made via paypal (photobyvalerie@gmail.com).