these two families will forever be one

]]> http://www.jessicataylor.net/2012/05/evangeline-iftu/feed/ 27 http://www.jessicataylor.net/2012/04/rising-in-the-east-asebetefari-ethiopia/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=rising-in-the-east-asebetefari-ethiopia http://www.jessicataylor.net/2012/04/rising-in-the-east-asebetefari-ethiopia/#comments Tue, 03 Apr 2012 01:35:39 +0000 jessica http://www.jessicataylor.net/?p=3149 Rolling hills turn into towering mountains as we move into the eastern Oromia region towards Dire Dawa. As the sun creeps over the hills – people unleash their sheep, cows, and camels to find water. On a similar morning almost two years ago, Nuria walked to her cow tied up [...]]]> Rolling hills turn into towering mountains as we move into the eastern Oromia region towards Dire Dawa. As the sun creeps over the hills – people unleash their sheep, cows, and camels to find water. On a similar morning almost two years ago, Nuria walked to her cow tied up just outside the back of the house. Before she reached the cow, she heard the faint cry of a little girl, left wrapped in suit jacket just outside her home – she couldn’t have been more than 2 months old. Nuria picked up the teary bundle and held her close to rid the morning chill. She wrapped the bundle tight, and heated a bottle of milk and sugar. For almost four months, Nuria cared for and loved this girl. Her four grown children had already blessed Nuria with the title of grandmother, but this special bundle, Iftu (brightness), had carved a niche into Nuria’s heart. She became sick, and was struggling to care for the needs of a growing infant. Eventually, at the insistence of her children and neighbors, she handed Iftu over to the care of an orphanage. It was one of the hardest, most selfless things Nuria would ever do.

Before her first birthday, Iftu would journey almost 500 km to the capital city of Addis Ababa where, on a warm December day she was placed into the arms of her forever family. This morning, the women who have sacrificed most for her in this world met. . .

this post is a little more personal than usual- but will explain the long silence on the blog. we drove 1,476 miles from austin to santa barbara the second week of january and literally drove through all four seasons on I-10 in two days. ali was amazing- she learned to drive a standard in a matter of minutes and we never stalled more than 18 times in the middle of an intersection. we also discovered how to know when #youhavebeenoni10westtoolong i will share a few:

when you can smell the babypowder in your hair #youhavebeenoni10westtoolong
when you hit traffic in Los Angeles and are actually excited #youhavebeenoni10westtoolong
when you are sad the speed limit drops to 70mph #youhavebeenoni10westtoolong
when you’ve been through all four seasons #youhavebeenoni10westtoolong
when power lines look beautiful #youhavebeenoni10westtoolong
everything looks the same #youhavebeenoni10westtoolong
when you have eaten all of the [absurd amount] of granola in the car #youhavebeenoni10westtoolong
when you reach the end of the 10 #youhavebeenoni10westtoolong

she was the perfect travel companion. so thankful!!

and life goes on. . . below is my morning commute to Carpinteria (about 20 min from Santa Barbara), the new studio space, SB out an airplane, a Renaud’s almond croissant, the SB airport, surfing with Lindsey at Leadbetter , and one of my favorite beaches to run.

we had the greatest assistant with us. . . you may have seen her on the blog before in front of the camera. thanks brady!

When I come home- I have a few short weeks left in Austin and will be soaking up time with friends and family before I make the drive out to California with a sweet friend who volunteered 1,500 miles in the car with me (maybe the best Christmas present EVER)! Between now and then. . . I have an art show at Whistle Pik Galleries in Fredericksburg, TX. The show will hang the month of January, and there is an Opening Reception on January 6th. All are welcome.

view the show online www.thirtysevendegrees.net

“Adoration”   |  c-print  |  10.5″ x 7″

Kidist Ragel Church- Mount Entoto, Ethiopia
A silent reverence filled the courtyard at Kidist Ragel – just outside the capital city of Addis Ababa.
It was early, but the devout had risen early, and quietly began the celebration that follows Pentecost.

i am moving.
here:

it is good. i am excited- and amidst the excitement is a lot of fear and anxiety about what is next. there is also a peace. an underlying, confident, overwhelming peace that comes over me every time i go to anxious places in my brain. i will have a studio for the first time in a while, live by the ocean and see my sister on a regular basis. meet new people and keep photographing people and stories everywhere.

the hardest part of moving is leaving people. the youngest one of these people is Cooper. a few nights ago after a riveting story about his lovie “Pengu” the penguin, and a few dolphin friends, he started crying. This isn’t normal:

J: Cooper. . . what’s wrong?

C: Pengu is sad.
J: Why is Pengu sad?
C: because she is moving to Calexicorna (California)
J: why is Pengu moving?
C: cause you are moving- so Pengu go with you, be your friend- so that you are not all by yourself.

i cried. i will miss you Cooper- your daddy, mommy, brother and sisters too. austin is a wonderful place i will always come back to- but california is more than just a place to move, it is where i belong, where i am supposed to be.

if you haven’t seen this, you should. i am a little dramatic for saying this- but is sums up my feelings on life right now:

]]> http://www.jessicataylor.net/2011/12/paradise/feed/ 3 http://www.jessicataylor.net/2011/11/ben-brady-charlie/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=ben-brady-charlie http://www.jessicataylor.net/2011/11/ben-brady-charlie/#comments Mon, 28 Nov 2011 06:55:57 +0000 jessica http://www.jessicataylor.net/?p=2906 the weather in austin finally caught up with the season. it actually feels cold enough for christmas. and the cold rolled in just in time for a chilly afternoon hanging out with these three. between the big coats and the promise of hot chocolate- we (well, they) hit the town. [...]]]> the weather in austin finally caught up with the season. it actually feels cold enough for christmas. and the cold rolled in just in time for a chilly afternoon hanging out with these three. between the big coats and the promise of hot chocolate- we (well, they) hit the town. . .