Today.

Today was what some might consider too overwhelming to handle, glorious, yet lonely. I'm feeling vibrant tonight for no apparent reason and decided to do a more personal blog than usual... which is what I used to do back in the old days of this blog but have since gotten away from it due to quick blogs...aka twitter and facebook.

SO. I started the day with wanting to go on a hike.
I have to get out of this place and go on adventures a lot more than I do. It brings out a side of me that I've just been discovering and wanting to live out a ton more.

Well after picking out part of my outfit I realized that most of my clothes are in my car...due to the fact that allllll that I own is in my car and storage unit from my travel sabbatical and since I'm staying with one of my friends I have to use the car as a sort of closet. ha! After walking outside real quick to figure out if I dropped my keys out there(I couldn't find them anywhere inside) I turned around to discover I had locked myself out of my friends house! OH SNAP!

No keys to my car. No house keys. No wallet(I left it at my friends house accidently). And best of all in my pajamas. BUT I had my iphone thankfully. After sitting outside trying to get ahold of my friend at work and talking to everyone else on the phone to kill time I finally realized that this is a life that millions of people live each day. Just the clothes on my back. No car. No money. No house. And all the time in the world. I enjoyed it for a while. Simple nothingness.



After getting everything figured out thanks to my amazing friends, rides to places and borrowed cars. I was able to get back to my STUFF. All of it.

Later on I met up with my best friend to go for a hike and during it we talked about whimsy. About never ever ever ever ever wanting to grow up. About building tree-houses. Having a baby deer for a pet. Sleeping under the stars. And throwing tea parties with big hats. Yes to all of the above. Yes. After the hour hike of my soul being completely rejuvenated I was ready to fly again.



We said goodbye then headed home to my other best friends... we talked about how much we had missed each other and the insanity of the day. Laughing. She called it a night in. I have to be out. Always. With people. Non stop.

Tonight was a bit different though as everyone had work or plans. So. Sushi and Elle magazine for one. This is NOT me. Not a bit. It's like taking a piece of cake from a 5 year old. Not fun. Nor desirable. But it was absolutely beautiful for some reason.



Maybe I'm heat stricken from being outside too much today and my mind is turned upside down but it was perfect. The conversation about new adventures with the guy who works at the coffee shop and free drink. To now just feeling so full. Full of life. For absolutely no apparent reason except deciding to.
With all my heart.

Shoe by shoe.

Something that has been coming up in a lot of conversations lately and came up again yesterday at church... is faithfulness. Being a good steward.
I think it's something that gets looked over A LOT of the time as we are so focused on just getting things done. I was talking to one of my best friends, Sarah Chellappa, the other day and she is studying world religion. She was sharing with me that in Hinduism they believe that everything they have is from god. So they treat it so well, they don't throw their stuff around but believing that it is from god or is a god they treat it with the utmost care.
I started to think, why don't we do that?? I take soooo much of what God has given me for granted and not been a very faithful steward with my: finances, time, friends, my stuff, etc...
I heard a story years ago from a highly succesful guy names Peter Daniels. Basically when he was little he wasn't given much hope for his future whatsoever, told by his teachers that he would never amount to anything he started believing. Then in his late 20s when he was illeterate he decided that is NOT the way he wanted to live anymore... he taught himself to read and started making just little changes in his life, being faithful with the very little he was given. It was as basic as putting his shoes back in the closet exactly where they belonged. On his way to work about 45 min into the drive he realized that he hadn't put his shoes in the closet and litterally turned around and went back to do it. THAT is how disciplined he had to be with himself being faithful in the small but that discipline and trustworthiness poured over into so many other parts of his life that now he's either a multi millonaire or billionaire in Australia...just from taking those small steps in the beginning.
Whether it is putting your shoes back in your closet, making your bed in the morning, doing what you say you are going to do, or not buying that outfit that you don't realllly need.
I've always wondered why the rich keep getting richer and the poor poorer... it's all about the stewardship, how you value what you've been given? Treating it like treasure rather than squandering it! It's best illustrated here...
"Then another servant came and said, 'Sir, here is your mina; I have kept it laid away in a piece of cloth....."His master replied, 'I will judge you by your own words, you wicked servant! ....Why then didn't you put my money on deposit, so that when I came back, I could have collected it with interest?'
"Then he said to those standing by, 'Take his mina away from him and give it to the one who has ten minas.'
"'Sir,' they said, 'he already has ten!'
"He replied, 'I tell you that to everyone who has, more will be given, but as for the one who has nothing, even what he has will be taken away." Luke 19:20-26

Time to put those shoes back in the closet!!

A quiet sliver in time.

I'm sitting here on my bed listening to Bon Iver, savoring the clean, dimly lit apartment; the city lights outside; the warm spring night and thinking about this past week and the weeks and months to come.
Moving down here I knew it was going to be a quiet season for me: of me really coming more into who I am called to be, growing up, and drawing so near to my love, Jesus. It has been just that. I don't even quite remember who I was before moving, I feel like I've grown up in ways that I never even knew existed and grew deeper in Jesus to the point that that is truly all that I desire. It's been such a rich time and I know it's only going to get better, deeper, and stronger. But this past week started the next season for me. I've had the past 6 months to dream, plan, pray, travel, spend time with friends, and connect down here. I've LOVED it. More than anything. Now though it's time to go up higher and actually walk in what I know I'm called to do... it's been a nice break and now I'm refreshed and revved up for this coming season. It's been amazing as it's going to be more busy than I've ever been, more traveling than I've ever done, and more out-put than I've ever given. But in this increase, I've seen God come right along side of me and provide each step of the way, each worry or fear of not being able to pull through God has made a way. I'm astounded and I've only been in this one week so far! The end of August is the nearest slower time in sight and until then I'm trusting God to get even 6 hours of sleep each night with all there is to do. But I know that with each promotion that He takes me to He provides and doesn't leave me behind to fend on my own! It's exciting and I'll hopefully be posting a lot about all the interns coming in, the weddings, photo shoots, and traveling that will be happening but if I don't post everything just know that sleep is coming before blogging.
I love you all so dearly and am thankful for you.

Seeing double...

A couple weeks ago I was sitting on my bed editing some photos not doing anything super important when one of my past interns, Laura Dart called me up to tell me she had just gotten a HUGE job with a new entertainment company here in Nashville and that she had to shoot about 15 full artist shoots in the next two weeks! I was bouncing off the walls excited for her!!! Like insanely excited...I can't even explain how excited! After getting off the phone...I realized I have been down here for 6 months and somewhat trying to get into shooting more artists and have done 4 so far... But you know what?? One of my favorite parts of the bible is when Jesus said to His disciples, "you will do the works that I do and even greater!"
How great is that! He duplicated Himself and when He did they were able to build on top of His success and then make their own!
I think that is what is most fulfilling in what I do... seeing my interns and people I mentor surpass me, winning huge awards, shooting more than double the amount of weddings that I ever shot in one year, getting published, traveling the world...everything.
I realized that I can be sitting here editing and doing little office work stuff and now that I have duplicated myself about 15 times each success that they make they are all my successes too! NOTHING brings me greater joy!

Who are you investing in today? Are you duplicating yourself or just keeping your precious giftings pent up?? Think TODAY who you can pour into and invest in and it will pay you back TWOFOLD!!!

BTW...check out Laura's pics on the sweeeet NEW entertainment site that was just launched on Sunday!! BRITE REVOLUTION.
(most of the pics are hers....you'll be able to tell which ones;)

Happy New Day!

We go out and buy food, cool new outfits, fireworks and write crazy resolutions to ring in the new year every year...sometimes we get away for a retreat every couple months to get away and get direction for life...sometimes even at the beginning of the week we take a couple hours with some coffee and map out the week...and where we want it to go.
BUT...how often at the beginning of each day do we have a vision or wish for the day?? Someone that we want to help? Something to give away? A new hill climbed? I LOVE making those big grand goals for the year, month, week...but NONE of those can truly be accomplished to the full until we break them up into the day sized steps! How in the world do you want your day to go?? Take some quiet time each morning to seek God out for HIS plan for the day and to also write down all that you would like to see happen in the day! Praying over it too is AMAZING what that can do! Each day is such a treasure and can not be wasted if you realized that you could actually change one persons life in one day...or MANY! Think of how many LIVES have been changed in 1 day from September 11th from 1 persons vision how much devastation that caused...think how much IMPACT you could have in 1 day too! But like reverse devastation!;) Understand that YOU are carrying someone's miracle! Remember the verse... without a vision people run wild- Proverbs 29:18... that's exactly how a lot of our days look if we don't have that daily vision reigning us in and keeping us focused on our calling for each day! Let's not waste one opportunity!

How bad do you want it??

I've had some pretty amazing conversations this week, that for me is probably one of my most favorite things about life...long DEEP conversations about just everything! There's just something about it.
Yesterday, my incredible friend, Amy and I got together for lunch to catch up...after talking for awhile we realized that one of the things that BOTH of us were majorly dealing with was passivity... knowing exactly what we are supposed to do but just NOT wanting to do it!
I've come to realize that I have chosen where I am today...I could if I wanted to... have been a multi-millionaire with a huge business, giving millions into the gospel by now and saving kids over in Africa. It's truly been my choice... I feel like I've been putting out about 30% of my potential into what I undertake...which I've accomplished a lot so far... but...that's right there's been sooo many buts!
I spend the day on Facebook instead of getting what I need to do done. I watch that movie rather than working out. I go hang out with friends instead of spending time with God. And I go shopping instead of doing my taxes. Not that ANY of these are wrong..if you aren't doing these then there is something wrong there too...but it's doing these things mainly and the other things when I muster up the feeling to do it!
Really what I've realized is it's the flesh and right now it is MUCH stronger than my conscience... denying yourself things in fasting is a WONDERFUL way of putting that flesh under and rising above it! I've realized that the times that I've gotten THE most done is when I've lived a fasted lifestyle...one that doesn't constantly succumb to every whim that my flesh wants! It's saying no FIERCELY to those things for awhile and realizing how much time we are wasting just sitting around waiting for something amazing to happen! We are the amazing thing that is about to happen to this world but only if we get off our buts-butts and GET MOVING! I think we will be surprised in heaven when God shows us HOW MUCH we were able to accomplish compared to what we actually did because of us letting that flesh get in the way! As my desktop background says...THE WORLD IS WAITING FOR YOU!!! Let's PRESS IN! Not lean back!!

Dominican video blog...:)

From everyone who requested one of the good ole' videos from the DR...here it is!!!! :)

Dominican Republic trip #4!

Wow. I CAN NOT believe this is my 4th trip down here to the DR! I definitely fall more in love with place each time I come down! I honestly want to own a place here someday! It's just the perfect mix of beauty, culture, and "roughing it"! Ah. There is not enough I can say about it that I haven't already said before. Each year I've come for a longer and longer time. 1 week, 10 days, 3 weeks...now this time back to the shortest I've come for....just a week! I didn't realize how much my schedule had filled up when we were planning this so this was the only window that I could do it but I'm SO glad we were able to work it out! 

-Some of you may not no why I'm here or are recent blog readers but the reason I come down here is my aunt and uncle run an incredible school here in Jarabacoa, Dominican Republic for teenagers from the US who are dealing with hard issues and provide counseling and healing for them. I get to come down every year to shoot senior pictures for them and LOVE it!-

I'm coming down at NOT the most opportune time as there have just been a bunch of layoffs at the school, one of the old students who I had shot last year's senior pictures for just got in a horrible car accident and was killed, and my cousin was just in a motorcycle accident and broke his leg in two places!! Complete and utter craziness, but I really feel like I am supposed to be down here right here right now to be able to support my aunt and uncle and the old student's girlfriend, Alicia, who is one of my dear friends and just came down here to recuperate after the tragic accident last week... plus I get to room with her! 

I have never dealt with horrible loss like these have and I don't know how to comfort them like they probably need... but to be able to just be down here and to at least bring a little joy in the bleakness is I think why I'm here! :) I'm here until Tuesday and have 14 senior shoots to do, 5 family shoots, and all the yearbook photos to do! I'm excited to be able to be part of the ministry year after year and to see all they do to help these teenagers down here with the direction and support that they need! I hope you all are having a beautiful day! I'll post more pics soon...but right now I'll leave you with one that Alicia and I did to my cousin Richard to brighten his day...I'm not sure it did the job or not...but it made us laugh;)

What's your fabric?

In times of change learners inherit the earth; while the learned find themselves beautifully equipped to deal with a world that no longer exists. - Eric Hoffer
What are you doing to change this?? What books are you reading RIGHT NOW?
Read, read, read...if you don't like to read then get audio books! Books truly become part of the fabric of who we are... so don't just read all business books...or romantic novels... get hungry to learn again! :)
Some of the books I'm reading right now are...
Wild at Heart(personal), Commanding Your Morning(motivational/spiritual), ChurchShift(business), The Storehouse Principle(financial), The Traveler's Gift(motivational/novel), and Manners by Kate Spade(fun/lifestyle).
What are you reading???

HAPPPY 2009

I hope you all have celebrated well! I just got back from one heck of a party, I'll post on that hopefully tomorrow..but right now as we are pondering resolutions and what the next steps in life are....I just have this to leave you with...time to truly make a change. Have we put THIS in our plan for the year??

Twitterific!!

Well....I decided I should finally post about one of the loves of my life...TWITTER! I have been "Twittering" now for awhile and absolutely love it..although..you can probably blame this love of mine for the major lack of posts on this blog! That is now my mini blog where I post about different fun or normal things that are going on in my day! I post about 3 times a day or so just 150 characters from my phone or computer...it's EASY. Which is definitely what I need right now!! Sooo if there is ever a major lul on this blog and you are wondering where the heck I am...just look on the left sidebar of this blog under the Twitter section and there I am! Still alive! :) You can also follow me at twitter.com/sarahbarlow and get your own too so I can follow YOU! :) YAY!

Christmas Action.

The past couple years around Christmas time I always start thinking more and more of how I want to do things differently.
We save up money, get BIG bonuses, get more credit, max everything out, wrap everything up, tear it open, look to see if there are any more gifts under the tree for yourself...all in the name of Jesus' birthday...hmm... Doesn't quite seem to match!
Don't get me wrong! I LOVE all the traditions and stockings and shopping it's amazing and so much fun to give, but also through it all remembering and NOT just remembering but actually HELPING and giving to those in need! At my church our pastor is asking for us to cut back on what we typically do for Christmas and give out!! This video is a wonderful example! But not just here...I'm sure there is someone within a mile of you that could use time, love, a meal...just anything! What can you do to change someone's Christmas...and life??

The cry....

If THIS doesn't get you revved up I don't know what will!! My pastor down here ended the sermon this past Sunday with this little side note and it was a MAJOR wake up call to me I almost started jumping up and down! Check it out "HERE" it's only a couple seconds....
Here we just brush these people off as killers, thieves, and liars yet they haven't been raised up in their purpose and THAT is why they are succumbing to this... which sends them down an even farther spiral away from their purpose... thankfully their is still hope... BUT their is even greater hope for those not yet in that!! Who can we inspire purpose in TODAY??? :)

I've been having THE most amazing time the past 2 weeks....like I said earlier...I'm on a sabaticle right now seeking a lot of direction and thankfully God has come through so faithfully and shown me SO many things that I'm REALLY excited about...and I'm REVVING to go and do...yet I have 3 days left and I know that I'm to continue to sit and rest as He's laying a steady foundation in me before I hit the ground running! I love how He works! It's exciting!! I love you all so much!!

Down time.

Back in the spring when my schedule started getting super filled with everything for the year... I started getting really concerned that I didn't have any down time whatsoever...UNTIL...I saw November...sweet beautiful November with absolutely nothing on the agenda! I at that moment blocked out the entire month on the calendar with DO NOT BOOK. I am so sooo glad I did now! In December everything kicks back into full gear heading into the new year! Earlier last week I started putting all my biz plans together for next year and building websites..ect..and God stopped me in my tracks and was like...What are you doing?? I'm like...I'm trying to figure out next year! He then revealed to me that I haven't gotten away with Him!! That before David went and fought Goliath or Esther went before the king there was a preparation time first. They had personal victories before they had public ones! Sooo...I dropped everything and set aside the next two weeks until Thanksgiving week...as mine and God's time! To just sit, read, think, dream, pray, and prepare! Not doing any work, Facebook(yes, I'm still on...just deactivated the account for 2 weeks fo those of you worried;), blog reading, you tube or anything distracting that has been pulling my time! I started this past Tuesday and it's been one of the most incredible times ever! I'm learning sooo much, getting all rested up, and SO incredibly revved up for the next season!!! I love you all!! Take some time in the next couple weeks to just get away and get quiet...and find out what God has for you next! Especially before the holiday season! It will pay off sooo much in the future!

Hugging my computer.

Noooo I'm not THAT in love with it...yet at least...lol!
Technology is just THE best these days...whenever I need a family fix I just pop onto Skype and there they all are! It's pretty much the best invention since...well since Al Gore invented the internet! ;)
Tonight I got webcam hugs and kisses which will just have to do until Thanksgiving when they alllll come down here to my place to stay! :) Yep...the first night they will all be in my apt.. but of course it will be a BLAST!
Oli asked me tonight if I can move back home after thanksgiving! And Jules thinks I live at the airport! Classic!
To be honest...I do REALLY miss my family...but....being down here is one of the most incredible things for me ever! I have really grown so much just even in the past couple weeks I feel...just in my relationship with God, knowing who I am more, and taking care of everyday things that my parents would always do! It's one of the most amazing feelings ever!
A lot of people ask if I get lonely especially living on my own and if the transition was sad...strangely enough NO!! I really have been so all encompassed with traveling, business, time with God, and getting established down here that I haven't had the time to be lonely or sad about leaving! God really has His grace on this I'm sure..because I definitely thought after two weeks I would call home and say..okkkk I'm ready to come back! But nope! I know this is EXACTLY where I am supposed to be right now and this is the only place I'm going to thrive to my full potential right now! I'm excited to see what the future brings!!! I love you all!!!
Just thought you might like an actual personal note rather than just pics all the time:)

World Changing Time!!

Heyyyy everyone! Well I know you all may not have exactly the same beliefs as me in this election area(I really hate politics...it's too dividing..but I know it's still very important to vote...I think us as people making change is SO far better though;).....but to be honest I'm am SO giddy excited....watch the video to see why... especially if you are considering moving out of the country! :)

LOVE!!!

The Red Carpet Club....

Last week I FINALLY got around to buying a mattress...I had been sleeping on a air mattress for about a month and was in need of the REAL thing! I headed to the mattress store...picked THE one that I had been wanting out(it ended up being almost half price...just that day!!) and was told that they will deliver it in a few days for free(usually pretty expensive...) with the red carpet service....sure enough a couple days later this is what I find when they bring the mattress! A real red carpet all laid out just to bring in a mattress!! Classic! I just love how God has been doing this more and more....like I said in a post a little bit ago....he just keeps laying out the red carpet on every turn...even in the small things! Amazing.

Laying out the.... green.... carpet???

In growing up whenever we would pray before going someplace we would always pray that God would lay out the red carpet before us...basically go before us and prepare the way and in that he would always astound us amazingly in the way He would provide! It was such a great lesson that I still implement in my prayers a lot of times and it's been incredible to watch God work wonders!! For instance soooo many things down here he has done amazingly to just nail in my confidence of being down here more and more!
Probably one or the coolest was right when I got here and stepped out onto my balcony during the day fireworks started going off right in front of me!! Pretty much the best welcome to Nashville I could get! lol! So many other things have happened that this post could go on and on but my high yesterday happened when my grandma and I decided to go furniture shopping....we went to about 8 different stores and picked out a few things that I might get...but then headed over to a huge rug sale that my grandma had heard about! We get there to find out this is the last day and it was closing in an hour! I finally after walking around the HUGE store find a sweet rug that I wanted....finding no price tag I ask the guy who was working the place how much he would give it to me for? He's like if you take it right now...$40...totally room size rug that would completely be at least $400 anywhere else! I was then on a high and found one for my room same story same price! And then price tags on everything else were definitely way more too! Last one again...but this time I was being the great daughter that I am and bought one for my parents! :) hehe! Sooo I totally walked out of the place with at least $1500 worth of rugs for $120! I really felt like a thief! lol! Sooooo I guess yet again God rolled out the....red...more like green carpet!

A night to remember....

Actually 2 nights to be exact! The first is this past Sunday night my family and I headed Downtown to see Hillsong United in concert! I went about a year ago when they came last so I was definitely counting down the days to this...as it was one of the most incredible experiences of my life...last year!! Well this year proved to not let me down whatsoever and totally topped last year even more! Even though we were pretty far in the back, just the experience of worshiping with 4500 people for 3 hours straight is unreal! The presence of God was just so strong...I loved it too because even my 10 year old brother John was totally getting into it and said afterwards that he had never experienced God so much like he had before then...and how much he just loved Him! Incredible! I can't wait to get over to Australia someday and actually go to Hillsong church to experience it in it's fulness!! Plus there is just something about Australian accents that I can't shake;) lol! Check out Hillsong United's new album I Heart Revolution and Hillsong's new album: This is our God! HOLY Cow it'll change your life! :) I've been listening to it non-stop for the past week!!
An extra bonus to the night was I saw some of my AMAZING friends/clients there, Jenny and Tony, who I had JUST done their engagement session for the night before and totally didn't know they were coming to the concert! Here's a picture of all of us!

Another night to remember would be TONIGHT! :) Tonight is actually my last night of living at home! Ahhh! Very very weird actually growing up and flying out of the nest but I know it will be INCREDIBLE! Not only for me...but my family as well as all the kids will have to grow up and fill my spot;) It will be awesome! I have everything pretty much packed up...I'm sooooo proud of myself and how little junk I have! It took me about 2 hours to pack today! :) I'm excited for this next adventure and what God has planned! I LOVE you all!!

Taking the jump.....into a new season!

Hey Everyone!! This post will be a very good explanation for the lack of posts the past week!...ha!
Ever since I was about 10 and got majorly into music...not just the music my mom would listen to but finding my own tastes, I've been obsessed with Nashville! My Grandparents and family live down there so we would visit a lot and I would always be on the hunt for my favorite artists never actually seeing any of them but wanting to move down there so that I could be "friends" with them! You know the dreams of a 10 year old! lol! After growing up more and realizing that they truly were just normal people I got over my stalkingish faze...thankfully! After years of really pursuing my business and new sisters being born I was pretty thankful I lived where I did..in Chicago. Then about 2 years ago I started getting the Nashville bug again....loving the mild winters, the mountains, the southern charm, and the MUSIC! I guess being a Barlow that comes with the name...;) I've been really into wanting to shoot band photography as my next venture as some of you have probably seen on my blog! I LOVE it...love love love it! Just the creativity that can be incorporated into it is so much fun and SO me!
I looked at my calendar several weeks ago and realized that it was pretty open for the next several months....so I was like why wait??? I really do feel a calling down there and feel like God is really directing my steps down there...which is amazing! I had a concert planned there at the beginning of September that I was planning on going to and several people were like....Why don't you just pack your bags and go down there then?? I prayed about it and really got peace about it, plus my dad totally confirming it and telling me to do it......so I started pursing it and got THE place I had been wanting for the past year! They just finished building this place downtown Nashville in the artsiest area(their building an Urban Outfitters across the street...how much more artsy could you get??) called The Gulch....I determined I wouldn't get the place unless it had a skyline view of Nashville....I know I'm picky but if you spent most of the day at your house you would understand:) The best skyline view condo came available and God provided sooo much for all the doors to open up to get it!!! AHHHHHHH! Soooo I'm moving in on Sunday...yes...like THIS Sunday! It's amazing and scary but I know that when God is leading he is not going to just leave me there....but He is just taking me up higher in trusting Him even more! My family is actually super excited and completely for this which is amazing as we are super tight knit...but my dad's(and his dad's)motto has always been train them up and send them out! We are all sad too...but I will be 10 minutes away from the airport and Southwest is only $49 bucks to fly back home so I'm sure to still see everyone a lot!!
I'm still totally going to be shooting weddings a lot but thankfully I'm shooting more and more out of state so I can practically live wherever! It's perfect!!
Ok...off to packing up my life! :)