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Branches: Beautiful Things

Today marks the end of a chapter we've known as The Branches Church, and if just one picture says a thousand words, then this chapter has been something incredible. From snapshots of sermons and worship services to photographs of friends and family loving one another well, thousands of illustrations bring this story to life. 

Naturally, the end of something so lovely brings sadness; yet there is anticipation for the journey ahead. God is a good author, and just as this chapter has, the next will certainly be full of beautiful things. 

No words can express what a blessing it has been to be written into this story alongside such wonderful people, all by a sovereign God who draws us more near to Him page by page.

Sorting through these through these thousands of pictures has taken many hours of deliberation over the course of the last few weeks. Each one represents a memory so distinct; how can this rich season of life be captured in just a short montage? 

The answer is... it can't.  

More than just an abbreviated summary of the last six years, this 5 minute and 47 second video is a token of gratitude; an expression of deep thanksgiving to God for this chapter and all of the beautiful things He has included in it.

“I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing." -John 15:5

My 2013

It's been a heck of a year.
I'm blessed.

2012, 2011, 2010, 2009, 2008

Home for the Holidays '12

December 23, Kimberly and I headed back home to Indiana so we could celebrate Christmas with my parents and her mother this year.  Although I spent about a week with my mom and dad in November '11 and Kimberly made a quick 48 hour stop that previous summer, this was the first time we've made the trek back home together since moving to SoCal three years ago. 

We were greeted by a blanket of fresh snow almost every morning. The peanut-butter fudge flowed freely. Pizza King was but a ten minute drive away. Soda became "pop" again. Going to the movies was just something fun to do instead of a serious financial commitment to make...

We were home again, in Indiana.

Of course, all humor aside, spending time with our long-distanced loved-ones was certainly the highlight of our trip. I'm happy to be back in San Diego; I love it here and this is my home now... but it felt really good to visit with some special people in Indiana, and I wish we could be a bigger part of one another's lives. Catching up with some old friends and family members is like riding a bicycle.

Having such a wonderful time with my parents made me miss them even more than what I did before this trip. Every second with them was a blessing. I'm already looking forward to the next time I can see them!

Happy holidays? You bet!

2012 MY LIFE mash.up / remix

After lots of technical difficulties and frustration... IT'S FINALLY HERE! I always look forward to posting a wrap-up video at the end of each year and was disappointed I couldn't follow my own tradition of posting the video right on January 1st like I have for the last three of four years now. In order to just crank it out and get it posted asap, it's just not quite as fancy-schmancy as it's been in the past. But I am super excited about this year's song selection! It's my first-ever self-made mash up! It's made up of several #1 hits of 2012 and was a blast to make! Happy New Year to all! I hope you enjoy looking back and reflecting with me!

2011, 2010, 2009, 2008

Branches' Christmas 2012

Branches' Christmas '12. A wonderful evening with wonderful people, celebrating the birth of our wonderful Savior! Yes, I am wonderfully blessed :-)

wrapped up mashup

I just wrapped up and exported my first ever magamix mashup song!  Perhaps a new hobby?

Every January I post a picture montage to reflect on the previous year. Scraping up the pictures is the easy part, considering I take so many. But the challenge? Coming up with a song that's just right!

I've always wanted to write and record my own song to accompany this project, but I haven't quite made it that far yet.

But I did download the free software from online and took some YouTube tutorials to come up with my own mashup of some 2012 hits. Sure, lots of mashups already exist, but I wanted the creative challenge. Plus, most mashups tend to blend together all the foulest, most sexual lyrics into one song, and I'm just not interested in pairing up that kind of nasty with pictures of all my beloved friends and family.

So, I'm extra pumped for 2012's yearend wrap-up video!

Adios Sorensens! Bendiciones!

Beautiful Things (Through the Eyes of the Branches)

The earth is filled with His Glory! We, the Branches Community Church of Escondido, CA, set off to snap pics of things that spoke to us of God's awesomeness the most. Everything from bumble bees, birds, buds, and bouncing babies! His craftsmanship is all around! Check out this video and see how God speaks to members of our congregation, and maybe take a moment to look around and take notice of what God has placed in your life to make Himself obvious to you!

2011: This is the Life

My life, in pictures.
I'm blessed...

2010, This is Home

2010, what a year! God moved me.
Literally. 2,166 miles.

But more so, God moved my heart.
So after some goodbyes, I left the only home I've ever known, to find myself in a place altogether new.

Only God knows what tomorrow will bring, but for today I'm right where I belong. This is home.

Check out my 2010 wrap-up video!


2010 from Nathan Harris on Vimeo.

Happy New Year!

2009 was a good year: a trip to Jamaica and Ireland, a drastic change in career, some awesome youth events, new memories made with my wife, family, and friends, etc. In late 2008 I began feeling like the next year would somehow be different, that new things would be set into motion. God, of course, didn't disappoint. He allowed me to be a part of some pretty cool things and has started unveiling to me His will for my life at this time. Bit by bit, of course, but still such a blessing! To follow up last year's wrap-up video, I now present "My 2009." ;o) Blessings in your New Year!

 

2009 from Nathan Harris on Vimeo.
Oh! And its a bonus that my "New Year's post" is my 500th! Yay!

What I loved in Jamaica: Marggy

If you haven't had the pleasure of getting to know Marggy yet, I suggest you do. Her love for Christ and obedience to God amazes me. She also happens to be rather fun to pester. PK and I had a blast taking tons of pictures of her and giving her a hard time.

Make way for the Wata Queen. Please, no flash photography.

The Many Faces of Marggy from Nathan Harris on Vimeo.

My 2008

Pictures. I love them! There is no better way to document life. Just this year alone, Kimberly and I have taken around three thousand pictures of each other, loved ones, little projects we've worked on, good times, goofy moments, random things that catch our eye . . . the list just goes on! Well, I went through and selected some of these pictures to summarize my 2008. So here it is, all in order beginning with the first pictures I took of the year back in January at Youth Group, and ending with the latest Christmas pictures. It's all condensed down to one song, so don't blink, it goes fast ;o) Enjoy and Happy New Year!

My 2008 from Nathan Harris on Vimeo.

As Promised, More Pictures from Chickamauga Quarry

As mentioned before, one of the best days of our trip in Tennessee last week was to a quarry that I later learned was called Chickamauga Quarry. It's found in Hixson, Tennessee and is absolutely beautiful. A local Boyscout troop tends to the trails and do a great job. After learning it's name, I was able to google the quarry and see other people's pictures they took on their own visits there, which is really neat. In these slides you will see Kimberly and I, Kimberly's brothers Mick and Allen, Allen's wife Shannon, Kimberly's father Gary, and Mick's girlfriend Leigh. Enjoy!