such a nerd.

you know you're a nerd when you actually enjoy reading textbooks.
and you read them when they are assigned, actually take on what it is your reading, and remember it the next day in class without looking at your notes.

that happened to me t w i c e already this week. so weird.

but i'm oddly okay with it because that can only mean i've truly found what i love to do and don't mind thinking, reading, or talking about it for hours on end. which, i must say, is a good feeling.

so, now that i have more and more photo chapters to read, i'm gonna go geek it up and love every second.

my last first day of school.

today was the last day of my last summer as college kid. w o a h.
it's weird when the moments that feel so far away are right in front of you, ready to be experienced. it feels like a game of hot potato. you wait for it to be your turn, and then once its in your hand you feel like dropping it. so nuts.

this summer has been close to one of the bests.
i spent loads of time with my family, friends and the outdoors.
i learned how to be alone with my thoughts, how to be quiet, and how to be still.
i intensely hunted down the illness i've been dealing with for nearly 6 years and almost have it beat - still healing. praise jesus.
i relished in the small things like feeding my nephews, walking my dog and sipping coffee slowly.
i deepened relationships with good friends, and had real good times doing so.
i again realized how incredible my family is, and what i vital part they play in my life and who i am.
i relied on my own strength and agenda, got burned, got lost, and ran as fast as i could back to God... never fully understanding why i left His side in the first place.
i was a part of the best day of my best friends life and got to cheer her on in her new marriage.
i got to test my skills both in writing and photography, stretched and grew greatly.
i ate good food, i laughed real hard, a drove with my windows down... i enjoyed my life.

i ultimately lived and truly learned. as weird as it sounds to think or type, it was the perfect way to end all my summers. it was good till the l a s t drop.

and now tomorrow is my last first day of school. so weird.
i can't wait to sit on those crusty bleachers with my best girls, perk up my ears to our pres DBC give a rousing charge at convocation, and start my final academic year with full lungs and an open mind.

obsessed with.

these songs. some new, some old faves. nonetheless, they are my delights.
please love them, they won't let you down.

to build a home - patrick watson
heart full of pentagons - film school
i would die for you - matt walters
twenty-two - wakey! wakey!
all the beautiful things - the eels
the concubine - beirut
little blue mailbox - fink
bloodbuzz ohio - the national
i was broken - rob pattinson
go or go ahead - rufus wainwright
part one - band of horses
rococo - the arcade fire
liar - mumford and sons
these arms - the swell season

_____________________________________
 in other news...

i am b a c k in la, back at biola, and back into college baby mode.
i will mumble about that later, right now im still a zombie from all the drivage and movage, ha.

all my bags are packed im ready to go...

but i'm really not ready to go.
i hate the end of summer. always. every time. never fails.
yes, there's always a part of me that's excited to get back to school, friends and my whole life there... but it never ceases to suck leaving my cozy home and cozy hearts.

even after four years, i still haven't adjusted to packing & unpacking my whole life in the back of my jeep biannually.

even after four years, i always get homesick after my parents leave me with all my possessions and life continues back home while i have to start from scratch again.

even after four years, i always forget how blessed i am to be part of my family, and how much i miss them when i am gone.

even after four years, i'm still not used to being a student... but i also don't want to get used to being a graduate and grown up like the rest of the world 9 months from now. hmm, problem.

well, i suppose its time to face the music.

left to do:
- one last dinner at my grandparent's house
- tetris-pack the crap out of my jeep
- finish my l a s t anthropology class
- say farewell to my beloved oregon until november

readyyyy? go.

This day in history...

My little brain works just like clockwork.
This exact day last summer this is what I was thinking, and wouldn't ya know it... 
its exactly what I'm thinking now. Ha, some things really never change.


"6days6days6days6days6days6days.

Crazy.

I'm in the list making stage.

Soon I will be in the frantically gathering and compulsive late night hanging out stage.

Yikes summer, why'd you have to let fall be a big creeper and hijack all our merriment?"


So hilarious.

nephew l o v e time

i got to paparazzi these bad boys for a few hours the other day... and it still wasn't enough.

i could hang with them all day long. such cool cats that just so happen to be related to me.  

and they also happen to be extremely handsome. love it.

dying to see more?

thought so.

>> click here <<

love this.

breathe deep

went camping with some great people this past weekend.

it was magical. like a really good, satisfying deep breath.

we went up past Union Creek and all the campsites were full so we just hopped off the side of a logging road and pitched our 11 person tent (which was only probably intended for like 8 people) and proceeded to get down with nature.

being outside, sleeping in the dirt, counting stars, too many scary stories, making morning coffee runs and strolls by the water, napping by the campfire, being serenaded by harmonicas and guitars, breakfast smores, getting paralyzed by the insanely icy cold river, finally skipping rocks successfully, Crater Lake picnic, lots of giggles and nicknames. made my heart melt over and over.

needed it, loved it, will miss it.

hmmm [[ . . . }} hmm

Do you remember when the oceans sang in hymns
Do you remember when the stars used to play
Do you remember when we used to share our food
Well I do every second of the day

Have you ever wondered what's behind the sun
Have you ever thought of kissing the moon's rays
Do you remember when we used to dream without any fear
Well I do every second of the day
{Trevor Hall - Mirror of the Sky}

{photos via}

not a lot

not a lot to say these past few days.
except a few weird things.

i  checked my strep throat v-card.
BUT my dr. misdiagnosed and gave me meds that did NOT work, which led to ANOTHER dr.  correctly diagnosing. all in all resulting in prolonging of said illness. unwelcome silliness.
[strike 1]
i then proceeded to get strep throat.... on my face, i forgot what science calls, but thats legitimately what it is. its ridiculous and completely unsightly.
[strike 2]
i then proceeded to be a raging sickling for over a week.
[since l a s t tuesday to be exact - strike 3]

and am still nursing the remains of strep face and a wicked cough.

there were also a few good weird things.

i got to watch a lot of daytime tv and felt no shame.
although, did not become obsessed with tv or the internet. score.
i involuntarily lost 4 pounds.
had lots of time to perfect my fever reducing skills.
i now have a new found sense of adventure [stemming mostly from cabin fever]

summer time sickness happens to me like clockwork.
it's always my body telling me to chill out, since i rarely do.

i'm way chill so, can i go now? [ i think yes]
it's been a rough go. it w i l l go up from here.


p.s. i've been tweaking my site. take a peek or two.
www.rachelmccordphotography.com

dive for dreams

dive for dreams - e.e. cummings
dive for dreams

or a slogan may topple you
(trees are their roots
and wind is wind) 
trust your heart
if the seas catch fire
(and live by love
though the stars walk backward) 
honour the past
but welcome the future
(and dance your death
away at the wedding) 
never mind a world
with its villains or heroes
(for good likes girls
and tomorrow and the earth) 
in spite of everything
which breathes and moves, since Doom
(with white longest hands
neating each crease)
will smooth entirely our minds 
-before leaving my room
i turn, and (stooping
through the morning) kiss
this pillow, dear
where our heads lived and were. 

silently if, out of not knowable 

silently if, out of not knowable 
night's utmost nothing, wanders a little guess 
(only which is this world) more my life does 
not leap than with the mystery your smile 
sings or if (spiralling as luminous 
they climb oblivion) voices who are dreams, 
less into heaven certainly earth swims 
than each my deeper death becomes your kiss 
losing through you what seemed myself, i find 
selves unimaginably mine; beyond 
sorrow's own joys and hoping's very fears 

yours is the light by which my spirit's born: 
yours is the darkness of my soul's return 
-you are my sun, my moon, and all my stars