Over the past few months I’ve begun a correspondence with a friend from college over email that is highly irregular during our times, but something I’ve really enjoyed. What we’re doing may come as a shock to many in our culture, but we’re writing letters to each other. Some looking to judge me are already saying to themselves “oh come on! Letters over email? Lame!” But these “letters”, though delivered electronically, carry more weight to me than any other email I receive. The main reason: they have substance.

I’m not going to sit here and tell you that email is horrible or doesn’t serve a purpose, or whatever — that would be wrong. Quick messages to transfer information will always have it’s place. Twitter, instant messaging, Facebook wall-posts, etc. have their place too. But what I’m finding is that as I’ve forced myself to wait to respond to these letters and really write from my heart, I’m getting a lot back from the experience. That’s the trick. We don’t write every day. In fact, we have actually let weeks go by without responding. It’s been a fun way to keep up with a friend that’s over a thousand miles away, but also show him that I’m willing to take the time and write him. I guess those are probably the key ingredients to building a relationship with someone: time and substance. Without both you’ll probably never see any of your relationships grow.

I think you should try it. All it takes is a commitment from another friend that you may not have regular contact with, but want to continue to build a relationship. Take the time to write them about your normal life. What you’re doing at work, or how you’re involved in your church. Tell them about your spouse or your dog, or your love for cars. But make sure you keep it simple as if you were writing with pen. Don’t over communicate, but summarize when the details don’t really need to be explained. Start each letter with “Dear ______” and end it with “Sincerely,” or another appropriate ending. I think it’ll be a rewarding time for you and I can guarantee that both you and your friend will appreciate each other more through the process.

Photos from the Library of Congress. No known copyright restrictions. Quotes taken from various films of the nineteen eighties. Idea to put the two together by me.

OK Go - This Too Shall Pass from OK Go on Vimeo.

If you’re not a Flickr user, you can stop reading this and move on — if you are, stick around.

What you see above is a sampling of the photos that I have personally “fav’d” on Flickr over the years. As an avid photographer and Flickr lover, I actually take my fav’ing too seriously, but this new web application “ffffl*ckr” is pretty ffffreakin’ sweet. It pulls all your favorites in to one location (after you connect your account), and then shows them to you in a very visually appropriate way. As I see my own favorites I feel like I’m inside my head a bit — it’s kind of cool. Not because I’ve got all these amazing photos in my head, but because it tells me what interests me and what sticks out to me. Sometimes they are just funny or cute, but other times I feel like the photos I “fave” have depth and personality that I want in my own photography. I think of these photos as places I need to go in my own work and so I save them. I’m loving it.

More from the Civil Wars:
Free live album available here.
“Poison and Wine” EP (4 songs) available on Amazon.com.
Follow The Civil Wars on Twitter.

SEE: Art In My Coffee
The first time I ever experienced “foam art” in my coffee was in Seattle. There’s a coffee shop our good friend Megan told us about called Victor’s Coffee that literally made designs in coffee. It’s something I’ve seen pop up more in the internet world and now the site Art in My Coffee is completely dedicated to this beautiful art. I really appreciate the quality of the images here as well as the fact they are basically considering it an online museum. You can even submit your own photo which is fabulous. Oh, and if you’re looking for them in short form, they are on Twitter.

DO: Buy Me This In-N-Out Clear Cup
For those non-Californian types this won’t make sense so if you want to move along that’s fine. But for my California natives, I know you understand how awesome this is. Some people may have already spent their hard earned money on one of those (way overpriced) Starbucks clear cups, but I’m telling you right now that this In-N-Out cup should be mine. For only $10.50 from the In-N-Out company store, this is a no-brainer. My family already purchased the beautiful, stunning, fabulous, hand-painted, hand crafted In-N-Out Double Double, fries, and drink Christmas ornaments, but those can only be brought out once a year and for a limited time. This perfectly clear, palm tree lined, 16oz plastic cup of goodness is exactly what I need on a daily basis. I promise I will treat it right, never microwave it, and always hand wash so you know it’ll be in good hands.

The Word Cup 2010. Kicking soon…

SEE: The Denver Post’s Photo Collection “Childhood Poverty in Colorado”
This is probably the best photo journal I’ve seen to date and not really on a subject that I would have expected. The Denver Post has put together a collection of images and stories of families living in some of the poorest conditions right here in America. Often we see poverty photographed in Africa or India, but some of the families photographed in this collection are only minutes from downtown Denver, Colorado. Take the time to not only stare at the photos, but read the captions and hear the stories. It brought me to tears, but I think it’s worth the read.

DO: Buy the book Rules for My Unborn Son
Thanks to the kindness of a friend, I received the book “Rules For My Unborn Son” this past week and I can’t get enough of it. Jam packed full of simple, smart, and funny “rules” for sons to live by, it’s the perfect present for a dad-to-be like myself. Some gems include: “Spend time with your mother. She’s cooler than you think.” And “Always stop at a lemonade stand. Tip well.>” These are just a few of the great rules for sons to live by. Each page has only two or three rules and scattered black and white photos from yesteryear that give the overall vibe of the book a retro past. You’ll love it, your friends will love it, and if you take to heart some of this “dad wisdom” you just might stay out of trouble.

“Ask for books.” Maybe not the most exciting advice to give a bunch of college students who were drowning in a sea of reading in the middle of the semester, but that’s what my professor commanded in class one afternoon. He continued, “For every Christmas, birthday, anniversary, Father’s Day, or whatever…I ask for books.” I remember thinking that seemed pretty boring and lame. “Ask for books for Christmas?! Yeah, right!” was my first thought, followed by, “he must be joking.” But he wasn’t, and I knew it. Why? Because we knew he wasn’t talking about text books for class. He was talking about the books that would further our education and growth beyond the walls of the class — the books that would shape our lives and learning for the years beyond college. And it wasn’t until I was ripping the snowflake patterned paper from my Christmas presents this year that I realized how important that advice was, and how in many ways I’ve wasted valuable time and resources.

For Christmas this year I got books. My family usually asks me for my “Christmas list” so they can go out and purchase the things that I really want — at least what I think I want, and even though I provided a small list of things it wasn’t like past years. For the past few years I’ve asked for electronics, gadgets, and games, but this year I referred them to my Amazon.com Wish List which is appropriately titled “Books, Among Other Things”. That wish list has become a collection of books (among other things) that I would one day desire to own and obviously read. Anytime my pastor or a speaker I hear mentions a book he’s read, I add it to my list. Any time my wife says she “heard about this book,” we add it to the list. Any time I read about a book or a friend mentions a book, I usually add it to the list. Sometimes I just purchase the book right on the spot because I don’t want to forget it. This practice, combined with generous friends and family, has allowed my wife and me to receive at least a dozen or more books in the past year alone. These are the books that are continuing to teach, grow, and shape us by great thinkers and minds that we would otherwise be unable to communicate with.

Books are tools in an ever growing toolbox of literary helps and guides for the growth of our hearts and minds in a world that would just rather sit back and lazily learn about the world passively on a television screen. It’s because reading is hard — it’s not an easy task. It takes patience and practice, and in world that wants everything NOW, it just doesn’t have the right marketing “buy in.” When was the last time you saw a commercial about a book? Probably not that recently unless you were watching the “Oprah book club channel” (doesn’t exist), and even then I wouldn’t recommend them. That same professor who advised us to build our personal libraries would often boldly exclaim that “the world belongs to those who read!” It’s 100% true — no doubt about it. The world will never belong to Suresh Joachim and Claudia Wavra who “achieved” a Guinness World Record for the most time watching movies, unless of course they can learn to spend their time a little more wisely — like reading maybe? Books will take you beyond the limits of a ninety minute film and give you a breadth of information to which you can actually use your mind to work through. If it’s a good book, it will take you to places you’ve never been, meet people you’ve never met, and introduce to a world that is definitely bigger than the planet that your probably living on now if you aren’t making a regular practice of reading.

Don’t sell yourself too short because life is already short enough. Find something your interested in and read about it. Set a goal or two, make a schedule, and be a little disciplined in your reading in 2010. A great way to start and finish books is to simply read twenty minutes a day. In the grand scheme of the day that’s a very small percentage of time. I’ve read enough to know that I need to be doing the same thing, and the more I read the more I realize that I don’t read enough. Had I actually taken to heart what my college professor was urging us to do that day, I probably could have read a hundred more books between then and now. I could have learned any number of a million subjects, but I have only just begun to apply this simple advice. But you gotta start somewhere, so why not start today? As usual, I’m writing this for myself than anyone else, so if you need someone to join you at the library (yes, they still exist) then I’ll be ready with my library card and a good book in hand.

P.S. I’ve mentioned this topic before, so if you’re looking for “further reading” (hint, hint) then my post titled “The Way I See It #111” might interest you.

This is my bride. Though I was shooting a wedding, we were also celebrating our 4th wedding anniversary this weekend. If you’re wondering, she’s about 22 weeks pregnant with our first born.

Ahhh… Christmas in California. Side note: it was seriously 75 degrees when I took this photo. 75. In the middle of December.

It’s always hard to for me to take pictures of guys surfing because I prefer shots of them when the photographer is in the water with them. Shooting from the shore just doesn’t do that sport justice.

There were about 9 surfers out while we were there and they were catching some great waves. I caught this guy as he was heading out of the water. I felt like the rocks framed him from where I was standing.

There was a great spot where the waves would flow right up in a huge break in the rocks. I just love the power and beauty of the ocean.

Bethany had her camera out too — she’s cute.

This is one that Bethany took of me while I was shooting the waves crashing up against the rocks. Initially I was shooting with tight, telephoto lens, but I realized quickly I got much better results from a super wide lens.

Here’s the angle that I was shooting from in the photo above. I don’t believe it’s the same wave that Bethany shot, but I just loved how this one turned out. I shot it with my super wide lens.

Though I love this shot, it doesn’t do justice to what was actually going on when I took it. Bethany and I, and another couple that were walking on the boardwalk were basically running and covering our heads because a TON of seagulls were flocking around this lady that was feeding them. We thought for sure we were moving targets.

All photography is © Shay Thomason. Any unauthorized use without the sole permission of the photographer is strictly prohibited.

The old saying is, “there are no atheists in foxholes,” but I’d like to modernize it a bit and say “there are no atheists during an ultrasound.” This is not to say that I’m an atheist — cause I’m not, but even as a believer in the God of the Bible and His creation of man, I was seriously overwhelmed yesterday as I got to see pictures of my future son (pictured above).

Though he was a bit camera shy, my wife and I got to watch video of our son in real time as the doctor walked us through the incredible miracle that is human life. We were able to zoom in on the chambers of the heart and see the blood flow, then view the little black dots that were his kidneys, and even see his mouth, ears, and nose (to which my wife said in her sweetest voice, “I think he has your nose!”). At one point our little growing boy even shook his head as if to say, “hey, quit bothering me!” It’s an experience that many other families have probably had, but for us it was the first time witnessing this. It’s not like the movies, or even reality TV. Even then you’re disconnected from what’s going on in the room, and more importantly the new feelings that first-time parents are experiencing. As I held my wife’s hand and watched the black and white monitor I realized that it must be pretty hard for people to attribute the miracle of life to nothing.

It’s simply God at work, and I struggle with how people could stand in that room and literally see a miracle happening before them and attribute it to some “accident” or think “well, it’s just how it works.” It’s no accident, and it’s not just a bunch of atoms that happened to get together — it’s God’s hand and we get the privilege of being a part of it and to watch it happen before our very eyes. David wrote in Psalm 139:13-14:

For You formed my inward parts;
You wove me in my mother’s womb.
I will give thanks to You, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made;
Wonderful are Your works,
And my soul knows it very well.

I saw some weaving going on yesterday and my soul definitely knew it well.

Only A Man

I used to live my life in fear
Was worried all the time
From waking up to laying down
I had no peace of mind
The world became a darkened place
A struggle without end
Although bitter times those were
The days that I had began to understand
I was only a man

I grew up singing songs in church
With questions in my mind
Then turned my back and ran away
From God who gave me life
Then one night his presence fell
I wept and shook and then
I fell down and cried, Dear Jesus, rescue me again
I understand I am only a man

And He said, What will it be now?
Will you choose me or keep swimming up stream now?
I’ve been inside your head hearing you scream out.
Well here I am, just take my hand and I’ll take out
All of the pain and all of the fear
All of the fear

I’ll give you my burdens (I’ll give you peace)
All of my desires (I’ll give you what you need)
Oh, what about these chains, Lord? (I’ll set you free)
But they’re so heavy (Lay them at my feet)
I’ll lay them at your feet
Just promise you won’t leave (I’ll never leave)
So where do I go from here, Lord? (Just follow me, just follow me)
I’ll follow you (Just follow me) wherever you lead
Wherever you lead, wherever you lead

Music and lyrics by Jonny Lang. Purchase the album here.

Decorating the Christmas Tree (2009) from Shay on Vimeo.

Our tree!

My mom made this candy cane…and yes, I’m serious.

Yoshi!

Our tree rocks some Chucks.

A lil nativity scene.

T is for “Thomason” :)

“Jane, get me off this crazy thing!” - George Jetson

Een klein Nederlands meisje. Traslation: A little Dutch girl.

We’re stars on our tree.

It’s what a hamburgers all about.

Soccer dude!

Chugga, chugga, chugga, chugga…etc.

The top!

We don’t really have a “mantle” so to speak, so our TV stand is going to have to do to hang up those stockings.

That day I made my her laugh

That one really late night

That place we used to live

That day we moved

That day I finally fit

That time we were small

That other time we were small

The day we played with friends

That day we got away

That night we just relaxed

That day at the beach

That day we picked a winner (or two)