landscapes.

I'm only a few months late on this. Last summer I ventured far into the midwest for a couple of weeks and was able to photograph some of the beautiful rural landscape. The colors are magical. 

Coney Island

Last spring I had the pleasure of seeing my good friends Adie and Megan in New York city. Took these photos at Coney Island, a very whimsical place. 

Louisiana part one, landscapes.

Heritage is an interesting thing, it follows you around wherever you go. From very young age a deep sense of heritage was instilled in me; I've always felt linked in some way to my family history. Last spring I felt particularly burdened to return to Louisiana with my father to begin exploring our heritage down there (begin for me, he has been doing this kind of thing for years). There is a generation in that area that still speaks french, but the language is quickly, and very sadly, dying among the cajun people; I developed the desire to meet some of these people, beginning with our family, and to photograph them and the area. 

At the time I shared my thoughts with my dad, hoping that in the next year or so we'd be able to make the first trip together. A few days later my mom called telling me that she had a plan, and in typical Hardee fashion, a last-minute trip formed; few weeks later, my father, my younger sister, and I were on the road heading for Mississippi and Louisiana. 

We only had a couple days, and I feel like it was barely a beginning, but it is amazing the connections that can be made over 2 days. I met some of my 1st, 3rd and 4th cousins, and 2 great great aunts one of whom's mother tongue is french. We learned details of our family history, and heard so many stories. What a soulful trip it was, learning about a once rejected, almost forgotten people, who's culture is still quietly alive, just below the surface. I look forward to returning, I expect this will be an ongoing project for quite some time. 

So, here are a few of the landscape images from the small city of Lake Charles and from the bayous that run beside the highway... 

a quick trip.

Last week I went with my family to Montréal for a week. This visit had been planned for some time, it had been a while since we had all been together with Brendan and Caroline without any ministry happening, and originally this trip was supposed to be when I went up to Montréal to stay, before plans changed.

It was so lovely to be there in the summertime; everything is so very alive! You can imagine in a place that stays frozen for so much of the year, the months of warm weather will be lived fully.. unlike in the south where the heat is often unbearable. Almost everyday was spent outside enjoying the city and our time together as a family and with good friends.

It was a good respite from this odd in-between preparation time. I was sad to leave.

I want to thank you all for showing me support over the last week or so! Over the past few days a number of folks have decided to support me financially on this journey of ministry. I still need 17 individuals or families to commit to supporting me with $30 a month, please pray about joining me in this. You can give with the paypal donate button at the bottom of this blog, or for other ways email me at alycehardee@gmail.com

Downtown Montréal during the fashion and design festival

My ridiculously cool siblings

Welcome, 2011.

One of the things I love about flying is that it forces me to sit still; it removes me from my normal world into an in-between where I can more easily reflect. Usually I don’t sleep the much night before flying, so I’m tired; too tired to read or make friends with other passengers, but not quite enough to fall asleep. So I get to let my mind wander.

Today’s airplane experience was no exception. I was up late last night spending time with good friends, packing, and talking with my little sisters. The soundtrack to my first flight was The Tallest Man on Earth, which is perfect for daydreaming. I was excited to see the Charlotte skyline from above just before settling in for the flight. 

I’ve been thinking through the past month or so and all that has happened and all that the Lord has done in my heart and mind. I am constantly amazed at how he works and his grace in my life. I am so thankful for the rich family heritage that I have been given, and the part that I play in my family’s story. I am thankful for the blessing and opportunity it has been for me to spend these months in Montreal. I am learning bit-by-bit more of the fullness and beauty of the body of Christ and what real fellowship looks like among broken people. I have seen Jesus work in some seemingly impossible situations to bring reconciliation. I am thankful to be able to enjoy such an incredible and unique culture. I am thankful for my many friends that are all over who continue to encourage and support me. How did I get so lucky to have such fantastic people around me? I am incredibly blessed to have them showing love and truth into my life.

This New Year is one of the first I have entered into with few expectations. It is an adventure following Jesus, and I am excited to see what we’ll do together in 2011.

Detroit Airport, 1/2/11

A little bit of Toronto

a beautiful beginning. DTS days 1.5

I arrived in Montreal monday evening after a a long drive and a few quick visits with my best friend, one of my dad's college friends, and my family in New Jersey. The immigration process wasn't nearly as terrifying as I had imagined it would be and thankfully I had no problems getting a "non-salaried religious workers visa." When we first pulled up to my brother's apartment, he ran out to meet us, gave me a big hug and said "welcome home." I spent the part of the week with my family, shopping, walking around the city, visiting a museum, and seeing friends. We threw my dad a surprise 50th birthday party (a month early...) with all our friends from up here, it was so wonderful, like a huge family reunion.

I moved into my apartment Thursday afternoon, and the DTS started Friday. We met at 8 am at the Jeunesse En Mission (YWAM) office at 8am to be given a task and to meet everyone. Our DTS has ten people from all over the world; 2 men from France, 2 men from Holland, 1 man from Brazil, 3 ladies from Canada (2 anglophones, 1 francophone), 1 lady from Switzerland, and me. The DTS staff gave each of a list of places and things around the city we needed to find and photograph, and a metro card. It seemed easy enough except they gave us no addresses and no map, and some of the places were pretty specific, for instance we had to photograph the 4th floor of one of the local libraries.

My partner was Jisca, a girl from Sherbrooke, a town about two hours from here. We managed to get find a handful of maps and metro maps and made a plan of the best way to find as many spots on the list. The first place we went to was pretty tricky, and we ended up wasting an hour and a half walking around aimlessly and waiting for a bus that never came. We decided after that to ask folks for help so we wouldn't waste so much time. We made it to about 7 spots before running into 3 other teams (who were chilling in the library). At that point we all decided that we were tired and wanted to take a break from the game so we all went to a little cafe and hung out until it was time to go to our rendezvous.

It was being forced to spend time figuring my way around the city, and even though it was just for a day I feel like I have a pretty good handle on the metro system. I've also enjoyed getting to know my group, everyone is from such different backgrounds and were all brought here by unique reasons circumstances. I've also spoken so much more french in just the past two days than I have in quite a while!

This morning (sat), one of the DTS staff members took a few of us to the Jean-Talon market, a HUGE farmers market with local produce, meats and cheeses, and pastry and bread shops. It was really fun! A few of us girls bought some produce for our apartment and did a little more exploring.

Thats all for now, things will really get rolling around here on Monday. Next week will be one of mostly orientation, and I believe we will begin studying Genesis together.

I really love this city.

so long jackson