February 2012
4 posts
6 tags
Find Time to Be Creative, Plus a Recipe, AFI, pt...
If, as my co-worker Andy says, “creativity is not instant grits,” then how do you make time to let the creative kettle boil? “Lack of time,” frequently ends up as my excuse for not getting things done. Honest, it can be a legitimate excuse. If you’re like me, and you work a 9-5, five days out of the week, plus need time to cook, clean, chill-out, and check Facebook, there’s not much time left...
2 tags
WatchMy friends Johnny and Hally got married last summer, and asked my husband and I to produce their wedding video. This project is special. It’s an honor to be asked to use my creative gifts to bless friends!
I have my husband to thank for his coaching on how to approach this sort of project, as this is my first wedding video. It’s very different than my typical, interview-based...
5 tags
Arts, Faith and Inspiration, pt. 6 “How and Why to...
Metamorphic rocks are rocks that have been transformed from one type of rock into another. Shale into slate, for example. What it takes, is heat and pressure. The metamorphic process transforms other rocks and minerals into something else. Something stronger. Something beautiful. For the artist, it is no different. Heat and pressure can make for better art.
The past month and a half, most...
January 2012
2 posts
1 tag
Rachelfinder.com, the Re-Design
Rachelfinder.com has been given a facelift! While I definitely enjoyed the hand-drawn elements of my previous design, the structure left much to be desired. In addition, the focus of my website has slowly been changing over the past year. The new design is powered by Business Bullpen’s “Single A” theme.
Design Changes:
First off, the clutter is gone! As great as the old design elements were...
2 tags
Thoughts on New Year Resolutions
One of my favorite books is “The Yankee Way to Simplify Your Life,” by Jay Heinrichs. The better part of the book deals with finding your “calling,” and weeding out the parts of your life that hinder living that calling. My favorite theme from the book goes something like this, “What would you do with a million dollars? Now, can you do that without a million...
December 2011
2 posts
5 tags
Art, Faith and Inspiration, Pt. 5 "The Practice of...
Over the past few months, I spent time pondering what God would have me do with this passion for Art, Faith and Inspiration. As I thought, researched and talked with other creative people, I also tried to take the time to creatively “practice.” These little forays into creative expression aren’t meant to be spectacular. They’re meant to give the brain some fodder to...
November 2011
7 posts
WatchI flew a plane across the globe today! Lately, I’ve been studying Motion Design. While my forays into the art form have been simple (re, flying text for missionary videos), I’m excited by the possibilities that Motion Design offers the video-producer.
This little video is nothing more than another of my attempts at Motion Design. We will be praying for Zimbabwe tomorrow morning,...
2 tags
judoonplatoonuponthemoon asked: HEY! OMIGOD HOW WAS THAILAND?! YOUR POSTCARD JUST GOT HERE AND IT'S BEAUTIFUL! I hope you had lots and lots of fun. Love you tons, give Robo a kiss for me :)
2 tags
2 tags
October 2011
7 posts
3 tags
WatchOctober 11-13
Our epic journey left us stranded in JFK, three hours behind schedule. Thankfully, the same plane from NY took us all the way to Singapore. But in Singapore, our flight to Chiang Mai already left. Between gluten-free food needs, showers and missing the most of Tuesday, we navigate the hiccups to the plan.
3 tags
WatchOctober 10
We begin our epic journey to Thailand. For Rachel, this is her third time out of the US, but for Robo, it’s his first. And his first time on an airplane. And like most epic journeys, this journey had a few hiccups…
1 tag
T minus Two Days (T for Thailand!)
Tomorrow is our last day in Charlotte before we leave for Thailand! I can’t believe it’s here already! Robo and I will be prayed for in church tomorrow at Steele Creek Church of Charlotte. If you’re in town, we’d love for you to join us! Service times are at 9:15 and 11:15.
On our new website, www.rachelandrobo.com, we asked our readers to post us an interesting fact...
3 tags
Want a Postcard from Thailand?
As next week approaches, we are getting more and more excited about this trip. So far we’ve packed the camera and equipment we’ll be using, and settled on the schedule for getting there. We’re still looking for someone to take us to the airport Monday afternoon, but God will provide.
The only things left to do are clean up the house before we go, buy those last minute items for the trip,...
September 2011
5 posts
3 tags
Look Out Thailand! Here We Come!
Yes, it’s true! The Bogans are going to Thailand!
Earlier this year, traveling to Thailand was only a possibility. SIM’s next communications gathering was looming in the near future. Only two people would be sent from the US office. But there are seven people on the Media Productions Team. Who would go?
Shortly after we got married, Robo and I started the application process for our...
1 tag
WatchMeet Mary…
This is one my projects from the last SIMCO. Mary Santiago is headed to Ecuador. This video will help her raise her support so she can start serving.
1 tag
It's Over
Well, nearly, anyway…
This past weekend, my husband an I drove up to Pittsburg, PA. Along I-77 in West Virginia, there are two tunnels under the mountains. As we drove through one of them, I could see the entrance in the rearview mirror, and the exit far ahead in the dim lights. It grew closer by the second, but for a few moments the weak orange lights, the solid white strip separating...
August 2011
3 posts
July 2011
13 posts
3 tags
Spiritual Warfare and Mulligans
Tuesday morning last week, I sat dumbfounded and open-mouthed at my editing computer. The most awful tone was blaring from my speakers! Ordinarily, I’d just mute that particular track and use something else in my video edit. But this piece of audio was a non-negotiable. Buried within the ear-splitting tone was the pale, weak voice of my narrator. And to my increasing chagrin, that tone...
2 tags
WatchFull Tank
Robo and I drive the “Green Hornet,” our 50cc Motofino scooter, everywhere in Charlotte. And here’s the biggest reason why (hint, it’s in the video).
God has blessed immensely with this bike. Despite the few challenges it has (limited speed, other drivers assuming they can pass you on a curve, limited cargo), it is my favorite mode of transportation right...
3 tags
Stories From Sebring...
Her gnarly, wrinkled finger drawing on the table in front of her, Helen told us a story from her missionary days in Nigeria. Helen was in her 90s, using a walker, and obviously frail. At first, I thought we were in for a difficult interview. Bad memory, bad hearing, and all that. Boy, was I wrong!
I was unexpectedly in Florida. David, our SIM USA summer intern, sat beside me taking notes as...
June 2011
8 posts
5 tags
WatchFernandia Beach, FL 5x5
Here’s a glimpse from our recent trip to Sebring. After driving through thick clouds of forest fire smoke on I-95, we stopped at Fernandia Beach for the night. Enjoy the moment! The format is a “5x5”: five clips, each five seconds long.
(shot on the iPhone 3GS, edited with ReelDirector on the iPhone 3GS)
Retirees! Well, for a little while...
I had an unexpected break in my Liberia “travels”. Robo and I were sent to SIM’s retirement center in Sebring, FL week before last. We were retiring—sort of.
The middle of May, the Media Team got to meet our summer intern. David came to Charlotte for two weeks of orientation and training. Then we sent him to Sebring. His mission? Interview and capture the stories of...
4 tags
Arts, Faith and Inspiration, pt 4 "Intention"
This past Easter, some friends at SIM invited Robert and me to their church’s Good Friday service. It was called “Tenebrae.” Erika described it as a very solemn service, quiet and candlelit. And, they used music, scripture reading, and art to lead worship and contemplation at the service. We accepted the invitation, and I excitedly looked forward to the service. A service...
