My, how the time flies. And how sweet it is to look back over the last year and see how God has provided through everything and in ways that were absolutely not His obligation, but His gracious bounty. Pictures are a way for me to remember God’s graciousness, through the beautiful and challenging experiences of life. My photography almost always springs out of joy-giving experiences, so this collection of images from 2018 is essentially a series of joy snapshots, things that jog my memory about the goodness of the LORD over the last year, those experiences and memories that are lodged in my mind, triggered by pictures I’ve taken. Enjoy!

A beautiful drive to Lusk, Wyoming, to pick up a friend on January 2, 2018. The blowing snow was mesmerizing.
A foggy morning south of Hermosa.
Driving the Wildlife Loop in Custer State Park, mere weeks after the Legion Lake Fire. The snow covered over the black of the burn, but the corral fence was a shambles.
Prairie dogs in Custer State Park after Legion Lake Fire.
Geese in Battle Creek on a cold winter morning.
Timber in Winter Storm Oliver.
My silly dog, Trixie. She’s a snow puppy!
Chickadee during a snow storm, up at Grandma’s house.
My beautiful cat, Ember. Such a sweetie.

Pasque flowers – the first signs of spring!
Custer State Park Wildlife Loop, greening up in the spring after Legion Lake Fire.
Wind Cave National Park, greening up after Legion Lake Fire. This photo and the above were taken on a sunrise drive with my dad.
Kinnikinnik. Also known as bearberry. Found on an April hike up Mt. Baldy, near Mt. Rushmore.
Wind Cave National Park – the grass came back like velvet in the burn areas!
Wildflowers in Wind Cave National Park.
Blue columbine, a rare find on a hike in Hell Canyon.
Prairie phlox, found while agate hunting near Fairburn.
Honey bee on dame’s rocket, on a walk with my sister and our dogs down by Battle Creek. We had gotten a lot of rain, and went to check how high the creek had gotten. Evening walks and hikes are such a highlight. A wild rose along the trail up to the Bear Mountain fire lookout, on an afternoon with my sisters.
Sego lilies are always fun to find. I found this one along Iron Mountain Road on a picnic with my family.
Even walking the half mile down the driveway from my Grandma’s adds a little spark of joy to my day.
Bighorn Canyon National Recreation Area, on our way home from a Biblical Counseling Conference in Bozeman, MT.
My cat, Cinders, another kitten gifted to me by Anna. One of many fleabanes, on a hike on the Iron Mountain Loop Trail. 
A signpost on the Iron Mountain Loop Trail. This picture speaks to me, somehow.
A beautiful fall sunset along the Rockerville Road. 
The golden beauty of the autumn.
A favorite shot of Spearfish Falls. 
Hiking boots and hiking pants. Kind of a summary of the highlights of my year!
Crow Peak, one of the best views in the Black Hills!

An attempted still life project turned into a cat photoshoot. Silly critter!
Trying to hike Mount Baldy turned into a comical misadventure when a freak snowstorm blew in! 

Subtle winter beauty. The old year leaves and the new year comes in the time of the quietest beauty. 

With the new year already well on its way (three weeks into January?!), I’m excited to see what God has in store for this year. And what joy snapshots will impress themselves on my heart and mind.