hope

I just have to share this sad and pathetic little plant in our living room...

Seriously, doesn't this make you sad?? This plant was from Mannie's funeral (Kevin's grandma) and we just can't give up hope on it! But obviously things aren't going so well...

simplicity

I ran across this verse today in 2 Corinthians 1:12...

"...the testimony of our conscience, that we behaved in the world with simplicity and godly sincerity, not by earthly wisdom but by the grace of God" (ESV)

Simplicity and Godly Sincerity.

There is a lot I "need" to blog about- photography, craft projects, life experiences, books I'm reading ect. But even before all that I must add this to my snippits. Its a verse to mull over and ultimately (hopefully) live by.

As I continue in this journey of faith I am continually confronted with how simple God makes things and then how we complicate it. By the grace of God the testimony of our conscience is that we behaved with simplicity and Godly sincerity. Its amazing how many other things are covered by doing those two things.

This verse reminds me of Micah 6:7-9...
"He has shown you, O mortal, what is good. And what does the LORD require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God."

Its uncomplicated. Maybe its not simple in action- but it is simple in concept. And possible through God's grace.
Another moment in scripture like this is when Jesus identifies the greatest commandment:

"One of the teachers of the law came and heard them debating. Noticing that Jesus had given them a good answer, he asked him, “Of all the commandments, which is the most important?”

“The most important one,” answered Jesus, “is this: ‘Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one. Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.’ The second is this: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no commandment greater than these.”

 Love God. Love Each Other. Live Simply. Have Godly Sincerity. Walk Humbly. Act Justly. Love Mercy.

Its simple in concept, but requires God's grace in action.

still here...

Well it has been awhile since I last posted! In fact since my last post the "bump" is no longer a bump but perhaps the most beautiful baby girl I've ever seen! I had the awesome privilege of taking her newborn pics... 

 

 

Molly was only 4 days old when we took these pictures! And it was only a week and a half after her mommy's maternity pictures! It is just such an unfathomable miracle! This is one of those moments for me that I simply cannot deny the presence and existence of God. One of my favorite picture colleges is this before and after:

God is so good.

Since my last post I have also shot my first wedding (that will have to be a separate post soon...) handmade my first purse/bag (also will post later) and Kevin was ordained! Among other things we have begun yet another very busy summer.
Presently I am wrapping up those wedding photos, and I can't wait to share my experience photographing this wedding! What an adventure :o)

glass jars and a bump

So here is what I've been up to lately... (other than tons of school work and studying which is no fun to talk about) For mother's day I decided to attempt painting jars with chalkboard paint- having now tried this I plan next time to A) not use a bristled brush and B) do a design instead of just a square.

 




In addition to this crafting venture I had my first ever maternity session with a remarkable friend who is one of the most beautiful people I know! It was such a fun day too- aside from the bugs I kept finding on me haha So here is just one shot and maybe I'll put up a could more later...

my mom

So I was surprised this week with an unexpected visit from my mom and dad! I was telling someone this at my internship and they asked if this was a good thing...it was the BEST thing!
I have never ever been someone who is homesick. My mom used to get so upset when I would go to teen camp because I would completely forget to call! Even in college I missed my mom, but it wasn't ever a huge deal.
Well suddenly in this season of my life it is now a huge deal that she isn't close by! The hardest thing is that there are days I want to just call her up and meet for coffee, share with her my concerns and hear her advice. A phone call doesn't replace a hug, or smelling her perfume.

In light of all this, Mother's Day for the past few years has really sucked. I am almost sure that Kevin and I are the only people in our church that cannot in any way celebrate this day since both our moms live over 10 hours away and I am personally not a mom. So this day really bites the big one. I'm sure there are many people out there who totally understand this, most certainly on an even deeper level than I do.

Anyway- the wonderful news is that while my mom won't be around on Sunday, I did get to get coffee with her this week :o)

If you do not know my mom, I can tell you that she is funny and creative, quirky and smart, resilient and beautiful. She knows everything about me and just what I need. My mom is a strong woman with the ability to make everything she touches beautiful. She has shaped me into who I am today, and when I realize how much I am like her I thank God for it. 

ish and isha

Then the man said, "This one at last is bone of my bones and flesh of my flesh. This one shall be called Woman (isha) for from man (ish) she was taken". Genesis 2:23

How beautiful is that?? Of course my favorite part is when Adam says "AT LAST"! I began to understand this verse better after Kevin and I got married. Ephesians 5:31 says “For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and the two will become one flesh.” It is as if God separated the woman from the man, literally taking her from his flesh, then gives her the decision to join back with the man to become one again! How beautiful is that?

I love to think of relationships as a dance- the man leads the woman who must choose to follow. There is so much care and respect in dancing- so much gentleness and oneness.
Its even further amazing that in scripture there is an analogy of the church as the bride of Christ- and in the same way we see Jesus Christ desiring to lead us, but never forcing. When we look at the relationship between Christ and the church in the same way as a man and woman, Ephesians 5:24 is read less defensively: "Now as the church submits to Christ, so also wives should submit to their husbands in everything."  

I am so thankful for my husband, and am loving this dance :o)

sweet baby girl!

So I got a call a couple days ago about doing photos for this sweet little 4 week old baby girl! I was so impressed at how calm and in control the mom was- quite inspirational! Anyhow- the cool thing is that I will be doing photos for this baby girl every month till she is 1 years old! It will be so cool seeing her grow up!
This is one of my favorites:

just precious!