I photographed my first wedding about two weeks ago for a dear friend of mine. Hardest thing...next to having four babies...that I have ever physically done...but just like those four babies...it was worth it. I put together a video for her of her day...she was beautiful...he was regal...it was a grand day!!! Weddings always get me sentimental about my wedding day...which I will be celebrating 11 years on Friday. I can't believe that it sometimes seems like it was yesterday...yet other times seems so long ago...Love is a beautiful thing...and I have had the time of my life!
Wednesday, August 31, 2011
Thursday, August 25, 2011
The story
I woke up last Saturday morning to a beautiful day. The sun was shining...the coffee brewed...my bags packed. No, I wasn't going out of town...I just had a photo shoot. I hate to admit it, but I was not wanting to go. I wanted to stay home with my kids...enjoy one of the last free Saturday's we had, but I loaded those bags up in my car and went.
As I'm driving along, I start to think about my camera...photography...why I even do what I do. I would never have imagined a year ago when I got my camera that I would be where I am today. That I would have shot the images that I have...that I would have invested in people the way that I have. I am by no means the best photographer nor do I know enough about the camera...but there is something there when I pull that image up to edit it that speaks to me...there's a story behind every shot.
I have been privileged to shoot families that have their arms so full, that love just oozes...kids that have personality just exploding out of them...seniors that are on the cusp of that next stage in life...couples waiting to be married and so in love...families fighting cancer...children celebrating milestones...life. I can't tell you the amount of times I pull a picture up and tears come to my eyes. Not because I'm blown away by my photography skills...no, it's the story that gets me every time...
Here are a few of those stories...
A family that centers their homes around Jesus...and music...
A little boy that just got his "magic ears" and was so proud to wear them...
A young lady anticipating her final year of high school...
A baby just starting out in life...
A family fighting cancer together...rallying around...supporting...loving...
A family that has dealt with loss and ailing parents...and yet, there's joy...
A look so deep into a little girls eyes, that she speaks volumes without a word...
(taken by my crazy talented husband)
A country...oh, a country that I have grown to love, yet never even breathed it's air...
(taken by my crazy talented husband)
Brothers and Sisters...
A tender touch between a mom and her son...a simple gesture of love...
The kids...oh, the kids...their peronalities coming out when no one is watching...catching the essence of who they are with the click of the camera...
And the faces...they speak to me the most...and I tell you, it's forever changed me...forever.
I am looking forward to learning as much as I can about my camera...photography...take some classes...but I pray that the technical side of photography never takes the place of the story. Yes, there is always a story to be told.
Tuesday, August 23, 2011
The end came far too soon...
Summer time....I hate to say goodbye.
I took the summer off…not that anyone probably noticed, except my ad company! I needed a break from blogging…needed to spend time with my family…my friends…and with everything we did this summer, I’m not sure I would have even had time for it!
It has finally come to an end…summer that is. The kids started back to school about two weeks ago and we said goodbye to our carefree days at the pool…the water park…and late night movie watching. This has been a good summer. One of the best I remember, and yes, I was sad to see it end.
We had our first basketball camp at church, and it was a huge success. There were so many kids there…I worked in the kitchen during the day getting their lunches cooked with some of the teenagers and my awesome friend Tonya. It was all day until 3:00…so needless to say…my kid’s were exhausted by weeks end! It was so much fun and the kids learned so much!
The kids went with us on our youth retreat and stayed at camp with us. It was different having them there and sometimes hard to balance being mom and youth leader, but I am so glad they came. They got to hang around the best group of teenagers ever. Our teenagers treat our kids so good…they always play with them, make them feel important, take time for them…it means the world to me that they do that! They swam during the day and went to the beach and played with their friends. The camp went awesome and many kids walked away different than when they walked in. I love teenagers….especially these!!! Thankful that I get to work with them week after week.
After we got home we unpacked and packed again to head out on vacation to my favorite place on earth…St. Simon’s Island. We had a great week with the Blazi family. We spent a TON of time on the beach…riding bikes…catching crabs(Charlie’s favorite thing to do)…playing games….and eating, can’t forget that. The kids loved being around their little cousins and playing with them. We took the kids on a bike ride one afternoon…and lawzee…I don’t know what we were thinking. I think we rode over 5 miles, and with 3 little ones on bikes and me toting a 33 pound toddler on my bike…lets just say it was interesting. Shelby wrecked her bike a few times…bad once and it tore her poor little chin up. By the time we got back the kids were sweating, sun burnt, bleeding…and so tired they could hardly walked. It was tough, but I have to say, they had such great attitudes and never quit…they made it all the way back and I was super proud of them for it! Jesse had the best hand dealt to him…he was just along for the ride…and fell asleep before we got home!!! It was a beautiful week and we were sad to leave that little island. On the way home we stopped by Ric’s mom and uncles farm and spent the afternoon fishing in the pond and eating watermelon…the kids love being there!
The day after we got home we had our 4th annual Family Fun Day at church. We have a huge “field day” the Sunday before the 4th of July and it is the most fun! The kids love it….ok, who am I kidding…I love it and it makes me feel young again to run in a 3 legged race! We had far too much fun…laughed so many times…and left that day wet…tired…with far too many memories to count!
We went to Pooler, GA this summer for our Mission Trip with our church. It was mostly our teenagers and some adults from our church…and my 4 kiddo’s. We had the BEST time that week. We ran VBS for a church in town…and I have to say that this place was precious and I just loved the people there. The kids…their leaders…it was just an awesome week. My older two helped run the VBS and they thought they were hot stuff…Shelby traveled around with her age group and knew the answer to every question I asked. I got to teach the bible story every day…which I have to say I was hesitant about….and God just used those lessons to bless me…to work in my heart….to shape and mold me. It was exactly what I needed…and He knew it!! …I loved telling those little kids about Jesus….they would sit with eyes wide open, hanging on every word. God blessed me that week in a huge way.
We came home for a few days and then packed back up and headed north to visit with my family in Virginia. We had the best time hanging out them….we swam…ate tons of food…just had a great time. I was so sad to leave them…my nieces and nephews are growing up far too fast and I hate missing it!! It was a good week…a refreshing week and one that I am thankful for.
We were a band of gypsy’s this summer for reals…traveling 5 weeks out of the summer and even when we were here, we were still crazy busy…but boy was it good!!
So now we are back in the swing of things….packing lunches…doing homework….soccer and football are starting...and Jesse is home alone with me. We miss the sleeping late days of summer, but I am looking forward to what lies ahead. As busy as we are, it’s nice to have a normal! Looking forward to class parties….field trips…lunches in the cafeteria…and cooler weather!!!!
Goodbye summer…it’s been real….
I took the summer off…not that anyone probably noticed, except my ad company! I needed a break from blogging…needed to spend time with my family…my friends…and with everything we did this summer, I’m not sure I would have even had time for it!
It has finally come to an end…summer that is. The kids started back to school about two weeks ago and we said goodbye to our carefree days at the pool…the water park…and late night movie watching. This has been a good summer. One of the best I remember, and yes, I was sad to see it end.
After we got home we unpacked and packed again to head out on vacation to my favorite place on earth…St. Simon’s Island. We had a great week with the Blazi family. We spent a TON of time on the beach…riding bikes…catching crabs(Charlie’s favorite thing to do)…playing games….and eating, can’t forget that. The kids loved being around their little cousins and playing with them. We took the kids on a bike ride one afternoon…and lawzee…I don’t know what we were thinking. I think we rode over 5 miles, and with 3 little ones on bikes and me toting a 33 pound toddler on my bike…lets just say it was interesting. Shelby wrecked her bike a few times…bad once and it tore her poor little chin up. By the time we got back the kids were sweating, sun burnt, bleeding…and so tired they could hardly walked. It was tough, but I have to say, they had such great attitudes and never quit…they made it all the way back and I was super proud of them for it! Jesse had the best hand dealt to him…he was just along for the ride…and fell asleep before we got home!!! It was a beautiful week and we were sad to leave that little island. On the way home we stopped by Ric’s mom and uncles farm and spent the afternoon fishing in the pond and eating watermelon…the kids love being there!
The day after we got home we had our 4th annual Family Fun Day at church. We have a huge “field day” the Sunday before the 4th of July and it is the most fun! The kids love it….ok, who am I kidding…I love it and it makes me feel young again to run in a 3 legged race! We had far too much fun…laughed so many times…and left that day wet…tired…with far too many memories to count!
We went to Pooler, GA this summer for our Mission Trip with our church. It was mostly our teenagers and some adults from our church…and my 4 kiddo’s. We had the BEST time that week. We ran VBS for a church in town…and I have to say that this place was precious and I just loved the people there. The kids…their leaders…it was just an awesome week. My older two helped run the VBS and they thought they were hot stuff…Shelby traveled around with her age group and knew the answer to every question I asked. I got to teach the bible story every day…which I have to say I was hesitant about….and God just used those lessons to bless me…to work in my heart….to shape and mold me. It was exactly what I needed…and He knew it!! …I loved telling those little kids about Jesus….they would sit with eyes wide open, hanging on every word. God blessed me that week in a huge way.
We came home for a few days and then packed back up and headed north to visit with my family in Virginia. We had the best time hanging out them….we swam…ate tons of food…just had a great time. I was so sad to leave them…my nieces and nephews are growing up far too fast and I hate missing it!! It was a good week…a refreshing week and one that I am thankful for.
We were a band of gypsy’s this summer for reals…traveling 5 weeks out of the summer and even when we were here, we were still crazy busy…but boy was it good!!
So now we are back in the swing of things….packing lunches…doing homework….soccer and football are starting...and Jesse is home alone with me. We miss the sleeping late days of summer, but I am looking forward to what lies ahead. As busy as we are, it’s nice to have a normal! Looking forward to class parties….field trips…lunches in the cafeteria…and cooler weather!!!!
Goodbye summer…it’s been real….
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