"look into my eyes and hear what I'm not saying, for my eyes speak louder than my voice ever will."
Viewing entries in
Children
"i believe that happy girls, are the prettiest girls"-audrey hepburn
go see more of this month's fun entries at I Heart Faces.
this shot was taken of my two year old niece while my three children joined 5 of their cousins for some fun pumpkin painting. i used my 50 mm 1.4 lens on my nikon d700. i hope you enjoy.
"love isn't always perfect. it isn't a fairy tale or a storybook. and it doesn't always come easy. love is overcoming obstacles, facing challenges, fighting to be together, holding on & never letting go. it is a short word, easy to spell, difficult to define, & impossible to live without. love is work, but most of all, Love is realizing that every hour, every minute, & every second was worth it because you did it together." -unknown love is us--every day. it is the simple moments. it is the laughter and the cries. it is everything we have together. now and always.
please continue with our blog circle and see what the very talented Renee Bonuccelli
" Cousins are those childhood playmates who grow up to be forever friends." i don't think there could be a more fitting quote for these girls. i just adore it. they are only 4 months apart--living only 4 houses apart. growing up playmates and becoming forever friends.
i took this series as part of a project for the Finding the Light Workshop. the goal was to tell a story through your images using different perspectives, angles, etc. i can't say enough amazing things about this wonderful workshop. if you are looking to grow as a photographer, you have to check it out!
Thank you for joining me for one of my favorite projects of the month. This month I would like to share the following scripture: Proverbs 3: 5-6 NIV:
5 Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; 6 in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight.
I found this scripture after reading through my current Bible Study: Nehemiah, A heart that can break. by Kelly Minter.
This week one of the questions she asked us was: "Is it hard for you to move forward without everyone's support or approval? Why or Why not?"
This really spoke to me as we just began our second year of homeschooling. I've written and spoken to many about God's call for us to home school our children. We prayed a lot about this and were affirmed in this decision. And we had the most amazing first year of learning together. I can say that I am most at peace having our children home and having this quality time together as a family. All summer I planned and developed a wonderful room for our children to create and learn in and I was super excited for this new year with them.
And then the school year began. It started off wonderfully as our daughter began 3rd grade, our son began his kindergarten year, and the baby of our house continued to follow along with us. But as the weeks passed, I was reminded of questions I had been asked from friends and acquaintances.
Questions such as:
How long do you plan to home school your children? Will you always home school your children? Why did you choose to home school? When do you have your "own time"?
Followed by statements such as :
That's great that you are doing this, but I don't have the patience to home school my children. My kids are much too social and wouldn't enjoy homeschooling. I don't know how you do it all. Most home schooled children I know are "different"
Admittedly, I really began to have doubts and questioned God's purpose for our family. I began to feel like I had to prove to everyone that our kids would turn out "normal" and be successful. But who defines what is normal? Following Jesus in today's world isn't normal by many standards. And how quickly did I forget that my children's success is not measured by today's worldly views, but only in the eyes of our Lord.
I realized that I was letting others voices be heard over God's voice. No, it is not always easy to move forward when you don't have everyone's approval or support. But I must remember that when God gives instruction, He will provide the resources, the strength, and the answers. This road we have followed may always be filled with questions. And I know that each of us may experience lonely days by following God's plan for our lives and not society's plan, but I also know that we will reap many blessings through being obedient to God.
I must remember this verse and not rely on my own understanding, nor that of those around me, but trust in the Lord with all my heart. I must take faith that "He will make my paths straight." I hope that these words will also bring you comfort when you are doing something that isn't easy or something that others don't approve or understand.
Please continue to follow our circle and see what my friend Gail Pomare has on her heart this month.
i love the long, sun-drenched days of summer and am always sad to see them come to an end. these memories will always be cherished and never be forgotten. as i look back on these pictures, i see the beauty that is found on even the most ordinary day. i see the details, the smiles, and connections of my children and my heart becomes so full. i see the warmth of the sun and glimmer of the water that surrounds us daily and i feel so grateful. i feel so blessed to call this place home and these amazing people family.
summer's beauty 2012 from Ginger Unzueta on Vimeo.
i am so grateful for Let the Kids Dress Themselves and their Summer Shot List Project . i had such a great time doing this project over the summer months.
"I believe in manicures. I believe in overdressing. I believe in primping at leisure and wearing lipstick. I believe in pink. I believe happy girls are the prettiest girls. I believe that tomorrow is another day, and... I believe in miracles. " -Audrey Hepburn
the baby of our family is turning 3 next tuesday. this has brought much emotion to my heart. i've realized that the way i parent her and react to things is so different than i did with our first. things i wanted to fix or change with our oldest daughter, i now somehow just want to remember. and not just remember this time, but remember every little detail of her. i want to hold on to the crazy things she says. to never forget the nutty outfits she chooses to wear. i want to remember the trouble and mischief she finds. i i know too well, from having two older children that these times will be a distant memory before we know it.
so now instead of hurrying to change these moments; i choose to grab my camera and freeze them the only way i know how.
i must say that i am very grateful for this project. i realized this morning that another month had flown by and i was still without any pictures of me and any of my kids. my husband is still overseas (on month 2) and I just haven't been "in the pictures". but that is the beauty of this project; it forced me to do it. honestly, i am not always feeling like being in the picture. i don't feel i am at my best, most photogenic spot of life right now...but goodness gracious!!! i need to get over my own insecurities and savor these moments so that my children will have them later in life. don't you agree?! so this morning, i asked our 5 year old son if he'd capture some pictures of me with our baby girl. next week she will turn 3 and i just can't believe it! at first i thought i'd get us dressed all pretty and then have him do a few shots. but then i decided to do it just as we are. most days, right now, she's running around half naked in her panties for the entire day. in the last two weeks she's potty trained herself and i am very thankful for that. but really, she loves to be dressed in only her panties, with her hair a mess (hairbow-nowhere to be found), her face a mess from her latest meal and free! so here we are just the two of us...just as we love to be! ♥
thank you ladies for this project, because these memories are truly a treasure for me!! xoxo
please continue on with our blog circle and see what the lovely Celeste Jones has capture of her family this month...
the ordinary moments are my favorite memories of you. its quite simple. my prayer is to be present and not miss anything in this walk together. i long to be so much as your mother. to be an example. to be a friend. to be a teacher. to be a leader. to be an inspiration. to bring comfort. to bring smiles and laughter. to show patience and forgiveness. to love and keep loving every day. i don't want to forget the smiles, the giggles, the dimple, the dirty faces, the dreams, the frustrations, the achievements, the connections, the stillness, or the wonder of every day. i never want to take these simple moments for granted. ever.
please follow along our blog circle to see what my talented friends have shared this month. first up is the delightful Elizabeth Jane Photo. So happy to have her back this month -she is such a talented artist!
today we began year 2 of our homeschooling journey. we now have a 3rd grader, kindergartner, and an almost 3 year old. i was so excited to get started this year and learned a lot during my first year. i was able to see what worked for us and what didn't in terms of curriculum, school space, our schedule and much more. over the summer i worked very hard on a special project. we have a room in our house that we used for storage since the time we bought the house. it has a great built in desk, bookshelves, and a full bathroom with access outside to the lake. after a year of cleaning off my dining table at the end of each day i thought it would be nice to create a school and creative spot for our kiddos. i know we will still school in many places around our house, and even outside of the house, but it is so nice to have a space to go to together to create and learn. my vision was to create a place that could encourage and inspire our children. i wanted to have a place that would remind them to DREAM, never give up, and create a lot. i wanted a place to remind them of the love of their heavenly Father. i wanted to fill the room with reminders of our love for each other and our appreciation and love of life.
the room is almost complete (i have a few more items that i ordered that have not arrived, but for the most part i am finished)...and i thought since it was the first day of our 2012 school year, i would share my project. i hope you enjoy a sneak peek into our school day. i am so grateful God has given me this time with my children. i am so blessed to be able to teach them daily and watch them grow in Him. i will never take these moments for granted.
" i can do all things through Christ who strengthens me" Philippians 4:13
i love that this job gives me the chance to meet new people. i was contacted by mickisha after she saw my work through the finding the light workshop. i was honored that she found me and was super excited to take pictures of her family. i was even more excited that she was willing to drive all the way from south florida to coordinate a session for her family. she is also a photographer and like myself, is not in enough family photos. it was such a joy to be able to capture her with her precious family..and what a gift these will be for years to come. thank you for giving me this opportunity. you have such a lovely family.
this has to be one of the most fun sessions i have taken to date. this sweet family of four overflowed with fun and love. throughout all of these pictures you can just imagine the fun they must have at home with their little girl and their faithful pal. i hope you enjoy this preview of our morning in the park. i hope your sweet girl has the best first birthday and a year filled with lots of love and blessings!
i have been so blessed to photograph so many wonderful families. for this shoot we were able to capture some beautiful family shots and also some great first birthday memories to cherish. they were all such fun and you can completely see what wonderful parents these two boys have. their mama and daddy love them to pieces. i am grateful i could give them this gift to preserve this special time in all of their lives.
"joy is not the absence of suffering. it is the presence of God." robert schuller
this week our theme is joy. i look into her eyes and i see so much...
please continue with our blog circle and see what the fabulous Mary Schannen l Melange Photography has to share this week...
it's once again time for the illuminated word project. each month i join a group of ladies to discuss a verse of scripture that has spoken to our hearts during the month. this month i would like to share the following verse:
Ephesians 4:32: "Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you. "
"you are forgiven." three simple words, yet at times, they can be the hardest words to say.
this weekend our two year old daughter told my husband that her brother hit her while he was playing the wii. this is something we aren't very proud of as parents, but admittedly bad behavior does indeed take place between our 8, 5, and 2 year old children. my husband disciplined my son and then he requested that my son apologize to our daughter.
my son has a terribly hard time with saying i'm sorry. i think this is hard for a lot of children. on the other hand, i notice that children can be so quick to forgive one another. they quickly say "that's okay." or something of the like. and then the matter is forgotten and they move on.
as adults, it can be so hard to really forgive one another when we are hurt. sometimes it seems easier to harbor feelings of resentment, anger, and sadness, then to say i forgive you. why can't we be like my 2 year old who quickly says "it's okay, bubby"... and then embraces him with a hug and a smile? indeed there are many reasons why we instinctively don't do this, but the bible clearly tells us to forgive one another as Christ forgives us.
have you heard the latest song by mathew west? if not, you can hear the song here and you can read the story behind the song here. i can't seem to get this song out of my head. the words are just that powerful:
It's the hardest thing to give away And the last thing on your mind today It always goes to those that don't deserve
It's the opposite of how you feel When the pain they caused is just to real It takes everything you have just to say the word...
Forgiveness Forgiveness
It flies in the face of all your pride It moves away the mad inside It's always anger's own worst enemy Even when the jury and the judge Say you gotta right to hold a grudge It's the whisper in your ear saying 'Set It Free'
Forgiveness, Forgiveness Forgiveness, Forgiveness
Show me how to love the unlovable Show me how to reach the unreachable Help me now to do the impossible
Forgiveness, Forgiveness
Help me now to do the impossible Forgiveness
It'll clear the bitterness away It can even set a prisoner free There is no end to what it's power can do So, let it go and be amazed By what you see through eyes of grace The prisoner that it really frees is you
Forgiveness, Forgiveness Forgiveness, Forgiveness
Show me how to love the unlovable Show me how to reach the unreachable Help me now to do the impossible Forgiveness
I want to finally set it free So show me how to see what Your mercy sees Help me now to give what You gave to me Forgiveness, Forgiveness
the highlighted words stand out to me
" It'll clear the bitterness away. It can even set a prisoner free. There is no end to what it's power can do. So, let it go and be amazed. By what you see through eyes of grace . The prisoner that it really frees is you"
you see, by forgiving even the worst of sins done to us, we are the one who becomes free. it's amazing how Jesus works in this way. i cannot say this is easy, but through Him you can let go and experience this freedom. is there something that is holding you as a prisoner today? is there someone who has hurt you beyond repair? go to our Lord and ask Him to show you how to experience this freedom. ask Him to heal your heart, so that you can experience your life to its fullest. its not an easy road, but i guarantee you will find blessings at the end of it. and maybe for you its not a big thing but a lot of small things that have just added up over time. don't harbor those feelings inside.
or are you the "someone" that needs forgiveness? do you feel like your sins are too much for God to forgive? do you live with guilt and the burden of not even forgiving yourself? the bible clearly speaks to us on this as well many times. i'll leave you with another verse:
Acts 13:38 “Therefore, my friends, I want you to know that through Jesus the forgiveness of sins is proclaimed to you.
don't let an unforgiving heart rob you of today. i pray these passages will speak to you as they have to me.
please continue to follow our blog circle and see what scripture the fabulous Gail Pomare | Santa Cruz, San Jose Lifestyle Photographer has to share with us this month. i am always very inspired by her words and images.
we spent the week of the fourth at long boat key, fl. i cannot wait to share more images from that fantastic week, but for today our project 52 theme is 4th of July -independence. i captured this beautiful image of my 8 yer old daughter as the sun was setting. this image seems very fitting for this week as i watch her become more and more independent each day.
please continue on to the blog of Clara at Heart Inspired Photography and see what fabulous image she has this week...
this week our theme is night. my oldest had her cousin over to sleep over for the first time this week. i peeked in on them having some girly fun. couldn't help but capture it.
let's head on over to see what clara l heart inspired photography has captured this week...
oldness is our theme this week for project 52. why have i then included pictures of our almost 6 year old son? i look at him and i just feel like time has gone by extra fast with him. he seems so OLD to me. i look at him and feel like the years between 1 and 5 were just a blur in so many ways... is it the middle child syndrome? is it because my husband deployed when he was 4 months old and had 2 more deployments before he was 5 years old? was i just trying so hard to survive in the world of motherhood that time slipped by too quickly? or maybe it is a combination of all this. do you ever feel this way? i feel like no time is enough to share with my family. but i have to remember this:
"Every day is an opportunity to make a new happy ending." ~Author Unknown
i love him so much. i love the little boy he's become. a tender-heart full of compassion, his own ideas, and lots of energy for life. he's our only son and such a true joy in our lives...
please follow our blog circle and see what the talented Clara with Heart Inspired Photography has this week...
"the human spirit needs places where nature has not been rearranged by the hand of man" ~Author Unknown
so thankful for friends that are just like family. blessed we are indeed.