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this week our theme for project 52 is expressive. there's a certain 2 year old in my life who is full of expressions.... she's a mess. from happy, to impatient, to sweet, to sad, to crazy and silly. we see it all. love that little smile and dimple...
now head on over to see what Mary Schannen of Melange Photography has for this week's theme...
i took these this week as part of a project for the finding the light workshop and wanted to share them. my sister is due mid summer with a new baby girl and we are all excited. it has been such fun seeing her daily and the changes her body makes as little lucy gets bigger and bigger. she's really just glowing. i can't wait to do a full session with her which will include her two year old and her hubby.
it's friday once again which means its time for project 52. this week our theme is green with envy. i admit i don't have a super creative green themed image this week.....nor anything leprechaun related :) i was thinking about how green everything is right now in florida and how beautiful it is. the weather is gorgeous and everything is in full bloom. the orange blossoms are one of my favorites right now. their scent always reminds me i am "home"....they are just lovely!
we decided to take a little spring break from our homeschooling this week...and pretty much every day has looked pretty similar to the images below. as i watched the children all week playing with their cousins and friends, i couldn't help but be a little bit green with envy as they are so carefree at their age. IN REALITY, what i feel is very thankful. so grateful for the life God has blessed us with. for the people around us and the beautiful life we have. i never want to take it for granted...
please continue on with the blog of Clara from Heart Inspired Photography | Adelaide Photographer and see how she captured this week's theme...
“enjoy the little things, for one day you may look back and realize they were the big things.” – robert brault
i read this quote recently on my dear friend gretchen's blog. and how true it is. i can hardly believe my oldest child is now almost 8 years old. it seems like yesterday we were just finding out we were going to have a precious baby. the years simply pass by so quickly with our children. many have said that the days are long; but the years are fast. and that is true also. as we go through each phase of life raising our children, some days we are just in survival mode. but somewhere within each day there are those moments you just want to grasp and hold on to forever. the moments that make your realize just how precious the gift of motherhood is. and really its a combination of all these moments so small each day, that we will realize were so big.
i long to capture all of these moments. but i also long to capture moments of me in these moments . i know i've said it before, but it really is so important to preserve memories of US with our families. many of you may think how much you dislike being in pictures. others may say you are all just too busy. or that you don't care for the fuss of it all. but your famly will look back on these memories and treasure them one day. last year i made a commitment to try and be in more pictures with my family. as a photographer i have thousands of pictures of my own children, but i realized i was the one always taking the pictures. so, i bought a remote and tried at least once a month to snap a shot. my husband was overseas at the time and really loved to receive pictures with me in them as well..(since he got a handful a day emailed to him of the kids).
this year i am so excited to partner up on a fun project with my sweet friend Lexi Winters, who also happens to be a photographer. last fall the two of us helped each other by taking our family Christmas card pictures. it worked out so well for both of us that we knew we needed to do this more often now that i have moved back to town. we realized our husbands aren't going to want to be in monthly photo shoots, but Lexi and i both thought it would be such fun to get together monthly and just snap away some fun times with our kiddos ( and we also knew we could sit and visit about photography, motherhood, and most anything else for hours at a time).
so, for this month i have a few that she took of me and the kids while we were doing our card pictures. i am so grateful already for this project because i just love having these to remember me with these special babies, right now, just how we are...
now , head on over to Greenprint Photography, and see the pictures i captured of lexi and her beautiful family...
i am so excited to share with you my first senior session. it was such an honor to take these pictures of abby. in our short time together i could tell she is made of intelligence, beauty beyond her years, and compassion. she and her mother were such fun to be around. she was a natural behind the camera and i was so impressed with her effortless beauty. abby, i hope you enjoy this preview of our session and enjoy the last few months of your senior year. all the best to you!
hello. i am excited to begin my first project of 2012....project 52. i am very thankful to all of my readers that followed me on this journey last year. it was such a growing experience that i knew i had to participate again. this year a fellow photographer from my last group, lucy and I have partnered up to lead our group. i am so excited about the themes and the fun we will have stretching our creative sides. i am so excited to get to know everyone in our group this year. we have a fantastic group of almost twenty ladies joined together for this fun project. each friday we will post our new theme for the week. we are all members of the bloom forum . i highly suggest this amazing forum to any photographer... from hobbyist to professionals you will find so much support and inspiration in this wonderful place. without further ado, this year's first theme is YOU--a self portrait. i don't imagine any of us love to do these. last year i decided to do a more abstract version of the self portrait and photograph things that define me; but this year i used my remote and took my picture. and indeed it felt awkward and a bit silly taking a picture totally solo, sans any of my babies, but i did it. last year i made it a point to try and shoot myself with the kids as often as possible. i cherish these pictures now, but i will say it's quite different capturing a picture of yourself..by yourself. i knew if i was going to do this i wanted to also capture my favorite time to shoot. i love the golden hour, as you can tell in most of my sessions. i love sun and flare and warmth. (if you'd like to get to know a little more about me and my love of my family, the Lord, and many other things...head on over here.)
please continue on our blog circle and meet Mary Schannen of Melange Photography...she is a true inspiration!
last week i shared a post on three beautiful cousins in their Christmas dresses. while i was there taking their pictures, i was also able to capture baby laura in her Christening gown. she is so precious with her gorgeous red hair and beautiful blue eyes. and she has the sweetest giggles and smiles. 
it's week 47 of project 52. this week's theme is magic: what is magical to you? full of amazement and wonder?? with it being the Christmas season, i couldn't help but think of the little elf friend, known fondly at our house as CUTE RED ELF, who came to visit a couple weeks ago. i thought of the magic and excitement he brings to our three children. every morning they bound out of bed to see where CUTE RED ELF is and what he is up to. i love to hear their giggles and squeals each day. it makes me smile just thinking about it. this leads me to think about the whole Christmas season and the magical feelings that surround it. there really is something so special about the weeks that lead up to this glorious day. and when i think about the meaning of Christmas and the gift we were all given as Christ was born this day....it is quite an amazing and wonderful feeling!
please continue with our blog circle and see what magic Nancy Schumacher has captured....
welcome to this week's project 52. i hope you all had a blessed thanksgiving with those you love. our theme this week is thankful: what are you thankful for? WHO are you thankful for? we've been reflecting a lot recently here at home about the many blessings in our lives. the kids created turkeys and added feathers each day; listing what they were thankful for. i feel so grateful this year first off to have my husband home. last year was the first time in our twelve years of marriage that he was gone for all of the holidays. it was such a lonely time having him away and made me really just appreciate being together. i am so thankful for him and all he does to provide for our family, which enables me to stay home and be here for our children. we are so blessed to have three amazing, healthy, and happy babies. i could list so many things i have to be thankful for; so many people. BUT when i really reflect on this year...i just can't express what it feels like to be home again. to have my siblings and parents all living within walking distance together. to have all the cousins running in our yard together. to see each other for pancakes on saturdays or other simple family gatherings. or just to drive by and wave as i see my mom out walking her dog, or sister n law getting the mail...the list just goes on. this is a dream i once had....that is now a reality. and i thank God for this time because it is such a special gift. i am so thankful that HE has brought us all back here in His own way.....
continue with our blog circle and see what Linsey Stuckey, Houston TX photographer has captured this week!
those of you that follow my blog, know i am a lover of the "golden hour"....i honestly can be driving down the road and see the sun about to set and imagine sessions amidst its beauty. light is so magical at different points of the day but i do love this special hour before the sun disappears for the day. this leads me to this ever so lovely session i had with caitlin and chad. as i edited these pictures i fell in love with each of them. i had such fun with these two. honestly, i don't think many husbands are ever gung ho to get on camera. but chad was such a great sport and was willing for anything i had in mind. his love for caitlin throughout the shoot was very evident to me and seeing these just make me smile. i hope you guys enjoy them and will always remember this special phase in your life together. yall are truly a blessed pair...
hello there and welcome back for this week's project 52 with the bloom forum. our fun theme of the week is hands-what are you capable with your hands? what have you created with them? what do your hands mean to you? i am certain there will be a variety of pictures for this theme. i took a more fun approach and got some pictures of my oldest creating something quite yummy with her hands.....enjoy!
now head on over to the blog of Amy Ames of Holly Spring, NC and see what she has to share !
have a fabulous weekend!!!
welcome to week 40 of our project 52...that means only 12 weeks to go!! this week's theme is feet: where have you gone? where do they take you? maybe your children's feet? or your pets? admittedly this week snuck away from me...so my image this week is very simple and sweet. my now two year old, with her fresh pedicure from mama. i must say these are two of the cutest feet i know...
head on over to the blog of Lynn, Bugsmom Photograpy, NJ to see what feet she has captured!
this week's theme for our project 52 is: paper. i couldn't help but think of the many pieces of paper my children turn into paper planes. this is a pastime they never grow tired of...
don't forget to continue our blog circle and see what Amy Ames, Holly Springs, NC photographer captured!! I am sure it will be great!!
this week i had the pleasure of photographing this new family of three. it is such fun to see parents with their first child. this session was fun and unique in that the parents had a few of their own creative ideas to make it "their own." with the dad being a big baseball fan they asked to do the session at our hometown Little League field. after taking a few pictures at the ball field we headed over to the play park and got a few more. i hope you enjoy this sneak peak of their new bundle of joy. thank you for giving me the opportunity to capture these special moments of you together. i wish you all the best on your new journey as parents!
i believe there are times in life where we know without a doubt that God is talking to us; getting our attention so to speak. more than once last week different messages of hope and joy were placed on my heart and mind. i know without a doubt there was no coincidence in these messages i read and heard last week.
i think we all struggle with wondering why we face difficult times in our lives. i know in the past month i've questioned things myself as i've seen people around me hurting. the suffering of a child with cancer. dear friends with a marriage falling apart. my own sweet daughter who questions daily why we had to move and leave her best friend states away. so many people have things they are facing...financial hardships, loneliness, depression, anxiety. you don't have to look far to see trials. i know in my own life i have battled letting my worries and fears consume me. but these passages give a renewed hope to all of us as believers and i think sometimes we need to have this reminder.
one of the passages is James 1:2-4. it says, " consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything."
wow! if we could all remember this daily as we encounter things. to know that God is truly working on us during these times....what a blessing it would be to us.
at another point during the week i was reading a daily devotion that I get in my inbox and the following passage was quoted from Jeremiah 29: 11 : "For I know the plans I have for you,’ declares the LORD, ‘plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.’" i love this passage.
later in the week, I was in my car and listening to Christian radio. a lady was speaking and she was saying how sometimes in her own prayer time she asks God that why we must go through these trials of life when He already knows who will be saved and what will become of our lives. she said that the answer became very clear to her on a recent mission trip through the own trials of that week. we have to go through all the parts of our life...to get us to where God wants us. without life and without these moments, we would not fully be the person God has planned for us to become.
today, i share these messages in hopes that if you are facing any kind of trial in your own life that you will take comfort in knowing that God does have a plan for you. let Him work in you and take faith; even in these hard times, His love is shining on you.
i see this picture of my daughter and it reminds me of all of this.
this week's theme for project 52 is favorite color: what is your favorite color? where do you show that it's your favorite color? i would have to say my favorite color has mostly always been blue. i love all the different shades of blue. i love to wear blue as well. but as i've now had two daughters i do adore pink as well. i love to decorate their room in pink and buy fun pink clothing for them. just one of those colors that screams girl!
have a blessed friday and head on over to the amazing blog of Lucy Jane, Adelaide Photographer.
this week's theme is glitter, sparkle, and shine....i had in my head what i would do this week. i thought a photo shoot of my youngest daughter and her cousin emma would be perfect. they both sparkle and shine in their tutus and dress up!! i thought it would be the perfect excuse to get them together in some adorable pictures. unfortunately this did not happen. i really don't know where the week went...it was so busy. we've had dance, tumbling and soccer all begin. we are on week three of homeschooling. and it just seems like our days were a blur this week. we definitely need to find our rhythm. but one morning i was up and it was so quiet and so peaceful and i looked outside and i was taken by the gorgeous sunrise. our new house is on the lake and has an amazing morning view! i grabbed my camera and snapped this beautiful sun. and i thought it certainly shined and sparkled and would be perfect for this week's theme. it reminds me of a quiet moment in a not so quiet week. enjoy.
head on over to Lynn, Bugsmom Photography, NJ and see what shine she has found!
this week's theme for project 52 is labor: what labor do you do? what labor does your husband do? what labor are you thankful for? i have been a stay at home mother since the birth of our first child in 2004. i feel so blessed that God has given me this opportunity to spend this precious time with all of our children. i can say it is the hardest and most important job i have ever had. it is truly a sacrifice in many ways but really i look at it as a gift.
this week i also took on another role as teacher. i will say that i am fully confident we made the right decision to begin homeschooling our children, but it is a huge commitment and not every day will be easy.....but every day ends and i feel so thankful to have this time with our children. to be able to raise them and instill in them the values we feel are so important. to watch them grow and learn daily in their academic knowledge and more importantly in their love of the Lord. what more could i ask for ?
one day this week we planted flowers together. i thought about how much it resembles raising our children. the time, care, and love we give, will help them flourish into something beautiful in the future...
now head on over the to the blog of the amazingly talented Amy Ames, Holly Springs, NC photographer
tomorrow i will embark on a new journey with my precious babies. my role as mother and caregiver will expand to full time teacher as well. after many prayers my husband and i decided last spring this was God's plan for our family. you can read about our journey to this decision here. i am so excited to start this journey with our children, but of course i have days where i wonder if i will be able to do this and do it well. i wonder how i will continue to do all the other roles i have in our house. i wonder if i will foster enthusiasm and excitement for learning in our children. the list of questions can go on and on. BUT deep down i know that i can do this with God's help and that HE will provide all we need to succeed--i just have to remember to ask.
i was having one of those days last week where i was asking all these questions to myself and an email came across my inbox. i wanted to share some of what it said. i know i have a lot of other homeschooling friends and i thought this provided a source of inspiration for us all on this journey. it reminded me that this is such a gift i have been given. it is a blessing that i have this opportunity to be with my children daily for these experiences. mothers were quoted saying the following about their own experiences homeschooling...
If I had known that teaching my children would be so much fun, I would have started homeschooling sooner.
If I had known my children were going to grow as fast as older women said they would, I would have treasured our time together even more.
If I had known that my son was going to become an archeologist and dig in the dirt for a profession, I would have never worried about removing the stains when washing his clothes.
If I had known that all my children would go on to receive college degrees, I would have never second guessed my curriculum choices and teaching abilities.
If I had known how unimportant it was to keep a spotless house, I would have gone to bed on time instead of spending countless hours cleaning, organizing, and tidying up for the next day.
If I had known how living on one income would build a solid faith in God, I would have gladly lived with less without all the complaining.
If I could only experience the thrill of one job to last an entire lifetime, I would my children all over again.
i believe God truly gives us the encouragement we need just when we need it. tonight, i go to bed with enthusiasm and excitement. i can't wait to dive in and not look back....sort of like my son in this picture. he is always fearless, unlike my oldest daughter. she thinks and contemplates before acting--very much like myself. i'd love to have that fearlessness my son has in all i do-- to place my trust completely in the Lord and know He will take care of it all!
welcome to project 52. the fun project i've been participating in the past 31 weeks with this amazing group of photographers i now know as friends. we have done some really fun themes that have helped my creativity grow during the year. this week's theme is back to school: what are some signs in your home that is is time to head back to school? maybe put together a shoot? i have to say that this week's picture sort of just evolved and i thought it went with this theme FOR US perfectly. you see, this year is our first year of homeschool. the local schools will start back to school next week. i always dreaded the big back to school day, as it meant our family time was going to be so much shorter and we were under the schedule of some one else. this year is different because we won't be having the "typical" back to school day. we will start school soon...in another week or two at our house and i am really excited! this picutre symbolizes so much to me. i look at it and see my daughter carefree in the days of summer and realize our days will continue to get to have this relaxed feeling--that we can enjoy our summer a tad bit longer. i also see my sweet seven year old still so innocent and carefree, and hope this time spent together can preserve her childhood ust a "wee" bit longer...or at the very least, let us enjoy it more together!!
for those of you with little and big ones heading off to school; i pray you all have wonderful teachers, classes, and a year of amazing memories!
now head on over to the blog of Kimberlee Edwards Photography, Cary, NC and see what she did for this back to school theme!