Sicklings

The soon-to-be bride and groom are both sicklings. I sound like a man. Matt sounds like a boy going through middle-school puberty. I called him yesterday morning to get a phone number from him and he was calling out the numbers.."5-6-5 (hit high octave note) 4-8 (hit high note again) 4-8." Our wedding vows could be interesting.

I hope yall are enjoying fellowship with family and friends, cherishing the sweet time we have with each other.

And foooooooood. For breakfast I had 2 servings of each of the 3 entrees. When Matt came over last night he found icing from cinnamon rolls in my hair. Shortly after I was nicknamed "Porky." Fair enough.

Merry Christmas, happy holidays, feliz navidad!

Winner: Julie Jones

The winner is Julie of Julie Jones Photography! Congrats on being the 1st to answer correctly!

I must say I was really impressed with those who answered and got it right. I suppose I have more loyal blog readers than I thought. I figured I was being all sneaky by asking a personal question, but you guys knew the answer! Hopefully we can have more contests in the future cause I think they're fun. So thank you also Jennifer of Vansuydam Photography, Kenzie of Shores Photography and E. of Elizabeth Pellette Photography. You guys are all great sources of inspiration to me!

1-2-3-GO!

I got across the stage without falling! Matt said I might as well have been a three-year old waiting in line to meet Santa. He said I still do the same nervous moves that I did when I was a little girl in home videos. I stood in line, grabbed the ends of my graduation dress (more like tarp!) and swung back and forth. I'm a little girl sometimes.

Here is my weekend agenda:
Friday, pack up everything in house.
7 pm, Graduation dinner.
Saturday, 11pm I graduated.
From about 12-3pm I moved out of my house.
From 4-6 we drove to Houston.
From 6-8 we moved into Houston.
Breathe. Relax.
Now unload all boxes to my new house.
Pack for Tyler for 2 weeks. Dont forget a thing cause it is YOUR wedding.
Pack for Hawaii honeymoon.
Drive from Houston back to College Station to pick up remains of boxes.
Drive to Tyler.
Prepare for wedding.

It's been crazy but fun! I'm getting used to the change a bit. Here are some pics from the busy weekend:
And one more thing...who invented a graduation cap?! A square on your head held on tightly by what appears to be a suction cap. Strange invention.

ENTER CONTEST!

The Prize:
"The Spoil Me Package"
-A foxy red nail polish by OPI. It's fun to have your nails in sync with the holidays!
-Chocolates...comfort foods are a must.
-A creamy lotion to make your man say "ohh la la"! I have several scents so I will let the winner choose which one!



*Note that this is FOR a lady, so men, this could be a FREE gift for your wives ;)

The Contest:
How you win: Identify who is in the picture and the story behind it. Leave a comment, you can only guess once. The prize will go to the FIRST person to get it right.
Deadline: Tuesday morning, December 18th.


Let the guessing begin!!!

Update: College Life Over.

Do you ever find yourself dreaming of that finish line constantly and when you finally feel it break on your tired ribs, a beautiful feeling of both sweetness and sadness flushes over you?

The race you had trained so hard for has now come to an end. Yes, you successfully endured every minute. Yes, there is a powerful release that the destination was worth the journey. Following the feelings of accomplishments can also be a feeling of "ok, now what?"

I'm working on my last final EVER. I've waited for this moment and I pictured I might do a victory dance down the streets or at least let out a zealous squeal. Much to my amusement, none of this has occurred. I'm instead encompassed by reflections of my college life, sweet friends who have lightened the load along the way and filled me with both laughter and tears, and the endless lessons God has taught me with each passing step.

My dreams have taken the following:
--a psychologist in training
--an environmental designer
--a sonogram technician
--a sign language translator
--a photographer
All these is just 3.5 years!

I'm feeling the release of the closing one chapter and opening another as a "Mrs." I hope that in 3.5 years I can look back and reflect on growth and memories with those I cherish with a grateful heart and humbled spirit.

CONTEST!!!

coming soon.....

i know, im teasing you guys. But after my finals are over (on Wednesday) I am going to post a picture and if you can identify what its of/the scenario then you get a Christmas prize!

So check back soon! :)

Christa's Bridals

Sheesh, it's been almost a year and I'm just now posting these. This was my first bridal session...I don't typically take them on. Christa and Seth were my "trial run" for wedding photography. They were very laid-back and sweet.

I commend ALL wedding photographers. How you keep your cool is beyond me. I would need to attach a breathing machine to my shootsac, cause I would be so stressed!! I much prefer to be the person in the audience snapping pictures like I did at John and Edit's. No pressure. Ahhh...the sweetness of that phrase.

Now I just need to find me some big-bellied women, a few crazy toddlers, and some funky-fresh seniors and my business will be headed in the right direction!

Mr. Blue Eyes

In just 24 days, Mr. Blue Eyes will be the face I wake up to each morning and the last voice I hear at night. We have dealt with the distance and held on to the hope that one day we would be around each other daily. No more "Is it Friday yet?!" No more serious case of the Mondays. Just a bunch of spooning and laughter.

I haven't shared this with you guys yet, but I think I will now! It's our wedding website. So go right ahead and look around if you want. And does anyone have experiences/ideas for writing your own vows? We really want to do it but are afraid of being a bunch of blubbering idiots! So I would love your input!


***Just to brag on him...tonight, he surprised me by personally designing my Blogger Logo in the web address. It went from the customary "B" to a personalized "R". Yep, he's a keeper :)

ELF Yourself

Need a good laugh? I just Elfed myself and my roommates and my stomach hurts from laughing so hard! Try it, and leave you web address on here, I will watch it and laugh some more!

I am now elfing my future in-laws, parents, animals. Yes, I need to get a life.


To view our incredible moves:::::::
http://www.elfyourself.com/?id=1183557238

I Got Inked (the Sequel)

My dad called me last week to tell me he thought one of my pictures from Maghan's Session was featured in the Tri County Leader Paper. I went on the website, and sure enough there it was! I felt special :)



P.S. For Photographers out there or people who just appreciate humor, I found a new blog called The Pioneer Woman and it is packed with amazing photographs, funny stories, and great recipes!

The What If Game

I play this all the time.
What if I had been brave enough to chase my dreams and run off to the East Coast? What if I hadn't met Matt, would I have discovered my love for photography? What if I had the courage to say 'yes' at the option of singing at that wedding?

The list goes on, it's endless. For once, I want to flip over the lose-a-turn card so my mind can catch a break from this exhausting game. The redundancy of the question leaves me standing in a danger zone. Entertaining the idea of a life that is different than the one Ive chosen is an idle trap. We are where we are for a reason, I believe in divine positioning rather than a series of coincidences strung together to compose one life.

"Our minds get blown away by thoughts of aliens and other worlds but my mind is blown away by possibility that maybe this was made for me, for lying on my back in the middle of a field- to look up and see that God loves me that much. The Psalms say that the stars speak every language so that NO man goes without hearing God." ----Sara Groves

This quote moved me to tears when I heard her say it. We are a small freckle on the Savior's great map. But He notices us. He cares enough to number our days and memorize how many hairs are on our heads. He is in the air around us each day. Each second. And when we feel overwhelmed by the possibilities or feel burdened from second guessing ourselves, we can just look up and be humbled by the number of the stars in the midnight sky.
Suddenly, the what-if game loses its appeal.

Maybe this was made for me.
Maybe my life is merely a path, filled with God-ordained steps for me to take.
I'm tired of asking WHAT IF, I want to appreciate WHAT IS.



**This photo was taken last winter in the majestic mountains surrounding Boulder Colorado.

Processing Poll

I'm enduring the growing pains of learning how to process pictures. And I must say, it's gonna leave some major stretch marks.

So, which of these is your favorite?

(Sorry to use a picture of me, but it was the only close-up portrait available since I'm at Matt's house!)

CROSS-PROCESS #1




STARK B&W #2:




AGED PHOTO: #3

Ch-Ch-Changes

It is almost that time, people. I will be sharing half of my stuff with a man. This is a new concept for me. I'm excited about it though! Today has been filled with shirt-hanging, good-will bagging, and watching Matt pry my hoarded nicknacks out of my grubby little paws. I am a pack rat. NOT a good quality to possess while trying to move from a 4 bedroom house with about 12 hidden closets into a 2 bedroom condo.

Moving digs up old memories. Each time I've moved in college (which has been about 6 times) I am always warmed by the bittersweetness of old photographs or notes from middle school-- little keepsakes that got piled beneath the mess. It's refreshing to stumble across them.

Tomorrow is less sentimental. I will be looking for a big girl job in Houston. That's right, say your prayers folks!

Morning Light

I took some quick shots of my roommate this morning at 9:00 A.M. She wanted some traditional pics for her graduation announcements that go out tomorrow. At this time, the light was just perfect! I will have to remember this.

Not sure if I've mentioned it before...but I am a music LOVER. Not just any music, but music that moves. If you havent seen August Rush, see it! The music is incredible! I am anxiously awaiting the soundtrack.

here's what's in my play list of songs I never get sick of:


Sara Groves - Something Changed
Joseph Arthur - Honey & the Moon
Mirah - Don't Die in Me
The Weepies - Gotta Have You
Sister Act II - Oh Happy Day
Rachael Yamagata - Jesus Was a Crossmaker
The Flaming Lips - Yoshima vs. the Robots
Reed Foehl - Indian Summer
Wheat - Don't I Hold You
Angels & Airwaves - Secret Crowds
Glen Hansard ft Markéta Irglová - Falling Slowly
Pete Yorn - Lose You
Beth Orton - Thinking About Tomorrow

Little Birds

The birds flickered in, taking turns enjoying their colorful buffet of birdseed. Watching animals calms my mind, it is solely a therapeutic experience. The birds do not fret and get their feathers in a tiff trying to think of where they will find their next meal, worrying about whether their little speckled eggs are getting the warmth they need inside the twig-spun nest, or even if they will sing the right tune to attract a suitable mate. They just live. Why can’t we share this same trusting spirit?

Lord, I want to trust in Your promise to provide. Mold my heart into one filled with reliance and peace. Free me from the traps of self-guilt and idleness that the evil one sets before me.

Your ways are perfect.

Your will is pure.

You are the melody that my heart longs to sing.

Season of Grandure

I LOVE FALL.

In Texas, my favorite season is usually skipped through. The trees do turn, which i definitely appreciate, but the air is thick and the temperature high. So those few days when I do get to turn off the AC and roll down my windows, I am happy as a lark! Before my session today, Matt drug me away from my paper-writing spell and encouraged me to take little snaps of fall. Ironically, fall turned into Christmas around our household the same night--my Christmas-enthused roommate put up not one, not two, but THREE Christmas trees! So ladies (or gents) if you are reading this, and have already added Snow-in-a-Can to your windows, hung mistletoe, or slid a Christmas CD in your car, you are not alone. There are other jolly Christmas freaks out there. :)

"

Lessons from 3-Year Olds

In a hustled manner, my feet swished back and forth, trying to keep up with my racing thoughts. I whipped the corner and saw a bubble floating up above, then another, then another. On my tuesday-thursday route to class, I pass a day care. The typical scene if filled with at least one screaming child, but not today. Today they had bubbles! Each kid squealed as the teacher blew these round wonders up into the endless sky. They reached up as high as they could to catch as many as possible.

I was instantly jealous. Children have something I will never truly have: undamaged hearts. They enjoy life's simplicity and reach up high, without fear of the future.
Their love has not grown cold. Their faith is uncalloused. They've lost the sense of self that dominates so much of what we do as adults. I want to be there again.

Lord, today, I want to have the heart of a child---free to laugh without hesitation, free to trust those who are bigger than me, free to be myself in each moment.

Countdown Begins...

"I remember checking your wedding website and seeing the countdown say '200 days left'. Now it is almost a month away."

A MONTH. My dads words hit me like a freight train. The engagement journey has flown by with full-force. Suddenly everything has turned into a countdown- only 3 more papers to write EVER, and 2 written exams. Just yesterday the same girl who is now in athletic shorts with her hair pulled back was fumbling through dorm cabinets looking for that "perfect outfit" on the first day of school. The way time passes makes me wince, yet it makes me appreciate this blink-lengthed second.

I have slowed down my business so that I can remember this month. So the pictures I post may be a bit more personal for awhile. I hope you still come stop by though!

They Don't Call It A Shower For Nothing

The terminology wedding shower has been a bit strange to me. The bride doesn't run through a sprinkler or get an ice bucket dumped on her head, so why shower? After my first one today, I no longer ask why. You get completely DRENCHED with generous gifts! Matt and I signed over the official wedding contract with the Villa di Felicita this morning then headed over to our Wedding Shower. It was an eventful day! I am definitely not one to love the spotlight, but today was different. When you are in a room filled with people who are here to celebrate love, suddenly it's not really about just ME, its about the force of two hearts joining and all the wonderful blessings that dance along behind it.

So today, I was wrong. (Please don't copy and paste that and use it against me!) I thought I didn't want a wedding shower, but now I am thankful we had one! There wasn't even one cheek-pinch. :)

Here are some pictures with the point and shoot camera:

'Tis the Season

Thanksgiving + Christmas are just around the corner. I have updated a holiday package on my website that is quite a steal, so be sure to check it out under the **SPECIALS** tab. That's all for now!

Our Announcement!

Matthew and I's engagement is published in our hometown paper! This is so exciting to see it in print. We just love our photographer, Agung Fauzi. He was wonderful for our engagement photos and my bridals. For our engagements, he took us all around South Lake and Ft. Worth, Tx. In honor of our newspaper announcement, I thought I'd post a few of our engagement pictures...enjoy!

A Must-Hear

Matt and I missed a conference in early August called Relationship Rx. It was in Houston and Les Parrot, Gary Smalley, and other writers/preachers were speaking. Since we missed it, Matt bought the Cd set. And let me tell you, it was nothing short of extraordinary. I have sort of been hogging them and listening to them when I drive from College Station to Houston. It's completely okay that my fellow road-travelers think I'm a crazy emotional woman when they see tears streaming down my cheeks.

I needed a wake-up call, a cold glass of water splashed on my sleepy heart. God just grabbed me a shook me around a bit to get the message to me that life goes beyond my little shell. To invest in the lives of others, I first have to stop constantly thinking about my own. Relationships are the greatest chance we get to practice God's love. He shows us how to be slow to anger and quick to listen, have patience when we want to scream, and how to love without fear. I will soon be thrown (happily launched, of course) into a world where I am a part of a man's everyday life. My prayer is that I compliment Matthew, through encouragement, support, and self-sacrificial love.

Unfortunately, you cannot purchase it online, but you can call 713-365-2317. Thats the Second Baptist Bookstore, they said they can send it to you!

Laughter is Medicine to the Soul

When I walked out the door I was foggy-headed and heavy-eyed. I grabbed my gear and walked down the stairs, hearing the sad cries of my whimpering pup in the background, and drove to downtown Houston. I had to snap out of it cause the engagement session was about to start!

Amanda and Ric were both filled with such kindness and they made me laugh. Laughter is such a missed art. It lifts the soul and restores energy to the heart.

As I came home, I walked through the same door I had trudged through before with a pep-in-my-step. I felt GIDDY from the session. Matthew made some comment about how I was acting like a little girl, and he found it endearing because he knew that I was finding fulfillment in what I was doing. I believe that when God gives you a gift and you use it to the best that you can for Him, this is the feeling He grants you. You feel like a kid again.