Add a +1 to the Family

I have the fever.... the kind that drives my husband NUTS.... puppy fever!!!

In my heart I feel that the Stricklin's are one mut short. I love little Marlie to pieces, but there's something inside me that says...."there's more to come." With big watery eyes I begged Matt to take me to the pound today so we could rescue our new pup, but he was like a stone. A rugged, cold, stubborn stone. In time, I will smooth out those edges and convince him though. At least that's what I tell myself.

The next dog will be BIG. I've always grown up around big dogs (we've had 5!). Since I now feel that God is leading me to pursue photography full time, I'm alone by myself a lot during the day... I want some more company and protection around here!

Raw vs. Jpeg.

After one solid year of fighting it.... I'm a believer.
The battle has been won folks, and RAW gets the medal of honor.

Matt has been begging me to switch to RAW forever and a day but I'm stubborn.
So today it was on...we went outside and I triumphantly rooted for my Jpeg team, convinced that it is was indeed the best. I had it in the bag. We raced upstairs to compare the results.

The evidence is here for the viewing.

***When I loaded the RAW image, a box popped up with all the ways to adjust the photo - curves, shadows, saturation, etc. I was able to do it all in about 1 minute. Usually it takes me a long time to fix a picture because I spend so long picking out the "perfect formula" of actions. So simple, I wish I would've listened sooner!

The Next D. Wade

Matt has a crazy Dwayne Wade dunk. I mean we're talking crrrrrazy vertical.
i love my gym class hero.

I played with ISO at Matt's game tonight. I'm still learning so much! I have the eye, and Matthew has the mechanic brain. We make a good team! So, basically I'm trying to get down-to-basics before I get my 5D. I CANT WAIT.

Happy LOVE Day.

Happy Valentines Day everyone. I hope you spread some L.O.V.E!
Here's some sweet gifts I received....my 2nd Valentine's to have someone special to share it with :)

I dont want the guy who buys me fancy roses....
I want the guy who picks wildflowers.
I dont want the guy who quotes famous poets...
I want the guy who tells me I'm beautiful just because I'm me.
I dont want the guy who will only dance with me when nobody is watching...
I want the guy who dances with me down the grocery aisle.
I dont want the guy who I have to worry about being unfaithful...
I want the guy who could never dare to lose me.
I dont want the guy who feels that I am so lucky to have him...
I want the guy who feels he is lucky to have me.
I dont want the guy who sees me as a question mark...
I want the guy who makes me a period.

MATT~
I wrote this before I met you and little did I know that the man of my dreams would meet ALL these things and so much more. XOXO

Great Expectations

I was headed on my usual path home, but i got lost in the music... I took a hasty right turn into a neighborhood filled with crisply polished lawns and 3-car garages. While in college, during a thoughtful night I would drive way out into the country and let my mind wander freely.
.......What type of family lives in that refined white house? Do they love each other? ........Is their life similar to how they expected it would be?
I found a warming comfort in the feeling of the chilling air running through my car as it chased out sound waves of music. Dreaming is medicine for my soul.

Is my life all that I expected it to be? Most certainly not. Do I often feel trapped by the burden of doubt or anticipation? Of course, new beginnings will do that to you. I've come to the conclusion that the burden of doubt is mostly a result of expectations. I commonly use expectations as an excuse for self-preservation. If I expect the worst....I take no risk. If I expect the best, I could be in for a series of let-downs. Where is the safe realm of expectations? More importantly, what are we allowed to expect from humans without turning out disappointed at the end of the day?

Maybe God has laid this on my heart to reveal that when we expect from others, we forget to expect from ourselves. Suddenly the matters of our own heart are replaced by idealizations of what we believe someone else should be doing. Leaps of faith are necessary, the result at the end is not the important part, but rather the journey to get there.

The only person holding the pen to write the script of my life is God. I might try to scratch through some of the lines He has written every now and then, but ultimately the ending will take form exactly as the Author planned.

This is one thing I can expect.



I need to take a lesson from nature. This big guy doesn't seem to concern himself with worries or doubts. As Matthew 6 says, if God plans out the life of a bird, surely He cares for His own children.
*Credits for this beautiful bird shot go to Matt. He spotted him in the tree a few mornings ago and snapped it with our 70-200mm. :)

Raindrops on Roses, Whiskers on Kittens...

So maybe I'm no Julie Andrews.....here are a few of MY favorite things....


1. A recent read. Suspensful, bone-chilling, love story that is guaranteed to make you quietly exit the room to cry (bitter-sweet tears).

2. An instant RAVE: smells and tastes like vanilla ice cream goodness, my lips don't stick to Matt's and it actually LASTS! I wore Perfect Face Cosmetics at my wedding and have been wearing them since. Before, I was simply a mascara and moisturizer girl.....not anymore! (pictured: Lexa + Beehive)

3. My little pup Marlie, who will be the big ONE years old next month. The neighborhood pooches are already getting together a wild kegger to celebrate. Ok, not really.



4. ROCKBAND!!! This is my so-hot-right-now character, named Ella Gray. A girl can dream, ok?! And yes, I designed her asymmetrical bob. The best part is you get to go rockstar shopping after performing. Ohhhh yeah.

Matt's has split personalities: his drummer is Ryder an emo dude. The Guitarist is covered in tats and dreads, his name is Lex.



5. My husband's bootyliscious Rock n' Republics! What?? I can say that now. we're married! :)



What is your new favorite gadget/accessory?

Loving Equally

I'm thinking twice about my judgments...my critiques and barriers I put up against people. The Heavenly Father isn't selective with who He loves, so why do I think I have the right to be?

After spending so much time trying to perfect myself and it is only in my inability to do so that I've found true freedom. It's a daily challenge to humbly serve - to love the least. During Jesus' 33 years on earth, He didn't find the most well-respected, non-annoying, rich individuals - He found the lame. The lepers laying at the end of dark allies. The woman whose bedroom was consistently occupied by lust-hungry men. The conning traders and thieves. He found the least and accepted them as his adopted sons and daughters.

"The KING replied, "Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for Me." -Matthew 25:40




***This is a picture of my best friend Beth's fiance. It may seem random, but it just ties in with my daily thought process.....she always pictured herself being whisked away by some indie-music loving, free-spirited kinda lad. Instead, the Lord brought her Jacob, a kind-hearted good ole' country boy. If she had judged him initially, she would've missed the man of her dreams. A girl's gotta love a cowboy :)

Are You Ready for Some Football?!?!!

I'm pretty neutral on who wins this time around. Once the Cowboys lost, I was spent. We are the 4th youngest team, though, so we claim our victory! Even though I am NOT a fan of the Giants, I do tend to root for the underdogs! And, I think Brady has had his glory...I mean come on, who gets to win the superbowl, be undefeated, and date Gisele Bundchen!!? He's livin' la vita loca!

WHO WILL IT BE???



The country boy with the football gene.....



The GQ ladies man.......





???
Enjoy your chili, queso, and whatever other Superbowl comfort foods you munch on!

And the Award Goes To.........

It was hard for Matt to narrow down the winner. At one point, he even felt defeat....claiming he just "couldn't take the pressure." He kept coming in and saying "Which ones are your top 3???" I gave him NO help. After much contemplation, the award goes to..............




.....drumroll, please............



ASHLEY & JEREMY PARSONS!!!
"Dude, where's the bride? Did she get cold feet?" I love it, the two sidekicks do look like little penguin groomsmen in their tuxes.

Congrats you guys! Email me at rachelbrooke@gmail.com with your choice of sticky note design!