“When life throws you a rainy day, play in the puddles.”
-Pooh Bear
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My favorite place to take photos of my kids is where EVER they are playing!
For us, that usually means the front yard!
Rayna’s gotten some great deals at yard-sales, but this bow-and-arrow set is probably one of her favorite finds! 
Rayna’s doing really well using my “big” camera!
My shutter speed was WAY off (because Rusty is WAY too fast), but this picture still makes me smile!
Thanks, Ross, for the picture with my gals! (It’s so hard to get in front of the camera, but I MAKE myself because I want my kids to remember me being there too!)
If me or my crew ever have a chance to take a trip, we’ll ALWAYS say “YES!” Even better when our final destination includes cousins, aunts, uncles, grandparents and a beautiful backyard to enjoy!
Matthew’s the most talented dude I know!
Matthew’s dad sends out a Bible verse everyday, but before he does, he takes the time to pray for everyone he’s texting it to. I thought it was sweet seeing Ruthie praying with him before breakfast.
When Matthew and I made the difficult decision to leave everything to pursue a slower and more intentional life, I felt God leading me to also take a break from the ONE thing that had consistently filled me with happiness, self-worth, purpose and passion- my photography business. Selfishly, I worried all of these wonderful emotions I’d grown so attached to would now be hidden away- just away like my camera.
But not wanting my move to be in vain, as quickly as I left a “busy” in Georgia, I greeted Arkansas with an excitement to chase hard after what was most important to me. The next five years certainly had some hard days weeks months ‘times’, but I believe God richly honored my time of being still. During that time, Matthew and I navigated through deep emotions that we tried to bury after a season of depression. I joined a Bible study and discovered a new way to parent that, not only changed my relationship with my kids, it changed my heart as well.
But even more important than my relationship with Matthew and the kids, the BEST change that came from this season was me deciding to {finally} make God a priority by reading His Word and talking to Him every day. {Despite feeling overwhelmed at times, I’ve had the privilege of reading through the entire Bible three times already!} I quickly realized all my selfish emotions that I feared would be stored away on the bottom shelf were graciously replaced with joy, love and meaning that could only come from knowing God in a personal way.
Although I treasure my season of stillness, as I watch my youngest start kindergarten, I pray this new season and extra time will give me the opportunity to, once again, pursue my passion- documenting children’s lives through photography. (Yes… I am EXCITED!)
Here’s a few sneak peeks for a family that is so special to me!
Jamie– I hope you enjoy! I can’t wait to share ALL of them with you today!
Normally, when my sister and I talk on the phone every day, our conversations are usually centered around something we’re cooking, somewhere we’re going or something too immature to share with anyone else. But there WAS one particular phone call with Hannah almost two years ago that I will ALWAYS remember.
I asked her how her weekend was and, in a tone I hadn’t heard in a long time, she did her best to explain the incredible blessings God had so graciously given to her on that particular day.
Before the pastor’s message on the Sanctity of Life that morning, her extended family filled-up the seats to celebrate Parker’s public decision to be baptized. After enjoying some comfort food with everyone they loved, out-of-town family said goodbye and her husband took off as well for time with his mentors in the church. She thought the day was already “perfect,” but God had ONE more surprise for her.
Already soaking in all the many blessings, a ‘(+)/(-) Test’ revealed on that same night that God was saving the BEST surprise for LAST! Parker, Hannah and Jason were finally getting the baby they’d all been praying for!
But during a routine prenatal appointment, Hannah received lab results that indicated her baby was at risk for a rare, life-threatening disorder. So for the remaining weeks of her pregnancy, we all prayed and prayed for God’s intervention. ‘Grandmama’ (our grandmother) said she’s never prayed for anything more than she prayed for Naomi during that difficult time. Ironically enough, I know many of her prayers were said as she looked-out over the very spot in her backyard where Naomi played in the water during one of my last nights in Georgia.
God not only chose to give my sister a healthy, little girl, He added an incredibly sweet temperament and some major-cuteness as well!
1 Thessalonians 5:18
Cohen, my sweet cousin, turned 1 year old! I was so happy to get to celebrate his special day with him and our family! 
Although I didn’t recognize the number when my phone rang, I certainly knew the familiar area code. When I answered, a very nice man explained that all his wife wanted for Mother’s Day was for him to call me and arrange a photo session when I came back to Georgia. (I told him that was ALSO all I wanted for Mother’s Day as well!)
I’m so glad Tieg gave his sweet wife, Melissa, what she wanted! As a result, I was the lucky one who got to document their family!
