Creativity...

is something I pray for before each session I have with my clients. You see...this whole photography thing is SO not me! :) I can remember my friend Sara M. from Bethany telling me that she prayed before each singing "performance" she gave at church for God to just "sing through her"...I thought "wow!" because she is really talented and has such a beautiful voice! She mentioned something about little formal training (I think) and how she was amazed at how her voice sounded when she would sing up on stage before the congregation. (Glory to God!) Well...I finally understand what she meant!!! Before my photo sessions I pray each time that God...the Heavenly and Almighty Creator of this beautiful Earth...of everything and everyone in it would just impart to me even a small sliver of His creativity...that I may glorify Him, His name, and His gift to me of this talent to help serve/bless my family financially and serve/bless others in capturing their priceless and precious moments for a lifetime for them. Here is a little something I am working on as a result of the inspiration of so many other photographers that I have the opportunity to learn from - I LOVE THE INTERNET! ...enjoy!



It also made me think of these verses which goes along with our current little "journey" in moving up here to the Chicago area and Ryan with work etc....:)
"And why do you worry about clothes? See how the lilies of the field grow. They do not labor or spin. Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you, O you of little faith?" Matthew 6:28-30

Here they are!

Praise the Lord! This past weekend I had the priviledge of working/playing with 6 beautiful families and their beautiful children. Thank you to all and enjoy!

Nothing like....

that "fresh cut grass" smell! (I guess unless you have allergies!) These pics really make me think of it! Yankee Candle should make a "fresh cut grass" smelling candle! Sneak peeks of this past weekend are coming soon, I promise! In fact they will be the next post!

My sister...my friend..isn't she gorgeous!?!?

We have been so blessed to walk this mommy road together that last couple of years. There is perhaps nothing sweeter as a woman/friend than sharing all your pregnancy and mommy moments with someone special...a confidant...a ya-ya...especially when that someone is your sister. :) So here she is! My sister, Lucie, and her beautiful twins. They are one year old now, running around everywhere, and eating their weight in macaroni and cheese ;)... but I wanted to post these older pics for you to see...they are such a joy and DOUBLE the blessing for sure!! Need to get some new ones!!

Freshly picked!

I love spring!! Flowers make me smile...and so do these adorable little cuties! Enjoy!

April showers bring...

Babies!!! I seriously know 7 women off the top of my head that are pregnant right now!! Praise God for these precious little miracles that are soon to enter this big world!! I picked a couple (okay I stopped at 5!!) of my favorite pictures from this session of my friend J and his wife E. J and I go way back to early childhood when we used to play G.I Joe, Dukes of Hazzard, and softball in front of the house on the sidewalk. This was usually the main event in the summers as we grew up only two houses away from each other! Well, I went to their baby shower today and it was so great....I love baby showers!! (Too bad my house is FULL of baby things and I could hardly think of ANY for the baby item fill in the blank game!! Why IS that?!?!?!?) :) Thank you both for the opportunity to take these beautiful pictures. You are gorgeous together! I can't wait to meet this little guy!

Couldn't wait...

To add these pics. They are from previous shoots, but Iwon't have more 'fresh' material until next week. Also, being so warm outside...I was reminded of an outdoor shoot with one of my good friends and her beautiful family. Praise God for His creation!! For beautiful people AND beautiful scenery.

And here is a new one from today...a bush/small tree outside by our deck. Obviously I don't know my plants etc. very well, but that's okay! Yay spring!!!

My new backdrops....

ARE AWESOME!!! As you can see I had to test them out right away. Here is Caleb with the sky blue and just so you know it cost 1 lollipop for this session :) I had read another photographer's blog and she commented on how the session for that day of her daughter cost a quarter and some "pink" gum and I thought hmmm..."my kids will and should do it because I want them to etc. etc...." and so this morning when I was thinking about setting up for a shoot I said to C "let's get dressed and take some pictures, Mommy needs you etc. " and he just lay there on the couch with the sweetest face and said, "but Mom, I want to finish watching my John Deere moobie"...and I said...."you can have a lollipop if you help Mommy with her pictures!"....and he immediately got off the couch and let me dress him as he told me that he wanted a "green and yellow lollipop AND for his BearBears to be in the pictures too".....so here you have it.....lollipops, BearBears, and a sky blue backdrop. (By the way we believe there is a certain time and place for payment (okay bribery) with children...and photo shoots are definitely legal!!!!) :)

Can you guess who this is?

Spring is here and I had to try my new flower hat and flower pot props!!! Ryan keeps telling me that our boys are going to need therapy when they are older. I hope he's wrong! I needed a 6 mth old model!! ( I think he's even older here, but he still fit into the pot!)

Please forgive me little B...you are too cute!