Oh Baby!

What a blessing it is that though I'm far past the age of bearing and raising babies, I still have many opportunities to cuddle, snuggle, and oh, yes, photograph beautiful babies!  Three days old or 14 months old... I love them all!  Here's a peek at my recent endeavors....

I love Bellies!

Some of my favorite sessions are maternity sessions.  Not only do I think pregnant mommies are beautiful, but the idea of the little person inside growing steadily with God's grace and knowing the joy that he/she will bring....ooooh!  Warm fuzzies all over the place!  Here are a few from my last maternity session with Deana and her sweet hubby AJ and their kids.

What I shot this week:

Baby Stella....

Is it Fall already? Oh my!

Oh my goodness, I have been a terrible blogger this fall!  I've been shooting like crazy, as well as taking care of my home and family.  But that's no excuse for abandoning the blog.  My goal is to post weekly photos, even if I don't have much to say verbally.  There's ALWAYS something to say in pictures, right?

And now I'm announcing my 2012 Holiday Mini Shoots! 

Just Joy...

I decided to read back over my blogs from these past few months, and it was really a fun read.  Embarrassing, too... as I realize I've shared alot about my clumsiness, my weaknesses, and struggles.  But I know the best way to be yourself is to be transparent.  That way no one is surprised when they REALLY get to know you, right?  LOL.  

As I was reading my heart swelled up a little with emotion... thinking about the fears and trials I've faced with my family these past few years.  The one unwaivering thing has been my faith that my God would get me through somehow and that He was still present and working on the "problems " in my life.  There were so many times that I didn't just mentally stomp my feet with impatience, but even physically did so (albeit in my bathroom all alone with the vent on so no one could hear me sobbing outloud and crying out! )... Inevitably, the peace of God would overcome me and settle my heart once again and I would KNOW that He heard me and would give me JUST ENOUGH patience to get through.  

This past March, my son finally called us... our family was reunited via the telephone and so much hurt has been healed.  What joy!  Unbeknownst to any of us, there were more trials to come... really big ones.  But now looking back, I can see that my faith has grown, my love for my family is stronger, and the joy in my heart is complete.  

In July, Nicholas came home for the first time in almost 5 years.  Wow.  I made an utter fool of myself at the airport.  I couldn't even photograph... My dear hubby shot video of the reunion, which I will NOT publicly post.  I don't even want to watch it again because it makes me cry all over again.  Actually I'm fighting tears right now just thinking about it!~  Yikes.  For two weeks we had quality family time, and we laughed, and talked and just hung out.  It was so nice just to have Nick's presence in our home again.  Was it all perfect?  No, of course not.... but it was imperfectly perfect.  Our family is made up of imperfect people, but God's love in us is perfect and we all love eachother with God's love.  

I know that none of us knows what the future holds, but we do know for sure that our God will not forsake or leave us.  He's proven himself over and over.  We know that He will give us just enough faith, patience and grace to get through any trials that we face.  Gads, I am so so thankful!!!  

As we face the next few months, with my two girls' boyfriends in Afghanistan, a wedding to plan, and other trials, any who are so inclined, we would welcome your prayers.  Please pray our guys come home safely (in December and January), and for the wedding to come together without a hitch, and for Nicholas to settle and enjoy his new home in Colorado Springs at Fort Carson.  

I'm attaching a few fun photos I was able to get while Nick was home... That was the fastest photo shoot I've ever done, but I'm thankful for what I got! 

Bless all of you, my friends... 

May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in hope.

Sunshine in the form of flowers...

I don't really have anything interesting to blog about.... but my amazingly sweet daughter brought home a bouquet of flowers and put them on my windowsill for me to wake up to on Wednesday morning.  She knows I find flower photography captivating and love practicing with my new 105mm Nikkor macro.  So I thought I would share my sunshine with you all... Enjoy....