My Life is Full

The evolution of Patton walking …. 

 It all started walking side to side in his crib.  He would do this a lot …. I guess thinking no one could see.  Fooled him.  

                     

  Then he finally started doing it more often.

And crawling up on sister's bed all the time … it is his favorite place to play.  If I can't figure out where he wandered off to, I know to look there!

And my heart is still with this ….

 Completely and utterly still.  They do love each other.  They adore each other.

My favorite thing about my photography business is the relationships I am blessed to make along the way.  This was a sweet gift that a bride gave ME … it was her day to be pampered and here she showered me with so much love.

 Last week was VBS, and although my kiddos are too young to be enrolled, helper's kids get to go!!  So for a whole week we loaded up and went to town everyday.  It was exhausting but so worth the memories we all got to make!

 To end the week off, we had dinner for our great friends (we claim them as family) 40th wedding anniversary.  Our preacher, who is my sister in laws father in law, and his wife are such a huge blessing in our life.  We are always included as family in events, and it warms my heart.  All the cousins are the best of friends.  Patton's swim shorts were too big on him, so we just went in basketball shorts to play in the water spouts down town.  

 While waiting for our supper, the kids enjoyed a dance party outside …. they have moves, so watch out.

 I finally get to see things from Kirby's world ….

 Tonight a sweet friend asked Kirby and another friend to spend the night with her girls.  Their sweet, sweet teacher from this year came over and read them night time stories.  How many momma's can say their teacher does that?  We are all so blessed to have Ms. Lissa in our lives.  I wish she could be their teacher for life!

 Today Kirby was at a gymnastics camp so momma and Patton got some quality one on one time.  I don't think he knew what to do with all the attention to himself!

"I've got all I've waited for …. and I could not ask for more."  Sarah Evans

You prepare a feast for me in the presence of my enemies. You honor me by anointing my head with oil. My cup overflows with blessings.  Psalm 23:5

Debt Free

What do those words mean to you?  Think them.  Meditate them.  Breathe them in and out.

Just recently (as in today) I made my very last student loan payment.  Those stinkers have been haunting me for way longer than I ever imagined when I first signed the dotted lines.  The relief, weight, and burden that was lifted off of my shoulders was amazing.  We were debt free except for the house.  I felt 30 lbs lighter.  I wanted to do a flip flop but decided I better not since I have a bride and groom counting on me for 12 hours of service tomorrow.

But that fact of weight being lifted off of me when I knew we were debt free struck me still.  Which got me to thinking (I am sure you just sighed and said "Oh great…that is dangerous") …. is this how we feel about knowing that our debt of sin has been paid for?  In full.  Nothing to fear.  It is done.  "When he had received the drink, Jesus said, "It is finished." With that, he bowed his head and gave up his spirit."  John 19:30

Did you catch that.  He "gave up his spirit" for you.  Completely.  You don't have to DO anything except accept his gift.  That gift he gave you means nothing unless you take it.  

Brother Bill hit an out of the ballpark homeroom with his message this past Sunday.  It was exactly what I and the people sharing pew sweat with me needed to hear.  I teared up over and over through the service, as if he was talking right to me.  It was all I could do not to literally "boohoo" during his closing prayer.  

You see, I accepted God's gracious gift of salvation nearly 23 years ago.  But I have not lived 23 years like a saved person at all.  Like all fallen people, I have had my moments of really bad choices and really good choices.  But I did not feel like those good choices were made because I knew God was calling me there.  It was just a choice and graciously God protected me in those choices.  It was not until about 7 years ago that I really, fully understood God's grace and that he wanted me to have it, for free.  It is not about following a law.  It is not about doing good.  It is not about being nice.  All of those things come (or should come - we should stand out from a non Christian in a positive way, not a "I'm going to beat you with this Bible" way) with being a Christian and having His fruit, but it's all about me being a sinner, saved by His grace.  It is done.  He paid my debt and I am free from the depths of hell and will one day serve my Risen Savior on streets paved in gold.  

"The rich rule over the poor, and the borrower is slave to the lender."  Proverbs 22:7

**Praise be to the most Gracious who brought us opportunity after opportunity to throw money at these debts!  I will post a whole Dave Ramsey Debt Free post one day … it is long and tiring, but we are so thankful that God led us to his program.

When you say yes

to things you don't love (or feel called to), you are ultimately saying no to the things and people you do love.  If you are a parent, really breathe that statement in.  I can not take full credit for the theory behind it.  An amazing mother, photographer, and business owner I took a class from said something along those lines in our boot camp.  Kelli France is the brains and brilliance behind  Chic Critique and I highly recommend you check her out.  You don't have to be a photog to "get her" and her goodness.  Do it.  It also came from the book I recommend you check out (ahheemmm, have you yet??)  Hands Free Mama will change your mindset for the better.  And she is a Christian so that rocks the ideas into my heart even more.

Which leads me to this post that I have been putting off writing.  But unless I write it, I am not sure I will put it 100% into practice.  So you now have a job.  Lucky you, you just thought you were surfing the net and catching up on the latest gossip in Cecil, Texas.  Nope, you now are asked to hold me accountable.  

Most of you know in August of 2011 I did not return back to teaching.  That was one of the hardest steps of faith I have ever had to take.  Moving to South Texas was nothing compared to that.  That was my JOB.  That was what I went to college for 4, excuse me 5 years for, and then trudged on to get my Masters and my principal certification.  Was I really called to be a stay at home mom when I had just done all that?  Jesus said, "yes, child, you are …"  Was I really called to leave my secure paycheck when I had $70,000 in student loans to pay off still?  "Worry not, my child, I will provide a way."  Ok … yes Father … I don't want to miss another day of my child's life.  Provide a way he did.  By the next January I was fully prepared and ready to take yet another step of faith, put myself out there for tons of criticism, and open up my own business as a photographer.  Again I heard, "Don't worry my child, I will provide the way.  Remember, you have plans but I direct your steps."  

Direct and provide he did … 2 1/2 years in and I am now having to take a huge step back.  By his supplying every step of the way, we have paid off that huge debt that was haunting me.  Oh how gracious a father we serve.  So, in order to step back, I am stepping out and specializing in Senior photography.  That is the only way I can fully control my business instead of it fully controlling me.  Last year I attempted to take on only 3-4 sessions a month.  I think I was successful with that 5 out of the 12 months.  It was a start though.  But every time I overbooked myself, it brought negativity with it in some form or fashion.  

Now do not get me wrong, I love all of my clients.  My family session BUILT my business.  They brought me so many referrals, which led to more and more seniors.  Seniors are my love, though.  I think it has so much to do with me being a high school teacher.  I miss the kids, I miss that age, and now I get to be a part of their next step.  I get to capture the closing of one chapter and the opening of another.  I also feel that senior shoots are what I am best at.  From my critical and photographer eyes, I notice everything wrong in a newborns picture, but then I see my seniors and I just grin ear to ear.  From the moment they inquire till the moment they open their package of prints, I just love every minute of it.  We click.  We get each other.  We make some good memories.  

Weddings …. oh how I do love weddings now.  However, they consume my life for about 3 months.  The 2 months leading up to the wedding I am a nut.  I still get sick to my stomach nervous, and I like to pamper my brides, so I put a lot of work into them.  Then for a month afterwards I am editing, designing albums, and a nut case until I hear back from the bride and groom to hear what they think.  I am just not a person you should be around.  

I have some stuff on the books already, so do not yell at me when you see me post pictures other than seniors.  This is something that I have been praying about and God has purposed in my heart.  I know this is the next step he is directing me to.

Maybe when Kirby and Patton are older and in school I will be able to add on more sessions again, but for now, I want to get to enjoy the process of motherhood.  I want to be in every moment, not just there.  I want my focus to be on Christ, my husband and my family … when I have too many irons in the fire, I lose sight of that.  I don't have time to volunteer at the church, or make an extra meal for a friend.  I don't have time drop what I am doing and go to Montgomery.  So, there it is … what you have all been waiting for.  I hope that you didn't lose any sleep over the wait.  

A little more goodness of what I am talking about:

This was sent to me from Kirby's teacher while I was away for 4 days at a workshop.  Be still.

 So I have to tell you a little bit about the day after I got home from my workshop …. Kirby and I ventured off to Corpus to do grocery shopping at my favorite store (an hour from home).  At first, our trip was just peachy … or rosy … or whatever kind of plant this is.  Do you spot the little friend that rode with us in our cart?

Well then about 1/2 way through the store, my sweet, precious, curly-toe headed little darling projectile vomited all over me.  In the middle of the store.  Actually on the cereal aisle.  And it just kept coming.  And I didn't know what to do.  Thankfully a nice man (the women scattered like mice) came up to me with a wad of paper towels he ran to get.  I wanted to hug him but he didn't receive the hug … possibly the smell.  Or the goo.

I rush through the rest of the store (hey, we live an hour away so I had to get this done) and get outside to this beauty. 

I hear you … you asked "oh my, what did you do?"  I laughed.  I hugged Kirby with all the gooey still on me with all my might and just laughed.  I thanked God we were alive and then called my knight in shinning farmer gear to come to the rescue.  I definitely limped over to nearest air hose, aired it up, then hobbled to the Starbucks across the street, found a tree to park under and waited.

And doll face napped….

That is what we think about the bug ….

then Patton got the bug 4 days later.  Eeeyy...

 My cousin Megan graduated after getting her PT Assistant degree …. so proud and it was great to see everyone!

 While there (again, we can never go anywhere without working) I got to take senior pictures of 2 kiddos that I babysat while growing up in Montgomery.  Madison graduated from Texas A&M and Mackenzie from Montgomery High School.  This family has been a huge part of my life and I am so blessed to have been a part of this.  This is what I love about making memories ...

 When I stay within the boundaries I know the Lord has called me to, there is more time for girl time!

 And Kirby showing her friends what farming is all about.

 And I get to be a part of things at Kirby's school … like the last day of school Splash Day!

 Some of you know that Kirby has had some tummy issues for awhile … technically it could go all the way back to birth.  Well, I finally decided to give a chiropractor a try.  Problem solved.  Amazing.  

 This is a terrible video, but I wanted to show you (some) proof that Patton is finally trying to walk.  Yes, he is 17 months old.  Yes, he is fine.  He is just lazy and momma does everything for him.  He had walked to the couch about 20 times and I finally decided to record it … 

 Patton loves you ...

 I am looking forward to more of this …. 

 and all these cookie jar moments that fill my heart.  

Thank you to each of you who have supported me in every step of my life.  Thank you for believing in me and encouraging me.  I look forward to getting to see more of you in person real soon.  

"In their hearts humans plan their course, but the LORD establishes their steps."  Proverbs 16:9

Take a look at these

and then you will get just a hint of what pulls my heart strings….

 This girl is just more than I can handle.  Her heart is so sincere, genuine, and spunky.  She definitely fits her name very well.  

 Does anyone want to guess who she spotted walking through the doors? 

 Her best friend cousin Anna Kate.  These two can see each other for hours, then be apart for a short time, and when they see each other again, they run and embrace like its been years.  I tear up every time.  They just really, really love each other.  

And then there is Riley, who she just admires and looks up to so much, can you tell in her eyes?

Do you get what I am saying … this girl does not just do, she cares about everything she does and everyone she meets or knows.  Some more cuteness overload from the actual recital follows ….

 Do you feel the attitude?

Roses from daddy … she came and showed me them and said, "Awwww, how thoughtful."  They now sit in a vase beside her bed.  

I am not sure when this happened.  When did she get old enough to not be scared to dance on stage?  Just a year and a half ago she boohooed her entire way through her Thanksgiving performance.  I love how she has so much of me and so much of CR in her.  Most of all, she has a whole lot of shine in her eyes and love in her heart.  I could not ask for more.  She may not know how to write all her letters and numbers, but darn it she knows how much Jesus loves her, and how much her family loves her.  That is all that matters at this point to me.  Which leads me into my next blog post, so stay tuned to when I get to sit down at 10:30 again … hopefully sometime soon.  

"Train up a child in the way he should go; even when he is old he will not depart from it."  Proverbs 22:6

Bliss

I could look at this all day.