Monday, June 27, 2011

Summer thus far...

Sorry for the 2 week unplanned sabbatical. Summer is among us and heck, I'm so busy with my biz and family events that I haven't been taking pictures of my own little ladies much.  It happens every summer. 

***Last weekend I shot a wedding.  Never in my DREAMS did I ever imagine weddings being in my business plan.  I tried one last summer.  Loved it but didn't so much love that my hard drive on my computer crashed when I loaded 1,000 pictures on it when I got home.  Then we left for a cruise the next day with me fretting about what we were going to do about a new computer!  We picked up another computer when we returned home but yeah, that is why I didn't want to do weddings.. the extra stress of the most important day in someone's life.  And seriously.. the pictures are a pretty big deal of remembering that said wedding.  Anywho, when one of my former gymnasts contacted me to do her indoor wedding I decided I'd try another one since she is so special to me. Hired one of my super good friends, Amanda, to 2nd shoot with me and the day went so, so well. I enjoyed it, Sarah loved the pictures and my hard drive didn't take a dive. Amen.

Amanda caught these pictures of me in action. Bossing around the bride and groom, yo. =)


Amanda and I have another 2 weddings this summer (where I will act as her 2nd shooter) and I have another one in September for my photographer mentor's daughter. 

After this summer I'll completely decide if weddings will be permanently added to my list of services. =)

And speaking of my business.. I made a little announcement today.  Yep.. booked through 2011.
CRAZY, I know!  Yesterday's sermon really touched me.. it was about our work ethic and how we are to work for God and not man. It really gave me a peace to stop booking at this point (booked up through October 22nd.. due date is Nov 14th) because my family is first priority. I'm also going to take a 3 month maternity leave except for babies in my baby package.  I love my business but I love my family more.  It's time to take a break and give them my complete attention.

**One thing that REALLY doesn't usually happen in the summer is me reading.  I picked up this book the other day and man, what amazing truths are in this book! 


This is a highlighter-by-the-bedstand read. 
No joke. 
I could just about highlight the entire book it's that profound. Some of my favorite quotes thus far are: 

(pg 16) With Jesus, if we want to gain, we must give up. 
If we want to be filled, we must deny ourselves.
If we want to truly get close to God, we'll have to distance ourselves from other things. 

(Pg 16) We must ask God for the DESIRE to be healthy. Shallow desires produce shallow efforts. 

(pg 20) We crave what we eat. 

(pg 24) Truth is powerful. The more saturated we are with the truth, the more powerful we'll be in resisting temptations. 

(pg 24) Everything is permissible.. but not everything is beneficial. (1 Corinthians 10:23)

(pg 29) God never intended for us to want anything more than we want Him. 

(pg 35) We want the results but we have no desire to put in the work that is required.

(pg 74) We can be victorious.  We can step on the scale and accept the numbers for what they are.. an indication of what our body weighs - not an indication of our self worth.

Ok.. just a few little snip-its of what is in that book. 
Amazing. 
Such good things to read as I'm on the gain-train being pregnant and all.  I read 80 pages last night and then had a dream about mashed potatoes. 


Seriously. 


#satanisajerk#


It's gunna one of those books that I read over and over again. Looks like I'm going to have to!!


***
Baby H #3 will be using clothe diapers.  We aren't the greenest people around but as you know we do like to save a buck or two!  When we realized how much money we'd save over 2 years of buying diapers.. we were sold.  We have this cool local company, Diaper HQ, that lets you try the diapers before you buy them. It was good to figure out which ones we liked and which ones didn't hold in Joya's corn-on-the-cob-poop-thru-a-screen-door poo. =/  



That was a fun diaper change that kinda turned me off to the whole idea but Darin feels strongly that it's the way to go so we're doing it. 


We're gunna put in our order once we know if we'll be buying green and blue or girlie colored ones!  I think we're doing Bumgenius and Flips.

*** 
And I can't leave you without pictures of the ladies!  It's been cool the last week but we've managed some pool and beach days.  Here are the girls on Saturday at grandma's pool...


Cousin Zeke...

Daddy and Joya...

Miss Chloe Jem...

***Adie is full out riding her bike without training wheels. She even talked her babysitter last weekend into lettting her ride to the park in town.  1/2 mile away.. twice in the day.  No fear that girl has..

And Joya is as spunky as ever.  Just about chose "The Strong Willed Child" by James Dobson at the bookstore on Saturday instead of my crave book. That girl is going to know exactly what she does and doesn't want when she grows up.. we're just trying our hardest to channel that strong will in the right direction! Good thing Darin's home this summer to help!  It's definitely taking both of us to stand our ground!  But man is she a sweet girl. She'll come up to Darin and I and just plant a kiss on us or give us a hug out of the blue.  This is after she's been in time-out for the 3rd time because she's hit her sister 3 times in a row. 

6 comments:

a.tonagel said...

I want to see the other pics I took of you! You are denying all of your readers hilarious posing! :) Shame on you!
Also... just tried to comment on your other blog but it kicked me off.
Good for you for saying no to more comittments and you won't ever regret it!
a

darcy said...

Pretty sure you are the only one that will ever get the priveldge of seeing that picture, Amanda! Bet you wished you kept that memory card!!!

Anonymous said...

First of all, I love looking at your photography blog and happened to stumble across this blog. I was at Steven and sarah's wedding and watched you more than I did the wedding. Shhh...don't tell anyone. :). I love taking pics and scrapbooking and just recently took a photography class so I was interested to see a photographer in action. Anyway, you do a fabulous job!

I also have a very strong willed child. I highly recommend the book entitled Shepherding a Child's Heart. It's biblically based and gave me great insight and practical ways to channel their strong will. You should check it out!

Anonymous said...

it always saddens me when I hear prego women talking negative about gaining weight during pregnancy. this is god's design....praying you have peace with that...as you hardly overweight and look wonderful with your growing belly...maybe time to talk to a professional about those linger food issues...peace and prayers to you!

alayna

ps; i know you get offended easily and this is no way meant in that tone...

Unknown said...

I have the Strong WIlled Child if you would like to borrow it. I totally need to read the book that you are reading right now. I woke up reflecting on the quote," you crave what you eat." You have been on my heart lately so just know that I am praying for you. And awesome listening to the Lord's leading and obeying with your business. Hugs :)

Andrew and Denise said...

As we talked about on the phone, I read that book too. Let's face it as women we have some issue with food. Satan has know that from the beginning with Eve and the apple. It is a good read and does not talk as much about loosing weight as is does craving God instead of whatever-choc., food, exercise, diet coke, whatever.
I have also read Sheparding a child's heart and it is great too. I learned alot about what the Bible has to say about disciplining your child. Anyway, wish we could read more together!LAMY!