“What the enemy meant for EVIL, God meant for Good.”
Today started out with my alarm clock going off at 5:20am and of course I hit snooze until 5:44am and then hop in the shower and get ready for work. Well as I was gathering up my things to leave for the day of work….I get a text! A text from my friend Velma that says, I just called work and they said you are working today, what? really? I never got a phone call to tell me that I was called off for the day. Hmm….
He has plans for me today
So I called and yup, they made a mistake and was to call me off. So up the stairs I go and tell my husband that now he can get up and go to work early. He doesn’t have to worry about the kids today unless I get called into work. Which this time of year, he is praying that I don’t So anyways, here is hoping that my day goes a bit better. But hey…I did get some things accomplished around the house so far…. the dishes, laundry, breakfast, picked up, now to dust, windex, vacuum, clean bathrooms, sweep the kitchen floor as well as mop it! Just a few things on my to do list today! And if I don’t get it all done….I will enlist my little army to help out when they get home from school haha….
I just wanted to say that today I am stirring it up! I am stirring up the gifts that God has given me! So I want you to look at what God has placed in your hands today. What door of opportunity is there before you? Take a leap of faith and stir it up!
“There is great confidence in knowing that God will take the very things that you are going through and turn them around for your good and for His purpose.” (Romans 8:28)
“Kiss your life. Accept it, just as it is. Today. Now. So that those moments of happiness you’re waiting for don’t pass you by.”
I thought that I would share with you all my trip to Vegas this past summer. I thought that it might be appropriate since this week is WPPI in Vegas and a lot of my photographer friends are there soaking up lost of knowledge and cultivating their friendships. YES… I am jealous! And remember when I said that I was going to share with you all the GOOD, the BAD, and the UGLY! Well it is definitely fitting in this post and I will explain the details…
So we arrived to Vegas with my in-laws, and with my brother-in-law and sister-in-law and it was great, except our room wasn’t ready! No big deal, just gamble some more, right? The second day is where it gets CRAZY! You see…we eat breakfast and then go out to the pool and hang out. I did get a frozen margarita, but then all of a sudden….I wasn’t feeling the greatest! I kept saying that my stomach hurt! I walked to the bathroom, peed, washed my hands….splashed lots of water on myself and then walked back to where our seats were, but my crew had gotten up and were ready to go back to our rooms. I was seeing spots/white haze. I told my husband that I wasn’t feeling well and that I felt like I was going to pass out as I leaned up against a pillar. And YUP you guessed it! I passed out….I mean I was out cold! Luckily my husband caught me and put me to the ground. The medics came. My brother-in-law says my husband was scared to death! When I came alert again, all I could say was that I kept hearing someone calling my name! My husband evidently was smacking my face and calling my name. Then I drank some water! Got to love that. So the medics thought that I was dehydrated from the desert sun/heat! AND to TOP it all off…MY HUSBAND says, we laugh at people that do this on the show Party at the Hard Rock! Thanks a lot right? So I went back to the hotel and took a bit of a nap! That day I will never forget, CRAZINESS!
The next day I got to meet a lovely photographer Memoree Barrett. She was there from Texas with her husband. So we met up for lunch. It was great to finally meet in person. Got to love that face to face connection!
So that is my Vegas trip in a nutshell and NO we did not come home with BIG winnings, just a great memorable story:)
“There is power in prayer. When men work, they work. but when men pray, God works.”~Angus Buchan, Faith Like Potatoes: The Story of a Farmer Who Risked Everything for God
Today is Fun Friday..
And I had a hard time finding something that I wanted to share and then it dawned on me, share this amazing story of a Farmer who risked everything for GOD!
I have watched this video a couple of times now and all I can say is WOW! It is a great movie…I believe that YOU should watch it and you will be enlightened. It is based on a TRUE STORY and you know I am a sucker for TRUE stories. So go ahead and watch it and then come back and tell me what you think of the movie! I know you won’t be disappointed! P.S. Bring your tissues
“We contend that for a nation to try to tax itself into prosperity is like a man standing in a bucket and trying to lift himself up by the handle”~Winston Churchill
I wish I would have know a little bit more about the dreaded thing called TAXES! I know my husband is a CPA, but the last thing that he wants to do is HELP me after he is done with work. Especially during his BUSY season! So I did purchase Quickbooks a couple of years ago, but I still don’t fully understand it. You see I have watched tutorials online and YUP…still don’t get it! So I want to tell you about this amazing program that I invested in just recently that is fairly simple… It is called PIXIFI! It is created for photographers/videographers/small business owners. It is super easy to input your income/expenses. Now the BEST advice I can tell you is to keep it up to date! Because if you don’t you will have a mess. And remember YOU are running a business. Yes…not a HOBBY, but a BUSINESS! So my business goal this year is to actually make some money for my family and I to go on more trips together! You know my most prized possessions are my children:) So you really should invest in the program PIXIFI if you are contemplating something to keep your business in order! It even let’s you send online contracts for your clients to sign! How awesome is that in this world of technology? So get yourself together and all in order with PIXIFI and an AWESOME TAX ACCOUNTANT! You won’t regret it come January. I promise…
“Orginality implies being bold enough to go beyond accepted norms.”~Anthony Storr
I know I am a bit behind in my blogging…I was busy running errands yesterday and poof the day just went by in a flash! So today I will just put this out there that you should BE BOLD on your wedding day. If you want to wear some amazing RED, PURPLE, GREEN, HOT PINK shoes then by all means DO IT! Be YOU…BE UNIQUE. Back when I was getting married…wearing white was the only option, well I guess I could have worn another color, but that just was TABOO! But THANKS to whomever made the statement and was BOLD enough for change! Happy Wedding Planning!
“It is better to have less of what doesn’t matter and more of what does.”
So this past Sunday…
I got the chance to sit and watch some recorded sermons from The Church of the Highlands. And let me tell you…the two that I watched were phenomenal!
So today’s lesson this Valentine’s Day is that LESS can actually be more. You see…. YES in the beginning of my LOVE AFFAIR with Brint, he would shower me with lots of gifts and flowers, but today…not so much. He knows that less is more to me. I would rather spend the money on something else that matters…our home, children, cars, pool, vacations, etc. You get my point, right? We don’t buy each other gifts for holidays, because we would rather spend time together and that is what matters most!
“It is better one handful with tranquility than two handfuls with toil and chasing after the wind.” Eclesiastes 4:6 This quote from the Bible hit home to me on Sunday! Why do we live in a world that NEEDS more? And does MORE really matter in the end? Our time making our relationships on Earth here is what really matters the most. And spending that time with our family and friends is what really counts!!!
Ask yourself WHAT REALLY MATTERS MOST TO YOU?
You must LET GO of what really doesn’t matter. And FIGHT for what does matter!
You see I want to be that one handful person. So today I vow to change. I will cut back, turn off, and throw away the things that don’t really matter!
I barely watch TV, so when I saw this trailer yesterday on facebook…I was so obsessed! I am going to have to make a date with my husband and watch this! He may kick and scream because he isn’t a fan of chick flicks at all, but this is something much more than that!
I couldn’t even imagine if this tragic event happened in my life. I mean how difficult would it be to LOVE someone that you totally do not remember at all? And how could my husband be so strong to stick by and be so determined to make me LOVE him all over again?
I mean it could represent someone going through a difficult time in their marriage and needing a second chance to love their spouse again, right?
All I am saying is that after I watch the movie…I will give you my opinion, but for now…
Don’t take each day for granted, for who knows what tomorrow will bring!
“Whatever they grow up to be, they are still our children, and the one most important of all the things we can give to them is unconditional love. Not a love that depends on anything at all except that they are our children.” ~Rosaleen Dickson“
Today my daughter was sitting on my lap and wanted to see some pictures from our family vacation to Myrtle Beach this past summer. And it dawned on me that I have never blogged about our wonderful family trip. It was our first family trip that we drove anywhere. That in itself was an experience, but the kids enjoyed it and overall they were really good.
I remember being a child and driving to Georgia, Florida, and to Niles, Ohio many times. It is just something that as a child we all need to experience.
As we were driving though, my husband and I said….boy what did we used to do back in the day where there were only maps and no GPS to get us from point A to B? We are definitely spoiled. We did go to Myrtle Beach one way and home another, but hey we managed and got home safe and sound.
On our trip the kids liked the beach but LOVED the lazy river pool at the Anderson Ocean Club and Spa. I guess they didn’t like the feel of the sand??? Really! The boys went shark tooth hunting and found lots thanks to the Children’s Activity Guys.
We didn’t really explore much of Myrtle Beach….just enjoyed the sun, and family time mostly at the resort. Which to me and my husband meant the world. I know that the kids will definitely remember this for a lifetime and I am truly THANKFUL for the time together!
“Love is a symbol of eternity. It wipes out all sense of time, destroying all memory of a beginning and all fear of an end.” ~Author Unknown
What a beautiful day it was on Saturday! I got the opportunity to photograph Billy & Emily’s wedding day. You see…. Emily and her sister have babysat for me over the past 8 years. Yup, they are my neighbors and I could not have been more honored when Emily asked me to photograph her wedding day!
The day could not have been more perfect. And you could tell that the two of them were well loved by all their family and friends.
As Emily came down the aisle, arm in arm with her dad….Billy smiled and stared at her. She was stunning.
They are starting an incredible life together and are so blessed. I hope that marriage treats you two well. Have fun on your Southern Caribbean cruise!
And one of my favorites….Emily & her dad! His smile says it all!
Here you will find my most recent and favorite photos from my current shoots. I will also update ya with some personal stuff too! Keep coming back to view my work and my personal life. GOD BLESS and ENJOY!
So anyways, here is hoping that my day goes a bit better. But hey…I did get some things accomplished around the house so far…. the dishes, laundry, breakfast, picked up, now to dust, windex, vacuum, clean bathrooms, sweep the kitchen floor as well as mop it! Just a few things on my to do list today! And if I don’t get it all done….I will enlist my little army to help out when they get home from school 
Not feeling the greatest!
