Beauty Everywere

One of the many things that I love about photography is that you can find beauty anywhere...even in the most unsuspecting places.  Something that to our eyes may seem less than beautiful actually becomes really beautiful in pictures. 

My family always teases me when we are out driving around town to run errands and they hear me say, "That would be such a cool place to take pictures!"  From a distance it doesn't look like much, but up close it becomes a really cool backdrop. 

For example, last week during Jami's senior photo shoot, we had the fun of getting to take pictures at a friend's house out in the country. She told us all about the beautiful sunflowers.  If you don't remember, I am a Kansas girl, born and raised in Wichita, Kansas until the middle of my 7th grade year.  Kansas is the Sunflower state.  So, when I hear "sunflower field," my heart jumped for joy and my mind pictured gigantic, majestic sunflowers. 

This is what we saw when we arrived:

 No majestic sunflowers here...really they were weeds with beautiful flowers that resembled miniature sunflowers, and at first glance you might just write this field off...oh but I saw beauty and I was just beside myself with joy! 

 That's quite a field, isn't it?  Guess what I wore to the photo shoot?  Cropped jeans and my flip flops.  I couldn't see my feet as I walked through the fields.  Scary!  I kept saying, "Here snakey-snake!"  praying that I would not hear the awful sound of rattles.  Thankfully, the Lord protected us and we didn't see or hear one snake.  At one point, Jami screamed...so I screamed too and nearly jumped out of my skin.  Why did she scream?  A butterfly danced in front of her...Oiy!  I could have died!  And then we both cracked up laughing! 

You can find beauty even in old tires stacked up against a rusty fence:

Or in something rusted that use to hold hay for animals:

There is beauty everywhere...you just have to look for it. 

Spiritually, there is a lesson there too.  I'm thankful that God sees everything about us, even the weeds that we have allowed to take place in our heart, and still calls us the apple of His eye...our beauty is Jesus in us and He sees that too.  So, He is teaching me to see things as He sees them through the lens of my camera and I am loving these lessons and my adventures with Him!

Jacee's Sweet Sixteen Sneak Peak

This evening I had the blessing of photographing Jacee in celebration of her Sweet Sixteenth birthday!  We had a blast finding fun and unique photo spots around town and seeing how quickly she could change clothes in her mom's truck. The girl has some serious changing-clothes-in-a-moving truck-talent! 

We started at my house in a patch of sunflowers:   

 And we even stopped to ask a local farmer if we could take a few photos in his cotton field as he was busy at harvest.  He smiled and nodded his head yes.  The cotton was bursting at the seams in full bloom!

 And then I suggested a field that I have been wanting to take photos in.  I have to giggle a bit because it's not really a field, more like a patch of weeds, but I find it very magical.  Her mom brought along this beautiful yellow chair that belonged to her grandmother.  I love how it plays so beautifully against the dark green backdrop and the royal blue shirt. 

 And then we found a new favorite spot on the railroad tracks.  Jaycee had the coolest boots on for her photo shoot and I knew that I wanted to capture them in some photos. 

At our last stop the Lord had a special surpise in mind for all of us.  Downton there is an awesome rusted staircase that I have had my eye on for quite some time.  The sun was setting perfectly, so the light would not be too harsh and we decided to try taking pictures there.  Knowing that this building now belongs to someone, I was a bit hesitant, but decided to be brave anyway.  

Wouldn't you know, just as we were driving up the owner of the urban loft was arriving home after walking her dog.  I introduced myself to her and politely asked if we could use her staircase for a few photos.  Not only did she agree, but she invited us in to her AMAZING home!  I could have spent hours there.  Better Homes and Gardens needs to see this place.  Wow!  From the ultra cool antiques to the amazing wall treatments where the brick shows through patches of plaster, it was incredible!  

The ownern's name is "Peaches!"  Isn't that adorabe?!  She is evey bit as sweet as her name.  She showed us her magnificent home and balcony where I snapped this picture of Jacee.  It quickly became one of my faves.  Thank you, Peach, for inviting us in to your home and for inviting me back one day.  Delight!

Jacee, I hope that you enjoyed your Sweet Sixteen Sneak Peak!  I had so much fun running around town with you and your mom and your dad's dog, Cassie too! 



Textures are So Cool!

I learned a new technique in photoshop that I have been anxious to try.  It involves adding textures to photos.  I added a few textures to some of the pages in albums for clients recently but not on the actual portraits for framing.  I really, really like how they look!

The above picture is my original image and the image below is the same photo but with a texture added.  It gives the picture an entirely different look.

Here is another example.  Ya'll saw this on Friday for Jami's sneak peak.  I really like this photo.  The water, her blonde hair against the turquoise sky, the yellow flowers, and of course her pink tutu.

And here is the same photo with a little texture added to it. 

I know this grunge look isn't for every photo but it is so fun to do...and easy too!



Monday Musings

Good Morning ya'll and happy Monday!  It seems like I blinked and it was Friday and now here we are at Monday again.  We had a restful weekend...oh the joy!  It is not very often that we have time to just rest and relax but we soaked in every bit of the wonderful gift of rest.  Here is a bit of randomness on this Monday morning:

1.  Friday night I was back on the sidelines of our high school football game.  It was a little overcast and looking like any minute the clouds would burst with a downpour of rain.  My man was with my on the sidelines helping me guess what the quarterback would be doing next and showing me where to aim my camera and he was there with my waterproof bag just in case it started raining.  I love my man!  And because of him, I really am starting to love the game of football...go figure!  Here are a few of my pics from Friday night. 

 Touch down!  We won and we are now 5 and 0!

I became a very brave girl Friday night...wore my big girl panties and everything.  Ha!  I stood right in the middle as the boys flew past me to run on the field.  I snapped several pictures thinking to myself that I was being so brave and thankful that they didn't plow their computer teacher to the ground.  Several smiled at me as they came within a foot of me and my camera.  This is the only somewhat clear picture, and even then it is not the best, apparently in my bravery I shook my camera little. 

 Here is our Rachel leading the band.  Go Rachel!

Fun memories to last.  I have used my photos to create slide shows from all of the varsity games this year and I post them on our school's website, yes I get to design and maintain that site too.  The word is making its way around school about the slide show and several of the football boys come to my classroom first thing on Monday mornings to see if the new slide show is up.  I love that.

2.  I was suppose to have a newborn photo shoot Saturday afternoon and a sixteenth birthday photo shoot that evening.  The baby has an eye infection so we had to postpone and the downpour came Saturday afternoon so we postponed the evening photo shoot to sometime this week.  We found ourselves with more time to rest then we had planned and that was such a blessing!

3.  We have a youth minister!!!!!  Woo hoo!  After 2 LONG years the Lord opened the door in a way that we never could have even dreamed and He blessed and blessed!  We are so thrilled to Have J and R and their little cutie pie daughter back at our church.  We are thankful that we didn't leave the church that we love so dearly, the church where my dad is the pastor, and that he brought J & R back to our church.  Rachel fully believes after such a difficult two years with an interim youth minister, that this is God's gift to her...and she is right...but we all are embracing the gift too.

4.  My awesome IPAD won't boot up so they are overnighting a new one.  Sometimes it is a good thing to purchase the extra protection package.

5.  I have my in-class teacher observation today.  Please, pray for me around 9:45 if you think about it.

6.  Baylor beat Rice.  Yes they did!  We are tired of being the doormat for the big 12 conference.  Sic 'em bears!

7.  I am just beside myself on this last one!  We may have the awesome privilege of going to the Holy Land next spring with my parents and a group from our church.  I'm crying as I type this.  The thought of being able to walk where Jesus walked with our 3 generations fills my heart to overflowing.  The only obstacle seems to be that I  have to work out the details at school.  Please, pray with me that if this is God's desire for our family, that it will all work out with my position at school and that the missed days would not be an issue.  I am blessed to work for a Godly principal and superintendent so I am praying that God has already gone ahead of me and that this would not be the obstacle that keeps us from going. 

Okay, enough with the randoms,  Ya'll have a blessed day!

Jami's Sneak Peak {Senior Photo Shoot}

Last night I had the blessing of photographing Jami for her senior pictures!  We have known her since Kindergarten and this year, she is one of my Senior Reps at our local high school. Jami  is BUSY, busy but we finally found the perfect time to do her senior photo shoot.  The Lord blessed us with a beautiful evening in a really cool location. 

Jami, the Lord has big plans for your life.  Stay close to Him and He will bless you!

I fell in with this old bench.  We dragged it with us everywhere!

You have to love a girl in a tutu...even a beautiful senior girl in a tutu!  Jami is the one that hosted the epic Toga party I told ya'll about last week.  Isn't she beautiful?!

And her mom, one of my co-workers and friend, joined her baby girl for a few photos too.  I love the reflection!

I have 300 other photos of this blond beauty, but I better get ready for school 'cause I can't go in my pjs.  Ya'll have a blessed day!

Look out Little Doves...

...it's officially dove season around here and the hunters are ready!  After the homecoming festivities on Friday night, it was time for cross country early Saturday morning.  Hannah had to be at school to catch the bus at 6:15.  We followed about 45 minutes later in our suburban.  Mr. Incredible knew that I would want a special early morning treat so we stopped by Starbucks on the way to the meet. 

And the most delicious Pumpkin Spice Latte filled my heart with delight!  It was g-o-o-d!!!!  We shared a cranberry scone and he drank tea.  Even though it was early, I loved traveling with my man.  It was a rare chance for us to get caught up on each other's week.  We talked and sang and laughed all the way to the track meet.

We arrived with several other parents and grandparents, scanned the crowd, and spotted our baby girl.  She announced that the race was 3 miles instead of 2 and her friends giggled...the coach was pulling her leg and she didn't know it.  But, she figured it out very quickly and cracked up laughing.  The coaches were bribing the girls with Krispy Creme donuts if they finished in the top 50. 

Hannah finished in 48th place out of over 100 girls and we were so proud of her!  She told us that she shaved several minutes off of her time from the week before and that is quite a feat.  It is always so fun to cheer for the girls as they run past the crowd but my heart was overwhelmed with gratitude early Saturday morning because several parents were hollering for Hannah to finish the race strong and she heard all of us and really finished well.

After the race, she was starved, so we took her out to eat at the local Cracker Barrel with everyone else in town in seemed.  Across the street was Academy Sports so we stopped there on our way home too so that she and her daddy could get their hunting licenses.  Because they had a date that evening with a few shotguns and some unlucky birds.

Mr. Incredible proudly bought Hannah some new camo this year:

I think they only saw one dove so they shot the sides out of a Sonic cup instead.  No, Rachel and I didn't do that kind of hunting, we went hunting for shoes and photography props instead.  We had a blast on our hunting trip too!  

See You at the Pole

Early this morning students from all over our nation gathered at their school's flag poles to encourage one another and to pray together.  Our high school students met together this morning at 7:15 and I was blessed to take a few pictures.

Rachel was one of the students asked to give a devotion and a word of encouragement.  I watched in awe and out of a heart filled to overflowing with gratitude to the One who gave her a Word to speak this morning.  She read the majority of Psalm 139 and she encouraged all of them that each one of them is "fearfully and wonderfully made."  She looked at her friends and told them that each one of them was special to God and that He is always with them no matter where they go. 

I could cry just telling all of you about it.  God is so good!  Here is Rachel encouraging her friends:

and then several of her friends shared Scripture and sweet words of encouragement.  Words like, "Don't be afraid to stand up against the Goliaths in your life, Christianity is tough but it is a lot easier if you spend time with God every morning, and a reminder that we are all accountable for our actions because He sees it all." 

It was a great blessing to be among the students this morning.  My prayer is that they will take all that was said to heart and share that knowledge and encouragement with the many students who were not here this morning. 

Oprah did a show about the negatives of the public school system Monday afternoon and I have wrestled with it ever since.  I am blessed to teach in the public school system. I really believe that!  While many days are challenging and often hard, it is a ministry that I am so grateful to be a part of.  Oprah talked negatively about the poor quality of teachers, low scores on tests, teachers who say that they get paid whether they teach or not, drop out rates and on and on and then she applauded Charter schools.  She  gave millions of dollars to 7 charter schools at the end of that show. I work on a campus with teacher who care about their students, who try so hard to make sure all students succeed.  We worked hard to gain our recognized Campus rating and we are not taking a second of it for granted.  The answers to the public school issues in America are not longer teaching days, better guidelines, or training, it's Jesus!

There is so much apathy among students, even in our high school.  And the only cure is Jesus.  But, isn't He the very answer to it all?! 

I always try my best to start my day with the Lord and to pray for my family and my students and my prayer is that they do see Jesus in me and that He is somehow glorified in the way I choose to teach and treat my students.  Seeing the students gathered together in prayer this morning encouraged my heart greatly!  Oh, that our entire school and community could see Jesus in each one of them. He is the answer! 

I Heart Faces *Smirk* Challenge

This week at I Heart Faces, the theme is "Smirk."  My mind instantly went back to the photo session with my wonderful nephews.  It is one of my faves and I have posted the picture on my blog before but I just had to enter it in the I heart faces weekly challenge.  If ever there was an adorable smirk, this one on "Double A's" face is it.  I love you my liebs!  This picture of you two always makes me smile.

Homecoming 2010

This past week was our school's Homecoming Week.  It is always a lot of fun.  There are dress up days at each campus and they are always a blast.  At the high school we had Twin Day (most of the faculty wore our matching faculty shirts and jeans), red-neck day (where I donned on my best overalls, red shirt, pig tails, and straw hat), Pj day (I did wear my best pjs and robe and kept thinking all day long that I would surely wake up from this weird dream that I wore my pajamas to school), super hero day (I skipped this one...aren't all moms superheroes anyway?), and then school spirit red day. 

I wish that I could show you pictures, but I didn't take any.  Can you believe, I didn't take a single photo?  Weird huh? 

Friday night was the big homecoming celebration.  The stands were filled with happy fans donning their best red wear.  In Texas homecoming involves mums.  Do you know what I'm talking about?  Do you have those where you are from?  They are gigantic fake white mums decorated to the hilt with streamers, and bells, and glitter and glam...the bigger the better! 

Mr. Incredible and I surprised the girls with mums this year.  Rachel had to be at school early to practice with the band and she asked me to help her with her hair.  I was having a difficult time putting a good poof in her hair and it took a little longer than excpected so I don't have a picture of her with her mum but I do have a few pictures of Hannah with her mum.

Mums are a cool tradition.  What kind of traditions do ya'll have for homecoming?

I was blessed to be able to take pictures on the sidelines again.  Here are a few pictures from the game:

Our boys won 45-7.  Yay!  At half time Rachel led the band and she did a fabulous job!  She mouthed to me that she was nervous but you couldn't tell.  I beamed with pride!