Wednesday, April 28, 2010

Color Wednesday - Hillsong United

No, I'm not starting my own blog carnival. I am just too busy editing photos from a senior shoot to go out and take some black & white shots for Black & White Wednesday. But instead of forsaking blogging completely this week, I thought I'd post a few photos from the Hillsong concert we went to last week.

I just love Hillsong.

In case you don't know, Hillsong is a worship band derived from the famous Hillsong Church in Australia. I dream of visiting that church someday, Lord willing. But for now, I was blessed to hear a sampling of what their live Worship is like without having to fly across the country.

And it was awesome!



You couldn't help but be filled with a spirit of worship as you stood in a stadium filled with other believers lifting songs of praise to the Lord. With one voice we came together...



I loved how they had the words to all of the songs up on a giant screen behind the stage. Every word written to praise Him. Every word sung with meaning and purpose, with hearts turned to Him, not to the people up on the stage. Because it's not about us, it's about our Lord, and He is mighty to save...








I love this last photo. That's what it's all about, surrendering everything to the Lord. Lifting all of the pride, all of the sin, everything in us that isn't about Him and saying, "Take it from me Lord. I give it all to you. Make me Yours alone."

That's what it's all about, bringing praise to Him. We were created to Worship Him. And that's why I thank God for Hillsong, because they are bringing that purpose worldwide to unite believers in one purpose. Now that's awesome.

Wednesday, April 21, 2010

Black & White Wednesday - Like a Child

I of course thank God for everyday. But I am especially thankful for days like these.

When I take the time to experience life through the eyes of a child. Those glimpses into the simple things that we grown-ups can so easily forget.

The beauty they see in what some call a weed...



The serenity of a moment spent being still on God's green earth...



The indescribable connection between a brother and a sister...



And the giggles that they share...



The joy of a little girl.



If we would only be still and know that He is God a little more often. What things He could accomplish through us, if we would only be still and let Him move.



This post brought to you by me {of course} courtesy of Black and White Wednesdays at The Long Road to China, where you can see more of life in black & white!

Tuesday, April 20, 2010

Spring

No one is more thankful for Spring than Chloe. If allowed to, she would spend her whole day outside. She just loves the great outdoors. Her grin tells it all...



Gotta love spring!

Wednesday, April 14, 2010

Black & White Wednesday - Tea Cup

First of all, I'd like to thank all of my loyal followers who sent me messages asking if I was ok since I didn't have a Black & White Wednesday post last week. It was so sweet of you all to notice my absence and to miss me!

I missed you all too, and yes, I am fine. I've just been incredibly busy. I had four photo shoots last week alone, which really shot my promise to myself of no more than one shoot per week. After all, I am first and foremost a mommy. My business was always meant to be a part time venture. I've been a freelance graphic designer and photographer since I had my first child seven years ago to enable me to set my own hours. But since the addition of portrait photography to my business less than a year ago, I have had a hard time saying no. I love taking photos and hate disappointing people, so together these two facets of my personality have worked against me lately. But I will certainly be making sure I don't overextend myself anymore. I'm giving my schedule over to the Lord, making sure I am giving Him the lead with how my days are filled, even if it does mean telling a few folks no every once in awhile.

But now, on to Black & White Wednesday...

A few weeks ago while shopping with a friend for a few more newborn props, I found a giant tea cup. Having seen numerous photos from numerous photographers of babies in tea cups, I had once vowed not to jump on the baby tea cup bandwagon. But the more I thought about the idea of my baby in a tea cup, the more I wanted to get one. And when I saw that this giant tea cup was on clearance, I just had to get it! I can't resist a sale after all.

A few days ago I finally had the time to do a few shots of Gavin and the tea cup. I didn't do any setup for these shots due to lack of time, but I think it'd be fun to style a shoot with the tea cup on a patio table with some chairs. Maybe sometime soon ;)

I love his feet sticking out of the top of the cup in this first shot. And I think it's safe to say that Gavin really didn't mind it so much in the tea cup...



In fact, I think he kind of enjoyed himself...



So is the tea cup an overdone prop? Maybe. But I still can't help but like it...



For more wonderful Black & White Wednesday posts, check out The Long Road to China.

Sunday, April 11, 2010

The First Big Game

Gabe loves all things sports. From a very, very young age, his love of sports was apparent to us. I have picture after picture of Gabe with baseballs, basketballs, soccer balls. And then there are the footballs.

For those of you who don't know, Gabe's dad played football for the Iowa State Cyclones. So, of course, Gabe has long waited to play on a football team himself. That long-awaited day came yesterday, with Gabe's very first flag football game.


{Above is our team, the Kansas State Wildcats. Gabe is in the first row, second from the left.}

The boys on the team are first and second graders. And with only a handful of practices under their belts, you can imagine that some of them were completely clueless.

Well, I guess I should clarify and say most of them were completely clueless...


This, mind you, is coming from a completely clueless mom when it comes to football. But even I knew that all the boys pushing on each other was not really the point of the game.They all knew that they had practiced how to block, so that's what they all did for the first several plays of the game. Never mind the fact that they were suppose to be on defense at this point...



They just all kept blocking each other while one guy ran with the ball. It was quite humorous.

When they weren't blocking each other, they just kind of stood around waiting for the coaches to tell them what to do next. Jason was recruited by the coaches to help too...



Gabe once again demonstrated his strength. He's not one of the biggest kids on the team, but he can go up against kids much bigger than him and push them out of the way. I don't understand it, but he's always been a little bull...



It was great seeing him block so well.

But then, he got the ball.

As Gabe explained to us after the game, everyone was running at him so he just ran the other way. Unfortunately, it was the wrong way, towards the wrong goal, trying to avoid the other players.

Gabe lost several yards. But, he was fast...I can say that!

And he had fun.

And when you're seven, that's all that matters in the end.

Unless, of course, you're a competitive boy like Gabe is. And then it also matters if you win or lose ;) It's funny how there is no official score kept, yet all the boys know who wins and who loses. This game finished in a tie, however.



After the game, we asked Gabe what he thought. His response, "That was awesome!" Like he said, he gets to play with his best buddies and hit people. Oh, and there's a ball.

I can see many, many football games in our future. I guess I'd best learn the rules of the game, so maybe I don't sound so clueless.


Monday, April 5, 2010

Happy Easter

I hope that you all had a very blessed Easter. We certainly did!

How can you not, when you celebrate Easter for was it is...Jesus's resurrection day. The day God's promise for a Savior was fulfilled. The day the stone was rolled away, and a dead man came to life, giving life to all of us who choose to believe. The basis of our lives as Christians. Thank God for that very first Easter day.

And this Easter, I thank the Lord for my family.

For my husband, who not only teaches others about the saving grace of Jesus Christ as a pastor, but also shows our children what it really means to follow Him in the most tangible and real ways.

And I thank the Lord for my children. For their childlike faith, and hearts overflowing with the
joy of the Lord. And for their eagerness to love each other...most of the time ;)

And for their willingness to humor mom with some photos...





Our kids may not get visits from the Easter bunny. Instead, their Easter egg hunts and baskets come from mom & dad, and grandpa & grandma. But they do 'get' the real reason for Easter. As Chloe said when she woke up Sunday morning and was reminded today was Easter, "I'm so happy about Jesus! He's alive!"

Amen to that!