Photo Shoots of My Nieces and Nephew

Captured Moments Photography...Capturing those moments that make up your life! Specializing in black and white photos of children. I also do sepia and color. I prefer natural settings to studio type where you really capture expressions and life! I like to stage scenes that appear like the child is engaged in an activity or actually follow them around to capture those great moments. Below you will see some staged pics but I try to do some creative things with them. Infants are harder to NOT stage than toddlers or bigger children. (They don't do a whole lot!)

Here are some samples...

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

A Good Marriage

This post idea has been rolling around in my head for some time now but I haven't had an opportunity to sit down and write (type) it. With my daughter getting married in a week, the topic of marriage is at hand often. People are constantly telling her how it is hard work and that seems to be what people are always saying. Preachers preach about it, married couples often say it and media tells young people to wait until they are older to commit and delve into marriage. Call me strange but I have never felt as though marriage was work. Even when Bob and I had marriage struggles (prior to church days), I didn't feel like it was a chore to be married. I did question my motivations of love and what love was and who I was but I didn't think "this is work or too much work".

I think what a marriage (and all relationships of any kind) takes is three things...Investment, Forgiveness, and Acceptance.

Time is the most important investment to be made. Attention, care, physical relations, thoughtfulness, etc. If you have invested in these ways, you build up a love bank between the two people.

Forgiveness is letting go of the transgressions, the faults, the mistakes of the other person. Forgetting those faults is also important. God doesn't remind us of the last time we messed up when we go to Him and ask forgiveness. No, those mess ups are as far as the east is from the west and buried in the depths of the sea! (Satan DOES remind us however) Now, when the love bank is full, it is much easier to be forgiving. It is easier to not become bitter and angry when the love bank has been padded and built up by the investing part so it is double-sided. Invest love and bitterness is less likely to build up countering the love so it is easy to let the transgressions and faults of the other person go into the depths of the sea.

Acceptance goes a long way to many things! Accepting a situation for what it is helps you to have peace in the situation and not waste time fighting against what cannot be changed. Accepting the person for ALL their little quirks and imperfections in physical looks and personality builds up the love bank too. Realizing that you have quirks and imperfections as well will help you in this area. Have you noticed that, whether in marriage or friendships, when you are frustrated with someone (because you haven't forgiven!) you are less accepting of their quirks?! Every little thing they do gets on your nerves!!! The things they do or the habits they have, the quirky things, just may as well be fingernails on a chalkboard. However, if the other person has invested enough time, care and attention to the love bank, you will be more forgiving and accepting. All of these three things work together or against in a circle. It takes all three to have a good relationship of any kind.
Now, I know some at this point in reading may be thinking "Well all this you are saying is work". But, if done in love it is not work or shouldn't feel like work. It makes me sad to see and hear people be so down on marriage and struggle to be happy in the relationship. I know that some people make things extremely difficult and one person may have to bend more or forgive more and feel they never get the investment made towards them (and they are often correct in this feeling) but this post is just to let people know that marriage shouldn't be work it is to be ruled by love.

Love is giving and expecting nothing in return. This is true love - sacrificial love. Jesus went to the cross for the sins WE committed not His own just to make a way to have access to God again after Adam and Eve fell to sin in the Garden. He did it even though many reject his sentiment and sacrifice. What a picture of giving and expecting nothing. The offer is just there whether we choose to accept the offer or not.

"But" Leads to Trouble

Just want to share some thoughts I had lately after a Sunday school class. We were talking about doing God's Will and not our own. Anyhoo, I got to thinking about how when you hear someone use the word "but", it is a good indicator they are about to enter sin. For instance..."I know it's wrong, but..." or "I shouldn't, but..." or "I should, but...". These are phrases often followed by "I'm going to anyway" or "I don't care, I want to..". This is self-will OR self-indulgence and self-will usually or at least often means SIN.

We people are like that many times through out the day. Choosing our own wills over what God would have us to do. The spirit is often willing but the flesh is weak! :)

In the past few months, I've had several people say to me that they know it's wrong to live together before marriage but they are going to do it anyway or encourage someone else to do it to find out how the person is before marriage to avoid divorce later on. This is saying you know better than God! Often this subject or pre-marital relations or abstinence is viewed as only for teenagers and not adults. Hmm, I'm not sure God put a time frame on it in His Word!

I've also had people say they know they should spank their children and discipline correctly and timely but they do not; giving all kinds of different excuses. What this boils down to is lazy parenting! Sorry if that offends but I have been guilty of this at times myself so I can say it! We are "too tired" to do it, or we get concerned about what others will say or think, or we lash out in haste at the child instead of correctly and lovingly giving discipline. If we love them we will correct them! God is the ultimate parent and He chastens whom He loves.

We know we shouldn't eat that dessert or have the second or third helping at meal time BUT we do it anyway to satisfy ourselves. Then we have a belly ache or gain more weight than we would like, etc.

We know we should tell others about Jesus and His saving love and grace but we do not. We worry they will think we are a freak or that they will be offended. ...Hey they may be but we are commanded to tell them, what they do about it is up to them.

Therefore,to him that knoweth to do good, and doeth it not, to him it is sin. James 4:17

This verse means that when you know to do right and don't do it, you are in sin! If you know that you are to go to church but decide not to go...you are in sin and need to confess it to God. If you know to witness, to tithe, to be kind, to pray, etc. and do not do those things then these are "sins of omission" and need to be confessed also.

Just some thoughts to ponder....using the word "But" is a sign you may be headed for trouble!

Empty Nesting

Just wanted to share what empty nesting is like ...for us anyways. God helped to ease us into this situation over a period of several years. My daughter was away at Heartland Baptist Bible college for four years (except for summers) and then my son went away for a year at the same college the fall after Jenny graduated. Jenny moved to Batesville, Arkansas for her first teaching job in a Christian school & daycare. She was gone for 9 months (this was our first taste of empty nesting-- her in AR and John in college). She came home for two weeks and then moved to Seattle, Washington for a whole year. Now she is back in Missouri and engaged to be married on June 22, 2013. (Jenny & Ronnie below)

Johnny was home for almost a year after Bible college and then went away for almost five months to welding school. He was home for a month and then moved to Texas last September or October of 2012.

This is his new bride. They got married on March 16, 2013. (Johnny & Kourtney above)

As you can see, God sorta eased us into complete empty nesting. Also God gave us puppies right after John left for Bible college and then there was time helping to take care of my mom and spend time with her before her passing and then Amelia, my niece was born last August (I babysit her several days a month overnight) and now that it is just Bob and I, we have two new puppies. (Bob with Tuff, brown one and Elly, white one)

Some days are hard and I miss my kids a lot but Bob and I have grown even closer as friends and spouses. (and we had a strong relationship and marriage before) The food bill and daily expenses have gone down considerably! There is much more time for romance and quiet time together and even splurging to eat out a little more often. I also don't always have to have a robe on wearing my pjs since John left. Both kids are finally off our car insurance policies.

We have enjoyed gardening and canning and making salsa and pickles and relish, pear butter, etc. for the past three years and we have our current garden mostly in for this year.

So, while I DO miss my kids a lot (especially Johnny cuz he is so far away), empty nesting has its upside too!

Bending the Twig

As the twig is bent, so the tree's inclined....today I want to talk about bending the twig. As parents we have a tremendous responsibility, given by God, to mold, shape and influence our children for Him and for right and wrong. We also have the responsibility to bend our twigs toward their God-given talents and help them to pursue goals that would help them to be successful in life as adults, parents, spouses and most importantly, Christians.

In olden days, small branches of trees were often pulled down and tied off to form a bend in the branch that would point a way on a trail and eventually it would permanently mark the way. It would grow that way in other words. It was a way to influence the tree in the way you wanted it to point. I'm sure this technique was used for other things as well.

You can influence your child towards right or towards wrong. You can influence them towards God or away from God. Children most assuredly (with a few exceptions) live what they are taught. Learn what they live and see daily. Patterns are formed and developed from what they see and hear and learn daily. Have you ever noticed that people who raise their children on assistance from the government on a permanent basis, often have their children grow up and do the same thing? Smokers often raise smokers (tho my sisters and I are an exception to this since not one of us have ever smoked but were raised by smokers and grandparents that smoked) Still, this is not the norm. People who are obese often have children who are obese (and that doesn't always have to do with genetics and chemical make up). People who have anger management problems often have children who fight at school, are rebellious to authority or have tantrums over the simplest of occurrences.  I think you get the picture. There are always exceptions but for the most part kids live the way they have been taught through observation mostly. You can't tell them "do as I say not as I do" and expect that to work. While they are young or even under your roof they may have enough fear of you to comply but that is not what they have truly learned through watching you. What has been instilled is what they have seen you do. That is what will eventually come out in them unless they have made a conscious effort to do otherwise.

There is so much responsibility given to a parent with the influence they have. That is why God gives us a manual to use. So many people don't use the manual. They instead listen to tv talk show hosts (who know diddly squat but rank themselves up there with the Almighty), or psychologists or any other number of beings rather than God. To me one of the biggest factors missing in today's society and world is "Character"... Good Godly Character. One that shows honesty, work ethic and treating people the way you want to be treated. So much of that is out the window.

The best way, in my opinion, to bend the twig is towards God. Help them to rely on God, love God and trust God. It is the most important factor and without it, they will spend an eternity in hell. It is more important than all the book knowledge from a school or a big time career or even who they will someday marry. Having the relationship with God first will make the most difference in their lives.

Just wanted to throw my two cents out there. I know that I don't have a lot of followers to this blog but if I can make one person think and consider the bending of their own twigs then I have accomplished something.

Homemade Quesadillas

I made up a recipe a couple days ago...kept adding to it until Bob today said that smells good and would you make me one (actually I talked him through him making it so mine wouldn't get cold ..he's a good cook too). Anyhoo...
Ingredients:
1 tortilla shell
goat cheese (spreadable)
shredded Colby Jack or cheddar or choice
diced sweet banana peppers
diced southwest chicken or plain
salt (to taste)
pepper (to taste)
garlic powder (to taste)
onion powder (to taste)
cumin powder (to taste)

Take tortilla and spread some goat cheese (mine is similar to cream cheese texture gotten at Aldi's) on one half of shell. Sprinkle with all the different spices as heavy as you may like. Add peppers and chicken and then shredded cheese. Fold tortilla in half. Melt enough butter in pan to coat bottom. place quesadilla in pan and cook a couple minutes til browned (like a grilled cheese) flip over and cook other side. Enjoy!! You can leave out the peppers and chicken for a cheese quesadilla. Also, next time I will used some grilled chopped onions in there also.

Missing Mom

It seems as though my life is a blur most days lately. I have two weddings to get ready for ... one in a week and another in 3 1/2 months. The second one has me more involved than the first since it is my daughter and more responsibility falls to parents of the bride than parents of the groom (usually anyway). I haven't really been a part of the planning at all for my son's. I'm sure it would be different if we lived in the same state but he is 10 hours away in Texas. I have been babysitting my 7 month old niece about 3 over nights a month and she is alot of fun. There have also been couple's retreats, ladies meetings, etc at church to keep me busy. You would think my mind would stay too busy right now to be missing someone I lost almost 2 years ago. But, that is not the case. As fun as taking care of Amelia and playing with her is, it makes me wish my mom was still here enjoying her along with our family. I also see Mom in her face and expressions quite often. She would be so proud of her and the job my sister is doing as a mother. These weddings make me think, "I don't want to do this without Mom here". My mom was a really good grandparent. One who took time with my kids and talked with them as they were growing up. I know she would be so excited for them and proud of the adults they have become. .. Just like I am. Maybe all these moods are coming from it getting close to the anniversary of Mom's death in April. One would think that after two years the memories of all the suffering she went through for over a year and especially the last two weeks would have faded but they have not. It is a very hard thing to watch someone dwindle away and be their care giver and have them plead with you to help them and all you can really do is pray. Until you have been there and done it, you will never know what it is like. Some of our family's experiences were even new to seasoned hospice nurses. There are too many things to go into now and besides most people don't want to hear them, I've learned.  I want so badly to hear her voice and to talk with her and hug her again. With all she went through my mom was so brave. I don't know how you live daily with a terminal disease and actually be on hospice for 9 months. She went 10 months without ever eating by mouth and only rarely drinking anything but tiny sips of water. I don't know how you do that and stay giving and caring to everyone around you. It's not as though she were bed ridden and unaware for 9 months. That didn't happen until probably the last 5 days. So, she was very aware of what was going on around her, though I did watch the chemo, radiation, cancer and pain meds steal her body and mind slowly. My dad died when I was 12 years old two days after I got out of the sixth grade. It was sudden and unexpected because he had just had a physical the week before and then had a massive coronary at age 37. I may be the only person on the planet that ever experienced this but it took me years to have that seem real. To have it not seem like my dad was just gone somewhere in the witness protection program and thinking maybe he will reappear someday. I was at the funeral and saw the body, saw them lower it into the ground also but my mom was remarried and had another baby and it was several years after that before it felt real. I still start to grab my phone to call my mom and then remember I can't.  I just can't hardly believe she won't be there to watch my kids get married or to help Cassy with Amelia or see the twins grow up. I know she is watching from heaven but I can't see her smiling and laughing and approving while she is there. Some days I only want to lay on the couch and do nothing but think about her and miss her. It is such a struggle some days to do...to do the things I am supposed to do. I sometimes watch home movies from when my kids were little just to see her and hear her talk and also to see my grandparents. Many reading this may not understand how I can still struggle so much and hurt so much but I do. I have dealt with so much loss throughout my life beginning at age 4. When Mom first died I had abandonment issues and I absolutely could not watch Bob (my husband) walk out the door or I would freak out. I was terrified he wouldn't be coming back. It helped if I got him ready for work with making his breakfast and packing his lunch and then went back to bed and let him come in and tell me goodbye. There was something about seeing him go out the door that just set me off. He was patient with me though. There are just still days that I want to be held and allowed to cry and talk about Mom.
Most days I am able to do what I need to do but some days I just want to cry.

I just wanted to share my heart today. There are lots of good things happening for me lately but I still do struggle with personal heartache.