Thursday, June 30, 2011

and now for something completely different.

My son is home from college for the summer.
He is twenty years old.
Last night he dug his way through our crawl space to find his Legos.
Today there is a gold mine in my basement.
A story waiting to be told.
A scene waiting to be photographed.
Another memory tucked away in my heart.

And now...I must return to editing photos of beautiful babies.

project 52/26.

{hidden objects}
Peek-a-boo...I see you!

More pictures from last night's session coming soon!!

project 52/25.

{crave}
Vacation.
I needed one.
It was wonderful.

Saturday, June 25, 2011

this is my father's world.

 Warning:
If you politely say yes, but inwardly moan when someone asks,
"Hey, wanna see pictures of my family vacation?"
you may want to find another blog to browse!

John and I have have spent the last week on the east coast...
a couple days in Boston (of which I am not showing any pictures...yet)
and a week in Bar Harbor/Southwest Harbor, Maine,
and now are tucked safely away at a Best Western in Scranton, PA
before touring Gettysburg tomorrow. 

As we've hiked (and hiked and hiked) the mountain trails and coastline,
I am again amazed at God's artistry.
We simply cannot out-create Him.
And all He creates sings His praise.
So, I've been singing as we hike.
Yes, out loud...I've been singing.
Shocker.
If you know it...
sing along.

This is my Father's world,
and to my listening ears
all nature sings, and round me rings
the music of the spheres.
This is my Father's world:
I rest me in the thought
of rocks and trees, of skies and seas;
his hand the wonders wrought.

This is my Father's world,
the birds their carols raise,
the morning light, the lily white,
declare their maker's praise.
This is my Father's world:
he shines in all that's fair;
in the rustling grass I hear him pass;
he speaks to me everywhere.

This is my Father's world.
O let me ne'er forget
that though the wrong seems oft so strong,
God is the ruler yet.
This is my Father's world:
why should my heart be sad?
The Lord is King; let the heavens ring!
God reigns; let the earth be glad!




 We took a little cruise and stopped at Little Cranberry Island
where we were greeted by these entrepreneurs.
I bought a handmade postcard
and half a glass of lemonade (it was all they had left).
I don't think they know I snapped their picture.
Adorable.





 Two cameras.
All week.
Lots of pictures.
Thanks for looking at these few.

Wednesday, June 15, 2011

question of the day.

Could Karen be any more beautiful?

Tuesday, June 14, 2011

project 52/24.

{make it tasty}
This is my birthday cake.
It is pretty.
It tasted delicious.
I picked it out myself.
I love Fresh Market.



project 52/23.

{enchantment}
I submitted this picture of Kelly for last week's theme {enchantment}.
It is written all over her face.
Pretend I posted this on time.
Thanks.

Monday, June 13, 2011

one week old.

 Brady is just a week old.
He is as sweet as can be!
I am glad he was alert for some of his pictures. 
I especially love how he gazed into his parents' eyes.
Thanks to his mom and dad for letting me capture these precious first days.

overflowing.

We have known Dawn and Dennis Ritter a long time.
We met when we were newlyweds ourselves and have watched our kids grow up.
Dennis and Dawn's son Ben and new daughter-in-law Kelly just returned from their honeymoon,
and their daughter Karen is home from college doing a summer internship.
When we arrived to take some post-wedding family pictures in their beautiful backyard,
I asked Dawn how she was doing.
Her response came from a heart filled with gratitude.
"We are overflowing with blessings."
That's what I hope we've captured in these pictures.
Overflowing.
 Newlyweds Ben and Kelly
 Karen is as beautiful on the inside as she is on the outside.
 



Let your roots grow down into him, and let your lives be built on him.
Then your faith will grow strong in the truth you were taught,
and you will overflow with thankfulness.
Colossians 2:7 (NLT)

Sunday, June 12, 2011

busy boy and his family.

Cute little Noah just turned one and...
well...
let's just say...
he never sits still!
Never.
He defines "busy boy."
Thankfully, my camera is pretty fast too!
Big brother Luke, on the other hand, had agreed ahead of time...
Pictures first.  Park later.
He sat and smiled like a champ...
then was ready to play!
Adam and Allison asked for some family pictures...
knowing that the "picture perfect" portrait
might not happen today!
I love how these pictures reflect life with two little boys!

cute cute cute!

Thanks to the Anson family for a lovely morning at the partk!

Friday, June 10, 2011

knitting sasparilla.

I've been doing a little knitting lately and pondering these verses from Psalm 139 (again).

For you created my inmost being;
you knit me together in my mother’s womb.
 I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made;
your works are wonderful,
I know that full well.
 My frame was not hidden from you
when I was made in the secret place,
when I was woven together in the depths of the earth.
 Your eyes saw my unformed body;
all the days ordained for me were written in your book
before one of them came to be.
How precious to me are your thoughts, God!
How vast is the sum of them!
 Were I to count them,
they would outnumber the grains of sand—
when I awake, I am still with you.

 

Sasparilla was her womb-name...
the name "Sophia Jewel" was kept from the world until she made her grand entrance.
Meanwhile, as God did His knitting, He already was calling her by name,
piecing her together perfectly.

She is a jewel.
Soft and pink and sweet.
Rumor has it she sleeps a lot,
and if I had a mommy who sang lullabies like her mommy can sing lullabies,
I'd snuggle to sleep a lot too.
But I'm not sure I believe the rumor.
She didn't really want to sleep so much during my three hour visit to her nursery!
Patience paid off.
I think these pictures were worth the wait.
Once again, they show God's handiwork at its best.

 Precious Siblings.

 Little bits and pieces...

Good night.

let's get real.

 Joshua is a happy baby.
Really.
But, let's get real.
Some days you just don't want your picture taken.
If I posted the "behind the scenes" of every photo session,
this blog might tell a slightly different story.
The truth of most sessions is
there's some resistance mixed in with all the smiles.
So, here's part of the "real story."
He is a happy baby...
and that's the story the rest of the pictures will tell.



 Handsome big brother Caleb.