When our son was about nine months old, he was going through a phase where he would throw fits if he wasn't getting something he wanted immediately. My level of annoyance had reached a new high, and I found myself in a silly monologue with him, like he could understand my reasoning. Afterward, it hit me—so THIS is how God sometimes feels about me as his child!
Read MoreMy husband and I don't give each other Valentine's Day gifts. WAIT—before you make a quick judgment, it's probably not the reason you think it is... We don't hate the holiday, we're not making a point, and we're not just trying to save money. It's also not because we're cold or heartless. Read on to learn what we've discovered about each other over the years that has strengthened our love for one another.
Read MoreWhen you have kids, the concept of "time" becomes all distorted and mysterious. On one hand, they are growing so quickly right under your nose, but on the other hand, the days can begin to feel long, monotonous, and "normal." This short post is a challenge to stay engaged.
Read MoreLater this week, Chad and I will have been married ten years. How is it possible that all those years have passed so quickly? Then, at the same time, it feels like we have always been together; it’s so normal and natural and right. We have squeezed in SO many adventures, so many highlights and also lots of challenges. “Happily ever after is not a fairy tale. It’s a choice," and more on our daily decisions to fight for each other and not against...
Read MoreTime flies, so squeeze the ones you love a little tighter. And, by all means, don't forget to D O C U M E N T even the simplest things! The present quickly becomes the past. Documenting beauty in the everyday causes us to remember it, cherish it, and pass it on.
Read MoreWhen you're facing adversity, When you don't feel up to the task, When you're exhausted, When it seems risky to others...
Read MoreSounds easy, right? ...But yet we're still scrolling, glued to the highlight reels of everyone in our feeds. Maybe the real question is, "While you are sitting there, worried about what everyone else is doing, what potential highlights in your own life are you missing out on creating?" More thoughts on this are in this post.
Read MoreThe human connection is a powerful thing. I've been extra aware of this in the last couple weeks... We certainly were not designed to live life alone. I'm grateful for my tribe—near and far and new. This post also includes a little self-exam at the end.
Read MoreI’ve been trying to master a few areas of life as a mom lately. It’s a work in progress. It's kind of exhausting. I’m 16 months postpartum and feeling the most “put together” I’ve felt thus far as a mother (which may not be saying a whole lot). BUT, when I slow down, let God lead me and simply enjoy the ride, THAT is precisely when I feel the most joy-filled; the most alive. What's the rush?
Read MoreA couple days ago Chad took a few photos of me and Elias for a feature he was working on for his Hope Delivered® blog. He's beginning to share stories of hope to inspire others and thought he'd start with mine. Any other parents out there?? I think you will especially be able to relate with my Story of Hope.
Read MoreWe keep hearing about people these days who want to be like someone else, look like someone else, or be someone else altogether. I can’t say I have never had self-doubt or a lack of self-confidence (that would be a lie), but I am thankful that I’ve been surrounded by people who embrace life—the life they’ve been given; the life they’ve chosen to love—to the fullest. These are a few of my thoughts on why I believe you are beautiful.
Read MoreChad and I have been married for seven years. We do NOT consider ourselves marriage experts, but we have learned a few things along the way that have made our relationship stronger. In this post I shared about the foundation of our marriage, why it's important to us, and how it allows us to face storms together.
Read MoreWhy? It's really hard for me to sit still and focus on such a quiet activity. I am the slowest reader ever. Because reading is not particularly enjoyable to me, I am also highly distracted ...SQUIRREL!... when I read, so every time I take my eyes off of the page, I have to ...SQUIRREL!... find where I was and re-read the same thing over again to remind myself what it ...SQUIRREL!... said. No matter how good the book is, reading relaxes me to the point of falling asleep—after about four sentences. (No, I'm not exaggerating. Yes, this made college incredibly difficult for me.) It can also be noted that I certainly do not read fiction books for entertainment—unless I'm desperate for a nap.
In this post, I talk about the work-arounds I used to get myself to read anyway and some of my current book recommendations.
Read MoreRunning. It can be causal or it can be extreme. I have friends who participate in 3ks, 5ks, 10ks, half-marathons, full marathons, Tough Mudders and I'm pretty sure one of my friends is planning to do a Zombie Run where there are people dressed up as zombies and they try to eat you by tearing off flags that you have around your waste. All of my running friends have tried to get me to go on these runs. For me though, running is very casual, like "only a mile on Wednesday mornings because it's good for me" type of casual. That's about it.
Read more about why I'm talking about running and how it is linked to the race that really counts.
Read MoreThere are situations that arise in life that do more than just "happen" to you. Some situations have a way of becoming lessons that change your thinking. They rattle you to the core. They convict your heart. This weekend, Chad and I experienced one of these moments of awakening and I want to candidly share the story of our conviction.
On Saturday, Chad and I were honored to shoot a gorgeous wedding in Kenosha at the Kemper Center. We loved every minute of it! As we interacted with the Bride & Groom and their guests throughout the day, our excitement was building over the images we were capturing for them. We had poured out practically every ounce of energy we had to make their entire day extra special.
On Sunday morning Chad and I managed to drag ourselves out of bed with a little extra time before we needed to get ready for church. We began to sift through the aftermath of camera equipment and open bags that had been strewn across our apartment in our exaustion after returning the prior night. Chad began sorting all of our memory cards, and to his surprised dismay, we were one card short. We were missing the card that contained all the photos of the Bride's preparations—her dress, her shoes, getting her hair & makeup done, creative and beautiful portraits of her with her bridesmaids, etc. SO not like us... How could this happen?
