haiti: meeting felt needs



This post is regarding what we actually did while in Carrefour, Haiti. We didn't actually have an "in-stone" plan when we got there. Each day ended up being very different. We started out with a focused time where we simply asked God, "What do you want us to do today? Where should we serve? Who needs our help?" We felt lead to do all sorts of ministry—in the process of being obedient to God's call, we met some felt needs, met some amazing people, and were each stretched on personal levels as we ventured outside of our comfort zones.

On the surface level, it was really cool to be able to meet some of the obvious felt needs we recognized while we were there. Here are just three of the highlights:

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haiti: full of hope





Since we've been back, there have been so many times I have wanted to write this blog post, each time not knowing how to even begin. God revealed SO much to each of us during our one-week stay—experiences and emotions that can't be fully expressed in words or shown in photos. In fact, it's taken most of our group weeks to process through what we saw, heard, tasted, smelled, and felt first-hand (internally and externally). 

One thing is for certain: as it is written in Acts 4:20, "We cannot keep quiet about what we have seen and heard."  I believe we experienced Haiti so that we could come back and be storytellers to our nation; to share encouragement and inspiration over what God is doing in Haiti, and what He did in, through, and around our group in our very short time there. 

So, buckle up… This entry, along with eight more to follow (yes, eight), are my attempt to share raw and emotional tidbits of our encounters in Haiti, as well as observations of American culture and lessons we learned. My prayer is that you don't read this as a journal of "what Chad and Amber did with a group in Haiti", but as a painted picture of what God is doing and how you can jump on board with His movement. May God soften, challenge and convict your heart as He did ours.

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just keep smiling


This is Bella. She is a very happy weimaraner I met in Georgia over the summer. I love this picture because it looks like she is smiling—and because when you look at her, you can't help but smile a little, too.

As the summer winds down and routines settle into place again, we often find ourselves in busy, stressful times. It's easy to get caught up in the go-go-go lifestyle, the check-it-off-the-list mentality, and the don't-interrupt-me attitude. REMINDER: don't.

It's all about perspective...

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senior smiles


Yesterday afternoon, I had the privilege of shooting senior portraits for Emily Berry (Bradford High School). We had an absolute blast together!

I was a little nervous about shooting at 2:00 in the afternoon (what on earth was I thinking...) with the battle of harsh sun & shadows, but the day turned out to be gorgeous. We didn't have much cloud cover to work with, but I stepped up to the challenge & took on the sun. Aaarrrrgggh! [ That's not supposed to come across as "pirate" really, just more in the "Ima gettit done" tone. ]

Although I haven't gone through all of her photos yet, I just couldn't help but edit one of my favorites to post on Facebook for her yesterday—she is absolutely beautiful! We shot down at Wolfenbuttel Park in Kenosha, taking advantage of bright flowers, beach, rocks, Lake Michigan, and even a surprise "lagoon" area. Who knew? 

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megan & scott say "i do"

Megan Smith made a beautiful bride on July 2, 2011, when she married the charming Scott Palasik at Raven's Glenn Winery in West Lafayette, Ohio. Like I mentioned in their sneak peek post a while back, this was one of the most sentimental weddings I have ever witnessed. It was truly a marriage of two families, with touching words shared by all, various tears shed by most, and hugs passed out generously. Even putting this post together brought back sweet memories of their beautiful love story that will definitely outlast the single day of celebration.

Megan & Scott crafted all the details together perfectly, entwining bits of their personalities and their families. We enjoyed the casual, genuine quality of the ceremony and reception. Their excitement and love were SO obvious. Even the weather was perfect—a beautiful, soft cloudcover with the thundering of storms in the distance (never affected us!).

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sara & ray said "i do"

On June 16, 2011, Sara Furnival and Ray Bennett officially tied the knot. As I mentioned in their sneak peek post a while back, Sara is one of my best friends from high school. I was so honored to be a part of their Tennessee wedding—especially since it was my very first wedding shoot. I had an absolute blast and loved every bit of it (except maybe the crazy heat/humidity). 

The last month has been a bit hairy for me with traveling & such... Thank you all for being so patient with me. Hopefully the highlights were worth the wait:

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getting ready for Haiti

You probably know by now that Chad and I absolutely love being a part of our youth ministry. In addition to events & activities throughout the school year, we have had the opportunity to go on a few summer mission trips with a handful of students. This summer our church is sending two student mission teams. The first team of around 20 just got back from Red Lake Reservation, Minnesota. In three more weeks, Chad and I will be serving on the second team of 15 students and 6 adults in Port Au Prince and Carrefour, Haiti.

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una bella quinceañera

A beautiful Quinceañera, indeed! On June 25th, Mariah celebrated her 15th birthday in a big way—a Quince with her family and friends. In addition to being the coolest birthday bash, traditionally, a Quince is also a celebration highlighting a girl's transition from childhood to maturity as well as God, family, friends, music, food, and dance.

It was obvious that Mariah's Quince involved all of those things—what a special display of love, sentiment and excitement from those closest to her! Chad and I were truly honored to witness the occasion and capture the memories for Mariah and her family.

Here are the gorgeous highlights:

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camping weekend getaway

According to our blog, it doesn't look like we've been up to anything since May....a slight understatement. We've been super busy, which is actually why there haven't been any updates. :(  BUT, to make up for it, here's a long one ;)


Two weekends ago, Chad and I went camping in New Glarus, WI with two of our best friends, Aaron & Nicole. And yes, Sock Monkey came too. He absolutely loved being out in the wilderness. We camped in one of the walk-in camp sites, so we definitely got our exercise. Trails run from the thick wooded campsite areas, through the picturesque prairie section, passed the New Glarus Brewery, and all the way into the little Swiss town square of New Glarus. It's so beautiful and peaceful!

Here are the four aspects of our weekend that made it such a memorable getaway:

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