There is Beauty in the Mess

Yesterday, a pretty little scene popped up into my view and represented something much deeper. Life can get messy from time to time, but there is still beauty within it if we pause to notice. This post is all about a tough day that Chad and I had yesterday, how we worked through it, and what we learned from it. 

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Smelling the Roses As I Go

I've always been a go-go-go person; a plan for what's ahead, onward & upward, must keep moving type of go-getter. But the slow, intentional pace of breathing in each moment is important, too. Right now I desire balance between the two. Why not live in that sweet spot of appreciation & reflection + movement & progress? Why not smell the roses—or whatever's under my nose—as I walk along?

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Words that Empower ••• Pre-sure Under Pressure

I stood, staring in the mirror at my puffy, swollen eyelids a couple days ago on the morning of my 33rd birthday. I had been crying the night before because in the chaos of spinning too many plates without a break, a whole bunch of unrelated emotions caught up with me all at once and I felt crushed by the heavy weight of their pressure. Ever been there? I'm hoping these three thoughts on WORDS empower you the same way they did me, rocking you out of your "feelings funk."

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Why We Had Our "Boring" Documented

In 2015, if you had asked me about my life, I would have told you it was boring. We were in the midst of a tough transition that I hope never to repeat. In this post, I highlight some of the reasons we had a professional photographer come document us anyway. The day-to-day scenes of our 2015 did not seem note-worthy at the time and certainly would not have been memorable, had they not been captured for us. These beautiful photographs turned our ordinary moments into cherished memories. 

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5 Ways Event Photography Sharpens My Documentary Work

Each time I am given the opportunity to photograph an event, I am reminded of the aspects of event photography that I love and that inspire my documentary family work. Whether it has been a youth retreat, baptism at church, leadership conference, fundraising event or wedding, the role of "event photographer" provides the perfect environment to gain experience as a skilled documentarian. Here are the top five ways event photography sharpens my documentary family work.

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What I do with all my personal photos

I recently started my second 365 photo project. Because I'm adding new photos nearly every day, organizing all of these is important. It would be a pity for all of these images to remain hidden in the digital bowels of my computer forever... I wanted to share a little about my workflow and a few things I do with these images as inspiration for anyone reading. PLUS, get a FREE Chatbook with my referral link inside!

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Reflecting On My Smooth Pregnancy

Today my firstborn baby is NINE MONTHS old....already. Nine months in, nine months out! Reminiscing has me thinking all about my incredibly smooth, active, healthy pregnancy. I am ever so grateful and feel so blessed to have had such a positive experience. I'm finally ready to share some of the aspects of my pregnancy that I was very intentional about controlling to aid any "smoothness" I may have been blessed with along the way.

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But My Pre-baby Dreams Are Collecting Dust

I've always been a very optimistic person—my glass has never been half empty. But as I began setting my 2017 goals and reflecting on my 2016 accomplishments (or seeming lack thereof), it was as if I had watched the water of my life's glass just evaporate right in front of me and there was nothing I could do to stop it. I began to feel overwhelmed with regret and disappointment at what I was unable to accomplish, even though 2016 was probably the best year of my life. Why? Well, I'm about to get REAL with you and I'm hoping there are other moms—especially new moms—out there, particularly, who will listen, relate with me, and maybe even press on with me.

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