family photos

Just wanted to share some more of my favorite photos from my session with Scott and Kimi! Just click on the image to make it larger!
There were so many fun ones to choose from that I really had a hard time not picking them all.
And while they may not be looking at the camera in all of them that's okay.
I love to capture families in their natural element...and it's not natural to just sit around and stare at a camera all day...
that is if you're not my children! ha!

Read more...

opening games

The Lutheran High School of San Antonio hosted their first basketball games in their new gym tonight. Greg's meetings got cancelled so we headed over to watch the games. The LHSSA Mustangs took on the Concordia Academy Cardinals for their first home games. The girls won 51-19 and we left right before half time of the boys game (33-23).

LHSSA has a mustang mascot. A person dressed as a horse. It's a nice touch. But apparently if you're under the age of two the mustang is terrifying. Naomi quickly warmed up to the horse and even "gave the horsey two hugs." Micah, however, had no intention of coming close to the horse. I know it's not anything new for kids to be scared of fully dressed head-to-toe mascots or characters but it's still funny to watch. The poor kid couldn't take his eyes off the horse for fear that it might disapear and then end up right in front of him. He had one eye on the game, and one eye on the horse.

Naomi was LOVING the cheerleaders. At one point she walked over to the sideline where they were all standing and started giving them hugs. She said in her happiest, screachiest voice, "mommy the cheerleader gave me a hug". She was beside her self. It was like me meeting Michael W. Smith or something. No jokes please. Let it alone. He was always my favorite. And he's in San Antonio on Thursday, but guess who won't be at his concert. Oh yeah, you're right. Me. Bummer. Third time he's been in San Antonio since we've lived here and I've yet to see him. Oh wait, we were talking about Naomi weren't we. She was just loving to cheer and be loud, dance and run around and just having a blast. I guess we'll have to go to more basketball games in the future. We'll just have to keep the horse away so Micah doesn't have nightmares!

These are some photos that I had taken for their website. They did use some of my photos on their website but it would be hard for me to point them out (there's only a few).

Read more...

a week in dallas

Although my only "family" in Dallas is my cousin Adam,
there are still lots of friends to visit and catch up with.
We REALLY enjoyed our week with Kimi and Scott.
I know that it is not easy to invite friends into your home for a whole week,
thus disrupting EVERYONE's schedule,
especially when those friends have a talkative 3 year old
and a 1.5 year old who is "learning" to share.

We are so grateful for your hospitality Kimi and Scott!
We had so much fun living life with you and playing with your cute boys!
While we were with Kimi and the boys during the day we did some
coloring, playing with play-doh, outside fun, riding big wheels, playing with trains,
and Naomi and I even got to spend one morning at Ikea!

While we were in Dallas we also got to have lunch with PB and his wife Linda.
PB was the campus Pastor at Concordia while I was there.
On Friday night my cousin Adam stopped by the house for a couple of hours.
Micah absolutely LOVED Adam and thought he was hilarious...
but really, who doesn't?
Thanks for making time to come see us Adam!
We know you're busy and we appreciate getting to hang out for a bit!

The kids and I also got to spend an afternoon and early evening with
Heather and her girls, Kathryn and Lauryn, (Eric was at church).
It was fun to go to the park, chat, watch the girls play (and Micah too)
and have some pizza to celebrate Heather's BIL's birthday.
Thanks Heather for letting us invade your space before you even got home.
We had so much fun hanging out and I know Naomi loved playing school with Kathryn.

You should be able to click on the collages to see them bigger.
Enjoy our week in photos!

Read more...

sweet hubby

My sweet hubby sent Naomi and I flowers while we were in Dallas!
She was so excited to get a gift from daddy while she was away from home.
So was I!
They were gorgeous, fragrant and just plain beautiful!

Read more...

scott, kimi and the boys

I love it when I am able to photograph my friends!
My job is the best!
I get to be a mom to two awesome kiddos
and I get to photograph the best people
and help them capture memories for years to come!

Kimi and I have been friends since college...
lots of memories then...
lots of memories now...
So excited to watch our kids grow up as friends.
Naomi is pretty sure that she's going to marry Matthew someday...
altough I'm not quite sure that the feeling is mutual!

Kimi, here are just a few sneak peaks for you!
Sorry that I wouldn't let you put them on your computer...
a photographer has to keep some secrets!!!

I LOVE this one!!

And this one...

These two are so happy and in love!
Like the first day they met!
What an amazing relationship they have
that is firmly rooted in Christ...
they are AMAZING parents too in case you were wondering!
Love you guys!!

You can see a few more sneak peaks on my photography blog!

Read more...

defense

I hijacked Kimi's computer...
I wanted to show you what we've been up to.
The kids and I drove to Dallas on Monday
and we've been having a blast!
The little ones are learning to share...
the big ones are catching up on lost time.

Matthew is an amazing golfer, fisher and baseball player.
That boy has a swing like no other 2 year old I've ever seen.
Scott was teaching Micah how to play defense.
It was SO cute!
So, I thought I'd share.
(click on image to make it larger)

There will be lots of photos and stories to share next week after we get settled back at home!
Thanks Kimi and Scott for everything...we're having a blast...and learning lots!

Read more...

spiritual mothering: chapter 6

Here are my answers for Chapter 6! I am really enjoying this book and the book study. If you're just joining in now you can see past posts if you just look for the "mentoring" category in the side bar. You can also see what other women are saying here.

In this chapter, we get to take a close look at Luke 1:42-45. Go ahead and read it again (also on page 87 in the book) before we get going. "Those verses contain volumes about how older women can encourage and equip younger women to live for God's glory."

This is it--the HOW!

1. Verbal affirmation. "We must express approval...it is not impossible, and to be a spiritual mother, it is essential" (page 88).

On a scale of 1 to 5 (1 being not at all, 5 being very), how comfortable are you expressing verbal affirmation to others? I feel pretty comfortable expressing verbal affimation to others. I feel like I give verbal affirmation without thinking, "oh I need to affirm this person now." I guess I would say I'm at 4 on the scale. I know that I need to do more of this but I also feel like it's not really a chore and just something that sort of comes naturally. I'm not perfect at this and still need Gods help and words in order to be great at this.

2. Approachable spirit. Are you approachable? Or do you hold women at arm's length? How can you work to be approachable to other women? Think about what you find approachable in other women. How can you emulate those things? I like to think that I am approachable but I don't really know if that is the case. I am an introvert so this does not always make me look approachable. People may think that I'm just being a snob or only wanting to talk to certain people but really it's just my self-conscious introverted self being afraid! I hate it sometimes!

I find women who smile a lot or ake eye contact and ask questions about whom ever they are talking with to be approachable. I try to emulate those things but again, being an introvert does not always help. I'm working at it though. As a pastor's wife I feel that it is important that I be approachable. I don't want people to think that I am snubbing them or not wanting to talk to them, that simply is not the case. However, I need to pray that God would give me an approachable spirit.

3. Challenge to be obedient. "When obedience is affirmed it usually produces more obedience" (page 90). I don't know about you, but I appreciate someone who challenges me to obedience, to greatness. How can you challenge women around you to obey the Word of God? First and foremost it comes with being in the Word of God regularly! I guess my challenge that I could put forward would simply be asking those women if they are in the Word regularly. I know that I need this challenge as well. When I am in the Word and have some accountability I know that I get much more out of my time in the Word than when I am just skiming to say, "I read my Bible today". When I challenge others I feel that I also would be challenged and would learn more about obeying God and His word.

4. Brevity of expression. As women, we are perfectly capable of talking things to death. Yet it is often the clear, concise truths we remember the best. Are you good at "cutting to the chase"? Or do you tend to hide truth that can sometimes be hard in layers of words to soften the blow? I don't really talk things to death...I don't really do a lot of talking in the first place...so I guess I just have to make sure that when I do speak it is cutting to the chase and sharing the truth right away.

5. Anything else that was an "a-ha" for you in this chapter? Any question you want to ask? I love the phrase on page 90 that talks about the older women being saturated in God's word. What an awesome word picutre. It's like we're a sponge that is so saturated with God's word that it just drips from our tongues. I pray that I too can be so saturated in God's word that it drips off my tongue.

(page 93) "We hear that this is the decade of women. We must not allow the voices of the world to set the agenda for this decade, nor must we allow those voices to teach women how to be women. Christian women must speak with boldness and clarity about womanhood and must live distinctly Christian lives. Christian women must articulate a Biblical world and life view and the implications of this perspective for women. ...When we reach women, we will reach the spiritual tempo of our culture."

I really agree that we need to teach the women to follow a Biblical world view rather than just going along with what the culture is telling them to do but as part of that I think we have a responsibility to teach the women about the mans role in the family as well. The man is to be the spiritual head of the house. We can't let the men off the hook simply because we are going to be training the young women to be spiritual leaders. We must encourage the men in their roles as well and let them lead rather than trying to do it ourselves. I feel that the culture is telling the women that they can just do everything themselves including being the spiritual leader in their homes. Young women need to know that this mindset is not Biblical and that God did not intend for them to carry that burden.

Read more...

holly, don't look!

Holly, if you are reading this just skip past it...
I don't want to ruin the surprise!
And especially don't let your boys see this!

You may remember this shirt on Micah the other day.
I made it. With the inspiration from here.

I also made some matching ones for two little nephews for Christmas.
I know how much Andrew loves to match with Noah so I figured I'd just make all three match.
So, Holly, if you are reading this...shame on your for not listening when I said stop.
But oh well, hopefully you'll have gift amnesia and when the boys open these you'll be just a thrilled as they are *fingers crossed*.

Read more...

drawing

Naomi decided she wanted to do some drawing.
Can you tell what she drew?

If you guess Mickey Mouse you would be correct!
Now, what about this one?

Get your head out of the gutter...
that is CLEARLY Minnie Mouse with earings!
And don't you like the flower on Minnie Mouse's tummy?

I was impressed with her tracing of the cups to make the head and ears,
and using a bigger circle for the bodies.
This totally came out of nowhere, was unprompted and I LOVE it!
What a fun creative girl!

Read more...

too much candy?

If you got too much candy from trick-or-treating...

OR

too much candy from not enough trick-or-treaters...

there is a helpful solution (other than eating chocolate till you're sick).

You can send it here...or sell it here.
But it esentially goes to the same place...the TROOPS!!!

Read more...