Your Reflection

A friend was recently telling me about a sermon she heard. The preacher said that at the end of the day we should always say, "This was the best day!" because it is the day that the Lord has made and everything He makes is perfect and without blemish. Wow-that sounds so easy, but in reality, it can be so hard to do! That has been my personal challenge-To look at my days as God's day, holy and perfect, knowing that nothing comes at me without going through Him first. Nothing.


I took this picture while we were at Myrtle Beach a few weeks ago. It reminded me of a verse my mom has written on a small index card on her fridge. If you look up the whole passage, 2 Corinthians 3:15-22, you will read about how when the Holy Spirit lives within you, you reflect God's glory and are transformed into His likeness! If only I could remember that as He brings trials my way. If only I could remember that I am reflecting Him-not me, then my words and my actions would often be so different...then everyday would truly be, The Best Day Ever!

Shine!

Another school year is beginning. I am always amazed at how I feel this time of year. I hear friends talking about the apprehension of dropping their kids off at school for the first time, students excited to go back and see their friends, other homeschool moms, like myself trying to get it all together. It is a bittersweet time of year.You mourn the loss of freedom that summer brings, yet you're excited about the new adventures before you. I think as a mom, it is much like when my kids have birthdays-it's a reminder that time is moving rapidly and my children are growing (and a tiny part of you mourns that!), yet you are so proud and so thankful to be a part of that process.

One of my visions as a photographer is to one day make a coffee table book full of photos of God's creation, mixed with His Holy Word. His creation is so powerful. And so is His word. If I can strap the two together, maybe I can reach someone out there who is lost. Maybe the next time someone sees a beautiful sunrise or hears a thunderstorm-they will think of Him.

So why do I start off talking about school and then end with photography? Because I felt inspired this day as children go back to the hustle and bustle of the classroom. I thought of this picture that I took just a few weeks ago at the beach and was reminded of this verse.

As beautiful as God's sunrise is-His light that shines from you is more powerful and more radient. If you are a teacher greeting a new class-show those kids His light. If you are a student making new friends, trying to fit in and find your place in this world-never forget what a difference you can make on your campus. Be HIS light this school year. As the old saying goes, "You may be the only Bible a person ever sees".

So go! Let your light shine before others and watch to see what heavenly opportunities He brings your way! Now that sounds like my kind of adventure! Happy 2010-2011 school year everyone-let the fun begin!

Professional Week: A Family Session

When Kristin called to set up her family session, she was so excited-her husband was coming home for, "Fourteen days of heaven," as she said, on his R&R break from serving in Afghanistan. He has been gone since January and once he leaves again, he won't return until after Christmas. They have an adorable 12 month old baby girl. After I talked to Kristin, I noticed that she had joined my Marion's Photography Facebook Fan page. I clicked on her picture and saw pictures of her baby. She looked very familiar. I thought long and hard where I knew this baby's face from. I knew that I didn't know Kristin, though we do know many of the same people. Then I remembered a sweet baby from a year ago, who I had been asked to pray for. This child had a very complicated birth and my good friend Victoria had set up a Facebook page, giving updates and telling folks specifically what to pray for. This was the baby I had prayed for! How cool is that?

I instantly fell in love with this family. Kristin and I talked several times on the phone setting up and changing dates in the short time her husband would be home. The day of the shoot she hopped out of the car looking stunning in a yellow dress with heels. She had a huge smile on her face and she started going down a list in her head of different pictures she wanted to take. A few were specific, but most were just opportunities to try and capture their family simply being a family. This is one of my favorite things to do. I love to tell kids to go run and play and capture them in their true, real, not-in-front-of-the-camera selves. You can learn a lot about people by simply watching them interact together. This husband and wife duo seemed like they were still newlyweds, yet they had a wisdom and connection from troubles with their baby'ss birth and a strength that comes from being separated due to the military. They have already experienced so many hard times that most couples never have to go through in all their married lives. I could feel their faith in God during this hard time. I have often thought of them and prayed for them since that day. Kristin has returned home to Italy where they are stationed and her brave husband is fighting on mission in Afghanistan. I hope these images tug at your heart as they do mine. They need your prayers for safety and for peace of mind and for strength to make it through the day. I cannot wait to hear that they are reunited once again and that he is safe and sound at home with this family. What a glorious day that will be!

These next two are one of Kristin's requested poses. This represents her and Robbie being seperated-and looking forward to the day they will be together again.

Professional Week: Infant, Siblings & Four Generations

I share the same birthday as Wesley's best friend, Seth. One Sunday his wife pulled Wesley aside and said that she was thinking about throwing Seth a surprise 30th birthday party. She wanted to see if we might be able to come. She didn't know the details at the time and figured that we probably would not be able attend because we'd be out celebrating my birthday the same night.


It ended up that she was right. Wesley bought us tickets to the Springer and asked me to choose the restaurant for dinner. I decided I really wanted to eat somewhere that we don't normally go. Driving downtown that night, we both talked about how we wished we knew where Seth's party was so we could at least stop by for a few minutes. I was also torn between two different restaurants and at the last minute chose where to eat. We walked into the front part of the restaurant and up walks in a friend from high school. He asked us who all was there, like we were meeting him. I looked at Wesley and we both busted out laughing. I asked if they were there for Seth's surprise party, which of course they were. What are the odds? Seriously! We decided right then and there that God wanted us at that party! The chances were so slim that we would choose the same place, at the same time, out of all the other places to eat in the city-and I had chosen where to eat at the very last second too!

Through regular "catching up" talk over dinner, it came out that I was a photographer. After that night, I became friends on Facebook with an old friend that was there. Through Facebook she was able to see my work and soon contacted me about setting up a shoot. She lives in Birmingham, but her family still lives here so we figured out a date that I was available and that she could drive down to take pictures. It is always so neat to me to see how God brings people in my path! He orchestrates meetings that leave me knowing without a doubt, that it was His time, and His plan. I wish it was always so easy to see His hand-sometimes I just need to make myself step back and look for it!


The main goal of this shoot was to document this sweet baby's dress that her grandmother made. The whole time I was shooting the four generation pictures I kept thinking about how I knew these pictures would be treasured for generations to come. This great-grandmother is 80 years old while the tiny baby she is holding is only 6 months old. I love thinking of how many years it is between them and how just 80 short years ago, that sweet lady was a baby herself. How fast life goes. I really enjoyed looking at the great-grandmothers pictures and hearing stories of when she was little. I just soak up stuff like that!


Well enough explaining I suppose!-I hope you enjoy the pictures!