Adorable Arnims

This adorable family and I gathered before the holidays to capture some shots for their Christmas card. Unfortunately Dad had some things come up at work and couldn't make it (to his dismay - I'm sure), leaving me with beautiful Emily and her precious kiddos.

Dane, Blaine and Ashlyn are knock outs. This family belongs on the cover of a magazine.

Shooting families gets better and better for me. I feel so blessed to get time with such incredible people. These kids were a blast - as you can see.

It was so much fun to hang out with you, Arnims. Thanks for inviting me into your home! I hope your holidays were FABULOUS!!!

Isn't he just too cute?!

 

I gotta get me some of these kicks!

All Boy!

My sweet friend Mary Ellen invited me into her home to photograph her adorable boys, and I'm telling you, it was SO FUN to play with Jacob and Paul David.

Jacob is a crazy, fun two-year-old. He loves trains, dogs, his thumb and playing with little brother Paul David. Even at four months Paul David is fascinated with Jacob. He'll tolerate anything he throws at him. I'm confident, when Paul David starts walking he'll be following his rambunctious brother around everywhere. I'm worried for Mary Ellen...there's no telling what they'll get themselves into.

One of the cooler things about this shoot was that Julie shot with me. Julie is not only one of my best friends in the world, but she's so talented, and I'm blessed to be working with her.

::and here she is::

::and here they are::

M.E, thank you again and again for giving me such a FUN FUN day! I loved being in your home with your boys!

Brianah Love

I am so blessed! God has given me so much to be thankful for.

About a year and a half ago, I blogged about a precious baby girl named Brianah. Brianah's like family to me. Her mama and I used to play together everyday as kids. I remember, Ashley and I would share shoes (she'd wear one of mine and I hers because matching shoes is so overated and who doesn't want to wear matching, unmatching shoes with their best friend).

Turns out, we're grown ups now. Ash is married and has a wonderful little lady of her own.

Brianah is BEAUTIFUL. She's grown into an incredible little toddler. I was super blessed to take her photos a few weeks ago. We laughed a lot and enjoyed Bri's giggles.

Rob and Ashley, your family is GORGEOUS!! I can't wait to watch it grow.

Nothing calms this girl like a ride on her daddy's scooter. I can't wait for her to see these pictures as a teenager one day.

We'll call her QUEEN BRI

My Day Job

I’m so excited about this post! I’ve been anxious to share all of this for quite some time. So, get ready!

Since November 2007 I have had the privilege of spending my days working for an incredible ministry. I wish I could adequately explain all that God’s taught me through my time here.

Here’s my attempt…

First of all, for some background, Children At Heart Ministries is a non-profit made up of several different agencies that work to serve children, and strengthen families. Within our ministries is

an emergency shelther for kids that have been neglected or abused and runaways

a residence for single moms and their kids to set goals and get their feet on the ground

a foster care agency

a ministry to at-risk kids in the community

a counseling program

a home for children whose parents are unable to raise them for one reason or another

& a ranch for boys with behavior problems

to name a few.

You might be more familiar with one of these specific ministries:

Texas Baptist Children’s Home

STARRY

Miracle Farm

Gracewood

To say that God has blessed me here would be a dramatic understatement. In a year and a half my heart has been molded and shaped in ways I never thought possible. My first grown up job out of college, at work in the communications department - this is the place that I learned to develop and maintain a website. This is the place that I learned to tell stories well. This is even the place that I fell in love with photography. Yes.

But I have learned so much more than job skills and hard work here.

It’s at Children At Heart that the Lord has broken my heart for what breaks his. He’s changed my story. He’s softened me toward things I never noticed before.

He gave the orphan, the widow, and the broken home a name and a face.

I hate that it had to take this for me to become broken and changed toward what he says is pure and faultess religion – James 1:27, but he knew I needed to be here.

Today, I'm more passionate about the orphan, the widow, the broken family, etc than I ever was before. I'm passionate about adoption and foster care -things that are messy and hard. But, with faces that are broken, unloved and alone floating around in my heart I'm absolutely unable to ignore the need.

I have to pray constantly for Christ's perspective in all of this. I beg God for faith to believe that he's still in control when this cruel world looks like it's winning.

It's been a whirlwind, and it's not been easy all the time, but it's worth it. It's worth it, because my heart's changed and I think I'll spend my life shouting from the rooftops about these kids and families. Veronique, Haley, Rob, Gloria, Jade, Andrea, Trinity, Jax...these are the ones we are called to love and serve.

There are so many stories to tell. Maybe I’ll try to tell some of them here over time.

For now I'll leave you with some photos (some is relative, right?) I've taken around here in the past year an a half.

Probably one of my favorite parts of my job is to attend events and photograph these kiddos for our publications. I'm so blessed to call this work.

Please, enjoy, ask me questions, and visit our website if you want to know more and sign up to receive our publications/mailings if you'd like to see more of what I do.