Okay, so it is graduation week and I am full of emotion.

And as someone who is normally quite full of emotion anyway – it has to spill out at some point.

As a continuation of my last post on soccer, I just had to post a couple photos of my boy.

I realized when I was shooting his last game that while I will probably watch him play soccer again – it will probably not be in uniform.

When the kids were little I kept all their soccer jerseys thinking I would have them made into a quilt or something one day.

Please tell me you did this too.

He has worn a lot of uniforms over the years, been on a lot of great teams and I have had the time of my life watching him in each one.

So, before we celebrate the first day of college – let’s celebrate the last days of being in uniform.  It is, after all, a time of change, isn’t it?

Selah

I took this recently at one of my son’s soccer games and LOVE it!

These kids were spectating the game that my son was playing in as a high school senior

and although they were pulling for the other side it embodies so many things.

One, I love capturing action – but I ADORE capturing REaction.  Those moments when someone is responding to the main event.

For instance, the bride coming down the aisle is beautiful, but her beloved’s reaction to seeing her for the very first time in her gown is priceless.

My son’s game had tons of great action shots on the field but seeing these young ones cheering them on with such excitement got me.

But I suppose the main reason this image got to me was just because of the sheer love of the game.

I saw the exact same look on my own son’s face yesterday as I walked through the den just as he watched Chelsea score that much needed goal against Barcelona!

We learn by watching.  We become by beholding.  And one day those little boys will fill much bigger boots!

Precious, precious Charlie.  Welcome to the world . . .

I had the sweet opportunity of photographing little Charlie last week and he was a total delight.  Today his precious mom and I poured over the photographs and had the best time loving every little hand and toe and hint of smile and top of head.  Isn’t it amazing how much in love you are with your baby?  One of my favorite quotes by Elizabeth Stone is,

“Making the decision to have a child is momentous.  It is to decide forever to have your heart go walking around outside your body.“

I couldn’t agree with this more.  My oldest is headed to college in the Fall, and my baby will follow in two short years. So, I dare not get started on this topic or we could end up with emotional overload.  But, I will say that 0ne of my favorite things about my work is getting to celebrate those everyday moments that are simply beautiful!  I like to think of myself as an artist of everyday life – because that is a lovely place to be, don’t you think?  It makes you pause and appreciate.

And pausing is important.  Because before you know it, we will turn around and little Charlie will be filling out applications for college himself!  (shudder at the thought)

  Maybe, I will sum it up with a little JT (that’s James Taylor, not Justin)

The secret to life is enjoying the passage of time . . .

Selah - 

There are many things that I love about Spring

but the one thing that I love MOST about early Spring is

the new Spring green growth of the leaves.

For some reason this never ceases to amaze me every year  -  crazy, I know – but, they are so tiny (in the beginning) and so bright and fresh compared to the dark evergreens that they sprout beside in order to show off their youth and brilliance.  And it gives me such promise and speaks of such newness in life.  Of regeneration, of hope, of new growth, of new beginnings and renewal.

I realize that right now Atlanta is showing off all its beautiful Spring colors in a vast array of blooms and that I should be showcasing those because they are breathtaking. Azaleas and dogwoods are declaring His glory for sure.  However, I’ve always been one to pull for the underdog (no pun intended) and so I have to give a shout out in praise of the new spring green leaves!

 They just make anything seem possible, don’t they?

“Our Lord has written the promise of the resurrection, not in books alone, but in every leaf in spring-time.”      Martin Luther

Even winter browns are absolutely stunning!!!  I love that those amber leaves are almost transparent, the intricate detail in a dead leaf that would normally get passed over, and the crazy texture of this beautiful sweet gum seed pod against the pebbled driveway.   Winter has it’s own beauty if you look close enough and pause to notice.

Now that it has taken me a couple of weeks to actually post these photos, this same neighborhood walk will be totally different – all decked out in its new Spring ensemble.  But, I will go again with totable camera in hand and pause to capture and appreciate the new look.

How about you??  Have you taken a photo walk lately -

Happy Aniversary to me!  It’s been 21 wonderful years and I can’t wait to see what our next chapter brings!

We truly are best friends (as cliche as that sounds) and I still get just as excited to go on our dates as I did when we first met.

No joke – I really do!

Isn’t life amazing??!  I love my life and I LOVE my sweet husband!

Happy Anniversary, Baby – got you on my miiiind!

(And No, this is not a current photo – but I just Love it!  )

Please chime in if you have a word onYOUR heart lately!!

A sweet song for you for Valentine’s Day

Enjoy!

I was reading last night about a missionary named Ella who worked for fifty-two years with the pygmies in Africa and lived in extremely primitive conditions yet was able to live a life of total contentment.  Her daughter, Mimi, found in an old journal of her mother’s her prescription for contentment that I would like to share:

• Never allow yourself to complain about anything – not even the weather
• Never picture yourself in any other circumstances or someplace else
• Never compare your lot with another’s
• Never allow yourself to wish this or that had been otherwise
• Never dwell on tomorrow – remember that tomorrow is God’s, not ours

That really convicted me.  One,  to not complain or compare.  But, also, to realize how freeing that is to let those things go.

This came from a book I just began reading called Calm My Anxious Heart, by Linda Dillow, and the author continues with another description of internal contentment from Shakespeare’s King Henry VI:

” A king is wandering in the country and meets two gamekeepers. He informs them that he is a king.  One of them asks, “But, if thou be a king, where is thy crown?”  He replies:

My crown is in my heart, not on my head;

Not deck’d with diamonds and Indian stones,

Nor to be seen; my crown is call’d content

A crown it is that seldom kings enjoy”

I am wondering . . . how many people do you know that wear this crown?   I would like to be one of them, wouldn’t you?  I welcome your thoughts.

So, I want you to meet my new pen pal, Lindiwe!!  Isn’t she the cutest??  She is my sweet friend that I am sponsoring through World Vision and she is three years old.  We actually share the same birthday and so in a month (hint, hint) she will be a whopping four years old.  This has been a huge blessing for me already to pray for someone across the globe!  I am hoping that one day much later after we have had years of corresponding that I can go to South Africa and meet her.  Since she is too young to really communicate well with the translators that write the letters back to the sponsors, her grandmother speaks to the translator on her behalf until she is older.

Let me know if you have a World Vision BFF also!  If you are interested, check out the site – they are a great organization!