Shingles and Siding

A little closer :) They won't be able to finish out the brickwork on the front until things warm back up, but we've got shingles and siding, and they are working on the furnace this week.

The Sands Family

The Sands family was one of my favorite sessions of the year. It was a crisp, cold November day, certainly the kind of temperatures that bring about rosy cheeks and runny noses, but you'd never guess it from the pictures. Dean is a good friend of mine. I get to enjoy his company at our men's bible study, so long as there's not an animal within 1000 miles that needs to be hunted down (Dean lives, part of the year, for hunting), or there's not a half-inch of snow on the ground... hee hee.
Kris, on the other hand, is his better half. It's easy to tell, as she keeps the home fires burning, and I don't ever see her without a smile and something encouraging to say. She's also got a great big heart to serve God with.
Often times I see Jera in her own world, which really just reminds me of me when I was a kid. I could never keep myself from drifting into my own imaginations either, and while I eventually had to step into reality, I still miss losing hours in another place, simply to play. Just like her mom, when she smiles and it's from her heart, the whole room warms up.
Garrett on the other hand, is really getting deep into his guitar. Some of the more emotional shots was capturing his intensity as he picked those strings.
He and I got to lay down a blues melody this weekend after church, acoustic to acoustic. I hope my boy picks up on music that way. It would be fun to pass it on.
One great thing about their shoot was that we did it at their home. Everything was comfortable, and the colors were very rustic and earthy. From the old chicken coup to the wavering barn with it's own yarns to tell, we all seemed to step into a story that was aching to be told.

Greetings

We can't put them all on this page, but here are a few of the Christmas Cards we've designed this season...

His Words

My cousin wrote me a letter the other day, telling me that the scripture on this site had spoken to her and encouraged her, as this has been a hard time in her life. Gods words, written thousands of years ago, and yet they speak to us. Here. Today. What she read was in effect exactly what she needed to hear.

I can't tell you how many times in my life that His words have spoken to me, at just that right moment.

Today is one of those days. I know it's hard to convey, but taking this leap to build the studio, taking on employees, incorporating, while a blessing, has been hard on my family. Some days it's just easier to not see the forest for the trees, and we need God to remind us just what we are here for.
My mom sent me an excerpt from a sermon today. It's His word, and it was, exactly, what I needed to hear. There is so much truth, so much comfort, I'd be a fool not to share:


'I know how to live on almost nothing or with everything. I have learned
the secret of living in every situation,
whether it is with a full stomach or empty, with plenty or little.”
Philippians 4:12 NLT

The Apostle Paul got it right. He had learned the secret of contentment.
Earlier in his letter (Philippians 4:6, 7) he laid it out for the people.

“Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done. If you do this, you will experience God’s peace, which is far more wonderful than the human mind can understand.”

Heavenly Father, I remember the old saying that guilt is concerned with the past, and worry is concerned about the future, but contentment enjoys the present. Teach me how to enjoy the present to the full. I get tangled up when I try to correct the past, and I am frustrated when I try to take care of tomorrow’s problems today. Keep me focused on what I can handle today. I know that will lead me to your peace, for which I thank you in advance.
Amen.'

This was written on the floor of our church when it was first built. It's truth will outlast us all...

A Quick Update

Just a quick update on the new studio. The roof is on, soffit is finished, windows are all cut out, and the digging and concrete are complete... now Old Man Winter can do as he pleases.
One more day closer to having to pay for it... :) Anybody have a spare quarter...million?

Patricia

I had several amazing shoots with seniors this year, and some really great kids to work with, but Patricia was one that really stands out in my mind. She had this burning red hair with these stunning, jaded eyes, and the contrast was very vivid. Her warmth combined with the sunny outdoors really made the colors pop.