November 5-on-5 Shipshewana

Last week my mom and I took my two youngest to Shipshewana, Indiana.  When I was a young girl a Shipsee trip was an annual event. My mom would take my sisters and I to the outdoor flea market. We would spend hours wandering the aisles looking for treasures to spend our small bits of money on.
When we eventually conquered the myriad of sellers and their stalls, mom would make one final stop downtown. We would head to Lolly's to pick up fabrics that she most likely couldn't find anywhere else. 

So in a show of great tradition keeping, we made it our last stop (well almost our last, we bought huge soft pretzels to eat on the way home).  Lauren's first  stop was at the wooden boat that was full of remnants.  She has plans for some pajamas for her dolls and need a couple pieces of fabric. There were so many beautiful pieces that it was hard for her to narrow down what to buy. Eventually, though she made her selection and we moved on to investigate the rest of the store.

It was a wonderful day showing my kids around Shipshewana, taking them to our favorite shops, eating out at one of our favorite Shipsee restaurants, and walking down memory lane with my mom.

 For more documentary photography head on over to Nicole Austen, she is an Orlando, Florida Family Photographer and she tells her life stories with gorgeous photographs.

Jim and Tiffany's Engagement Session- Dundee Michigan

The best love is the kind that awakens the soul; that makes us reach for more, that plants the fire in our hearts, and brings peace to our minds.  ~The Notebook

October 5-on-5 2017

One of my goals for this fall is to document my parents more.  I feel like they are missing from a lot of my photos.  They tend to step out of my camera range when I am taking photos of the grand babies or family moments.  I'm not sure they do it to avoid my camera, but rather because they think they might spoil the photo.  I am slowly helping them to see that they need to be in the photos... that I want them in the photos. 

Also in the past I have shied away from taking photos if I felt like the environment or lighting would cause my photos to be technically weak (ya know like mixed lighting).  Or if it was just a busy family time and I was needed to help out to keep things running smoothly.  I am trying to find that balance of being more present, but also not missing out on documenting great moments.

Last week my mom and I decided to make applesauce together.  We used to do it all the time when my children were younger, but somehow over the past couple of years we haven't joined forces on this project.  I knew this would be a perfect opportunity to document some of the moments from the past that I have missed.

My dad came in from checking the fields part way through and talked with us for a while.  He kept jumping out of the frame when I was using the self-timer, but thankfully I got him in a shot or two without his knowing.

It is important to me to document our harvesting and preserving.  It is something my grandma did (my dad's mom) and she taught my mom.  I remember every summer my sisters and I would be mom's helpers.  We worked in the garden, picked fruit, snapped beans, and eventually when we had families of our own, she walked us through the canning process until we were proficient.  This is my heritage and I want to make sure it is documented for generations to come.

 Continue on in our blog circle by heading on over to the super talented Nicole Austen, an Orlando Family Photographer.

Sixteen

I've been scrolling through Lightroom looking at photos from years past. It's hard and it's wonderful.  
I sit and try to type, but the words don't make it past my heart. Words are locked up in emotions that evade strong enough words.
There is so much beauty in you, so much that is amazing.
So much that is just.... uniquely YOU.

 Sixteen years.

Sixteen years of watching you grow into a humorous young man with a heart that desires to heal the hurts in this world.  You are strong, yet tenderhearted.  You know how to stand up for what is right, but don't trample others around you to get your point across.  You are hilarious.  You are the king of one liners and movie quotes.  There is never a dull moment when you are in the room.  You keep me laughing and the Lord knows we need your quick wit in this household.

I know that God has amazing plans for you.  He is molding you into a young man who will go out and change the world.  He is strengthening you for the days ahead when you will be called upon to stand in the gaps, to heal the wounded, to doctor the sick.  To bring the love of Jesus to hurting hearts and broken souls.

I'm praying for you my amazing, gorgeous son!  Sixteen is going to be a fabulous year.