Has it been that long....

I know I've been super busy, but I didn't think it had been a month already! Sorry everyone...between senior orders, track meets and all of the last month of school stuff...I'm plum wore out! Sammie made it to sectionals this weekend, and then we have graduations....so another busy weekend! I wanted to post a couple pictures of one of my best friends little girls...we took these in the orchard about 5 miles away when it was in full bloom...talk about a awesome place for a tea party! I think after she got used to us watching her, she really had a ball...and of course, I had way to many for her Momma to pick from! Hopefully she can make up her mind better than I could...she just made such cute, sweet faces...laughing, running, picking flowers...a photographers dream. Poor Mary saw them and wanted to have a tea party too....but it rained after our session, and all of the blooms were gone, so next year, I'd better get it done, or my sweet baby girl will think she's too old for a tea party!

OH MY GOODNESS GRACIOUS!!!

Okay, Have you ever seen anything so adorable in your whole life???? If you want to see a few more of her, check out the first picture on my website, I added a couple new ones to it tonight. This is another reason I should be thankful I get to do what I do. I was lucky enough to take her beautiful sister's pictures a few years ago, and then this year I got to take hers and thank GOD I did! I love it when I get to take pictures of people that I know are connected to me by other clients...I've also taken her beautiful cousins pictures, senior and engagement....it makes me feel awesome inside when they come back, or send someone they love to me! To think they remember me years down the road for another memory to capture....I'm getting down to the bottom of my 2010 seniors, and it has been an fantastic year! The Lord has blessed me with incredible young people this season, and I hope that I have helped capture their true beauty, inside and out! Good luck to all of you in your future plans...I wish you the very best, May God bless you over and over till your cup is overflowing!

Mary's eyes

I just wanted to post a picture that helped me remember why I do what I do....I was feeling a little down in the dumps because I have to miss something that is very important to me due to my job, so feeling sorry for myself...and not wanting to miss a moment of my girls' lives...I started looking at old pictures tonight and found this one of Mary....see this moment caught in time. I love what I do, I have to keep reminding myself how I love what I get to do! These are the kind of moments that make me know its true. Good night everyone, PEN

The Vest....

To all of you that check out my blog...I like to look at blogs myself. I don't know how many of you know christian contemporary artist Natalie Grant...I have used her music on my website, she's awesome! I wanted to post what she had on her blog, I sure hope you get a special blessing from it as well.


Natalie Grant's Blog ~February, 20 2010

The Vest

I was driving to the airport this morning & saw a group of “workers” picking up trash on the side of the road. Each one was wearing an orange vest with these words emblazoned on the back:

“I AM A DRUNK DRIVER.”

Wow. Most hung their head low, hoping not to make any eye contact with the drivers passing by. There it was, in big capital letters for all the world to see.
Now listen, I’m not about to defend anyone who drinks and drives. They absolutely deserve to be punished by the law. Drinking & Driving has robbed many families of a mom, a dad, a spouse, a son, a daughter. Wearing an orange vest seems a little lenient if you ask me.
But, seeing their shame printed across their backs made me wonder what my vest would say. Can you imagine having to walk around with your sins being announced to the world? My secrets alone would be too many to even fit on one vest.
Many of us walk around wearing a similar vest. No, our mistakes and sins are not printed on the back, but the weight of our guilt hunches us over and we walk with a defeated posture. We avoid making eye contact and light & joy are missing from our face. We’re dressed in shame.
Today I’m shedding that vest. See, I have another vest and it’s just my size. This same vest fits anyone, regardless of who you are. The words emblazoned on the back say:

“I AM FORGIVEN.”

Let that vest show today. Wear your forgiveness. May grace and peace so permeate our own lives, that it can’t help but spill out to everyone around us. This vest is always in fashion, never out of style, and always the perfect fit.

“But those who depend on faith, not on deeds, and who believe in the God who declares the GUILTY TO BE INNOCENT, it is this faith that God takes in to account to put them right with Himself.” Romans 4:5

“There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.” Romans 8:1

You. Are. Forgiven. Act like it.

With love AND freedom
Natalie

maternity and baby pics...

I just wanted to post a little sneak peak for a special mommy! We had a maternity session, and now that we have our beautiful baby girl, we just did a little baby/family session. I've got alot to get done today, but just had to post...its been almost a month, I was doing so good...and then what happened! Now that basketball session is over, maybe I'll be home more to get back in the swing of things. I think the snow is finally all melted in my yard...I have a heck of alot of MUD!! I had a client give me a hard time the other day...he said, I kept looking for the gravel road you told me to turn on...but I don't think I ever saw any gravel! Its definitely muddy around here...but you can't get to spring without a little mud right! Okay, back to work...Have a good one!

You know when I said my life is crazy, I may have some of you not believe me, but after this story, any of you that don't have kids might not want them, and any of you that have had the day I've had...well, you'll totally understand my "crazyiness".

It all began after my PTO meeting today, I waited for Sammie to get out of basketball practice, and headed to Liberty, because no matter how hard I try to be a good momma, I forget things...like Valentine's for the girl's party tomorrow!! Duh!! So I took them to Panda Express, just us girls...its was so nice, but Shelby, my 3rd grader was whining that she didn't want to eat, and she had fallen asleep on the way to Liberty, so I figured she was just tired. Well...she whined the whole time in Target, she was cold...she didn't want to walk anymore...please can I ride in the cart, I had just about had it with her. And on the way home about 3 miles from the Holt exit....PUKE!!! Everywhere...the back seat, up the front seat door....the other girls were going crazy! So I pull over, spend 30 minutes cleaning what I could up with paper towels and Lysol wipes ( thank God the gas station had them!!!) Then I went to vacuum up what I could of the fun I couldn't get with the dry paper towels....only to have my husband mad at me for keeping the girls out so late. Okay, I'm a little frustrated to say the least...but I have to stay up and fix brownies and cookies for the parties tomorrow because I made Mary a Doctor's appointment at 9:45 in the morning. Now I don't know if should try to meet up with one of my Brides or not tomorrow before the party...my luck is not looking to good at this moment! I'm not positive when her appointment will be over, and I'm not really sure what they're going to have to do to her...I honestly think they are going to have to open Mary's poor little forehead up and try to get the stitch out that was suppose to dissolve and now is working its way out...so she has about a half an inch of string hanging out of her little scar, and it is stuck, and I mean stuck good...so if you're not busy tomorrow you can meet me at the doctor's office to help hold her down...or you can meet me afterwards at Starbuck's because I'm sure I'm gonna need something strong...and it will be to early to have anything any stronger! lol...at least I'm still laughing and not crying in the middle of the floor...cause' I think it would be pretty easy to do right now. Okay...I think I have vented enough tonight...I still have cookies to make! Oh the JOYS of being a Mom :)
Wish me luck, it may be a long night ~PENNY

Dear John....

Okay, I'm here to tell you....it wasn't the "Notebook" like we expected. We left the theater feeling let down, and disappointed! How could they have built this movie up and not put anything into it. The acting was good, what they actually got to act...most of the movie was used up with wasted time...time they could have used making you fall in love with the characters, and their story...and they didn't. We enjoyed Channing Tatum...I mean who doesn't enjoy him...I wanted to share with you this picture of my cousin Andy. He is a flight attendant on Southwest Airlines...and look who he got to take care of. He said he was really nice, and normal...which is awesome to hear...especially with how popular the guy is right now. Anyways...even if his movie wasn't one that I will watch over and over and cry like its the first time I saw it...its nice to know that he's a nice guy in real life ( plus, I can always watch G.I. Joe...that's more my kind of movie anyways, lol) If you're needing a good romance that will leave you crying on your pillow, the "Time Traveler's Wife" is coming out on Friday, now that's a good tear jerker! And once you catch onto the story line, you'll love it! Hope you all are staying warm, the girls got to stay home today...still have the basketball game tonight, so go Lady Panthers! Until we chat again~penny