{Consolidate}

con⋅sol⋅i⋅date –verb (used with object)

1. to bring together (separate parts) into a single or unified whole; unite; combine.

I have decided to consolidate my blogs. I feel like during certain seasons of time I neglect my personal blog and other seasons I neglect my photo blog. I think I have kept them separate because I get nervous when I think about people who read my "professional" photo blog being able to see the boring-ness, and normalcy of my personal life. But let's be honest...who cares? I want to be real with everyone, so I am okay with this choice to "consolidate". So from now on, all of my blogging, personal and professional will take place HERE!!!

Just an update...

I don't really have anything exciting to update this with, but I feel like I need to write on here, so that all of you out there in internet land don't think I have disappeared.

I spent the weekend in Dallas with mom, Mary and Julia. Mom and Mary went to a women's conference on Friday night and Saturday and I played nanny to Julia. I decided after this weekend that I am WAY to selfish to have children. I mean, I'm sure I will have them someday and I look forward to that season in my life, but at this point in life, I am sooooo not ready to be a mommy. Geez...EVERYTHING reevolved around Julia this weekend and although she is the sweetest baby ever, I was exhausted. So to all of you mothers out there in internet land...hats off to you!

That's all I got right now. Hop over and check out my photography blog for the latest pictures:)

Mini Sessions

Check it out...tell your friends!
(click on the photo to see it larger)

St. Patrick's Day!

Out of curiosity, I googled "St. Patrick". I mean, where did all of this "Kiss Me I'm Irsih" and green beer celebration come from. It's so random.

Turns out...St. Patrick was a pretty neat guy. His story is very similar to Paul's. Patrick was born in the year 373 in a town on the River Clyde in Roman Britain, now a part of Scotland. When he was sixteen years old, Patrick was captured by a band of pirates who sold him to a chieftain in Northern Ireland. For six years he tended flocks. In his testimony he says, “I was taken captive before I knew what I should desire and what I should shun.” It was during the time of his captivity that he came to a saving knowledge of Christ Jesus.

Years later, like the Apostle Paul, he received a clear and personal call from the Lord to preach the Gospel in the land of where he had once been held captive...Ireland.

He said, "I did not go to Ireland of my own accord. not until I had nearly perished; but this was rather for my good, for thus was I purged by the Lord; and He made me fit so that I might be now what was once far from me that I should care and labour for the salvation of others, whereas then I did not even care about myself."

The story of St. Partrick is a beautiful story about transformation and sacrifice. Click Here to read more.

Bath Time!!!!

I am sooooo good at giving Julia a bath...ask Mary:) She smells so yummy and is so cute and cuddly and happy after a bath, I just had to share!

Sunshine and Wisdom

I have been pretty busy lately, but definitely not socially. I feel like I have been buried in work; photography, planning a girl’s conference, building my website, and a few other random odd jobs. I enjoy having a project, but I have to keep reminding myself not to miss out on life and what God has for me in the every day moments and not just spend all my time planning ahead (yes, I realize that is a common thing for me to blog about).

Anyways, Sunday morning I was not feeling very well, so I skipped church…I know, I know. I staying in bed for a long time and then realized it was a beautiful day outside, so I brought a blanket, pillow, and my Bible to the back yard and soaked up some sunshine and wisdom.

I have been reading through Proverbs and I keep highlighting verses that all seem to have a common theme…Godly counsel. Obviously, it’s something I need to be learning. The whole book of Proverbs keeps reminding me that leaning on my own fleshly wisdom will only bring chaos to my life. I am so thankful for the people that God has placed in my life to be my godly counsel. I realize what a rare thing it is to have even one person in your life that you can trust to tell you the Truth and point out to you the lies that you believe and I have WAY more than one of those people in my life. I am so blessed to have been given such a precious gift that I do not ever want to take for granted. I want to cherish and protect it.

Just a few of the verses that have been on my mind this week.

Proverbs 4:13 Take hold of instruction: do not let it go. Guard her for she is your life.

Proverbs 11: 14 Where there is no guidance the people fall, but in abundance of counselors there is victory.

Proverbs 12:15 The way of a fool is right in his own eyes, but a wise man is he who listens to counsel.

Proverbs 15:5 A fool rejects his fathers wisdom, but he who regards reproof is sensible.

Proverbs 15:22 Without consultation, plans are frustrated, but with many counselors they succeed.

Proverbs 17:10 A rebuke goes deeper into the one who has understanding, than a hundred blows into a fool.

Okay, maybe I have had a LITTLE social interaction recently. Saturday night I went to what I was told was a crawfish boil….I think it was more like a crawfish tasting. They had boiled about 10 lbs of crawfish for like 15 people. Only one other person besides me had even tried them before, so it was fun to see everyone’s reaction. One girl brought her own food from Sonic, another girl was super brave and tried sucking a head, and my favorite quote from the evening was from this HUGE guy when I told him to get some more he replied, “Well, I already had two!” (as thought that was overindulging).

Logo!

Pasted from my photography blog:

As you can see, Nathan is done with my logo and I absolutely LOVE it, so if you don't like it...keep it to yourself. If you don't already know Nate, you should check out his music and catch a show if you're in the San Antonio area. http://www.natedavenport.com/ Yes, he's a graphics/web designer and a musician. I'm pretty sure his music is his true passion, but I for one am grateful that he's a man of many talents. Thanks Nate!