Sometimes we need to Stop and Smell the Snow

 { We got our first snow today.... and my little sister made this snowgirl... Isn't she the cutest? }

Sometimes we need to stop and smell the roses. Or the snow. ;) [for those of you who aren't familiar with snow.... yes, it does smell... and it smells good.}

This month I've been doing the Business Mentorship program that I mentioned before on top of working two jobs, and family and friends, life. And I'm beginning to realize that you can't *always* do *everything. Sometimes you need to stop and smell the snow.


This week I think I was finally starting to become ok with everything not getting done. It's some issues on my part, always needing to have everything completed, and to not let people down, but sometimes you need to stop. Realizing that you don't always have the energy, or the time, or the brain power to finish everything on your plate. You have to let some things go. And to wait and see what happens.

Before my call with my instructor I was reading and came across this verse [Lamentations 3:25-27] "The Lord is good to those who wait for Him, to the soul who seeks Him. It is good that one should hope and wait quietly for the salvation of the Lord."

Sometimes, in my pursuit of what the Lord showed me I forget my pursuit of the Lord, and that's the MAIN point of life. MAIN, as in capital letters, as in the most important. Yes, it's very important to *do* what the Lord is telling you, but you'd better not lose sight of the One who told you it.

I know God has given me my gift of photography, and He's told me to pursue this as my life, but what He's called me to do *before* that is pursue Him. And if I'm so caught up in the things that need doing I don't have time to seek Him, let alone enjoy Him.

And He's the most important part of my life.

Mr. and Mrs. Grinets

Just had to share a *couple* ;) more of David and Leah's gorgeous day. Too much amazingness going on here to pick just a few. lol

 { Leah had the most rad personal attendant every... if I was getting married in the near future ;) }

 {gorgeous, yes? yes.}

 

 {just lovely}

 

 {so cute. SO cute}

 {one of my favorites}

{little sigh when I saw this one... }

 {they rock this pumpkin patch, don't they?}

 {pretty, pretty girls}

 { "Leabs look" }

 {pocket watches? oh yeah.}

{ poor Paul's was pinned to his pants ;) }

{like the little smirk going on here} 

 { Mr. and Mrs!!! }

{ to see more of the Grinet's pictures check out my facebook page }

Something Beautiful

 "In Your ocean I'm ankle deep // I feel the waves crashing on my feet // It's like I know where I need to be // but I can't figure out, no I can't figure out.."

 "How much air I will need to breathe // when Your tide rushes over me // There's only one way to figure out // will You let me drown // oh will You let me drown..."

 "Hey now, this is my desire // consume me like a fire, 'cause I just want // Something Beautiful // to touch me // I know that I'm in reach, and I am down on my knees // waiting for, Something Beautiful..."

~ Something Beautiful, Need to Breathe 

[pictures from Cannon Beach in Oregon] 

Tradition

Sometimes I wonder why we do all the things we do.

Like why we have people stand up in front of the church, all dressed up for half an hour at our wedding.

Or we we *all* get dressed up for a wedding.

And why do we make such a big deal over a wedding when it's really the marriage that counts.

And why our culture still makes such a huge deal over the wedding day, when in reality it means absolutely nothing.

Or why.....

Or why.....

Tradition? T.R.A.D.I.T.I.O.N {think Fiddler on the Roof}

Part of it makes me want to go get married on the beach in South Padre ;) just because it's not tradition. But then, my wedding counts for something to me, because my marriage would mean a lot to me. I want my wedding to be made up of things that really mean something to me.

I guess I'm just a rebel against tradition, because for the most part it seems so pointless.

Ok, so our wedding [if we have one] is one day of our life. But really, so much of our life is governed by this little thing called tradition.

Why do we do a lot of the things we do? Because of tradition. And why do we worship the way we do? A lot of times because of tradition.

It makes me want to question the "why" of all the things I do. Is it just because it's the accepted thing to do, or does it really mean something to me? I'm really against doing something that doesn't have any value for me, just because it looks good, or it's the "right" thing to do, but in reality I do it more than think I do. When I pray a certain way, when I worship a certain way, when I listen to certain music [or don't listen to certain music] much of it is "just the way things are done".

What if our *whole* life was completely free of tradition. It was as if you didn't know the way to do anything, and you were free to do everything *exactly* the way the Lord was telling you.

I feel like this is where I need to clarify; I'm *not* saying that because it's a tradition that we should ditch it, I'm saying that we shouldn't do it just *because* it's tradition. I'm also not saying that just because it's tradition that it's not important, some things are "the way it's done" *because* it's right, such as...... getting married. The wedding and marriage certificate are not just tradition, they are what's right before God.

So....... all that to say, I guess I'm a rebel against tradition and my wedding [or any other big party that I throw] is going to be the coolest un-traditional party, /just/ the way I like it ;)

Just kidding! I didn't write all that just to make the point that weddings should be cool [In reality this post isn't even about weddings] I just thought it was a good ending, since I didn't really have one, because this was just some stuff floating around in my head while I was editing [what else?] wedding pictures. :-)

Thanks for making it this far... if you're still reading all these thoughts you get to see a picture :) lol

My Crazy Life

Ummm.... I'm pretty sure I've had a post named this before... Yeah, I'm positive.

Well, it's still crazy, but I was just going to update; I got into the Visioneering Mentor Program, a business mentoring program for photographers, and I'm so excited! For the next three months I'll be pretty busy with that... but I think it's going to be really good for me. Actually it already has been. Setting goals and boundaries, working through my strengths and weaknesses, learning new things... good stuff.

My computer is going to die.... so I'm going to cut the update short... but I'll add my self portrait that I took for the program blog....

New Found Love

I found out today.... that I really [really] like thrift store jewelry. It's fabulous, because every piece is different, and none of are something your friends have. Annddd, the prices are usually better =)

I saw the bow idea over at the Christa Taylor Blog

Oh, and I have I mentioned my love of lipstick???? :-)

Tennis

I found a tennis picture on my desktop from a couple weeks ago, and thought I'd share it with you... I really like the concentration on MiKayla's face. I only got to cover tennis for a couple weeks before the paper hired another editor... now I'm on to football, volleyball and swimming. I'll be posting some of my favorites from both football and volleyball soon..... :-)

David and Leah

Oh my word. What a fabulous couple, gorgeous day, and super wedding party! I loved everything about it, and we had such fun with the pictures. The groomsmen had the best ideas ;) and the girls were just super lovely and this is *only* supposed to be a preview... [since I'm not even half through editing] but I had too hard a time choosing. Oh well, you get to enjoy more of them!

Leah and David are so cute together that my job was way too easy. way too easy. It didn't take much to get special looks. I'm so glad that I got to participate in their lovely day. I enjoyed it so much!

 {First look - thanks Trinks for "arranging a moment" ;) }

 {David's really cool family is Russian... hence the "Russian smiles" }

 {This one is just precious}

 {mmmm, gotta be one of my favs}

 {awwwww :D }

{eeek! When I saw this picture I did a little happy dance...}

 {these guys were a riot, good posers too ;) }

 {these girls were so gorgeous, and I was a huge fan of the flowers; David's sister did a gorgeous job!}

 {I told you they were fun}

 {another favorite}