Leaves on the Ground

I love fall. I love downtown Franklin... Here are just two pictures from where I live..

A special shoot for me

This past weekend, I was able to shoot a great family. This shoot actually meant a lot to me, because the last time I photographed Carina, was the day she told her closest friends that she and Chris were expecting. Now, just over a year and a half later, I get to photograph Chris, Carina and their precious baby Lars!!!
The morning was perfect! Perfect lighting, leaves on the ground and perfect weather! Not too cold, and not too hot!

Enjoy...

Mr. and Mrs. David Sowers

A couple of weeks ago, I had the opportunity to learn from and shoot with Amy Conner (check out her work here and here). I had such an amazing day being a 2nd shooter, but above even shooting pictures, I am honored that Amy would even take the time to show me some stuff... to allow me to shadow her. She is such an amazing photographer!
Check out some of the images from this amazing wedding!!!

Yesterday, Keith, Carrie and I went to the Pumpkin Festival at downtown Franklin. I had so much fun! All we did was walk up and down Main street, then sat outside of Starbucks for a little while. It was the perfect fall day... not too cold, yet there was a crispness in the air.

Introducing.. Daniel and Drew Gill

I had the joy a few weeks ago of photographing these adorable twins- Daniel and Drew Gill. They were such happy babies the day of the shoot and that always makes things enjoyable! I am so happy with how they turned out!!


Now, unfortunately, their dad is an Auburn fan... So of course, we threw his hat on the boys... Although I would have liked a different hat ;) these images turned out wonderful!!!

Ok, so I'm sorry for all of you who follow this blog. I know it hasn't been very fun! It's not that I don't have anything to blog about, it is really that I'm so busy, I haven't found time to blog! Sad, I know, but that is just the season I'm in. I'm actually in the middle of working but I have something rendering, so I'm going to give a quick update... ready, set, GO!!!

The IDT program is going GREAT! I am being challenged left and right by the Lord and while sometimes it can feel painful and repetitive, I am embracing it because I know that it is for my growth in Him. I am assigned to Jordan Roe at New Song Spring Hill, and I am loving this work assignment. Jordan has challenged the way I think about, and approach a lot things: ministry, outreach, relationship building, and much more. I love how the Lord has a perfect plan, and He knew exactly what He was doing with placing me under Jordan's leadership in such a direct way.

Classes are amazing. Now a few weeks into it, I am still learning SO much about the Word and I'm soaking up the knowledge. Pentateuch is amazing, the Old Testament is so interesting! Systematic is great, and Spiritual leadership is also really making me thinking about things in a new way. I still sometimes can't believe that I am in this program!

Fall is in full swing here in Tennessee! I'm so excited about this because for a little while, I thought that fall was going to miss us. It got so cold really fast after summer, but luckily, that is not the case! Although I've only been here for a year and a half, fall has honestly become one of my favorite seasons! The leaves changing colors, the weather gets a little bit colder (still getting used to this) and it is such a physical representation of a changing of seasons. This year, it is a fall of freedom for many people in my life, so i am extra excited about that.

I know it doesn't look like much on this blog, but honestly, if I wrote everything that is going on right now, you would be reading for days... I'll spare you... That also being said, I am super busy right now and will try to post often, but no promises.

Did you know?

This is a question that I find myself asking a lot lately. Mainly because I am learning so much in my classes that I just want to pour it all out on other people. So I find myself saying: "Did you know that.." or "Did you know this..." It is quite fun.

We are finishing up our 2nd week of classes (2 pentateuch, 2 systematic theology and 1 spiritual leadership)and I am finding that within these 5 classes, I've already learned and grown so much more than I did in college. Maybe it's because in college I had 8 different classes at any given time and I didn't truly focus on my religion classes, or maybe it is because in my mind I was just doing what needed to get done in order to finish up homework.

I feel like the Lord is using my LSM classes now, to redeem my college years. I feel like I am in such a different place now that I was in college. I am truly a student of the Word. I've never been so excited about learning the Word, about studying the Word and about applying the Word.

I am a bat mitzvah-"daughter of the commandment".

Eleanor Joy

This week I had the opportunity to shoot an adorable baby: Eleanor Joy O'Neal. I was so blessed to have a happy baby on the night of our shoot... Happy baby=extremely cute photos! Take a look at some of these...

Classes began today!!

Well, I graduated from college in May of '08...and now, just over a year later, I find myself back in the classroom! I never thought I would be going back to school, but never say never, eh? About 2 weeks ago, I started on a journey called the Immersion Discipleship Training (IDT). the IDT program is an intense 18-month ministry training program that New Song offers. This program is set up in a teaching and training format. The IDT students take 3-4 Bible/Theology classes (teaching), and then we have work assignments where we put what we just learned in class to work in practical ways. It's a great program.

So here I am, classes started today and I'm having to get back into the mode of doing homework, working, ministry and relationships. The classes I'm taking are: The Pentateuch, Systematic Theology 1, Spiritual Leadership 1, and I'm part of a Word group. I'm trying to come into this, not with the view of "school again", but I'm looking at it as yet another way that I am blessed to be able to go deeper in the Word and learn about our Lord! I'm so excited for the text that we get to read during these classes...basically I have a whole new outlook on classes then I did when I was in college!

It's going to to be good!!!

Sometimes it's explained best in a song....

Whatever You're Doing by Santcus Reel


It's time for healing time to move on
It's time to fix what's been broken too long
Time make right what has been wrong
It's time to find my way to where I belong
There's a wave that's crashing over me
All I can do is surrender

(Chorus)
Whatever you're doing inside of me
It feels like chaos somehow there's peace
It's hard to surrender to what I can't see
but I'm giving in to something heavenly

Time for a milestone
Time to begin again
Revaluate who I really am
Am I doing everything to follow your will
or just climbing aimlessly over these hills
So show me what it is you want from me
I give everything I surrender...
To...

(Chorus)

Time to face up
Clean this old house
Time to breathe in and let everything out
That I've wanted to say for so many years
Time to to release all my held back tears

Whatever you're doing inside of me
It feels like chaos but I believe
You're up to something bigger than me
Larger than life something heavenly

Whatever you're doing inside of me
It feels like chaos but now I can see
This something bigger than me
Larger than life something heavenly
Something heavenly

It's time to face up
Clean this old house
Time breathe in and let everything out

I'm still here..

Just a little note to say that I'm still here. A lot has happened over the past few weeks, and 2 things have prevented me from posting...1) I've been WAY to busy to actually sit down and write something or 2) When I do sit down to write, I have complete writer's block and don't want to just ramble here, so I just don't post....

I started the IDT (Immersion Discipleship Training) Program last week, and It was a great week of orientation and hearing from our pastoral team. I am so blessed to be able to work and learn and grow under them in this season! It is going to be an intense year for me, I can already tell!
Today we start work assignments, which I am excited about. I can't wait to sit down with Jordan and see all that he has in store for me. I know that I am going to learn and grow leaps and bounds serving under him and serving our city of Spring Hill!

The Leonbergers

I recently had the privilege to shoot pictures of some good friends of mine! I'm so happy with how they turned out, but rather than talking about them, I'll just let the images speak for themselves!

Simple Things

It's the simple things in life that we must cherish. Simple things like eating a sandwich (minus the bread for me) from a small market in the middle of the country...enjoying that sandwich on the porch and throwing rocks at a stop sign...all with great friends.

My morning walk

I went for a walk this morning. Normally I go for runs, but my trainer asked me yesterday if I was willing to not necessarily throw out all my knowledge of health and fitness, but if I was willing to start from scratch. To start at the foundation, basics, and work my way up. Starting with nutrition (as I blogged about last time). But anyways, to get some cardio work in everyday, and not hurt my knee, he is having me walk for 45 minutes or so daily (Granted, today is day one and it went well btw!) But as I was walking, I was thinking about the season I'm about to walk into with the Immersion Discipleship Training @ New Song. As I've been praying in preparation, I've really been asking the Lord to basically take me back to the foundation of who He is. Not to start from scratch, but after 22 years (basically) of being a believer, my mind can get cluttered (which it has) and my view of the Lord distorted. So I have been asking the Lord to reveal to me who He is..in a new way... Not that I rid myself of all the knowledge that I have of the Lord, but I guess in a sense, set it aside, and let the Lord give me new knowledge of who He is. Just like I'm not ditching all the knowledge I have of exercise, or running, i'm just taking it back to the foundations.

A new way..

Romans 6:13 says: "And do not present your members as instruments of unrighteousness to sin, but present yourselves to God as being alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness to God." This verse has been on my mind and heart a lot over the past few weeks and I have been challenged lately with not only presenting my body as a living sacrifice daily, but also presenting my members as an instrument of righteousness. What does that really mean? Well, I've found for myself that it means I must make myself presentable to the Lord. My body is a temple of the Lord and it is to be an instrument of righteousness for the Lord to work through me. One of the largest things that has been brought up in my prayer time is how I have taken care of (or lack there of) my body recently. So after some prayer, I approached one of the leaders at Frontline who is a personal trainer and asked him if he would help me not only get in shape, but if he would help me transform my lifestyle when it comes to food and my body.
Well, I met with Mike today and man was it informational!! We didn't even talk about a workout program, but Mike really focused in on nutrition. I thought I knew a lot about nutrition and health, but man was I wrong! I learned so much tonight and it is going to be an adjustment, but I am so looking forward to it! Sure, I'm looking forward to the weight that is going to come off, and the muscle toning that will happen, but above all I'm looking forward to the energy that I'm going to have. When I have more energy I am going to be able to do so much more for the kingdom of the Lord!

So now I am on a new adventure, finding new foods and making better food choices. No longer eating 3 meals a day, but 4-5 smaller meals. In a week or two, I'll meet with Mike again and we will assess where I am at and what the next step will be (workout program etc.) I'm looking forward to this new season for many many reasons, but this is one of them! I'm sure I will post on here as my journey towards presenting my body as an instrument of righteousness continues.

Now Presenting the graduating class of 2009

I had the great privilege to shoot some great people today: The graduating student interns from New Song! Joel, Luke, Kelsey, Lauren and Rochelle have dedicated the past 3 years of their life to the call that the Lord placed on them for this season and now their hard work is being honored. As you can see below, the Lord radiates through them. I had so much fun shooting them and I hope you enjoy the pictures! For more images click here.

My family

As I was editing pictures from my Grandma's birthday in July, I realized again just how much I love my family! We are a small and tight knit family, which I think is simply amazing!

Whenever we all get together, it is non-stop storytelling, laughing, game playing, home video watching, funny faces and more laughs!!

So this is a post just to say how much I love them and am so thankful to the Lord for blessing me with an amazing family!

what a weekend!

Ever have one of those weekends where you are just super busy and you really don't know where the time went? (I know Bethany has had a few).. Well, this weekend was that for me!

Friday night, I went to Frontline where we had small groups. It was such a great night where myself and a few other girls got to sit down and talk about what the Lord is doing in our lives. After small group, a friend and I sat and talked for a little while longer, and let the night get away...

Saturday, I woke up at 6:30am, had my quite time and then headed to Jim Warren Park, where Frontline was hosting a 5K to end thirst in India. I've posted about it before, you can read that post here. Anyways, after months of preparation by our "GO" team, the race finally came. Now this race was more than just a run, it was about more than ourselves, it was about India and building a water tower. It was also my first "race" back since my injury last summer, and let me tell you, it was fun but not easy!! A few weeks ago, I injured my knee again playing softball in CA (I know, my fault) but that prevented me from being able to run the entire 5K. As I was walking, I was praying through a lot of pride...But, like I said earlier, it was about much more than me...and I finished!From there, I sped home (not really) and jumped in the shower to get ready for Madison's birthday party. Saturday she turned 9 years old and had a science birthday pary! This party was pretty fun, it included everything from learning about electricity to playing (kinda) with dry ice to making giant bubbles and bouncy balls!! Robyn and Carey hired a science man to come out and teach/entertain Madi and her friends. He also showed up with a smoking volcano birthday cake (which I couldn't eat)! It was quite the sight and so much fun!
A few hours later, I got to talk to my sweet friend Kaycee and I was so thankful for that!

Now that I have run/walked 3.1 miles and spent hours with about 5-6 8/9 year olds, I had to muster up enough energy to go to work...AND CLOSE!! My shift started at 1730 and I left Beef O' Brady's at 2030ish... it was a long night, but a good night! I love how the Lord strategically places us places. He is showing me more and more everyday exactly how I am to be on mission with Him at work. On Saturday night, I had the opportunity to share with a couple of coworkers about Guard Your Heart and why I have chosen not to date. It was a sweet conversation, filled with lots of questions and the Lord speaking through me. I'm so excited because I know that there will be many more conversations, probably about GYH, and I so look forward to that!!!

So there you have my SATURDAY: wake up at 6:30 and go to bed at midnight... Great! Just enough time to get a few hours of sleep and wake up bright and early for church!

Sunday rolls around and I honestly didn't want to wake up! But, I rolled out of bed (which has been a couch for the past few days) and got dressed b/c I needed to be at the church by 8:15.
Can I just say that service was AMAZING this week! The Lord has been speaking and showing me so many things this past week and service just confirmed it all for me. I knew going into service that there were going to be a lot of hearts changed and convicted all over the New Song Network by the Lord through the message that the teaching team brought forth, and that was exactly what happened.
From church, I ran over to Robyn and Carey's house for about an hour, just enough time to catch a small nap (thank you Lord) and then head back to work to walk in the provision of the Lord. Although work was kinda slow, the down time gave me an opportunity to again talk to my coworkers. This time, one of my managers and I got to talking about bills, debt, life, careers etc. and I was able to share with her about how the Lord has given me provision in the area of finances and how I have a peace now that I never had before, EVEN when I have school loans and car payments-with minimal income... Also got to share with her about the call that the Lord has placed on my life for full-time ministry! She seemed receptive, but now I have been labeled by her as "preacher-girl"..not a bad thing I guess, and she doesn't refer to me as that, she just catches herself when she starts to talk foul... she says "oh sorry, I can't talk like that in front of 'preacher girl'"... It just makes me laugh.

Now Monday rolls around and it wasn't as crazy, but still a little busy... The Goodside girls had dance boot camp at church, so Robyn and I took them and came home... We ended up having a much needed conversation (on my part) and it was so sweet! Then we realized (after 2 hours) that it was time to go pick the girls up again... We went and got them, then I dropped Robyn off at the hospital for chemo, went to steak and shake, grabbed lunch, took the girls back to spring hill and I headed back to the hospital. Monday was the 5th treatment of chemo that Robyn had to undergo, but it was the first treatment of the new drug. Because it was the first time she had received that drug, they had to administer it to her a lot slower, so we ended up being at the hospital for 4ish hours. Even though we were just sitting there, it was still very draining! We came home and I went straight to work... Had a decent night at work, again I was closing and didn't leave until about 2030! It was another late night!

That was my weekend, as long and full as it was, I had a blast with every minute of it!