Merry Christmas!

I am listening to James Taylor Christmas music, drinking a glass of wine, and wrapping the final gifts to be given to loved ones.  It is Christmas at it's finest.  Not to mention I am now off work for 12 days!  I just wanted to wish each and everyone of you a very Merry and Blessed Christmas.  I hope you are surrounded by family and friends, and your heart is filled with joy, and that you remember the true reason for the season! 

I am headed to Texas tomorrow to spend the holiday with Dwyatt's family, and I am so excited!  As we prepare for our vacation, I thought I would share a few photos of my decorations this year...

 Dwyatt gives me an ornament for our tree every year... this was last year...

 This manger scene was given to me by my grandmother.  She bought it in Germany over 50 years ago...



Merry Chrismas everyone!

Moments of Peace

This Christmas season has been one of the busiest I can remember.  Perhaps its because my work schedule has been crazy, working nights and weekends to get Devon's gas plant started.  Perhaps it's because I am in the middle of finals and all my evenings are consumed with studying.  Or perhaps it's also finding time to edit photos, and design wedding albums.  With everything going on, I find myself thinking, "Ahh!  I still have to go shopping, I still have to send Christmas cards, I still have to wrap stuff, I still have to make cookies, I still have to clean, decorate, and attend Christmas parties!"  The list goes on and on...

I find myself in the middle of all this hustle and bustle, and I just stop and think, this is not what Christmas is about.  I feel like I can hear the Lord whispering in my ear, "Be still, and know that I am God” (Psalm 46:10).  So I stop, I let the world melt away, I listen to my favorite Christmas song, smell the fresh pine scent of my tree, I hug my husband, and cherish the moments of peace and pure joy when I can feel the presence of the Lord all around me.  And I remember that this, this perfect quiet moment, this is Christmas.

Hand Family Portraits - *Oklahoma Portrait Photography*

A few weeks ago I had the honor of spending a few hours with a wonderful family.  Although it was freezing, we bared the cold.  Ok they bared the cold... I had my big coat on :)  Despite slowly turning into popsicles, I was surprised how happy and excited the little girls were!  Kielyn and Taylor ran all over the place, and Kielyn held my hand and helped me pick out all the best places to take photos!  And when they weren't running around they were clinging to their brothers' sides. 

This was an opportunity to capture a family, at a moment in time, happy and full of life!  I found out during our session that Ben, who is in the military reserves, is actually getting ready to leave for Afghanistan for the next year.  Knowing this it makes me love and appreciate my job so much more.  I hope that these photos are something they can hold on to during their time apart and I pray that time goes quickly and that Ben comes home soon! 

Hand family - Thank you for the sacrifices you are making to keep this country free, and thank you for letting me be a part of capturing your memories.  Enjoy!

 Throwing leaves!  Kielyn picked this spot :)

 It's easy to see why they have such beautiful children...

Also, I want to share with you all a new feature!  I am now able to create slideshows and put them right here on the blog to let you see a lot more pictures!  So, if you are interested in seeing a bunch more photos from this session just click play below.  My favorite feature is that you can also email the show... at the bottom, under the controls bar, there is a little envelope.  Click that and you can send the slide show to anyone you want to share it with! 

Happy Friday everyone!

Coming Soon

I am in the process of finishing up the portrait session of a beautiful family.  We took these pictures over Thanksgiving weekend and I wait to share them with you, because there are so many cute ones!  I couldn't help but share one of my favorites with you...

Enjoy! 

Full of Thanks and Turkey...

Happy Thanksgiving everyone!  Today I am overflowing with thankfulness.  I have so many things to be thankful for that it truly astounds me.  How come I am so blessed?  How come I am so fortunate when there are so many who are struggling?  As I reflected on the meaning of this day I started making a list of things I am thankful for.  I decided I wanted to share them with you, partly just because, and partly to help me remember that no matter what storms may come my way that I am so blessed.  Blessed beyond what I deserve. 

As you know I am more of an organized list person than a lengthy paragraph person, so here is my list :)

• I am thankful for the grace God has given me in his Son, Jesus Christ.  This is by far the thing I am most thankful for.  God's forgiveness and love for me goes well beyond my comprehension and I am overwhelmed by his mercy.  I know that the sacrifice that Jesus made for me literally means the difference between heaven and hell.  For an eternity with my Saviour, I am so thankful. 
• I am thankful for my family.  I am so thankful that when I go home I can hug my grandparents, and still hear my parents speak the words "I love you" to one another.  I am thankful that my little brother is one of my best friends; and I am thankful for all my aunts, uncles, and cousins who would be there for me at a moments notice. 
• I am thankful for my amazing husband.  I often wake up in the morning and while Dwyatt is still asleep I think "how did I get so lucky that this wonderful man wanted to marry me?"  Dwyatt is my best friend and my partner in everything that we do.  We have been together for 5 years now (married for 2!) and he still brings me flowers, writes me love notes, and gives me foot rubs.  He holds me when I cry, and makes me laugh daily.  He has completed my life and with him I know exactly where I belong in this crazy world. 
• I am thankful for all of my friends.  Though we are now scattered all over the country I know what it means to have best friends.  The kind of friends where you can go a year without seeing each other and then within 5 minutes of talking, its like you were never apart.  These women are amazing and I know that I wouldn't be the same without them.  I love you girlies :)
• I am thankful for America.  I believe in America and the principles it was founded on.  I am so thankful for my freedom and that I was blessed enough to be born in this great nation. 
• I am thankful that my family is able to have such an extravagant meal on Thanksgiving when I know there are others who are suffering from hunger. 
• I am thankful for my health and the health of my family.  It seems to me that being healthy is often something taken for granted until suddenly it's taken away...then it means everything.  I know other families that are struggling with sick family members and again it makes me think, "why am I so blessed?"  I hope I can remember to be thankful for my health every day, and be a support to those who are struggling.
• I am thankful for my two little furry kittens who bring so much joy to my life :)  Even if that joy comes along with scratched leather furniture and pillows covered in hair...ugh! 
• I am thankful for my career and the opportunities I have had to grow and mange projects in my 2 short years of experience. 
• Lastly, I am thankful for cranberry sauce.  Even straight from the can this is one of my favorite Thanksgiving treats :)  And I'm thankful that my Grandmother knows this because she always buys me extra!! 

I hope that you all have a wonderful Thanksgiving and that you are able to reflect of what you are most thankful for!