Baby Camden

This precious little one is dear to my heart, because he belongs to a best friend of mine and her awesome husband who happen to be world class parents. Welcome, little man!

I love

You know what I love? Sitting at the kitchen table at 9:14pm at night and blogging about nothing in particular, that's what.

I love swinging outside on a cool October evening at the park. I love sunsets and snocones and lots of hugs. I love singing in the shower even if Jonathan laughs. I love dirty diapers and wet sloppy kisses and even snotty cries from Truett, because it means he's breathing and happy and healthy. I love it all.

I love extra-hot chai tea lattes that make you krinkle your nose and say, "mmm." I love a good competitive game of chess...when I win. I love music that makes your heart warm up inside and fill with sunshine and joy like clean airy breeze. If you don't know what I'm talking about, then you really need to try out some new tunes. :)

I love a lighting display, from a really far distance, but I'll always love rain. Rain is from heaven, and it cleans the earth and brightens things up. Brown grass? Voila, rain makes it green. Dirty roads? No biggie, rain makes them new.

I love hugs from my husband after long days. I love movies late at night, when I know I won't have to wake up early in the morning. I love bright fingernail polish and books that make me cry. I love silly boy bands with catchy lyrics, and best friends who would do anything for you. I love generous people who are so selfless that their first though is always, "How can I help others?" There are people that I know that are like this, and it's absolutely remarkable to witness in a million ways. I love em!

I love the color white and really flexible vacation agendas. I love homemade sweet potato fries and home decorating blogs. I love penguins and I love playing the piano. I love grammar and all weird things like that dealing with words that make some people want to shoot themselves. By the way, be fair warned that I don't hold myself strictly to grammar rules on my blog. This is my blog, and the only rule is that it doesn't have rules, and that's the way I like it. :)

I love being an aunt to my precious little ones Audrey and McKennon. I love my family very much, and miss each on of them on a daily basis. I love to pray, so that works out well too, since family and prayer go hand-in-hand, right? I love photography and I love cool grass and a picnic. I love baseball games and fireworks.

And most of all? I love God. Yes, I love him beyond anything else. I love what he is doing in the world, because he's unpredictable and wise like that. He moves mountains and he changes hearts. He loves murderers and he loves mess-ups like me. He loves second chances, and friends, and laughing, and people.

Hmm, so that's what I love.

Kashton // Sneak Peak

Congrats to the Kutters! They went from a family of three to four, and it seems so right. Welcome Kashton Lee!

 

Baby Liam // Photo Preview

I had the honor of taking pictures of baby Liam at just 4 days old! This little guy is nothing but cute. As my momma would say, he's "pure sugar."

 

A Trusting Heart

John Ortberg wrote in his book, Love Beyond Reason:

"If I want to fully experience the love of Jesus, I must receive one of the most important gifts he sends me--his teaching...I must trust that he is right--about everything. And that therefore where I disagree with him I must either be wrong, or not yet understand what it was he was saying. I must allow Jesus to teach me how to live." 

Wow, that's powerful. Have you been there? 

• "But, God, why is the cancer back?"
• "God, I thought you told our family to do this, but it's not working out like I thought it was going to."
• "God, how come those people don't ever seem to suffer, but all that I see in my life is trouble."
• "God, how come I struggle with ______ , but have done nothing but serve you faithfully."

One thing I know for sure is that God is good. He does not delight in troubles, as in ever. Is he using them as growing opportunities in your life? Well probably. Is he trying to teach you something? Perhaps. But, maybe not. Sin brings trouble much of the time. Maybe there's nothing you did to cause it, but the sin in the world is always going to affect us, because this is a broken human race, and that's what we were born into--a world full of sin. Sometimes trials provide the best opportunities for us to be thankful, amen?

God can do what he wants, and he has that right as the creator of the entire universe. If all he did was save us and that's it, shouldn't we still praise him? I know for a fact that he does not want us to suffer, because our God came to earth as a human to save our lives by laying down his own. Does that sound like the kind of God who likes to see you suffer? Um...no. 

So what's the point I'm getting to? If we don't understand God, and we don't know what he's doing with our lives right now, I just want to remind someone out there to trust. He always has your best interest at heart. If you find yourself questioning that, stop for a moment and ask yourself what you're missing. You may not understand God's will in this moment, but please be confident that it's part of a greater plan. God never wastes a moment to use your struggle or hardship for good. He won't miss it. Never. He will use you, where you are, in this hard spot, and he's going to use it for his glory. Maybe you'll see it now, or far down the road, or hey, maybe never. That's just how cool God is. He's the soon-returning, glorious Lord of all creation, and he cares about your troubles. He has a plan, and you may not be in on all of the details, so trust.

Today I'm choosing to trust him about everything, and if I don't understand or see where he's going with things, I still choose trust. To experience Jesus, I must read his book, learn from his words, and listen to his voice. The Bible is full of life-giving wisdom, audacious people, miraculous miracles, gobs of hope, love, and peace, and enough challenging moments to keep your soul busy for a lifetime. I've heard people say the Bible is boring. Now, does that sound boring to you? :) 

Aiden Photo Preview

My son Truett has a really wonderful best friend, Aiden. It kind of melts my heart when they hug. Here are some pictures from a mini-shoot last week!

The Green Family

I love this family so much! They are quick to love, always full of laughter, hope, and lots of hugs and kind words. I loved taking these so much!