{Travis and Rachel Teaser}

You can't even tell me you don't want to see more of this shoot! *wink*
Keep an eye out for it in the next week or so, until then...

So long 2010...

I'm a little embarrassed by how long it's been since my last blog post.
Between trying to finish up 2010 shoots, writing up pricing, contracts, etc. for 2011, and hosting family from out of town, let along Christmas celebrations, I've had very little time for blogging.
go ahead, give me the *tisk* look and get it out of the way!

On another note, Adam and I are getting more and more excited for what 2011 will hold for JFP. A lot of things will be changing with the new year! Refocusing, repurposing, refreshing, will come at a price, but will be a great thing for our family!

All of these changes will be in a post on here the first of the year...

Until then, here are a few pictures from our extended family Christmas.
My Uncle Lance and Aunt Karen have a beautiful home, and their exquisite taste make it an almost magical place to be at Christmas!

I am trying harder and harder to be wife, momma, daughter, cousin, etc., for family time, which results in photographs missed but memories made. I think I'm on board with that! *wink*

Enjoy!

This picture makes me giggle. It's totally blurry, which exaggerates the 'mood' I was trying to capture.
The absolute scurry of finding presents with their names on them. 

Go ahead, tell me you don't want your home to look like this!

And He's Off!

A couple of days ago, Atticus was being super mischievous, and as I opened the front door to grab the mail, he snuck out behind me, running down the porch, screaming in delight.

Luckily for him, I had my camera around my neck and took the opportunity to photograph him rolling around on the (freezing concrete) porch, instead of taking the discipline route. *wink*

I got a little chuckle out of this image, thought I'd pass it along.

Happy Friday!

Christmas Card Envy

Lately, I have had this internal dialogue:
"Money is super tight, how will we get Christmas cards out? Maybe we just won't be able to send them this year. Not send them?! That's absurd! You have to send out Christmas cards... That's what respectable people do!"


So maybe I'm alone in this internal battle... maybe my husband is the only one who has lost his job this year (along with the other nearly 1 million Americans). Maybe our family is the only family dealing with inflating prices of goods, gas, anything everything we need, and yet no inflation in pay? But it seems that we're not the only ones... So I'm a bit confused by all of the 'Christmas Card' talk...


So I've been thinking into the 'why' of Christmas cards, and why they seem so important to me.


I love sending mail. I love receiving mail. But how often do I do it? Not super often. And isn't the reason I like receiving mail because of the thought that someone thought enough of ME to spend a moment of their day, write me a note, and get it into the mail? I mean, I don't get excited when I get a mass mailer, right? Say, the "for Julia T. or current resident" mail? I actually receive those frequently at our home, only addressed to the previous owner... I've tried to send them back but the mailman circles 'Or current resident' like somehow I get it by default. Well, sometimes I think that we get & give Christmas cards by default. I believe I could count on one hand the Christmas cards that had a personal note to ME inside. I've actually received a Christmas card with nothing written in it. Nothing. And it wasn't one of those 'printed' messages' pictures cards... (not that I'm sure that's any better).


So, then, what is the point of Christmas cards? honestly.


Here are other things I've considered in the past couple of weeks in relation to Christmas Cards:

-Why am I so eager to share our 'accomplishments' of the year? Why is that acceptable in a Christmas card meaning to spread the joy of Christ's birth? 

I once heard someone say, "you never get a card with all of the years failures in it, it's always all of the achievements".
-Why is it that I'm all 'go green' about everything else, but I will spend several dollars for each of our  Christmas cards?
-Why am I thrifty with my time to sit and write a word of encouragement to someone yet I spend a week to address cards/ pictures of my beautiful family and the year's success?
-Why is it ok to send an e-mail/ Facebook message/ post for every other situation in life and not send out this wish via the world wide web?
-Why am I striving to be 'classy' when there's no mention of class being something we are to strive for in the Bible.  (I am, however, supposed to be a good steward of 'my' money;))
-I am called to care what God thinks about me, and to live my life for His glory. And my motives in sending out C.C. contradict that. As I look more internally, I see that I send them out to impress others...and how that is wrong. (it's making me think back to things I've learned in hospitality.)


These are all just thoughts that have run through my head as I've pondered the Christmas card tradition...
let me add that if you are in a position to send out cards, and you chose to do so, good for you! They are a fun tradition that make many people smile. This is just *my* thought process on the matter...and something I feel like God wanted me to think about my motives in. (I won't judge you *wink*)


In the spirit of Christmas cards, I've decided to make a 'virtual Christmas card'... one that shares the reality of our year *wink*

Reads: " 2010: A year of job loss, weight gain, and we still haven't painted the basement. May the gift of Jesus's birth overwhelm you in the best and worst of seasons! Merry Christmas, Love, the Towells"

Details

I *LOVE* details!

So I thought I would post a few of my favorites from our Thanksgiving day feast...

We have a small house, so we don't have large groups of people over for dinner often. 

So, when we do, I like to take every opportunity to make things special. 

Plus, it's Thanksgiving, right?! *wink*

Thankful...

I'm thankful for countless people and things, but these are at the top of my list:

home life...

Truth be told, this has been a hard week in our home.
Adam, my husband, lost his job this past week. It was a terrible job, so we are thankful to not have the 'lurking evil' in our home, but it leaves a bit of uncertainty...

But this post is not about the struggle, it's about what I'm learning... my thoughts are still very raw on the matter, so forgive me for not delivering them in the most eloquent of ways...

Things I'm learning at school in life:

Most everything in life is relative. How 'bad' things are, how 'good' things are... it's all relative.
I often think Adam and I couldn't be any more broke...but we could. We are.
I often think we couldn't live in a 'lesser' home, and even if that were true, we could be back living with my mom... and, in the near future, we may. And while that seems pretty crappy, it's still not as terrible as the majority of the world lives...

God can and will make an example of me if I let Him. So the question is: do I want to be an example? Ask me that ten years ago, I don't even have to think about my answer, it's a resounding "NO!" But today... it's a yes. And I know what that means... It often means suffering. To what degree? I don't know. But I do know one thing with every bit of my being: I would rather be suffering with God, than sailing on smooth waters without Him. I know that FOR SURE. And I don't say that recklessly, I say that after nearly thirty years of God proving to me that the other side of the 'storm' is far better than what I can imagine my life being.

I am ungrateful. I've said it before, Adam and I live in a small house that is not in the greatest of neighborhoods. We have friends that pay more in property taxes per month than we do for our mortgage. And while I am so thankful for our home, I often find myself being very prideful. Prideful in my thriftiness, in how we 'make the most' of our humble home. But the truth is, that leaves behind God's grace in the matter. The fact that I don't deserve any of it...any of it. Romans 6:23 says that the wages of my sin is death, so as long as I'm alive on this earth, I'm living under God's mercy. I often forget this...


God makes good on his promises. There's no explaining here, it's a fact. God will take care of me. Maybe not how I imagine it looking like, but exactly how He planned it.


I will never stop learning... God willing!


Thanks for letting me blab on here...

This picture reminded me of how there's always 'sun' to peak into life... looking for it is the key.

{Kayt: 37 is the new 27}

When Kayt, or 'KT' as I endearingly call her, wrote me enquiring about a birthday shoot, I jumped on it! KT is a beautiful outdoor girl, who grew up in and embraces 'the country' and has been a dear friend of mine for nearly a decade. So, where better to shoot than out in the fields near her old stomping grounds.

Happy Birthday, KT! I hope thirty-seven really is the new twenty-seven for you this year! *wink*

{Bowen: Family Shoot}

Remley and I were instant friends, so his perfect two-year-old boyish personality and our new-found friendship made for a fun adventure of a shoot! 

Thank you, Julie and Mike, for letting me share in some of your precious family time!

Feelin' Crafty!

I think I'm posting this online so that maybe, just maybe, I will actually follow through with making these crafty things that have been filling my mind. I heard this phrase from a friend, and I claim this statement: My 'follow through' is broken!  So, this is really just a means of accountability for me. (For the life of me I can't figure out which of my friends 'coined' that phrase...if it's you, TELL ME... I should pay you royalties.. I say this often!)

Below are a couple of pictures of said items that I found on easy.  I will follow up with the shop link, so you can purchase them if you're so inclined. I have no relationship with these shop-owners, I just stumbled upon their products and I'm inspired to craft up something similar. Also, to be clear, these are not my photographs!

I'm loving this 'home' set of pillows! one, because I'm a bit obsessed with 'Words With Friends' right now (an online scrabble of sorts) and two, because I LOVE my home! I think I may make them for the sofa in my office, and have them spell 'work' on one side and 'play' on the other... since Atticus likes to play in my office. I envision someday he will send me a 'code' via those pillows of when he's sick of me working and would like to play, we will see. (Check out her store.)

I'm a bit obsessed with making Atticus's gifts. In my head at least. I have grand ideas of making all of these 'Etsy-like' toys that he adores and that can be passed on to other children we may have. So, since we are incorporating the alphabet in every way we can right now, I'm dreaming of making this for Christmas. Now, this lady is the BOSS of all things felt, (check out her store) her whip-stich is like something out of a magazine, so I don't imagine mine will look anything like hers, but you get the idea.

Interaction time: do you have anything you're dreaming of making for your home or as a gift? please share!

Gratitude

I was driving to the store this morning with Atticus in the back seat. Now, Atticus has had an ultra-ego in the car lately. It's like we literally flip a switch when we put him into his car seat, and he starts begging and whining for everything he sees... a cup, a CD, a book, anything really. So after my normal "Mommy is driving, and I won't be getting anything else for you" speech, I started to tune out the noise coming from the back seat. Just as I was about to scold him for whining, I realized he was looking around, swaying from side to side, and singing along with the music...worship music to God.


(Lyrics:
Our God is greater, our God is stronger, God you are higher than any other.
Our God is Healer, Awesome in Power, Our God! Our God!
Our God is greater, our God is stronger, God you are higher than any other.
Our God is Healer, Awesome in Power, Our God! Our God!
And if our God is for us, then who could ever stop us.
And if our God is with us, then what could stand against.
And if our God is for us, then who could ever stop us.
And if our God is with us, then what could stand against.
Then what could stand against.)



I can't begin to put into words the feelings that welled up inside of me. Tears rolled down my cheeks (as they are now as I write this)... It took me a minute to recognize the feeling taking over me... it was a deep sense of gratitude and humility. I could do nothing but thank God through my tears for this overwhelming joy that I was feeling.

The list of things that I'm deeply grateful for is long, but today I feel strangely grateful for my freedom. This may seem unrelated, but my first thought as I heard Atticus singing along to worship music was just how thankful I am that Jesus died for him. And that he's given a chance to live a ridiculously full life serving Christ, and having to do nothing for it... and then it came over me that he gets to hear about Jesus in so many situations. And how much easier it is for me to share God's love with him when it's played on the radio, when we get to go to an awesome church, when I get to meet with a friend in Panera and talk about our Bible study while he eats breakfast...there are countless occasions.

Now those of you know know me well, know that I am not a patriotic person. I'm not political, and I'm not patriotic. I don't believe that America is a sacred place, just, for now, a relatively safe place. (Still not my eternal home!) Don't get me wrong, I am extremely grateful that I live in a country full of freedoms... but I have always attributed that to God's sovereignty and grace on me. I believe whole-heartedly in James 1:17 ("Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of heavenly lights who does not change like shifting shadows."). But today, in addition to God's grace on me, I felt a new gratitude for those who have fought to secure this freedom Christ has given me.

So, today I guess I feel 'patriotic'.
I am so thankful to the individuals who have given their time, their quality of life, and some, their earthly lives, so that my son can sit in the back seat and sing to Jesus.

Thank you will never be enough.

New Flash: Adorable Subject

I've been needing to practice bouncing my new flash for my upcoming indoor sessions, and what better time to do it, than in Atticus's dark room when he woke from his nap! 

I love these pictures, they capture who Atticus is right now... 

full of attitude, and not quite sure about anything...

Oh, and I learned a thing or two about bouncing my flash, too *wink*

(these are all unedited so you can see the difference in lighting...)

 I was trying to get Atticus to wink at me in this last one...he's quite the 'copy cat' these days!

(*this image has some editing*)

Oh Sunny Day

So, before you wish for a glorious, sun-filled day for your photo shoot... 

I wanted to give you a little glimpse of the end result of pictures in the sun vs. the shade. 

Now, sure you can find shade on a sunny day, but your options are a bit more limited.
Wouldn't you rather have pictures taken in the exact location that you choose, instead of finding the side of the barn with the best shade?

Just thought I'd bring the ideal weather forecast of this (Family/ Child) photographer to you!

In a shady spot..

Out in the glorious Sun.

On that same note there are times that you can get sun in your lens and can make for an amazing, picturesque scape. But kids don't get that... and since I'm primarily a children/ family photographer... I'll save the sunshine for playing at the park or taking pictures of my dreamy husband. (see previous entry *wink*)

My Husband is Hot!

I know it's kind of tacky to say, but well, my husband is HOT! 

I know 'hot' isn't the most 'grown-up' word to say, but I'm saying it anyways!

Don't you think wives should think their husbands are hot? 

That word gets tossed around for men in show business that we don't even know, 

and probably are some pretty lousy characters in their real lives.

So, I'm saying it...MY HUSBAND IS HOT!!! 

Inside and out... I'm pretty proud to call him mine!

He is a loving, caring, godly man, that tries his hardest to be 

the husband and father God created him to be.

Here's a pictorial 'ode' to my love, AKT. 

The sunlight and the forrest only add to his dreaminess.. *wink*

PS. Adam is not a fan of me taking his picture... I always have to 'sneak' and catch him in a moment. 
Here, he was watching Atticus play in the leaves.

My Little Scarecrow

Trick-or-treat was a bit different this year... Adam and Atticus were both not feeling well, but I wanted Atticus to be able to hand out candy. (And selfishly I wanted to get a couple of pictures of him in his 'costume'...) So I dressed him up as quickly as possible, bribing him with candy to get his face paint on.

I was ill-prepared this year, (trick or treat totally snuck up on me!) so I pulled weeds from the garden to act as 'straw' and I used one of my winter hats, tucked under, as his straw hat. 

It worked, considering he had it on for maybe 10 minutes.

We got some fun pictures before the meltdown~ 

 He was a bit startled by all of the scary masks at first, but he got in the swing of giving the candy away... Atticus loves giving people things... it's one of his fun little 'quirks':)

*He has my vote for the cutest scarecrow there ever was!

Pepper Play (and a little Quick Tip)

I realized that my posts have been all work and no play: a reflection of my life these days! *wink*

So, I decided to do a post bidding farewell to the beautiful red peppers that I have eaten almost every meal over the summer. Thankfully, I bought up quite a few (15 to be exact) at the grocery this past week (they were $1 each) so I could freeze them and have them all winter. 

I chopped and chopped and chopped, then put them into freezer bags... enter: Quick Tip.

I discovered this a month or so when buying up raspberries, and even took a picture to use for a future 'QT'...

Now, I'm new to the 'freezing world', so some of you may already do this, but I've been using a straw to get all of the air out of the nooks and cranny's of whatever I'm freezing. (see picture below.) I just insert the straw in the far end of the bag, zip up to the straw, then suck all of that air out! It works pretty well. 

I'm sure it doesn't hold a candle to those fancy machines, but neither does the cost.

So, what do you buy bulk to store for the winter?

{Silas is One}

Dear friends of mine, that now live in Kentucky, happened to be in town to celebrate Silas's birthday with their families and I was lucky enough to get to have a fun little one year old session with them!

Thanks, BeViers for letting me hang out with your great family! All of your boys are a delight!

Senioritis

I think I may have the photographer's form of 'Senioritis'...in the best way possible.

I'm a bit in love with seniors at this point in my photography career. 

They make a shoot so simple and fun and, well, a senior shoot holds endless possibilities! They are often willing to 'strike a pose' or get in strange, uncomfortable positions all for the sake of the shot! There's no tantrums when they're getting weary, they push through. 

So, here's my 'ode' to seniors!! 

(and a few pictures of seniors I've shot in the past couple of weeks that have yet to make their 'debut' on my website...)

Meet: Noelle, Kathleen, Paul and Joshua