Stroud Family

Wow am I behind on blogging or what! Here's the super fun Stroud family. We had a fabulous time goofing off at Cedars of Lebanon back in October. Here's some of my favorites....

Miss A Celebrates The Big 1

I've had the honor and privilege of photographing sweet Miss A for the past six months.  She's the firstborn to the sweetest most adoring parents and this past October she celebrated her first year of life. I'll miss getting to see her every three months but Mom & Dad are working on a sibling so here's to another gorgeous baby for me to watch grow through my lens....

This bunny (the pink one) is her bestest friend and we owe every giggle in her pics to this thing.

Christmas Morning

I love how expressive my kids are. They are so fun to photograph. I think it's because...

1. They are GORGEOUS!  

2. They are so used to mom's camera in their faces they don't even acknowledge it anymore, in fact they   

    may be under the assumption that it's attached to me in some way.

3. Well, I'll just let these snaps speak for themselves, enjoy...

Yeah baby! Easy Bake Oven... HOLLA!

OK... how stoked is he! LEGO'S. I was stoked too. Secretly this was a gift for me too

XBOX 360!!

We were pretty dog gone proud of our first motorbike we constructed

And this was the scene in my family room for the remainder of winter break

Christmas 2010

Here's a few snaps from Christmas Eve at my Aunt's House

Baby Madison and Bailee grinnin at each other

Oooh... can't beat the Bokeh from my 50mm 

Entertaining Baby Maddy... I'm not sure who was more entertained

Playing barbies with Uncle Chris

Galway

As promised here is the sequel to my Ireland post. The first part of my trip was in Dingle, Co Kerry and the second leg of my adventure was Galway. How could I not stop in and scope out the little city that inspired a favorite song of many (Galway girl)....

Galway Bay

Street musicians everywhere 

Here's Noel... he kept me company and flirted outrageously with me one evening at O'Connells

Music

I've recently been given some opportunities to stretch my legs a bit in the music world. Thanks to Gator Michaels over at Davis Music Group here in Nashville, TN.  Here's some shots I got from a little shindig the company held to honor the owners of the company. Funny story... I was being introduced to some of the people coming into the venue and chatting with the loveliest ladies, I looked down at a stack of magazines (Country Weekly) someone had just laid on the table next to me and thought... "Huh, they kinda look like these girls I'm talking to"  Turns out it WAS the girls I was talking to! Nice to meet you Point of Grace!  Silly me.

 The ladies of Point of Grace

Safe

Many of you who follow my blog are aware that my personal life is a bit of a mess.  Okay, that may be understating a tad.  Through all of the tough stuff my faith has been shaken.  But this last week the tables were turned a bit and I was refreshed and renewed and carried.  I looked behind me and saw only one set of footprints and they weren't mine because God only knows I wasn't able to walk... I was carried. {{tears}}

Here's a song that reminded me who's been looking after me....

SAFE

Phil Wickham

To the ones whos dreams have fallen all apart
and all your left with is a tired & broken heart
I can tell by your eyes that you think your'e on your own
but you're not alone

have you heard of the One who can calm the raging sea
give sight to the blind, pull the lame up to their feet
with a love so strong and never let you go
no you're not alone

You will be safe in His arms
You will be safe in His arms
because the hands that hold the world
are holding your heart
this is a promise He made
He will be with you always
when everything is falling apart
you will be safe in His arms 

Did you know that the voice that brings the dead to life
is the very same voice that calls you now to rise
So hear him now, he is calling you home
You will never be alone

You will be safe in His arms

These are the hands that built the mountain, the hands that calmed the sea, these are the arms that hold the heavens, they are holding you & me, these are the hands that healed the leper, pulled the lame up to their feet, these are the arms that were nailed to a cross to break our chains & set us free!

You will be safe in His arms...(repeat above)

Safe in His arms...
Safe in His arms..

You will be safe, you will be safe, when everything is falling apart you will be safe in His arms

Thank you to all of you who were His hands and feet.  Who loved on me and rushed to my side when things were scary and overwhelming. You supported me, prayed for me and encouraged me. You reminded me that I wasn't alone and that everything was going to be okay. You know who you are and I love you all and will forever be grateful for each of you.

Morris Family Antics...

I've been shooting the Morris families portraits now for roughly 5 years. Joy (the sassy matriarch) is a close friend who I love and adore and has been by my side through the good, the bad and the ugly. We can happily inhale a slab of chocolate cake together at P.F. Changs then spend the next 3 weeks whining about our enormous booties and have no problem returning to commit the same crime as soon as our schedules allow. I've watched her children grow to enormous heights and she has been my number one fan and MANY of you who follow this blog are here as a result of her marketing and promoting the beast that is this business of mine today. I love her and her family as if they were my own.

Now because we are all so well aquainted you think it would be relatively easy to capture a quick portrait... HAHAHAHAA! Well let's just say that is a bit more tricky than you might think. They are TOO comfortable with me sticking a camera in their face you could say and silliness abounds. It's not really like working when I'm with this crew. We basically screw off for a couple hours then pray that something turned out alright.

Here's some examples of the nonsense that ensues when I'm with the Morris clan....

I love the look on Joy's face in this one "Please help me Aly"

Anyone who knows Austin at all can see the irony in this... and yes he stole that sign from a church.

Love me some Annabelle

Success! Aren't they GORGEOUS!