Thanksgiving in early November...

Like I mentioned in the post before, my family had Thanksgiving a few weeks early this year, so that my grandpa would be able to enjoy the delicious feast and not have to miss out because of his surgery! So I pulled my camera out for a few pictures of the day. I just adore my family, and have such a blast when I get to hang out with everyone!

I love the motion in this first one...just about par with those little ones running around...

YUMMMMY!!



Sweet Abby Kate with her "Happy Thanksgiving" bib that her mom made her!





And Miss Ellary at her happiest...hangin out with Jacob.

The Newlyweds!

Little Abby in her Tutu...how cute...



The End.

The many faces of Caleb...

I got to go home this weekend!! "Home" as in where my parents now live, it's still somewhat weird to say that "home" is in Fort Worth Texas, it's always been here in west Texas. Anywho. I absolutely love going home. I love my family, and home = family so it's always a blast. I especially adore my baby cousins. All of them! The older ones live in Georgia and I don't get to see them as often which is a bummer, but I've gotten to see the other's grow up right before my eyes. I'm like a proud mom when it comes to these little boogers! They are my pride and joy! They would be your's too if you had such adorable cousins!
We actually had early Thanksgiving this weekend. What?! Yeah, a little crazy I know, but my grandpa is having surgery a week before actual Thanksgiving, so we bumped the Thanksgiving dinner up a few weeks so he could enjoy the wonderful Turkey and Dressing!
It was a blast, and the food was delicious....but besides that, Saturday morning on our way over to "Mo" & "Poppy's" house me, my mom and dad stopped by my Aunt Davney's to pick up the oldest of babies Caleb, to take him with us to the grandparents house, the others would follow later. So what is the first thing I did when we got in the car? Pulled out my camera of course! Caleb is a character for sure! He's got a contagious laugh and He's always making everyone laugh and smile. I was cracking up in the back of the car just watching and listening to him! He has learned his colors and numbers up to 10 in spanish and it was probably one of my favorite parts of the weekend hearing him say them!
So here is Caleb...and his many faces...




I believe this is where he got tired of me taking his picture...

really tired of it...





I think this last one he is saying "pleeeeeeease stop!"

More of everyone else to come...

Getting Organized!!

Yup. It's true. This past weekend, and the first of this week, I've been doing my best to use my free time to get myself organized! I cleaned and rearranged my room, (which I love) and have made my bed up every day for the past 4 days!! Doesn't sound like much, but for me, that's a miracle! Funny how such a simple task can make you feel so accomplished and more ready and organized for the rest of the day!!

It's been a super busy week so far (but what's new?) Finished defensive driving (ew!), did all my hw for the week on Sunday, shot 4 rolls of film for my photography class, Had a meeting with two academic advisors, filled out two pieces of paperwork concerning my major/minor/rest of my life, and still have one more piece of paperwork to finish and turn in by the end of the week before everything is official...psh.

Next I need to edit Lyndsay's wedding pictures for her album, wake up in time tomorrow to get ready and get dressed in "business casual" clothes for my PRSSA meeting tomorrow night, do a little more homework, have dinner with Dad, develop my film and make four prints in the darkroom all before Friday...so that I CAN GO HOME!!!

yes!

I plan to come home this weekend! I cannot wait!

P.S. I plan to post some pictures from my pumpkin carving night this past Saturday soon, so keep and eye out!

As for now I'll just leave you with this sweet picture of Ellary I took a while back and just edited!

Enjoy!

Christmas wish list...so soon...?!?!

Someone asked me the other day what I would put on my Christmas list for this year. Ha. That's ridiculous, I should have no Christmas list...I have so much already...I am satisfied with what I have...
But then the question began to trigger an unexpected reaction. One that I have been trying to steer far away from. Honestly. I have anything and everything I could ever need. I NEED nothing. I am blessed beyond what I deserve. Parents that have sacrificed more than they should to give me the latest and greatest of any and every thing I could imagine. How could I Want more things? I want to be satisfied with what I have. I want to desire only the things that truly matter. Time, memories, thoughts, family, friends...
And here they come creeping back in...I could use a Macbook. No. Now I NEED a Macbook, I simply cannot function without this piece of equipment in my life. I would love to have a new lens for my camera. Goodness. I NEED a new lens for my camera, my pictures would be THAT much better if only for a new lens. A new coat for the coming winter season of the latest style, that might be cool. Oh, how I NEED that new coat, no other coat that I own would keep me as warm as THAT coat.
Ridiculous.
I NEED none of that.

What I need more of is...
time with my baby cousins
a trip to the lake
a roadtrip with my friends just for fun
a weekend with my grandparents
hanging out with my sister & new brother
silent time alone, to think, and write, and read
simple conversation over a warm cup of sugarbrowns chai tea
quiet times with Jesus, and my Bible, and some soft Shane & Shane or David Crowder

I don't want my wants to overcome my needs
I don't want a Christmas list full of over priced trends

I want a Christmas list that matters.
I want time with my family to love them and know them and not to miss them. Freedom from the world that surrounds me, that is chasing after me. And just simple Peace.

In fact...why wait until the Holiday's.
I'm starting right now...

I've got a date tonight...

Yep it's true...I've got a date tonight. As I do every Thursday night. A date with McDreamy...what more could you ask for?!?! Seriously I just got all excited because I found this picture on another photographer's blog, so I stole it to put on my own. Yay for Thursday nights with Paradigm (hey that means I have TWO dates tonight, one with Jesus AND one with McDreamy) (no wonder I look so forward to Thursday nights all week...), then directly after a stop by starbucks for a granda white chocolate mocha then a serene little drive out to the house in Shallowater for my date with McDreamy and Grey's Anatomy. What will I do when the house is sold, and there is no more big screen TV and no more DVR... I shall figure something out...I would hate to disappoint my McDreamy...

Anyway. Happy watching all you Grey's Anatomy fans...

*sighs*

lol

Disciple Now!!

So I just got back from this weekend at Disciple Now. I had a blast. I think I've already told a few people this...it's like church camp, a little rest from the world and I didn't want to come back home on Sunday! It got me all excited thinking about Heaven, because isn't that what heaven is gonna be like? Church camp and worship concerts ALL the time...never having to go back to the real world with problems and stuff!! I can't wait...anyway, here is a picture of my group, I had the 11th and 12th grade girls who were so sweet, and they taught me so much. The group was small so I got to know them pretty well and we got to talk about all sorts of stuff. I was super nervous, this being my first time to be a "leader" at a function like this, I feel like I'm still just as young as them, and that I should still be in the learning position...but I'm glad I did it. It was an awesome experience and God is pretty much just awesome... And then a picture of me with some of the other leaders! It was too much fun! Hopefully I can do it again soon...

Dillon Ford

This is Dillon. He is awesome. Probably one of the most genuine people you will ever meet. He is tons of fun, he's got an awesome sense of adventure, and has one of the biggest smiles you will ever see. We went out right smack in the middle of the day on Saturday to take some pictures so the lighting is pretty harsh, but he was a great model and we got some awesome shots. I also got to be fashion coordinator for the day, & I picked out the outfit with the tie. He was skeptical at first, but later on he loved it. He also brought along his sunglasses and a silly "gansta" outfit just for fun. Here are my favorites...