Monday, June 27, 2011

Big Things A Brewin'

First and foremost, if you have not checked out the new Mattie Fran Designs you can do so here. I am in the process of trying to take this from a hobby to a business, which is proving to be quite interesting, but I have had a wonderful support team behind me so it has been fun :) Like an old friend of mine from high school, Kelsey Nichols. She is an amazing photographer who just launched her new website, that you can find here, and was sweet enough to feature Mattie Fran Designs in her mini shoots. Pictures should be up soon and from what I've seen they are oober cute! To Nicole who loves me enough to be completely honest when asked what she thought about the website, which led to many changes :) And finally a friend, who has always been more of a big sister, Kristen, and Andrea, who was crazy enough to set off in this adventure with me. Thanks to them Mattie Fran Designs will be hosting it's first party! It is something I have been pondering on for a while but wasn't sure if people would be interested in, so when Kristen mentioned wanting to host one with all of her church friends that was all I needed to get pushed into gear. Well that and the overly enthusiastic Andrea Harris who was all but planning the whole thing herself before I could finish telling her about it :) I am so excited to be stepping in to this new chapter in my life and I can't wait to see where it will take me!

Sunday, June 26, 2011

Somebody Please Slap Me

Because you would think four children, six and under, running around like hoodlums, screaming and carrying on, keeping the water everywhere but the bathtub, and not going to sleep when told to would make me want to schedule the next appointment to insure that no more children would be in my future. Yeah, that's what you would think. Problem is, it's doing the exact opposite. Because even though they are stampeding through my house it's so fun watching their imagination at work and how they all play so well together. And yes, even though I could do with out the shrill screams it makes me smile to hear the uncontrollable laughter that follows. And while I would prefer the water to stay in the tub, there is something about a little chocolate drop covered in bubbles that melts my heart. And even if they aren't sleeping, seeing them all snuggled up together snaps something inside of me.








Like I said....somebody please slap me......

Wednesday, June 22, 2011

(Almost) Wordless Wednesday


I have dubbed this my new favorite picture.
Something about it just captures all my favorite things about summer.

The smell of fresh cut grass.
Cute summer sandals.
Laying in a hammock reading my favorite book.

It's just peaceful and that about sums up the way I feel right now :)

Tuesday, June 21, 2011

The Many Faces

I love taking pictures.

And I do mean love.

But when Nicki approached me a week ago and asked if I would do her maternity pictures I have to admit I was a bit scared. Anyone who knows Nicki knows how unique her style is and that it tends to change based on the weather and the way she feels that day. She is such a free spirit and her lively personality is admirable. Which can prove to be tricky when trying to capture it all behind a lens. I was so nervous that I wouldn't be able to transfer the images I had in my head into actual pictures but now that it's all said and done I couldn't be more happier with the way they turned out :)


*Be prepared for picture overload because I could not pick a couple favorites!*
























Friday, June 17, 2011

A Heavy Heart

Today marks a year since we lost Andrew.

This week has been hard. Very hard, and I wasn't expecting that.

 I had finally learned how to push that familiar ache down deep inside so I guess I thought I would be able to get through this a little easier.

I was wrong.

Emotions have been resurfacing with Luke and I am afraid that the worst is not over yet.

It breaks my heart in two.

To know that the one thing I could give him to make it all go away is the one thing that I will never be able to give back to him brings that ache back with a vengeance.

My heart is heavy.

Please be in prayer for my little boy and for Andrew's parents as well. Because as hard as it is to lose a parent I can't imagine losing my child.



*Just one of those days

Tuesday, June 14, 2011

Words To Live By

Promise Yourself...
 To be so strong that nothing can disturb your peace of mind.

To talk health, happiness, and prosperity to every person you meet.
To make all your friends feel that there is something worthwhile in them.

To look at the sunny side of everything and make your optimism come true.

To think only of the best, work only for the best, and to expect only the best.

To be just as enthusiastic about the success of others as you are of your own,

To forget the mistakes of the past and press on to the greater achievements of the future.

To wear a cheerful expression at all times, and give a smile to every living creature you meet.

To give so much time to improving yourself that you don't have time to criticize others.

To be too large for worry, too noble for anger, too strong for fear, and too happy to permit the presence of trouble.

To think well of yourself and to proclaim this fact to the world, not in loud words, but in good deeds.

To live in the faith that the whole world is on your side, so long as you are true to the best that is in you.  

                                      -Christian D. Larson     
 

Monday, June 13, 2011

Never Knew

A year ago today I woke up anticipating the day ahead.
I never knew it would become one of the worst ones of my life.

A year ago today I headed out to meet up with my family.
I never knew that later part of my family would be broken.

A year ago today I was sharing laughs with friends and loved ones while walking the city streets.
I never knew that at that same moment someone I cared for was hurting.

A year ago today I was celebrating my cousins senior year by taking her pictures in downtown Decatur.
I never knew that someone I held close to my heart was being rushed to a hospital around the corner.

A year ago today I received a random phone call.
I never knew that phone call would change my life forever.

A year ago today I spent the first of three nights in the intensive care unit.
I never knew that it was the beginning of the end.

A year ago today I sat holding the hand of a dear friend begging him to pull through, if not for me than for his son.
I never knew that that would be the last time I saw him breath on his own.

Life moves fast and waits for no one.
Never take it or the people you hold near for granted.




Saturday, June 11, 2011

Glowing

I got the opportunity to shoot some pictures of my beautiful cousin while I  was in Florida this week. If I had to sum up Sarah in one word it would have to be glowing. She is a very pretty woman and is even more stunning pregnant. Don't you just hate women like that?!?! We had been tossing around picture ideas for a while now so when we were sitting at Hungry Howie's...yes the pizza joint....in Steinhatchee I noticed a quiet little dock and convinced Sarah that it would be the perfect place to snap the first round of photos. And boy was I right!






Friday, June 10, 2011

Deja Vu

My cousin Sarah, whom I mention quite frequently on here :), will be having a sweet baby girl in just a few weeks time. And let me tell you, no-one is as excited as I am to meet Miss Emilee! Ok, maybe her momma is :) When Sarah called me a few months ago to tell me the good news I insisted on her letting me help with the shower. Of course she agreed and we decided to use the decorations I made from Matalie's first birthday.     Oh. My. Word. I had forgotten just how cute all that candy decor was!












And the Mommy-to-be was even cuter


*Stay tuned to see some amazing maternity pictures that I caught of this lovely lady :)*